RV Filing Guide
Step-by-Step Guide to Owning Your RV Through a Montana LLC
Class A, Class B, Class C, fifth wheel. The Montana LLC formation process differs by vehicle type and state. This guide walks you through each step.
Class A, Class B, Class C, fifth wheel. The Montana LLC formation process differs by vehicle type and state. This guide walks you through each step.
For most RV owners, the single most important decision in the registration process is which state to register in. Your home state is the default, but it is not always the best option. Montana, South Dakota, and Wyoming are the three most common alternatives because they charge no state sales tax on vehicle purchases and have lower annual registration fees than most states. On a $200,000 Class A motorhome, the sales tax savings in Montana versus a 6 percent tax state is $12,000, paid only once.
Regardless of which state you register in, you will need: a title or Manufacturer Statement of Origin (if you bought from a dealership you likely received an MSO; if you bought used you should have received a signed title from the seller), a bill of sale especially important for private-party purchases, proof of insurance (your policy must be in place before most states will issue registration), and vehicle weight documentation (Montana and some other states classify RVs by gross vehicle weight rating for registration fee purposes).
A Montana LLC is a real business entity formed with the Montana Secretary of State. It needs: Articles of Organization (filed online, 24 to 72 hours), a Montana registered agent with a physical Montana address, and an EIN from the IRS (free, same day online).
If registering through a Montana LLC, the title application must show the LLC as buyer and owner. If the original MSO or title is in your personal name, you will need an assignment to the LLC before the Montana title application can proceed. We handle this assignment as part of the standard service.
The complete packet (title application, MSO or prior title, bill of sale, LLC formation documents, GVWR documentation, and proof of insurance) submits to the Montana Motor Vehicle Division. Processing on a complete packet typically runs 5 to 10 business days. The MVD issues a Montana title and registration simultaneously.
Montana plates ship to your home address via USPS Priority Mail. Delivery runs 2 to 4 business days from issuance. You can camp, travel, and drive in any state on Montana plates immediately upon receipt. No Montana visit required at any point in this process.
Two recurring obligations: the Montana Secretary of State annual report ($20, due April 15, filed online) and the Montana MVD registration renewal (varies by GVWR class, filed online). Both are straightforward and do not require any Montana visit.