Montana

Car insurance will soon be required for Montana vehicle registration

Posted: Sep 21, 2012 3:28 PM by Irina Cates - MTN News
Updated: Sep 21, 2012 3:28 PM

MISSOULA - Beginning in January, you won't be able to register your car in Montana unless you have insurance.

Missoula is one of three pilot counties in the state to try out the Montana Insurance Verification System, which provides real-time information and checks with thousands of insurance companies to see whether or not someone is insured.

Treasurer offices can use your name, plate number or the VIN number to check for the insurance.

"At this point we are just verifying and checking to make sure the system works and we're getting the information that we need. We're not enforcing the insurance at this point, that will start January 1," says Missoula County Deputy Treasurer Annie Cathey.

The system was authorized by Senate Bill 508 and passed by the 2009 Legislature.