Free Montana License Plate Lookup and Owner Search

Updated: 28 Jan 2026 5 min read

A Montana license plate lookup service resolves a plate to the VIN and returns NMVTIS-sourced vehicle history (titles, accidents, mileage, recalls) in DPPA-compliant reports.

Why Trust EpicVIN's Montana License Plate Lookup

Montana-scale coverage (1981–2025) - Montana currently has ≈2,357,075 registered vehicles (FHWA Table MV-1, Nov 2024); virtually all fall within EpicVIN’s 1981–2025 coverage window.
99%+ plate-to-VIN match rate in Montana - Our Montana license plate owner lookup reliably resolves plates to the correct 17-character VIN for the vast majority of active registrations (EpicVIN Analytics, 2024–2025).
Official NMVTIS-approved provider - EpicVIN is an authorized NMVTIS data provider and operates in compliance with the Driver’s Privacy Protection Act (DPPA).

What Is a Reverse License Plate Lookup and How Does It Work?

Plate-to-VIN Match

EpicVIN instantly resolves a Montana plate to the vehicle’s 17-character vehicle identification number - no manual VIN decoding required.

Instant Check

We cross-check NMVTIS and trusted partner records for Montana vehicles, surfacing title brands, registration events, theft/salvage activity, and inspection history.

Vehicle History Report

Get a quick snapshot for Montana vehicles: accidents/damage, title status, mileage readings (incl. inspection results where available), and open recalls—without exposing personal owner details.

Expect to see the VIN, basic vehicle specs, and any reported incidents (e.g., accidents, salvage titles, or recalls). Private owner details are not included, keeping the process legal and privacy-safe.

How to Look Up a Montana (MT) License Plate

Enter the Plate

Type the license plate number exactly (letters/numbers only; no spaces or special characters).

Select Montana

Ensure “Montana” is selected before running the search.

Hit "Check Plate"

EpicVIN finds the VIN and basic vehicle info instantly for your car.

Read & Save

Review the free preview (VIN, make/model/year, public record counts), then decide if you want the full vehicle history report. Look for red-flag icons (accident, salvage) to decide quickly.

Why run a Montana license plate search?

✅ What you can get from the report

Vehicle VIN & Manufacturing Details: Resolve the 17-digit VIN and factory specs. Verify engine and options for Montana listings and auction records to reduce misrepresentation risks.
Mileage Tampering & History: Chart odometer readings over time. Flag rollback or inconsistencies using Montana records and inspection timestamps, where available, to protect buyers.
Title Classification & Problems: Spot salvage, flood, lemon buybacks, or other title brands tied to Montana entries and interstate transfers to avoid costly surprises later.
Security & Manufacturer Issues: Surface active recalls and relevant TSBs. In Montana, these help prioritize urgent safety fixes before purchase or registration.
Liens & Recovery Records: Identify active liens, theft, and recovery notes, and fleet/taxi indicators where documented in Montana and national databases.
Previous Owner Timeline: Shows the number of owners and length of each ownership period - no names or addresses. It's a helpful context for Montana buyers.

❌ You CANNOT get

Reports don’t include restricted personal data such as the owner’s name or address, live ALPR (automatic license plate recognition) location, driver’s license, or insurance numbers. Under the DPPA and applicable state privacy law, results are for vehicle information only - not for FCRA-regulated (Fair Credit Reporting Act) decisions.

Name: Protected personal information under DPPA/state privacy rules.
Address: Not available in public lookups; privacy restrictions apply.
Phone Number: Restricted; not disclosed in vehicle history reports.
Email: Restricted; unavailable via Montana license plate lookup tools.
Live Location: Not provided; ALPR or tracking data is prohibited.
Driver's License Number: Sensitive identifier; not disclosed to the public.

Report Example

A Montana license plate lookup uses the tag number to query public vehicle records. Enter the plate and select Montana; EpicVIN resolves the VIN and compiles the record from NMVTIS and partner sources (including inspection history where available).

Works with standard and personalized Montana plates; temporary tags may not return a VIN until registered.

2002 SATURN SL1

Odometer

No problems
Safety Recalls

No records
Accidents

1 problem
Last mileage

No data
Auction Sales

1 sale found
Owners

No data

Year 2002
Make SATURN
Model SL1
Engine 1.8L In-Line LV6
Made in USA

Montana Vehicle Risks

Indicator	Montana	Potential Risk
Accidents/Damage	22,004 total reported traffic crashes (2022 - the latest official statistics)	Hidden damage, reduced safety, and resale value.
Theft	High theft incidence (2,676 cases in 2022)	Elevated theft risk; possible loss/confiscation and insurance complications.
Inspection/Emissions Patterns	Montana has no statewide passenger-vehicle emissions inspection program	Engine/emissions issues; costly repairs and registration delays.

