61-3-413. Registration of motor vehicle as general transportation collector's item -- definition -- permanent registration required. (1) For the purposes of 61-3-412 and this section, a "general transportation collector's item" is a motor vehicle, trailer, semitrailer, or pole trailer that is 25 years old or older and that is used for general transportation purposes.

(2) An owner of a general transportation collector's item who wishes to display original Montana license plates or collector reproduction license plates on the motor vehicle, trailer, semitrailer, or pole trailer shall file with the department an application for the registration of the motor vehicle, trailer, semitrailer, or pole trailer. The application must state:

(a) the name and address of the owner;

(b) the year and number of the license plate the applicant wishes to use; and

(c) the make, the gross weight, the year and number of the model, and the manufacturer's identification number and serial number of the motor vehicle, trailer, semitrailer, or pole trailer.

(3) Upon receipt of an application for registration of a general transportation collector's item that will display an original Montana license plate, the department shall compare the number of the license plate that the applicant intends to use with the license plate numbers assigned to currently registered motor vehicles, trailers, semitrailers, or pole trailers. The department may reject an application if the number the applicant intends to use matches a number that is assigned to a currently registered motor vehicle, trailer, semitrailer, or pole trailer. If the department approves the application, the department shall file the application and register the motor vehicle, trailer, semitrailer, or pole trailer in the manner specified in 61-3-101.

(4) Upon receipt of an application for registration of a general transportation collector's item that will display a collector reproduction license plate, the department shall determine a distinctive license plate number to be assigned to the collector reproduction license plate. The department may:

(a) issue a new license plate number following the requirements for issuing distinctive license plate numbers under 61-3-331;

(b) issue a new personalized license plate number under 61-3-401 through 61-3-406; or

(c) at the request of the owner, transfer a license plate number that is already assigned to the general transportation collector's item or another motor vehicle owned by the owner of the general transportation collector's item.

(5) The general transportation collector's item owner may take the license plate number issued pursuant to subsection (4) and purchase a collector reproduction license plate from any source.

(6) The one-time application fee for a collector reproduction license plate under subsection (4) is $50. The fee must be deposited as follows:

(a) $25 must be deposited into the state special revenue account to partially fund highway patrol officers' salaries established in 44-1-504; and

(b) $25 must be deposited into the motor vehicle division administration account established in 61-3-112.

(7) Once an application is approved, appropriate fees are paid, and the requirements provided in 61-3-412(2) are met, an owner of a general transportation collector's item shall permanently register the motor vehicle, trailer, semitrailer, or pole trailer as provided in 61-3-562 and shall display on the motor vehicle's, trailer's, semitrailer's, or pole trailer's license plate a decal indicating that the motor vehicle, trailer, semitrailer, or pole trailer has been permanently registered.