61-3-332. Number plates. (1) A motor vehicle that is driven upon the streets or highways of Montana must display both front and rear number plates, bearing the distinctive number assigned to the vehicle.
     (2) In addition to special license plates, collegiate license plates, and generic specialty license plates authorized under this chapter, a separate series of number plates must be issued, in the manner specified, for each of the following vehicle or dealer types:
     (a) passenger vehicles, including automobiles, vans, and sport utility vehicles;
     (b) motorcycles and quadricycles, bearing the letters "MC" or "CYCLE";
     (c) trucks, bearing the letter "T" or the word "TRUCK";
     (d) trailers, bearing the letters "TR" or the word "TRAILER";
     (e) dealers of new, or new and used, motor vehicles, including trucks and trailers, bearing the letter "D" or the word "DEALER";
     (f) dealers of used motor vehicles only, including trucks and trailers, bearing the letters "UD" or the letter "U" and the word "DEALER";
     (g) dealers of motorcycles or quadricycles, bearing the letters "MCD" or the letters "MC" and the word "DEALER";
     (h) dealers of trailers or semitrailers, bearing the letters "DTR" or the letters "TR" and the word "DEALER"; and
     (i) dealers of recreational vehicles, bearing the letters "RV" or the letter "R" and the word "DEALER".
     (3) (a) Except as provided in 61-3-479 and subsections (3)(b), (4)(c), and (4)(d) of this section, all number plates for motor vehicles must be issued for a minimum period of 4 years, bear a distinctive marking, and be furnished by the department. In years when number plates are not issued, the department shall provide a registration decal that must be affixed to the rear license plate of the vehicle.
     (b) For light vehicles that are permanently registered as provided in 61-3-527 or 61-3-315 and 61-3-562 and vehicles described in 61-3-303(9) that are permanently registered, the department shall provide a distinctive registration decal indicating that the vehicle is permanently registered. The registration decal must be affixed to the rear license plate of the permanently registered vehicle.
     (4) (a) Subject to the provisions of this section, the department shall create a new design for number plates as provided in this section, and it shall manufacture the newly designed number plates for issuance after December 31, 2005, to replace at renewal, as required in 61-3-312 and 61-3-314, number plates that were displayed on motor vehicles before that date.
     (b) Beginning January 1, 2006, the department shall manufacture and issue new number plates after the existing plates have been used for a minimum period of 4 years.
     (c) A light vehicle that is registered for a 24-month period, as provided in 61-3-315 and 61-3-560, may display the number plate and plate design in effect at the time of registration for the entire 24-month registration period.
     (d) A light vehicle described in subsection (3)(b) that is permanently registered may display the number plate and plate design in effect at the time of registration for the entire period that the vehicle is permanently registered.
     (5) For passenger vehicles and trucks, plates must be of metal 6 inches wide and 12 inches in length. Except for generic specialty license plates, the outline of the state of Montana must be used as a distinctive border on the license plates, and the word "Montana" must be placed on each plate. Registration plates must be treated with a reflectorized background material according to specifications prescribed by the department.
     (6) The distinctive registration numbers must begin with a number one or with a letter-number combination, such as "A 1" or "AA 1", or any other similar combination of letters and numbers. Except for special license plates, collegiate license plates, and generic specialty license plates, the distinctive registration number or letter-number combination assigned to the vehicle must appear on the plate preceded by the number of the county and appearing in horizontal order on the same horizontal baseline. The county number must be separated from the distinctive registration number by a separation mark unless a letter-number combination is used. The dimensions of the numerals and letters must be determined by the department, and all county and registration numbers must be of equal height.
     (7) For the use of exempt motor vehicles and motor vehicles that are exempt from the registration fee as provided in 61-3-560(2)(a), in addition to the markings provided in this section, number plates must bear the following distinctive markings:
     (a) For vehicles owned by the state, the department may designate the prefix number for the various state departments. All numbered plates issued to state departments must bear the words "State Owned", and a year number may not be indicated on the plates because these numbered plates are of a permanent nature and will be replaced by the department only when the physical condition of numbered plates requires it.
     (b) For vehicles that are owned by the counties, municipalities, and special districts, as defined in 18-8-202, organized under the laws of Montana and not operating for profit, and that are used and operated by officials and employees in the line of duty and for vehicles on loan from the United States government or the state of Montana to, or owned by, the civil air patrol and used and operated by officials and employees in the line of duty, there must be placed on the number plates assigned, in a position that the department may designate, the letter "X" or the word "EXEMPT". Distinctive registration numbers for plates assigned to motor vehicles of each of the counties in the state and those of the municipalities and special districts that obtain plates within each county must begin with number one and be numbered consecutively. Because these number plates are of a permanent nature, they are subject to replacement by the department only when the physical condition of the number plates requires it and a year number may not be displayed on the number plates.
     (8) Number plates issued to a passenger vehicle, truck, trailer, motorcycle, or quadricycle may be transferred only to a replacement passenger vehicle, truck, trailer, motorcycle, or quadricycle. A registration fee may not be assessed upon a transfer of a number plate under 61-3-317 and 61-3-335.
