5 Best Auto Transport Companies in Montana For 2024

1. Understand Montana Residency

This step only applies if you’re relocating from another state and plan to establish your permanent and principal residence in Montana. The information does not apply to vacationers or college students living temporarily in Montana. The Treasure State legally requires new residents to take specific steps regarding insurance, car registration, driver license, and more, based upon the date they establish residency. It may be challenging to establish an exact date of residence, but Montana suggests you’re a resident if:

• You live in Montana for 180 consecutive days and prove your permanent residence is in Montana by providing a signed mortgage, deed, or 12-month minimum lease.
• You can provide proof that you’ve been employed in Montana for at least 180 consecutive days.
• You can show a Montana driver's license.

Once you meet the previous three requirements, you must live in Montana for at least 120 days of each consecutive year to maintain your residency status.

2. Update Your Insurance to Comply with MT Laws

Each state sets its own laws regarding auto insurance minimums. In Montana, must purchase auto insurance within 60 days of establishing residency. All registered vehicles must carry insurance, and you must keep proof of insurance in your car at all times. The required insurance minimums are:

• $25,000 bodily injury liability per person/$50,000 per accident: Helps cover medical costs of one person injured in any one accident that is your fault.

Montana bodily injury liability insurance does not cover vehicles or property damaged in an accident. If you want to take on less risk, you may want to increase your bodily injury coverage and add property damage insurance. You may also consider purchasing collision, comprehensive, or uninsured motorist coverage.

3. Title and Register Your Vehicle

If you bring a car into Montana from another state, you must apply for title and registration within 60 days of establishing residency. The Vehicle Services Bureau (VSB) manages vehicle registration and titling, and the two processes happen simultaneously.

• Apply at the county treasurer’s office in the county in which you live
• Present your out-of-state registration and title documents
• Present your valid Montana driver license
• Provide proof of Montana auto insurance
• Pay all taxes and fees. (You can choose 12-month, 24-month, or permanent registration.)

You must keep a copy of your registration receipt in the vehicle at all times.

4. Obtain a Valid Montana Driver License

You must obtain a Montana driver license within 60 days of establishing residency. Once you receive your license, you must have it in your possession whenever driving a vehicle. You’ll need to make an appointment at a driver license station. At the station, provide the following required documents:

• Proof of Montana residency
• Two documents that prove your identity
• Your valid out-of-state driver license
• Proof of authorized presence
  • An original or certified birth certificate
  • A valid, unexpired U.S. passport or passport card

5. Winterize Your Vehicle

Properly preparing your vehicle for harsh winter weather not only prevents damage to your car or truck – it’s critical for safe driving.

• Check your battery and clean the terminals: Prevent the chance of being stranded if your battery fails.
• Check your motor oil: Heavy oils thicken at low temps. Consider a ‘winter weight’ oil.
• Replace your wiper blades: Visibility during rain, snow, and fog is critical.
• Consider snow tires: Snow tires are especially essential if you’re going to be driving on the highway. In-town drivers may not need snow tires since roads are regularly plowed, but snow tires provide more traction and more stable driving.
• Check your tire pressure: The colder the weather, the more your tire pressure drops. For every 10-degree Fahrenheit drop, tire pressure falls one psi. Proper tire pressure is critical for safe Montana driving.
• Check your coolant/antifreeze: Coolant protects your engine from freezing, but it also has anti-corrosive additives. Drain the cooling system and add new antifreeze.
• Make sure your heater/defroster is in tip-top condition.
• Wash then wax the paint: This helps prevent salt damage and corrosion.
• Create a winter emergency kit: When the unexpected happens, having an emergency kit keeps stress levels down. Some critical items to include are: Fix a Flat, work gloves, warm cap with ear flaps, a fold-up shovel, an LED flashlight with lithium batteries (alkaline batteries freeze in winter), back-up cell phone charger, and jumper cables.

