How to sell a car in Montana privately

Use the updated notarization rule and remove your plates

Montana MVD says notarization is no longer required for Montana title transfers by individuals or businesses following the October 2025 change. Older Montana titles with a notary section are accepted without that section completed. This current FAQ supersedes older state handouts that still tell private sellers to notarize every title. See Montana MVD's current FAQ.

MVD tells sellers to enter the buyer's name and address, obtain the required owner and buyer signatures and complete the mileage disclosure. Keep your plates and a written sale record. Confirm the exact documents with the county treasurer if you are using Montana's limited alternative process for a currently registered Montana vehicle sold to a Montana resident. Follow Montana MVD's seller instructions.

Plan the Montana closing appointment

Check the issuing state of the title before applying Montana's new rule to the signing. For a Montana title, avoid delaying the sale solely because an old printed notary box remains. Resolve any lender or replacement-title issue before making a delivery promise.

If a lender still has an interest in the car, ask it for the payoff amount, payment instructions and release timing before accepting a closing date. Use our selling a car with a loan guide to prepare those questions. For inherited, leased or branded-title vehicles, obtain the instructions for that situation before using an ordinary private-sale checklist.

Set a price and prepare a useful listing

Compare vehicles with the same trim, similar mileage, condition and title history. Keep private asking prices separate from confirmed dealer offers, then subtract your payoff and selling costs to compare what you could keep. Our private-sale pricing guide explains the comparison.

Use current photographs of your own car. Include the odometer, interior and known damage, and describe maintenance you can document. State the actual city, mileage, asking price and known faults. Keep identification, title photos and financial documents out of the public ad. Use the car-sale photo checklist before posting.

Agree on payment and lawful collection

Ask your own financial institution how to verify the proposed payment before releasing the car. A screenshot or message saying money was sent is not verification. Use the private-sale payment guide to prepare the appointment.

If the buyer lives elsewhere, have them confirm destination-state title, registration, insurance and transport requirements. Follow your own seller steps as well. Our out-of-state buyer handoff guide helps keep the two responsibilities separate.

Montana private-sale checklist

• Follow current Montana notarization guidance for the actual title.
• Complete buyer details, signatures and mileage disclosure.
• Remove your plates and retain the written sale record.
• Verify payment through your own bank before the agreed release.
• Remove belongings, toll devices and saved connected-car information.
• Keep the completed transaction records and mark the listing sold afterward.

Start your Montana listing

When your photos, condition description and ownership plan are ready, start a CarTruvo listing. You set the asking price and speak directly with interested buyers. Arrange payment, ownership transfer and collection with the buyer using the official requirements above.