How to reduce these risks (quick plan)

Run a plate/VIN check first: Start with a quick screen. If red flags appear, buy a full EpicVIN report and review each section carefully.
Check recalls directly: Use NHTSA’s VIN recall lookup to confirm any open safety recalls and required fixes before you drive away.
Verify theft/salvage status: Run a VIN check in Montana to spot reported thefts and insurer-declared salvage where available across jurisdictions.
Inspect the car, not just the paper: Do a thorough test drive and pre-purchase inspection. History reports complement mechanical checks, not replace them.
Match identifiers: Confirm the VIN on the dash/door matches your report, and the plate matches the registration to avoid swaps or clerical errors.
Leverage Montana service records: Compare service invoices and auction photos for time-stamped mileage to detect rollbacks or recurring mechanical issues.

Montana DMV or EpicVIN? Picking the Right Path in Montana

Montana’s MVD can release a vehicle record for permitted purposes via forms or in person. However, the process is slower and mostly registration-focused. If you need a fast free vin check before contacting a seller, online tools are often a more practical starting point. EpicVIN provides instant, multi-source vehicle history with NMVTIS title/brand/lien indicators, which is useful for pre-purchase checks.

Q: Why not just request records from the MVD?
A: It’s a formal process that can take days or weeks and typically omits accident or salvage-auction details; third-party reports help you screen faster.
Q: Will the MVD give me the owner’s name and address?
A: Not for casual inquiries. Owner PII is protected under the DPPA and Montana state privacy law; release is limited to permitted purposes (e.g., government/law-enforcement requests, court orders, safety/recall & emissions, insurance uses, legal proceedings).
Q: Is EpicVIN “official”?
A: Yes - EpicVIN is NMVTIS-approved; title/brand/lien indicators come from official sources, reports exclude owner PII, and EpicVIN isn’t a CRA under the FCRA.
Q: When should I use each?
A: Use EpicVIN for quick due diligence before buying; authorized individuals can use the MVD for a formal registration record tied to a specific permitted purpose.

Trust but verify - run NHTSA’s recall lookup to confirm key issues first. Alex Black, CMO & auto expert, EpicVIN.

Guide to Montana License Plates: Styles, Costs, and Rules

In Montana, license plate costs are part of the total vehicle registration, which varies by vehicle age/weight and county option tax. Key resources, including required documents and forms, are available on the Montana MVD Vehicle Registration page (https://mvdmt.gov/vehicle-registration/) and Forms & Manuals - Vehicle Title & Registration page (https://mvdmt.gov/forms-manuals-vehicle-title-registration/).

Are two plates required in MT? Yes - front and rear for most vehicles; rear-only for motorcycles/trailers/custom/street rods; body-construction front-plate waiver with $25 patrol inspection.

Fines: Driving without a required front plate can result in a citation; amounts vary by locality under state law enforcement discretion.

Standard License Plates

Design: The standard Montana plate features the blue-and-white “Treasure State” design issued by the Montana Department of Justice Motor Vehicle Division.
Cost: $12.36 new issue; $12.36 replacement (new number); $15.45 duplicate (same number).
Renewal: Annual renewal includes state fees and any county option tax based on vehicle age and class.
How to Get: Register with your county treasurer/MVD; plates are generally issued at registration.

Personalized (Vanity) Plates

Design: Order a custom message on several Montana backgrounds (standard and many sponsored options).
Cost: $25 initial; $10 per transfer/renewal (site); MV8 form currently $25.75/$10.30 with processing.
Rules & Characters: Up to 8 positions (letters/numbers/&/space). “O” not used; “0” substituted.
How to Get: Check rules, then submit MV8 Application for Personalized License Plates (PDF).

Specialty License Plates

Design: Montana offers numerous specialty plates supporting causes, universities, and veterans.
Cost: Specialty program fees vary by plate/sponsor and are in addition to registration. (Sponsors pay program fees to create/maintain designs per MVD packet).
How to Get: Choose a sponsored design on MVD’s site and apply via your county/MVD office after paying standard registration costs.

