Royal Emerald Motors (360) 325-1174

State guide · Montana · checked October 28, 2026

How to import a car from Canada to Montana

Three parts: make sure the car can come in, bring it through the border with a Registered Importer, then title it with Montana Department of Justice, Motor Vehicle Division (MVD) - Vehicle Services Bureau; applications are filed at the County Treasurer's motor vehicle office. Parts one and two are the same for every state and we handle them; part three is what this page is for.

Get a written quoteCheck a VIN first

Part 1 and 2

Getting it across the border

Before you pay

Check the car

Decode the VIN for build country and year, photograph the door-jamb label (FMVSS or CMVSS), and film the dash for the TPMS lamp. All three checks are free on our home page.

Border day

Registered Importer entry

We file CBP Form 7501, DOT HS-7 (box 3) and EPA 3520-1, post the DOT bond, and the car goes to our NHTSA-approved lot in Blaine, WA.

2–4 weeks

NHTSA release

Conformance work and the photo package go to NHTSA. When the bond is released you get the release letter and every stamped form, which is what Montana will ask for.

Part 3

Titling and registering in Montana

Agency: Montana Department of Justice, Motor Vehicle Division (MVD) - Vehicle Services Bureau; applications are filed at the County Treasurer's motor vehicle office.

Bring these documents

  • Form MV1 Application for Certificate of Title for a Motor Vehicle (MT Title Manual, 'Canadian and Other Foreign Vehicles')
  • Canadian registration or other foreign ownership document, properly released (signed off) by the registered owner; for Alberta registrations Section 2 must be submitted; lease pay-out documents if the Canadian registration shows a lease (MT Title Manual)
  • NVIS (New Vehicle Information Statement) if the vehicle was produced for the Canadian market and is new, accompanied by a notarized bill of sale or released Canadian registration (MT Title Manual)
  • Bill of sale (may serve as ownership document with the foreign title/registration when seller is not a Montana resident or dealer) (MT Title Manual)
  • Form MV20 Vehicle/Off-Highway Vehicle Identification Number Inspection, completed by a law enforcement officer (MT Title Manual; MV20 form)
  • Federal DOT Declaration HS-7 (completed by the Registered Importer for RI imports) (MT Title Manual)
  • U.S. Customs entry document: CBP Form 7501 is the only acceptable entry form and it must be stamped; original, photocopy or fax accepted if stamped; must show the VIN; must be a U.S. Customs form, not Canadian (MT Title Manual)
  • For non-conforming (grey-market) vehicles: DOT/EPA bond-release letter from the Registered Importer process (MT Title Manual, Grey Market)
  • English translation with translator's declaration (translator must have no interest in the vehicle) for any non-English document (MT Title Manual)
  • Odometer disclosure for MY2011 and newer (on MV1 / Form MV90) (MT Title Manual; Flathead County instructions)
  • Montana driver license or two proofs of Montana residency; at least one titled owner must be a Montana resident (Lewis & Clark County instructions)
  • EPA Form 3520-1: not listed in the Montana Title Manual's foreign-vehicle section; bring it anyway (verify with agency)
VIN inspection
Yes. Form MV20 (Stage 1 Vehicle/OHV Identification Number Inspection) is a required document for Canadian and other foreign vehicles; it can be completed by any law enforcement officer. No fee is stated on the form (verify locally).
Emissions
None. Montana has no vehicle emissions testing program (verify with agency).
Sales / use tax
Montana has no general sales tax and collects no sales/use tax on vehicle registration (Montana Legislative Fiscal Division vehicle fee brochure). Counties may levy a local option motor vehicle tax of up to 0.7% of depreciated retail value (Big Horn, Deer Lodge, Flathead, Granite, Phillips and Richland counties do not). No credit question arises since no tax is charged.
Title and registration fees
Original certificate of title $12 for a light vehicle (MCA 61-3-203, rate through June 30, 2028). Light-vehicle registration: $217/yr (0-4 years old), $87/yr (5-10 years), $28/yr (11+ years) or one-time permanent registration $87.50 for 11+ year vehicles; plus 3% administrative fee, county option tax where levied, plate fee, and an $825 luxury fee for light vehicles with retail value over $150,000. Fees vary by county; use the MVD Vehicle Fee Estimator.
Odometer in km
MV1 odometer certification required for MY2011 and newer; no reading required for MY2010 and older. The MV20 inspection form records the reading in miles with no tenths. The Title Manual does not address kilometer odometers; a km reading should be disclosed as kilometers or converted with documentation (verify with county treasurer).

Watch out for

  • Montana's Title Manual has a dedicated 'Canadian and Other Foreign Vehicles' section: CBP 7501 must be physically stamped - the Montana/Idaho CBP region does not accept paperless entries.
  • A vehicle cannot be titled in Montana without being registered at the same time, and at least one owner on the title must be a Montana resident.
  • A foreign document stamped 'EXPORT ONLY' cannot be titled or registered in Montana.
  • Non-conforming (grey-market) vehicles that are salvage/repaired salvage/reconstructed must be at least 25 years old; grey-market applications are held by the Vehicle Services Bureau until the DOT bond release arrives (typically 3-6 months).
  • Register as soon as you establish Montana residency or before the out-of-state registration expires, whichever comes first.
Sources

Instant estimate

What the import itself will cost

Duty, CBP fees, the DOT bond and our flat fee, before you add Montana's title and tax. Set the build country from the VIN's first digit.

Estimated cost on top of the purchase price

$0

Get the written quote

Estimate only; your quote confirms the duty line on the entry date. Montana tax and title fees are listed above and paid at the DMV, not to us.

Other states

Titling guides

WashingtonImport a car from Canada to WashingtonMichiganImport a car from Canada to MichiganNew YorkImport a car from Canada to New YorkArizonaImport a car from Canada to ArizonaFloridaImport a car from Canada to Florida
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