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Montana trucking

Montana trip and fuel permits

A truck can run Montana legally without apportioned plates or an IFTA license, but only on the state's own temporary permits, bought before the trip. Here is each trip permit and fuel permit, what it stands in for, what the state charges, and where to buy it, every fact sourced.

By Evan Reid, Founder of Haul Handbook · Updated Sep 28, 2026

Montana sells two short-term permits to vehicles not licensed for Montana. The temporary trip permit, in lieu of Montana registration and GVW fees, is priced by registered gross weight and by miles to be traveled in Montana, is good for one trip of up to 72 hours, and is void once the vehicle leaves the state. The temporary special fuel permit, for special-fuel vehicles over 26,000 pounds without IFTA, is a flat fee for up to 72 hours and is also void on leaving. Both can be bought electronically before entering Montana or on arrival from MDT in Helena or the nearest open weigh station.

The trip permit (registration side)

This credential answers for registration. Without it, a vehicle whose cab card does not list Montana has no legal registration standing in the state.

Permit
Temporary trip permit (temporary truck permit, in lieu of Montana licensing and GVW fees)
Stands in for
Montana registration and gross vehicle weight fees, or apportioned (IRP) registration with Montana on the cab card
Fee
No single fee: Mont. Code Ann. 61-10-211(2) sets a per-trip fee by registered gross weight and by the miles to be traveled in Montana (0 to 200, 201 to 400, over 400). Up to 46,000 pounds pays 10, 15 or 20 dollars; 46,001 through 80,000 pounds pays 20, 30 or 40 dollars; over 80,001 pounds pays 50, 65 or 80 dollars; a triple combination pays 60, 80 or 100 dollars. MDT's permitting FAQ prints the same table.
Valid for
One trip, not to exceed 72 hours; void on leaving Montana.
Who needs it
Motortrucks and truck tractors already licensed for the year in another jurisdiction and operating in Montana on an itinerant basis without Montana or IRP registration for Montana. The fee is collected on each entry into the state. The permit cannot be sold to a Montana-plated vehicle, and apportioned vehicles with Montana on the cab card need none.
Where to buy
Electronically before entering Montana, including self-issue through MT eTRIPS (Mont. Code Ann. 61-10-213(1)(a); MDT permitting FAQ); On arrival, by contacting MDT Motor Carrier Services in Helena, permit desk (406) 444-7262 (61-10-213(1)(b)); On arrival, at the nearest open weigh station, permanent or temporary (61-10-213(1)(b))
Statute
Mont. Code Ann. 61-10-211, 61-10-212 and 61-10-213

The fuel permit (tax side)

This credential answers for the state's highway or fuel tax when there is no IFTA license (or, in the weight-distance states, no tax account) behind the truck.

Permit
Temporary special fuel permit (in lieu of IFTA)
Stands in for
An IFTA license and decals
Fee
$30 (Mont. Code Ann. 15-70-456(1) sets the temporary special fuel permit at 30 dollars; MDT's permitting FAQ lists the Temp Fuel permit at the same price.)
Valid for
Not to exceed 72 hours; automatically void if the vehicle leaves Montana during the 72 hours.
Who needs it
Any nonresident operating a special fuel-powered (diesel) vehicle over 26,000 pounds gross vehicle weight or registered gross vehicle weight on Montana public roads who is not covered under IFTA (Mont. Code Ann. 15-70-455(1)). MDT's IFTA material calls trip permitting the only alternative to licensing under IFTA. The permit cannot be sold to a Montana-plated vehicle.
Where to buy
MDT Motor Carrier Services permitting, including MT eTRIPS and the permit desk at (406) 444-7262 (MDT permitting FAQ; Trucker's Handbook); MCS Division employees and Montana Highway Patrol officers, who issue the permit under Mont. Code Ann. 15-70-455(1)
Statute
Mont. Code Ann. 15-70-455(1) and 15-70-456(1)

Other temporary permits in Montana

Short-term credentials Montana issues beside the trip and fuel permits, for situations those two do not cover.

Temporary trailer permit
Each nonresident, unlicensed or unregistered trailer or semitrailer entering Montana pays a per-trip fee: 10 dollars for 200 miles or less, 15 dollars for over 200 to 400 miles, and 20 dollars for over 400 miles. Up to three trailers can be listed for triples on one trip. MDT's handbook warns that a trailer registered through a Montana county rather than IRP may meet similar temporary trailer charges in other states. (Mont. Code Ann. 61-10-211(4))
Registration Purposes Only (RPO)
An out-of-state carrier in Montana longer than 72 hours on a Montana permit, or gainfully employed in Montana, registers through the Montana county where it is working as Registration Purposes Only. It must show a current out-of-state registration, and a temporary one is accepted if current.
Nonresident agricultural product fuel permit
A nonresident without IFTA hauling his own agricultural products in a special fuel vehicle over 26,000 pounds buys a 30-day permit for 100 dollars or a 3-month permit for 300 dollars, valid within 70 miles of a point named on the permit; it is not valid for contract custom haulers and is sold only by an authorized MDT employee. (Mont. Code Ann. 15-70-455(3) and 15-70-456(3))
Nonresident agricultural harvesting equipment fuel permit
A nonresident entering with special fuel harvesting equipment over 26,000 pounds and no IFTA pays 30 dollars per unit for the calendar year, non-transferable; a unit is one hauling truck, one harvesting machine, and the pickups and accessory vehicles. MDT sells it with the custom combine permit. (Mont. Code Ann. 15-70-456(2))

Worth knowing

Neither the statutes nor MDT's permit pages read this pass publish a separate penalty for running without a trip or fuel permit, so none is recorded. A vehicle on a temporary trip permit can get only a single-trip over-dimensional permit, not a term permit.

Where these fit in the Montana permit stack

Temporary permits are the exception path. The standing credentials they replace are IRP apportioned registration and the Montana IFTA license. Oversize loads use a different permit family entirely, covered in Montana oversize and overweight permits, and the full picture of every state permit lives in Montana trucking permits.

Frequently asked questions

How much does a Montana permit cost?

The temporary special fuel permit (in lieu of ifta) is $30, at the fees cited in the tables above. Those are the state's own charges; a third-party seller adds its own service fee on top.

Do I need a trip permit or a fuel permit for Montana?

Usually both, and they are separate purchases. The trip permit stands in for apportioned (IRP) registration and the fuel permit stands in for the IFTA license. If your cab card lists Montana and your IFTA decals are current, you need neither; the tables on this page carry each permit's terms with the official source.

When does buying temporary permits stop making sense?

Temporary permits price a single trip. A carrier running Montana lanes on a regular schedule comes out ahead adding the state to its IRP cab card and holding an IFTA license, because permit fees repeat on every trip while the annual credentials do not.

Can I buy these permits after entering the state?

No. Each credential on this page must be in place before the vehicle operates on Montana highways, and enforcement happens at roadside inspections and weigh stations. Buying from the state's own channel before the trip is the cheapest clean path.

Are permit-service prices the state fee?

No. Wire services and permit companies resell state permits with a service markup. The fees on this page are what Montana itself charges on its primary pages; anything above that is the middleman's fee, not the state's.

Haul Handbook publishes educational information about trucking registration and compliance requirements. This is not legal, financial, or tax advice. Rules, fees, and deadlines change; confirm with the agency before you file or pay.