Can Big Rigs Get Registered Out-of-State?

Dirt Legal Services for Long Haul Truckers

Here at Dirt Legal, we have done a lot of title and registration work since our humble beginnings a few years ago. In fact, we have done over 20,000 title and registration orders over the years, with over one thousand authenticated reviews across Facebook and Google. In short, we know what we are doing. 

And we have helped out with just about everything you can think of:

• Dirt bikes

• ATVs & UTVs

• Cars & trucks

• RVs, buses & skoolies

• Surplus military vehicles

• Minibikes

• E-bikes

• And a lot more

Today we will look at how a Montana LLC could be the perfect fit for your long-haul trucking operation. I mean, you already need an LLC to begin with, right? Well, you’re halfway there. 

Do Commercial Vehicles Need A Special Registration In Montana?

Ok, so the burning question here is: do commercial vehicles need a special registration in Montana? The answer is no! There are no special “commercial” registrations in Montana. The only registrations that exist in Montana are vehicle registrations. Now, once the vehicle is titled and registered, it will potentially require some effort on the part of the owner. 

In this case, we are talking about long-haul trucks, which certainly have some different rules due to gross vehicle weight ratings, which is a topic we may address in a later article. That is such a broad and technical topic in itself that we would be doing a disservice even to start talking about it here. 

For now, all you really need to know is that 

1. There are no commercial registration packages, so if someone is advertising them, it is probably a scam.

2. If you plan to use your Montana LLC for commercial purposes, you will need to do some legwork to ensure it is fully legal. 

What Do Long Haul Truckers Need Besides An LLC?

So, the cool thing about our Montana LLC registration program is that the core tenant is an LLC. It was practically made for use as a business, but it is far from complete as-is. First off, you will personally have to do the legwork of registering your vehicle for commercial use in the State of Montana. This is way outside of our wheelhouse, so we hesitate to add much more to it than that. However, you will have an LLC, which is a major stepping stone. 

Mailboxes

One of the first things that you will need is a mailbox. Thankfully, technology has really shortened the gap, so to speak. There are any number of highly reputable mailbox services to choose from that will scan images of your mail. They will open the items you need to see the contents of and forward them to you.  

The largest digital mailbox services have partner locations numbering in excess of 2,000, so forwarded mail and packages can be picked up just about anywhere. You’ll need this when you are on the road for all reasons, and even though our registered agents handle things in your absence as far as the LLC itself goes, you will want to have mail access for the business side of things once you have your truck registered for business use with the state.

We don’t handle that side of the process, so it will be in your best interest to make sure that you have access to your mail. And besides, why wouldn’t you want that when you are on the road so often?

Titles

When you are planning to run your long-haul trucking business through a Montana LLC with Montana registration, you should really consider getting it titled there as well. This is just a practical suggestion, and if you also operate using your own trailers, we will title and register those as well. 

The great thing about doing this is that you can title as many items in your LLC as you want. Run multiple trucks and multiple trailers? Cool, put them in that LLC. Maybe you like to spend your time RVing with a boat? Great, add those too. 

Registration

Of course, you must be registered to drive on the roadways of this fine nation. We offer a full catalog of registration options, and Montana is a great state for it. Yes, we can get your Peterbilt registered in Montana. Do you have a quad and an SXS that you’d like to cruise legally? No problem; we do it all the time. 

Oh, and if you happen to have a military vehicle collection going, we register those, too. 

The great thing about Montana is that when your truck hits the 11-year-old mark, the registration becomes permanent, and you don’t have to worry about it again. Now, you will have to maintain the LLC annually, but if you plan to use it for business purposes, you will need to anyway. You might as well register your vehicles (potentially registered for life, depending on your vehicle age) in Montana and save a lot of money. 

Why Not Just Register In Your Home State?

This question almost always comes down to money. I’ll start: my home state charges nearly ten percent in sales tax. So yes, if I am buying a $200,000 truck and a $100,000 trailer, it makes a ton of sense to title and register it in Montana and pay zero dollars in sales tax, instead of nearly thirty grand. 

Again, owning an LLC is another reason to register it out of state. See, you only need to establish residency in a state, not domicile, to register there. Your domicile can still be in Ohio, Florida, Missouri, or wherever, but the LLC gives you residence elsewhere, which is enough to title and register your truck and trailer there. 

How Much Can an Owner/Operator Save With A Montana LLC Registration?

This question depends on a whole lot of variables.

Some states are one-and-done with their sales tax; my home state of Kansas screws me with sales tax, but it is just once. 

However, some states also have vehicle taxes on an annual basis. If you are in one of these states, you could save thousands every year. We won’t speak any further on this now because there are too many variables regarding state taxes and fees. Hell, these change from county to county within states, and then they are even different between rural and urban areas of a given county. 

The point is simple: when you register through Dirt Legal, there is no sales tax. Whatever your current tax situation, it’s hard to beat zero. 

Final Thoughts

Without revealing too much of our hand here, this is a topic that we will probably revisit down the road. There are many advantages to titling in a state with no sales tax when you run a business, and it will just be too much to put on paper here. 

Dirt Legal will get your truck titled, registered, and tagged without all the hassle of going to your DMV. Oh, and we will set up your LLC while we’re at it! The only thing you have to lose is money, so go ahead and smash that buy button!