Are you looking to ship your vehicle to Montana from another part of the country? Caravan Auto Transport’s network of vetted, licensed, and insured auto transporters offers safe, efficient transport of your automobile to its destination without running up the miles on the odometer. These reputable Montana car shipping companies provide the following services:

Open Car Transport

The most common method of car transportation, open transport carriers are ideal if you’re looking for an affordable shipping option with speedy delivery. As the name suggests, your car is loaded onto an open-air trailer along with several other vehicles headed to the same destination.

Enclosed Auto Transport

If you desire enhanced security or protection for your vehicle, you may wish to arrange enclosed carrier shipping. Inside a covered trailer, your car has protection from harsh weather conditions and road hazards like dust and dirt. Shipping your vehicle in a closed carrier also enhances its safety during transit by keeping the car concealed.

Door-to-Door Car Shipping

With a door-to-door car shipping service, you choose the desired pick-up and drop-off locations rather than having to arrange getting your vehicle to or from a transport terminal. Door-to-door shipping is the most convenient choice for shipping your car to or from Montana, saving you time and effort.

Expedited Shipping

In a hurry to get your car from one location to the next? Upgrading to expedited shipping ensures a seamless pick-up and drop-off of your vehicle on your schedule. As a priority customer, you receive fast, timely service so you can get back to driving that much quicker.

Classic and Antique Car Transport

When it comes to transporting a classic car, you want an auto transport company that can deliver your vehicle without a single dent or scratch. From a vintage Mustang to an antique DeVaux Sports Coupe, our network of classic auto transporters has the expertise and equipment to transport your classic car safely, so it arrives in pristine condition.

High End and Luxury Auto Shipping

Exotic car transporters use specialty equipment, like hydraulic lifts and sophisticated tie-downs, along with enclosed trucks, to keep your valuable car safe during every mile of transit. An enclosed car hauler ensures the ultimate protection for your high-end or luxury vehicle, protecting it from dirt, dust, and debris along the way.

From moving off to college, a new job, or heading south for the winter, there are numerous reasons you may be interested in shipping a car to Montana or somewhere outside of the Treasure State. Caravan Auto Transport’s network of auto shippers streamlines the car hauling process no matter your reason for transporting your vehicle to or from MT.

Moving and Relocation

When moving cross-country or out-of-state, many people choose to ship their cars rather than add a long road trip to an already stressful and exhausting relocation experience. Leave the logistics of moving your vehicle in the hands of professionals with either open or enclosed vehicle shipping services.

Snowbirds

When Montana roads are like sheets of glass, and the frigid, icy wind blows right through you,

do you fly south for the winter? Given Montana’s below-freezing winters, it’s not hard to understand why you may spend the season in warmer climes. Start enjoying your escape from Montana winters that much sooner by shipping your car and meeting it at your southern destination -- whether you winter in star-studded Palm Springs or balmy, laid-back Key West.

Military

Montana is home to one military base and six military installations. In Cascade, MT, Malmstrom Air Force Base is one of the only three Air Force bases that operate intercontinental Minuteman III missiles. About 3,200 military personnel live in the Treasure State. If you’re one of the brave men and women serving our country, we’re happy to provide you with free quotes and connect you with top-notch car transportation to or from Montana.

Online Car Buyers

Whether you’ve found the perfect vehicle on Craigslist, eBay, or AutoTrader, you may need some assistance getting it home, especially if it’s sitting on the other side of the country. Instead of flying out to pick it up and putting hundreds or thousands of miles on the odometer just to get it to your driveway, arrange for a hauler to transport your new car for you.

College Students

From the flagship University of Montana in Missoula to the private Carroll College in Montana’s capital, Helena, the Treasure State has no shortage of top-tier colleges and universities for those seeking to further their education. If you have a college student moving to Montana from out-of-state (or vice versa), have their vehicle shipped straight to campus with a fast, affordable auto transport service.

On average, it costs between $500-$1500 to ship a car to Montana. Anticipate paying around $1 per mile for the first 1-500 miles, then approximately $.75 for every mile after that. Several factors influence the final cost of shipping your vehicle, including the origin and destination zip codes, the method of transport (open vs. enclosed), the speed of shipment, the type of vehicle, and the time of year. The best way to get an accurate estimate of car shipping costs is by requesting free quotes from our network of auto transport companies.