Historic & Collector Plates

Design: Antique/Vintage and “original Montana” year-of-manufacture plates are available for qualifying older vehicles.
Rules & Requirements: 30+ years; one-time $20 to display original Montana plates; additional small admin/weight fees. Additional small fees may apply (e.g., $5 or $10 based on weight for certain antique processes).

Other Plate Rules and Processes

Temporary & Replacement: $19.50 (resident), $24.50 (certain nonresident/e-interface).
Replacement Plates: Duplicate same-number plate fee $15 by statute; MVD schedule lists $15.45 (admin included) in some counties.
Transfers & Surrenders: You can transfer plates to another vehicle and must surrender when required; check your county treasurer/MVD for procedure.

Montana - Fees at a glance

Plate type/Action	One-time plate fee	Where to obtain	Form/official link
Standard passenger plates (new issue)	$12.36	County Treasurer/MVD	MVD - Standard License Plates
Vanity (personalized) plates - initial application	$25.00	County Treasurer/MVD	MCA 61-3-406 - Personalized plate fees
Classic/Antique/Vintage background (collector display)	$20.00 (one-time collector fee)	MVD	MCA 61-3-412 - Original/collector plate display
Replacement plates - duplicate (same number)	$15.00	County Treasurer/MVD	MCA 61-3-333 - Replacing plates/decals
Temporary registration permit (most vehicles)	$19.50	MVD/Authorized agent	MCA 61-3-224 - Temporary registration permit

- Amounts exclude registration taxes and county option taxes; municipal/county components may apply.
- Specialty plate sponsor/design fees vary by program; see MVD resources and sponsor packets.
- Fees verified: Sep 2025.

How Your Personal Information is Protected in Montana

Federal Law:
Driver’s Privacy Protection Act (DPPA): Montana’s Motor Vehicle Division (MVD) explains that the federal DPPA protects a driver’s personally identifiable information in motor-vehicle records.
Local Law:
Montana codifies DPPA safeguards in the Montana Driver Privacy Protection Act (MCA 61-11-501 et seq.). Publishing or contacting individuals with obtained data is prohibited per MVD request forms (MV210/MV210B). Separately, the statewide Consumer Data Privacy Act (Title 30, Ch. 14, Part 28) provides broader privacy protections for Montanans’ personal data outside motor-vehicle records.

EpicVIN complies with the DPPA and the Delaware Personal Data Privacy Act (DPDPA); we do not sell vehicle owners' personal data (only de-identified vehicle data). We do not provide the owner's name, address, or contact information - this is prohibited.

Official Montana Resources

MVD - Vehicle Registration - Start here for new registrations, renewals, and county processes.
MVD - License Plate Information - Browse standard, personalized, and sponsored plate options and rules.
Forms & Manuals - Vehicle Title & Registration - Download key forms (e.g., MV8, vintage/original plate applications).
Frequently Asked Questions (MVD) - Official answers on plates, permits, and county issuance, including temporary permit guidance.
FHWA - Highway Statistics (Table MV-1) - Official state vehicle registration totals used for market sizing.

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Montana Plate Lookup – FAQ

Double-check the entry (0 vs O, I vs 1) and make sure Montana is selected. Very new or temporary tags may not be linked yet - try later or use the vehicle identification number. You can contact our support via chat or email.

Temporary tags and freshly issued plates often aren’t in statewide databases yet. Ask the seller for the VIN or retry in a few days.

Yes. We don’t notify anyone about your lookup, and we don’t display owner PII. Results focus on vehicle data, not personal identity.

State law requires front and rear plates for most vehicles; motorcycles and certain collector/custom vehicles can use a single rear plate.

Yes - use the plate finder and license plate tracker tools to rerun a plate lookup; small typos in the license plate number can cause no-hit results.

Use the personalized plate availability guidance on MVD pages and submit MV8; custom license plate messages must follow state rules.

No. Montana Department of Justice and the DPPA restrict disclosure of personal data; reports focus on the vehicle, not vehicle owners.

Yes - after plate-to-VIN, you’ll see a vehicle history preview (title events, accidents, recalls) before buying a full report.

If a vehicle is flagged as stolen, don’t proceed; contact local law enforcement and the seller’s insurer for guidance.

Yes - use VIN to access a Montana vehicle history and verify vehicle identification number details when the plate lookup returns limited data.

No - specialty plates and standard plates map to the same registration; plate lookup and plate number search work across plate types.

For year-of-manufacture plates, Montana requires specific forms and inspections; EpicVIN still checks the VIN for history, not the collectible plate itself.

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Learn everything there is to know about your next car.

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