12/26/08

Montana

PASSENGER

1976 bicentennial base:  This design began in 1976, designed in honor of the U.S. bicentennial, and ran until 1990 (1991 expiration).  The plate number has the county code (see "county code" page) at the left, followed by a dot separator and the plate number.  After 1976, the plates were renewed with annual stickers, such as "77", "78", or "79".  Later in 1979, plates received stickers expiring on December 31 of the year of renewal, such as "12-31-79".

1991 "Big Sky" base:  This design began in 1991 ("92" sticker) and ran to 1999 ("2000" sticker) when it was replaced by the "2000" design.  The plate number has the county code (see "county code" page) at left followed by a dot separator and the plate number.  For passenger plates, single digit county numbers ("1" through "9") had a "P" (for "passenger") following the plate number.

1992 (blue/reflective multicolored) Missoula County natural vg $3.00 (actual plate)

1993 (blue/reflective multicolored) Prairie County vg $3.00 (actual plate)

1994 (blue/reflective multicolored) Custer County natural vg $3.00 (actual plate)

1994 (blue/reflective multicolored) Musselshell County vg $3.00 (actual plate)

1994 (blue/reflective multicolored) Ravalli County natural vg $3.00 (actual plate)

1995 (blue/reflective multicolored) Chouteau County vg $3.00 (actual plate)

1999 (blue/reflective multicolored) Chouteau County vg $3.00 (actual plate)

1999 (blue/reflective multicolored) Blaine County vg $3.00 (actual plate)

2000 (blue/reflective multicolored) Missoula County natural m $3.00 (actual plate)

"2000" base:  This design was issue beginning in 2000 to commemorate the turning to year 2000 and includes in the design a faint "2000" at the top of the plate above the state name.  The plate was phased in upon the vehicle's renewal with the owner receiving new plates with "01" stickers.  The new design discontinued the "P" for "passenger" following the plate number for single digit county numbers.  For all counties, the county number was followed by a dot separator, then the plate number in "A00000" format for single digit counties and "A0000" format for two-digit county numbers (no leading zeros for either formats).  The plate was produced in embossed format in the beginning, but about mid-2003 ("2004" expiration stickers), was produced with flat plate numbers.

2001 (black/blue & white) Cascade County embossed natural m $3.00 (actual plate)

2001 (black/blue & white) Glacier County embossed natural vg $3.00 (actual plate)

2001 (black/blue & white) Mineral County embossed natural m $3.00 (actual plate)

2002 (black/blue & white) Missoula County embossed natural vg $3.00

2002 (black/blue & white) Lincoln County embossed natural vg $3.00

2003 (black/blue & white) Missoula County embossed natural vg $3.00

2003 (black/blue & white) Lewis & Clark County embossed natural vg $3.00

2003 (black/blue & white) Gallatin County embossed natural vg $3.00

2004 (black/blue & white) Yellowstone County embossed natural vg $3.00

2004 (black/blue & white) Missoula County embossed natural vg $3.00

2004 (black/blue & white) Gallatin County embossed natural vg $3.00

2004 (black/blue & white) Yellowstone County flat natural vg $3.00

2004 (black/blue & white) Missoula County flat natural vg $3.00

2004 (black/blue & white) Flathead County flat natural vg $3.00

2005 (black/blue & white) Cascade County flat natural vg $3.00

2005 (black/blue & white) Missoula County flat natural vg $3.00

2005 (black/blue & white) Gallatin County flat natural vg $3.00

2006 "Big Sky Country" graphic base:  This design was issue beginning in January 2006.  The plate was phased in upon the vehicle's renewal with the owner receiving new plates with "07" stickers.  The new design has a "C" following the plate number for single digit county numbers, similar to the 1991 "Big Sky" base's "P" for single county numbered bases.  For all counties, the county number was followed by a steer skull separator, then the plate number in all numeric format, going to a "0000A" format when the county got to "99999" (no leading zeros).