Your American Road Trip Dream Just Became Reality

We make it easy for visitors to own a vehicle in the United States. Whether you're looking at short-term ownership, plan to hold it for the long haul, or export it, we've got you covered.

50+ reviews • Excellent
Paying customers consistently rate visitor.us five stars
International visitors to the US love buying vehicles for bucket-list roadtrips.
Matt from visitor.us was an absolute lifesaver... he was there every step of the way.
Nikki from New Zealand used visitor.us to buy a campervan
Nikki Addison
New Zealand
visitor.us made the whole process of buying and selling a car in America as easy as could be.
Matt from Australia used visitor.us to explore the US and Canada
Matt Deavin
Australia
This is a company of excellence - I have rarely seen such a well done service.
Andre from Brazil bought a Class C RV in the US with visitor.us
André Tezza
Brazil
I can’t recommend visitor.us highly enough - Matt is knowledgeable, super helpful and completely trustworthy.
Debbie, her husband Dean, and their two kids, traveled the US for a whole year in a Class A RV with the help of visitor.us
Debbie Niblett
New Zealand
I used visitor.us and the process was effortless. Everything online and quick. Highly recommended.
Jeroen from the Netherlands used visitor.us to buy a Ford Explorer and drive the Panamerican highway
Jeroen Berguis
Netherlands
visitor.us made our whole experience seamless and stress-free!
Victoria and Nathan from Australia bought and sold a vehicle in the US instead of renting or hiring.
Victoria Bower
Australia
HOW IT WORKS

This Is How Easy US Vehicle Ownership Can Be

In the USA, vehicle ownership is governed by states, and Montana has the best combination of laws. Low registration fees. 0% sales tax. No US driver’s license requirement. No emissions tests. And the car doesn’t have to be in Montana–or ever go there. It just takes 3 simple steps:

1
Find your car (or motorcycle, truck, motorhome, or trailer). Anywhere in the USA.
2
Purchase it tax-free through a Montana company that we set up for you.
3
We send your registration, license plates, and title to you.
a brief overview

visitor.us in 2 Minutes

More Complex Needs?
We've Got You Covered

Vehicle Registration

You buy the vehicle. We register it for you.

Ongoing Registration

 Low annual costs, no hassle.

Additional Vehicles

Even cheaper and easier than the first one.
Non-resident registration allowed
0% Sales Tax
Vehicle inspections not required
Registering your vehicle in Montana will make traveling the US easy and hassle-free.
REGISTRATION

Montana Is the Best US State for Vehicle Registration

Vehicle registration in the US is handled at the state level, not the national level.

Montana offers the optimal combination of policies for registering your vehicle.

Your vehicle never has to come to Montana to be registered here.

There are 38 states that

Don't require proof of residency.

There are 21 states that

Don't require proof of residency.
Don't require a US driver's license.

There are 7 states that

Don't require proof of residency.
Don't require a US driver's license.
Don't require vehicle inspections.

Montana is the only US state that

Allows non-residents to register vehicles through a company.
Doesn't require a US driver's license.
Doesn't require vehicle inspections.
Doesn't have vehicle sales tax.

Let's get you on the road

We make US vehicle ownership easy so you can enjoy your visit.

PRICING

Cheaper than doing it yourself

visitor.us
$995
For any vehicle <$150,000
Get started
Do it yourself in New York
$2,030
For a $20,000 vehicle
Do it yourself in California
$2,093
For a $20,000 vehicle

See what international travelers say about visitor.us

Rated Excellent on Trustpilot
Matt copenhaver, founder

Here's How We Earn Your Business

Whether you are planning your first trip to the USA or have been here many times, figuring out how to buy and register a vehicle here is a big decision. I founded this business to solve a problem for many of my visiting friends. I’ve earned the privilege of serving hundreds of customers by sticking to a simple formula: offer fantastic service at a great price. Got a question? We pride ourselves on quick, personal, & knowledgeable support. We can even jump on a video chat to go through everything. Reach out to us now–and I promise you’ll be one step closer to checking “car registration” off your to-do list.

The signature of our founder, Matt Copenhaver
Matt Copenhaver, the founder of visitor.us

FAQs

Answers to common questions about visitor.us

What does visitor.us do?

visitor.us helps international visitors to the US buy vehicles as an alternative to renting.

We help with the hardest part of the process: vehicle registration.  (Why is vehicle registration the hardest part of the process?)

visitor.us registers vehicles for international visitors in the best US state for vehicle registrations: Montana.  (Why is Montana the best state?)

In order to register a vehicle in Montana, you have to have a presence here.  That’s why we form a Montana Limited Liability Company (LLC), owned 100% by you, and then register the vehicle to your LLC.

