We Offer a Simple, Proven Vehicle Ownership Process
We’ve done this hundreds of times. Read about the easy, fast, and low-cost process of owning a vehicle in America. No US passport or US driver’s license needed. Reach out if you have questions.
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There are 3 simple steps to owning a vehicle in America
You sign a simple no-cost lease at visitor.us' office in Montana
This lease is your presence in Montana, the best US state for an international visitor to own a vehicle (Learn more here).
You buy a vehicle in your name, at our Montana address
Buy any vehicle for sale with US ownership documentation, offered by a dealer or an individual. You pay 0% sales tax (in most situations).
visitor.us registers your vehicle in your name in Montana
visitor.us registers your vehicle in your name, and sends your registration, license plates, and title to a location that’s convenient to you.
Here’s an overview of the process
Sign up for visitor.us
When you’re ready to get started with visitor.us, click the Get Started button.
Create your Montana presence
Sign a no-cost lease at visitor.us' office in Montana. This lease is the presence in Montana that allows vehicle registration here.
Purchase and insure your vehicle
Now that your Montana presence is established, it's time to find a vehicle.
Purchase your vehicle
Buy whatever vehicle you want, from whoever you want, wherever you want.
Purchasing your vehicle is your responsibility.
Insure your vehicle
When you hire visitor.us to register your vehicle, you get the flexibility to decide what insurance you want.
Insuring your vehicle is your responsibility; visitor.us is not an insurance agent.
Your vehicle
Next, tell us about the vehicle that you purchased - year, make, model, mileage, etc.
Send the vehicle's title to visitor.us for registration using the pre-paid shipping label that we provide.
Temporary registration
visitor.us provides a 40-day Montana temporary registration within one business day of your request. It's a PDF document that you print and attach to the rear of your vehicle, so you can hit the road while your annual registration is in process.
License plates and registration
We usually complete registration about one week after receiving your vehicle’s prior title (if the title is free of errors). When your license plates and registration are ready, you’ll be prompted to provide an address that’s convenient for you to receive your items.
Montana title
We receive your vehicle’s Montana title by mail, usually four to six weeks after registering your vehicle. When your title is ready, you’ll be prompted to provide an address that’s convenient for you to receive the document.
Order complete!
Let's get you on the road
We make US vehicle ownership easy so you can enjoy your visit.
See what international travelers say about visitor.us
More complex needs?
We've got you covered.
Below you’ll find ways that visitors to the US are using visitor.us - select a use case to learn more.
Unlock the keys to US vehicle ownership: Grab our free eBook today!
Get over 50 pages of expert advice on vehicle ownership in the U.S. This eBook covers everything from buying and registering your car to getting insurance and selling it. Download now and navigate the process with ease!
Frequently Asked Questions
Answers to common questions about visitor.us
How long does vehicle 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 and registration document to a location that’s convenient for you.
Montana issues titles by mail about four to six weeks after registration. When we receive your title, we'll contact you to arrange delivery to a location that's convenient for you.
Do I have to buy my vehicle in Montana?
No! You can buy your vehicle anywhere in the US, and register/own it in Montana!
Vehicles registered in any US state can be driven in every US state (and Canada, Mexico, etc.).
Does my vehicle have to come to Montana in order to register it there?
No!
Montana has no vehicle inspection requirements, which means your vehicle never has to physically come to Montana in order to be registered in Montana.
What is visitor.us’ vehicle registration fee? Are there any additional costs?
You can find all pricing details on our Pricing page.
Can visitor.us help me buy a vehicle?
visitor.us is laser-focused on registering vehicles for international visitors.
While we don’t provide direct support for the vehicle purchase process, this guide should tell you everything you need to know about buying a vehicle in the US.
Can visitor.us provide insurance for my vehicle?
visitor.us is not a licensed insurance agent, so we can’t generate insurance policies or quotes directly.
However, you can learn all about the US insurance process and connect with our preferred insurance agency by reading this guide.
Can I use visitor.us’ address for insurance?
No.
Insurance companies require applicants to provide a vehicle's 'garaging address,' or the address where the vehicle is normally kept. This helps them accurately price the policy to reflect the risks of a claim.
Since you will not keep your vehicle at visitor.us' address (our lease prohibits it), our address cannot be used for insurance purposes without explicit permission from a licensed insurance agent.
For more information on insurance, please consult this resource.
Should I sign up for visitor.us or buy my vehicle first?
In order to complete the vehicle purchase process, you will need to establish your Montana presence, so that the vehicle’s seller can properly document your details on the vehicle’s title.
You can learn more about how visitor.us establishes your Montana presence here.
Where will visitor.us send my license plates, registration and title?
We know that you’re probably traveling - and might not know where you’ll be when your license plates and documents are ready - and we have designed our service accordingly.
When your license plates and registration document are ready, we’ll send you an email notification and request a destination address for those items at that time.
If you’re traveling in the US or Canada without a fixed address, you can choose to have your items delivered to a Fedex service location, where they will be held for up to five business days for pickup. Simply show a photo ID that matches the name of the recipient, and collect your package.
Montana mails vehicle titles to a vehicle’s registered address four to six weeks after registration. When we receive your vehicle’s Montana title in the mail, we’ll send you an email notification and request a destination address for your Montana title at that time.
Shipments to or from outside of the US are subject to an international shipment fee, details of which can be found on our pricing page.
Can I keep my vehicle for longer than a year?
Absolutely! Montana vehicle registrations are annual by default (except for trailers and motorcycles, whose registrations are permanent, and never need to be renewed, by default).
If you plan to keep your vehicle for longer than a year, you can simply order a registration renewal. After receiving your new registration document and decal in the mail, we’ll send you an email notification and request a destination address for those items at that time.
If your vehicle is 11 years or older, permanent registration (which never needs to be renewed) is available for an additional fee.
Details on registration renewal and permanent registration fees can be found on our pricing page.
Can I take my vehicle outside the US?
Yes!
Your vehicle’s registration is valid in Canada, Mexico, and anywhere else that maintains diplomatic relations with the United States (as long as your vehicle’s registration is current).
Can visitor.us register multiple vehicles for me?
Yes! If you want to buy a trailer, a motorcycle, or any other type of vehicle, we offer a discounted rate for each additional vehicle registration.
You can view our additional vehicle registration pricing on our pricing page.
How do I sell my vehicle at the end of my visit?
While we don’t provide direct support for the vehicle sale process, this guide should tell you everything you need to know about selling your vehicle at the end of your visit.
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.
