A Montana boat bill of sale (Form MV24) is used as documentation for the purchase of a motorboat, sailboat, canoe, or any other type of vessel. The bill operates like a typical sales receipt, stating the boat’s price and the date of sale. It also contains important facts about the vessel that owners will need when applying for registration with the Motor Vehicle Division. These details include the vessel’s length, make, model, year, hull ID, and current registration number. Buyers should note that they have forty (40) days following the purchase to transfer ownership of the vessel to their name. Failing to register in time will result in a $10 late fee.

Montana Boat Registration/Titling

All motorized vessels and sailboats that are twelve (12) feet or longer must be registered and titled with the Motor Vehicle Division. To register/title a boat in Montana, the owner will need the following:

1. A complete Application for Vessel Certificate of Title (Form MV1A).
2. A bill of sale signed by both the buyer and seller.
3. The vessel’s title properly assigned to the new owner.

After obtaining the requisite documents, the owner must file their paperwork at a County Treasurer Office and pay the registration/titling fee. The fees are as follows:

• Boats under sixteen (16) feet – $65.50
• Boats sixteen (16) feet or longer but less than nineteen (19) feet – $125.50
• Boats nineteen (19) feet or longer – $295.50