How much does visitor.us cost?

visitor.us charges a flat fee of $995 for most vehicles.*

This cost covers forming your Montana Limited Liability Company (LLC), registering your vehicle, couriering your vehicle’s paperwork, a 40-day Montana temp tag that will let you hit the road while your registration is in process, support for the LLC’s required filings, and termination of your LLC when your visit is complete.

visitor.us charges a reduced flat fee of $745 for each additional vehicle registration.

*Motorhomes with an MSRP of $350k or more and non-RV vehicles with an MSRP of $150k or more are subject to additional fees.  (More detail on fees for high-value vehicles.)

How long does registration take?

Once we have your vehicle’s properly signed prior title, we will register your vehicle in two weeks or less.

visitor.us offers 40-day Montana temp tags that will allow you to hit the road while your registration is in process.

When your registration is complete, we will send your Montana license plates, registration document, and title to a location that’s convenient for you.

How does insurance work?

You can book an insurance policy directly, online or over the phone.

A handful of US auto insurers accept drivers without a US driver’s license.

You’ll want a personal auto policy, booked at an address where the vehicle will spend time (at least a night or two), that lists your Montana LLC as an “additional insured interest.”

This article
provides an in-depth look at insurance for visitor.us users.

How long before I buy my vehicle should I sign up for visitor.us?

When you hire visitor.us to register your vehicle, we form a Montana Limited Liability Company (LLC), owned 100% by you.  This LLC is a resident of Montana, and can therefore register a vehicle here.

Because your vehicle will be registered to your LLC, its paperwork needs to reflect your LLC as the buyer.

Therefore, your LLC should be set up before you sign your vehicle’s paperwork.

Forming a Montana LLC takes about one business day - not long at all.

So, you should consider signing up for visitor.us when you identify a specific vehicle that you’d like to purchase.

Why don’t all Americans register their vehicles in Montana?

All US states have laws requiring people to register their vehicles in-state with a certain time period of becoming a resident.

For example, California requires everyone to register their vehicle(s) in California within 20 days of becoming a California resident.

So, Americans have to register their vehicles in the state in which they live.

However, if you are traveling, and do not become a resident of any US state, you’re not subject to any state’s registration requirements, and are therefore free to choose the best US state to register your vehicle in (which, for most travelers, is Montana).

Can I own an LLC on my visa?

Visas and visa waivers (such as ESTAs) are issued by the national US government, while company formation is handled by the US states.

Montana doesn’t require US citizenship, residency, or even presence in the United States to form a Montana limited liability company (LLC).

If you’re on a B1, B2, ESTA, or other “non-working” visa (or visa waiver), you are prohibited from being employed in the United States while you’re here.

The relationship between yourself and your LLC is one of ownership, not of employment.

However, using your LLC for commercial purposes while you’re in the US - i.e., regularly selling goods and/or services - may cause authorities to consider your relationship to your LLC as one of employment.  If you have questions about employment while in the United States, please consult an immigration attorney.

What are the tax impacts of owning a Montana LLC?

In most cases, an LLC that doesn’t earn income doesn’t owe income tax.

If your LLC simply exists to own a vehicle, its only opportunity to earn income is by selling the vehicle for more than it cost to purchase.

For a bit more detail on tax impacts, kindly consult this article.

What are the filing requirements for owning a Montana LLC?

Owning a Montana Limited Liability Company (LLC) does come with some filing requirements.

Included with your visitor.us order is our support with the required filings.  visitor.us populates all the necessary forms with your LLC’s details, then you simply input the required values (e.g., the price you paid for the vehicle), sign the form, and visitor.us submits it to the authorities.

You can learn more about the specific forms here.

Can multiple vehicles be registered to my Montana LLC?

Yes, visitor.us can register as many vehicles as you want to your LLC.

visitor.us charges a reduced fee of $745 to register each additional vehicle after the first.

(Additional fees for high-value vehicles apply to each vehicle.)

Can I keep my vehicle for longer than a year?

Absolutely!  Many visitor.us customers keep their vehicle(s) in the US for use year after year.

For more detail on the annual requirements and costs, please see this article.

Can I take my vehicle outside of the US?

Absolutely!

Your vehicle can enter and remain in Canada as long as its registration is current and valid.  (If you’re a Canadian resident, check with your provincial authorities, as local registration may be required.)

Vehicles brought into Mexico and Central- and South-American countries usually require a temporary registration permit (TIP).  For more information about crossing borders south of the US, please consult this article.

And you are welcome, of course, to import your vehicle to your home country and register it there.

Still have a question?

Get answers to common questions not listed here.

Let's Get You on the Road

We make US vehicle ownership easy so you can enjoy your visit.