2023 Montana Code Annotated › Title 61. Motor Vehicles › Chapter 3. Certificates of Title, Registration, and Taxation of Motor Vehicles › Part 1. General Provisions › 61-3-107. Identification number for trailers, campers, and other motor vehicles

61-3-107. Identification number for trailers, campers, and other motor vehicles.
(1) A trailer, semitrailer, pole trailer, or camper that does not have a manufacturer's or other identifying number on the trailer, semitrailer, pole trailer, or camper must be assigned an identification number by the department.
(2) The department may not issue a certificate of title or reissue a certificate of title covering a motor vehicle, trailer, semitrailer, pole trailer, camper, motorboat, personal watercraft, sailboat, or snowmobile on which the identification number has been altered, removed, obliterated, defaced, omitted, or is otherwise absent unless the owner or other person lawfully in possession of the motor vehicle, trailer, semitrailer, pole trailer, camper, motorboat, personal watercraft, sailboat, or snowmobile files an application with the department, accompanied by a fee of $5. The application must be on a form provided by the department and must contain information required by the department for the assignment of a special identification number for a motor vehicle, trailer, semitrailer, pole trailer, camper, motorboat, personal watercraft, sailboat, or snowmobile. Upon receipt of the application and if the department is satisfied that the applicant is entitled to the assignment of an identification number, the department shall designate a special identification number for the motor vehicle, trailer, semitrailer, pole trailer, camper, motorboat, personal watercraft, sailboat, or snowmobile. The department shall note the special identification number on the application and on records to be kept by the department. This assigned identification number must be stamped or securely attached in a conspicuous position on the motor vehicle, trailer, semitrailer, pole trailer, camper, motorboat, personal watercraft, sailboat, or snowmobile in the manner and form prescribed by the department.
(3) If the true identity of a motor vehicle, trailer, semitrailer, pole trailer, camper, motorboat, personal watercraft, sailboat, or snowmobile can be established by restoring the original manufacturer's serial number or other distinguishing numbers or identification marks, the department may not assign a special identification number and shall replace the motor vehicle's, trailer's, semitrailer's, pole trailer's, camper's, motorboat's, personal watercraft's, sailboat's, or snowmobile's identification mark by duplicating the manufacturer's full numeric or alphanumeric identification sequence. The department may replace an identification mark only after conducting an inquiry to determine that ownership of the motor vehicle bearing a restored identification mark has been lawfully transferred to the applicant. The applicant shall apply for and the department shall replace the identification mark on the motor vehicle, trailer, semitrailer, pole trailer, camper, motorboat, personal watercraft, sailboat, or snowmobile as required under subsection (2).
(4) Upon receipt by the department of a certificate of inspection completed by a peace officer or authorized member of the department verifying that the identification number has been stamped or securely attached in a conspicuous position upon the motor vehicle, trailer, semitrailer, pole trailer, camper, motorboat, personal watercraft, sailboat, or snowmobile, accompanied by an application for a certificate of title and the required fee, the department shall use the number as the numeric or alphanumeric identification mark for the motor vehicle, trailer, semitrailer, pole trailer, camper, motorboat, personal watercraft, sailboat, or snowmobile in any certificate of title that may be issued.
History: En. Sec. 4, Ch. 75, L. 1917; re-en. Sec. 1758, R.C.M. 1921; amd. Sec. 2, Ch. 159, L. 1933; re-en. Sec. 1758, R.C.M. 1935; amd. Sec. 5, Ch. 72, L. 1937; amd. Sec. 1, Ch. 148, L. 1943; amd. Sec. 1, Ch. 63, L. 1945; amd. Sec. 1, Ch. 115, L. 1953; amd. Sec. 1, Ch. 200, L. 1955; amd. Sec. 1, Ch. 139, L. 1961; amd. Sec. 7, Ch. 127, L. 1969; amd. Sec. 1, Ch. 179, L. 1971; amd. Sec. 1, Ch. 104, L. 1975; R.C.M. 1947, 53-107(part); amd. Sec. 1, Ch. 503, L. 1985; amd. Sec. 2, Ch. 272, L. 1991; amd. Sec. 3, Ch. 715, L. 1991; amd. Sec. 47, Ch. 477, L. 2003; amd. Sec. 45, Ch. 542, L. 2005; amd. Sec. 39, Ch. 596, L. 2005.