Montana License Plate County Codes

ShopLicensePlates is your source for real vintage and antique old Montana license plates for sale. In 1913, Montana started taxing motor vehicles and charged a fee based on the horsepower of the vehicle. For two years, the owner of the vehicle would make their own license plates and the number was issued as the request to register the motor vehicle came in. For the most part, Montana has issued State provided pairs of license plates from 1915 to the present. From 1915 to 1928, license plates were manufactured outside of the State. This changed in 1928 when they issued prison made license plates and stamped this into the plates from 1939 to 1957. However, there are some exceptions to the license plates issued in pairs. In 1945, 1948, 1949 and 1950, Montana issued a single license plate. In 1943, tabs to renew old license plates were issued in pairs. And, in 1947 and 1952, the State of Montana issued windshield stickers.

The materials used over the years for license plates in Montana has varied. The State used soybean fiberboard license plates in 1943 due to World War II, when there was a shortage of metal due to the need for tanks, boats, and aircraft to support the war effort. In 1960, Montana started to use aluminum, and like most states that experimented with various coatings in the late 1960's, Montana started to use reflectorized coatings. Instead of a metal expiration tab for license plates, Montana started to use a vinyl expiration tag to put on the corner of the license plates in 1968.

Our handy Montana License Plates County Numbers code key will help you to quickly and easily decipher which County your license plate(s) was issued in. Montana started to use County Codes in 1926. From 1915 to 1926, Montana issued numbers in order without the designation of a County. There are 56 Counties in Montana. Petroleum County has the smallest population, which has only 496 people according to the 2020 US Census Bureau data. This also makes it the 8th least populated County in the United States.

Because laws vary by State with respect to the use of our real and authentic vintage license plates on an old vehicle, we always recommend that you contact your DMV or your local DMV office to confirm that you can use these on your vehicle prior to your purchase. As of the date of this writing, vehicles that are at least 25 years old may display YOM license plates with DMV approval. Don't miss the old Montana license plates for sale now at ShopLicensePlates!