61-3-342. Temporary window sticker. (1) Any purchaser of a motor vehicle who is unable to fully complete the process of applying for a Montana title at the time he makes application for registration or reregistration of the vehicle because the certificate of ownership is lost, in the possession of third parties, or in the process of reissuance in this state or elsewhere may, upon making affidavit to that effect upon a form prescribed by the department and upon the payment of all applicable fees and taxes, plus an additional fee of $2 to be collected by the county treasurer and remitted to the department, obtain from the county treasurer of the county in which the vehicle is to be registered a temporary window sticker of such size, color, and design as the department may prescribe, to be validated by the county treasurer for a period of 60 days from the date of issuance. The purchaser, upon displaying the sticker on the upper left-hand corner of the rear window of the motor vehicle, may operate the vehicle during the period for which the window sticker has been validated without displaying the registration certificate or number plates or plate for the current year. The county treasurer may not sell, and no person may purchase, more than one 60-day temporary window sticker for any vehicle, the ownership of which has not changed since the issuance of the previous 60-day window sticker.
     (2) A vehicle for which an application for title cannot be completed may not be registered by the county treasurer nor may license plates for the vehicle be issued by the county treasurer until the completed certificate of ownership or application for title is presented for the purpose of transferring ownership.
     (3) In the event an unusual circumstance prevents the owner of a vehicle from presenting the certificate of ownership within the 60-day period permitted under subsection (1), the owner may apply to the motor vehicle division for an extended temporary window sticker on an application form provided by the division. The form must be accompanied by the title application.
     (4) Upon receipt of an application for an extended temporary window sticker and title as designated in subsection (3), the motor vehicle division or the county treasurer, with the authorization of the motor vehicle division, may issue an extended temporary window sticker, valid for an additional 60 days, upon payment of a fee of $10 that must be deposited in the general fund. At the end of the extended 60-day period or in the event the request for extension is rejected by the department for cause, the owner may obtain a certificate of ownership by the method provided in 61-3-208.

     History: En. Sec. 5, Ch. 138, L. 1971; R.C.M. 1947, 53-109.3; amd. Sec. 28, Ch. 614, L. 1981; amd. Sec. 1, Ch. 209, L. 1985; amd. Sec. 1, Ch. 503, L. 1985; amd. Sec. 6, Ch. 604, L. 1991.