State guide
Montana
Montana’s abandoned-vehicle rules are split among law enforcement, the Motor Vehicle Division, and the Department of Environmental Quality’s junk vehicle program. State materials make clear that a private property owner generally asks city police or the sheriff to remove the vehicle, and title is usually obtained through a law-enforcement sale or, for a qualified tow truck operator, a separate abandoned-vehicle title process.
Checked against official sources on October 4, 2026. Rules and links change; confirm with the office listed before you act.
Try a ZIP like 30303, “Travis County” or “Columbus, OH”
- When a vehicle counts as abandoned
- Montana treats a vehicle as abandoned for custody purposes after 48 hours on a public highway or after 5 days on a city street, public property, or private property.
- Removing one from private property
- A private property owner or lawful possessor asks city police to remove and hold the vehicle inside city limits, or the sheriff if the property is outside city limits.
- Getting title to an abandoned vehicle
- Title is generally obtained either by buying the vehicle at a sheriff or city police abandoned-vehicle sale using Certificate of Sale MV24AB, or, for a qualified tow truck operator, by applying under the specific abandoned-vehicle title form authorized by MCA 61-12-406.
- State agency
- Montana Department of Justice, Motor Vehicle Division, Vehicle Services Bureau
Official resources in Montana
Montana MVD - Forms & Manuals: Vehicle Title & Registration
Official forms index for title and registration forms mentioned in the title manual.
Key facts for Montana
- Montana law allows custody of a vehicle abandoned 48 hours or more on a public highway.
- Montana law allows custody of a vehicle abandoned 5 days or more on a city street, public property, or private property.
- If a vehicle is abandoned on private property within city limits, the property owner or lawful possessor can request city police remove and hold it.
- If a vehicle is on private property outside city limits, the owner or lawful possessor can request the sheriff remove and hold it.
- If a vehicle is not reclaimed within 30 days after certified-mail notice or prescribed publication, the sheriff or city police shall sell it at public auction.
- The purchaser at a law-enforcement sale receives a Certificate of Sale, Form MV24AB, to use for title application.
City abandoned-vehicle reporting in Montana
| City | city | phone | Details |
|---|---|---|---|
| Crime Prevention Center Yellowstone County | Billings | (406)247-8590 | Official city page says to use the Billings Police online reporting portal for abandoned vehicles within city limits. |
| Billings Police Department Yellowstone County | Billings | 406-657-8200 | Police department quick-links page includes Report an Abandoned Vehicle. |
| Abandoned vehicle specialist / Missoula Police reporting Missoula County | Missoula | 406-552-6000 | Official city page for reporting abandoned vehicles in city limits and for the private-property abandoned-vehicle form. |
| MyHelena abandoned vehicle reporting Lewis and Clark County | Helena | Not published* | Official police resources page directs users to MyHelena requests to report an abandoned vehicle. |
| Parking Complaint Gallatin County | Bozeman | Not published* | Official city parking complaint form for reporting parking complaints; page says officer response may take several days. |
* Not published: the official page doesn't list it. Call the office to confirm before you rely on it.
What to do next
- If the vehicle is on private property, contact city police inside city limits or the county sheriff outside city limits before arranging disposal.
- If you plan to buy at a sheriff or police auction, get the completed MV24AB and take it with your title application.
- If a junk vehicle is simply sitting on your land, DEQ’s guidance says to work through local law enforcement rather than trying to self-dispose of it.
Not seeing your city or county?
Not every city publishes its rules online. Try these, in order:
- General Start with the statewide information above.
- Closest verified Nearest places where we have verified local data outside this state (distance from Montana's population center, for comparison only):
- Code Enforcement, Idaho · about 231 miles
- Snow Removal FAQ, Idaho · about 231 miles
- Spokane Police / My Spokane 311, Washington · about 291 miles
- Call to confirm Ask the official office.Montana MVD - Forms & Manuals: Vehicle Title & Registration
Website →Phone: (406) 444-3933 (as listed on that page, checked Oct 4, 2026)Your city or county office: Local governments →Not sure who handles it locally? USAGov's free help line, 1-844-872-4681, or the Montana page on USA.gov can point you to the right office. - Know the current info? Tell us with a link to the official page.