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Montana Car Sales Tax Calculator

Montana is one of the few states with no sales tax at all, so a vehicle purchase itself is not taxed no matter where in the state you buy or register it. What you pay instead is an age-based annual registration fee. Enter your numbers to see the estimate.

Last reviewed: September 25, 2026Reviewed by Michael Steve

Calculate Your Montana Car Sales Tax

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The selling price on your buyer’s order.

What the dealer credits you.

State
MontanaChange state

Condition

There is no state sales tax for a dealer fee to be added to.

Advanced options

Enter your own amounts where you know them. They replace our estimates.

Replaces the state estimate.

Replaces the state estimate.

Plates, inspections, add-ons.

Estimate only

Estimated out-the-door price

$0.00

Enter a vehicle price to see your estimate.

Vehicle price
$0.00
Trade-in
—
Taxable amount
$0.00
No sales tax (0%)
$0.00
Title fee
$0.00
Registration fee
$0.00
Dealer / documentation fee
—
Estimated total
$0.00
How this estimate was calculated

    Estimates are for informational purposes only. Actual taxes and fees may vary based on your location, vehicle, transaction and current state rules.

    Estimated Montana Car Sales Tax

    No sales tax0%
    Local taxNone on vehicles
    Trade-inLowers taxable price
    Dealer feeNot taxed (Montana has no sales tax)

    Montana charges 0% sales tax on a vehicle purchase, since the state has no general sales tax for a vehicle or anything else, so the estimate above starts with $0.00 in tax on a $25,000 purchase.

    Some counties add a County Option Tax, but it is not a sales tax on the purchase price: it is a property-value-based charge added to the annual registration fee, and not every county has adopted one.

    Because there is no purchase-price tax to begin with, a trade-in does not change what you owe the state on the sale itself. It can still lower what you finance if a dealer credits it toward the new vehicle's price.

    Montana Car Title and Registration Fees

    Montana's title fee is $12.36. Annual light-vehicle registration is $217 for a vehicle up to 4 years old, $87 for 5 to 10 years, and $28 for 11 years and older, and some counties add their own County Option Tax based on the vehicle's value.

    FeeAmountNotes
    Title feeTitle$12.36For a light vehicle, truck, or bus weighing less than one ton, including a 3% administration fee.
    Registration feeRegistrationVaries$217 for a vehicle up to 4 years old, $87 for 5 to 10 years, or $28 for 11 years and older, plus a value-based County Option Tax in some counties. Enter your amount under Advanced options.
    Dealer documentation feeSet by the dealerVariesMontana has no general sales tax, so a dealer documentation fee is not taxed at the state level.

    How Montana Car Sales Tax Is Calculated

    1. Start with the purchase price. Montana has no sales tax, so no percentage is applied here.
    2. Subtract your trade-in allowance if a dealer credits it toward the price you finance.
    3. Add the $12.36 title fee.
    4. Add your age-based annual registration fee ($217, $87, or $28), plus any County Option Tax your county has adopted, to reach your out-the-door price.

    Vehicles 11 years or older can qualify for Montana's Permanent Registration, a one-time fee that replaces all future annual renewals for the life of the vehicle.

    Because there is no sales tax, the biggest variable in your Montana total is the registration fee, which drops as the vehicle ages, and whether your county has adopted the County Option Tax. Check the Montana Motor Vehicle Division for your county's current fees. Read how a trade-in affects sales tax to see how a no-sales-tax state like Montana compares with others.

    Example Montana Car Sales Tax Calculation

    There's no sales tax line here because Montana doesn't charge one; the trade-in still lowers what's financed.

    Vehicle price$28,500.00
    Trade-in−$6,000.00
    Taxable amount$22,500.00
    No sales tax (0%)$0.00
    Title fee$12.36
    Registration feeNot included
    Estimated total$22,512.36

    This is an illustration, not a quote.

    Frequently Asked Questions About Montana Car Sales Tax

    Does Montana charge sales tax on a car?

    No. Montana is one of the few states with no general sales tax, and that applies to vehicles too, no matter which county you register in.

    What is Montana's County Option Tax?

    It is a property-value-based charge some counties add to the annual vehicle registration fee. It is not a sales tax on the purchase price, and not every county has adopted it.

    Does a trade-in matter if there's no sales tax?

    It won't lower any state tax, since there isn't one, but a dealer trade-in credit can still reduce the amount you finance.

    How much is vehicle registration in Montana?

    $217 for a vehicle up to 4 years old, $87 for 5 to 10 years, or $28 for 11 years and older, plus a County Option Tax in some counties based on the vehicle's value.

    Sources

    Taxes and fees change, so confirm exact amounts with the agencies above.

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