     (9) For the purpose of this chapter, the several counties of the state are assigned numbers as follows: Silver Bow, 1; Cascade, 2; Yellowstone, 3; Missoula, 4; Lewis and Clark, 5; Gallatin, 6; Flathead, 7; Fergus, 8; Powder River, 9; Carbon, 10; Phillips, 11; Hill, 12; Ravalli, 13; Custer, 14; Lake, 15; Dawson, 16; Roosevelt, 17; Beaverhead, 18; Chouteau, 19; Valley, 20; Toole, 21; Big Horn, 22; Musselshell, 23; Blaine, 24; Madison, 25; Pondera, 26; Richland, 27; Powell, 28; Rosebud, 29; Deer Lodge, 30; Teton, 31; Stillwater, 32; Treasure, 33; Sheridan, 34; Sanders, 35; Judith Basin, 36; Daniels, 37; Glacier, 38; Fallon, 39; Sweet Grass, 40; McCone, 41; Carter, 42; Broadwater, 43; Wheatland, 44; Prairie, 45; Granite, 46; Meagher, 47; Liberty, 48; Park, 49; Garfield, 50; Jefferson, 51; Wibaux, 52; Golden Valley, 53; Mineral, 54; Petroleum, 55; Lincoln, 56. Any new counties must be assigned numbers by the department as they are formed, beginning with the number 57.
     (10) Each type of special license plate approved by the legislature, except collegiate license plates authorized in 61-3-463 and generic specialty license plates authorized in 61-3-472 through 61-3-481, must be a separate series of plates, numbered as provided in subsection (6), except that the county number must be replaced by a nonremovable design or decal designating the group or organization to which the applicant belongs. Unless otherwise specifically stated in this section, the special plates are subject to the same rules and laws as govern the issuance of regular license plates, must be placed or mounted on a vehicle owned by the person who is eligible to receive them, with the registration decal affixed to the rear license plate of the vehicle, and must be removed upon sale or other disposition of the vehicle.
     (11) A Montana resident who is eligible to receive a special parking permit under 49-4-301 may, upon written application on a form prescribed by the department, be issued a special license plate with a design or decal bearing a representation of a wheelchair as the symbol of a person with a disability. If the vehicle to which the license plate is attached is permanently registered, the owner of the vehicle shall maintain evidence of continued eligibility to use the license plate, which must be attached to the registration document in the vehicle.
     (12) The provisions of this section do not apply to a motor vehicle, trailer, or semitrailer that is registered as part of a fleet, as defined in 61-3-712, and that is subject to the provisions of 61-3-711 through 61-3-733.

     History: En. Sec. 3, Ch. 75, L. 1917; re-en. Sec. 1757, R.C.M. 1921; amd. Sec. 2, Ch. 158, L. 1933; re-en. Sec. 1757, R.C.M. 1935; amd. Sec. 1, Ch. 6, L. 1941; amd. Sec. 3, Ch. 88, L. 1943; amd. Sec. 1, Ch. 111, L. 1951; amd. Sec. 1, Ch. 29, L. 1953; amd. Sec. 1, Ch. 245, L. 1955; amd. Sec. 1, Ch. 236, L. 1957; amd. Sec. 1, Ch. 245, L. 1959; amd. Sec. 1, Ch. 245, L. 1965; amd. Sec. 1, Ch. 41, L. 1967; amd. Sec. 5, Ch. 127, L. 1969; amd. Sec. 1, Ch. 226, L. 1971; amd. Sec. 1, Ch. 41, L. 1975; amd. Sec. 1, Ch. 390, L. 1975; amd. Sec. 1, Ch. 243, L. 1977; amd. Sec. 3, Ch. 492, L. 1977; R.C.M. 1947, 53-106(part); amd. Sec. 26, Ch. 614, L. 1981; amd. Sec. 1, Ch. 503, L. 1985; amd. Sec. 19, Ch. 516, L. 1985; amd. Sec. 4, Ch. 674, L. 1985; amd. Sec. 22, Ch. 611, L. 1987; amd. Sec. 1, Ch. 654, L. 1989; amd. Sec. 2, Ch. 632, L. 1991; amd. Sec. 1, Ch. 83, L. 1993; amd. Sec. 2, Ch. 159, L. 1993; amd. Sec. 3, Ch. 209, L. 1993; amd. Sec. 2, Ch. 81, L. 1995; amd. Sec. 2, Ch. 72, L. 1997; amd. Sec. 10, Ch. 109, L. 1997; amd. Sec. 72, Ch. 472, L. 1997; amd. Sec. 2, Ch. 79, L. 1999; amd. Sec. 1, Ch. 344, L. 1999; amd. Sec. 29, Ch. 515, L. 1999; amd. Sec. 1, Ch. 570, L. 1999; amd. Sec. 1, Ch. 72, L. 2001; amd. Sec. 1, Ch. 167, L. 2001; amd. Sec. 10, Ch. 191, L. 2001; amd. Sec. 1, Ch. 249, L. 2001; amd. Sec. 3, Ch. 337, L. 2001; amd. Secs. 11, 16, 17(2), Ch. 402, L. 2001; amd. Sec. 2, Ch. 539, L. 2001; amd. Sec. 165, Ch. 574, L. 2001; amd. Sec. 3, Ch. 280, L. 2003; amd. Sec. 12, Ch. 399, L. 2003; amd. Sec. 34, Ch. 592, L. 2003.