We understand – with license and registration costs, annual inspections, and sales tax, buying and keeping a car may be a pain and a big drain on your wallet.
Depending on where you live, the total of these annoying vehicle fees can equal the cost of another’s whole year’s salary. These fees will only become more expensive as the rate of inflation rises. But what if there was a method to avoid paying sales tax on your car and avoid those bothersome costs?
Fortunately, there is! Many car owners choose a Montana car registration, even if they don’t reside in the state. For years, many exotic car owners have used this strategy. When you see a fancy automobile on the road, you automatically think it belongs to a wealthy owner. This notion stems not just from knowing the car’s price but also from the hefty fees and taxes that come with such expensive purchases.
As a result, it is understandable that car owners would prefer to avoid making all of those extra payments. But how can this be legal? What makes Montana unique? And, if I live out of state, how to register a vehicle in Montana?
We’re sure you have a lot of questions, so we’ve compiled a list of everything you need to know about registering your out-of-state vehicle in Montana.
Montana’s Position On Out-Of-State Vehicle Registration
If you want to register your car in Montana, you need to understand the legitimacy of the whole process.
“It is prohibited to willfully modify, fabricate, or counterfeit the registration on your vehicle or license plates,” according to both the federal and state governments. Falsifying your address of residency, sometimes known as “the wobbler violation,” is a misdemeanor that can result in fines of up to $10,000 and possible prison time.
However, it is absolutely legal to form a limited liability company (LLC) in Montana, purchase your new vehicle through that LLC, receive a Montana automobile registration, and drive your car in another state.
How Do Car Owners Register Their Vehicles In Montana?
As previously indicated, the first step in lawfully obtaining a Montana license plate is to form a Montana LLC, sometimes known as a shell corporation. A shell company is a legally established business with no major assets or business operations.
While shell companies are not unlawful in and of themselves, they can be used for criminal objectives such as concealing illegal business activity or the owners of a business from law enforcement. A legal shell company should exist to protect the corporation’s owner’s assets, such as a freshly purchased vehicle.
There are genuine reasons why people set up shell corporations aside from out-of-state car registration. It can assist a person with avoiding high taxes, gaining more access to overseas markets, and protecting the owner’s identity.
To establish a shell corporation, you must first choose a name for the company and then register it in the state of your choice, which in this case is Montana.
One of the best Montana registered agents like 5 Star Registration can also help you form an LLC and register your car without the hassle.