From Montana Code:
61-9-204. Taillamps
(1) A motor vehicle, trailer, semitrailer, and pole trailer and any other vehicle that is being
drawn at the end of a combination of vehicles must be equipped with at least one properly
functioning taillamp mounted on the rear that emits a red light plainly visible from a distance of
500 feet to the rear, except that in the case of a combination of vehicles, only the taillamp on
the rearmost vehicle need actually be seen from the distance specified. The vehicles mentioned
in this subsection, other than a motorcycle, quadricycle, motor-driven cycle, or truck tractor,
registered in this state and manufactured or assembled after January 1, 1956, must be
equipped with at least two properly functioning taillamps, with at least one mounted on each
side of the rear of the vehicle, that emit a red light plainly visible from a distance of 1,000 feet
to the rear of the vehicle.
(2) A taillamp upon a vehicle must be located at a height of not more than 72 inches or less
than 15 inches.
(3) Either a taillamp or a separate lamp must illuminate with a white light the rear registration
plate and render it clearly legible from a distance of 50 feet to the rear.
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6)(a) A custom vehicle or street rod may use a blue dot taillight, as defined in subsection (6)(b),
as a stop lamp, a rear signal lamp, or a rear reflector.
(b) “Blue dot taillight” means a red lamp installed in the rear of a motor vehicle containing a
blue or purple insert that is not more than 1 inch in diameter.
MCA 61-9-206. Stop lamps--when required
(1) A person may not sell a new motor vehicle in this state or drive a vehicle on the highways
unless it is equipped with at least two properly functioning stop lamps. A vehicle manufactured
before January 1, 1956, and all motorcycles, quadricycles, and motor-driven cycles must be
equipped with at least one properly functioning stop lamp.
(2) The stop lamp or lamps on the rear of a vehicle must display a red light that is actuated
upon application of the service (foot) brake and, in a vehicle manufactured or assembled on or
after January 1, 1964, must be visible from a distance of not less than 300 feet to the rear in
normal sunlight. In a vehicle manufactured or assembled before January 1, 1964, the stop
lamp or lamps must be visible from a distance of not less than 100 feet. The stop lamp may be
incorporated with one or more other rear lamps.
(3) A stop lamp may not project a glaring light.
MCA 61-9-218. Signal lamps and signal devices--when required
(1) A motor vehicle or combination of vehicles may be equipped and when required under this
chapter must be equipped with signal lamps showing to the front and rear for the purpose of
indicating an intention to turn either to the right or left. The lamps showing to the front must
be located on the same level and as widely spaced laterally as practicable. Except as provided in
subsection (3), when in use, the lamps must display a white or amber light, or a shade of color
between white and amber, visible from a distance of not less than 300 feet to the front in
normal sunlight. The lamps showing to the rear must be located at the same level and as widely
spaced laterally as practicable. Except as provided in subsection (3), when in use, the lamps
must display a red or amber light, or a shade of color between red and amber, visible from a
distance of not less than 300 feet to the rear in normal sunlight. When actuated the lamps must
indicate the intended direction of turning by flashing the lights showing to the front and rear on
the side toward which the turn is made.
(2) Except as provided in subsection (3), a motor vehicle, trailer, semitrailer, or pole trailer must
be equipped with signal lamps meeting the requirements of this section.
(3) On a motor vehicle manufactured or assembled before January 1, 1964, the signal lamps
required by this section must be visible from a distance of not less than 100 feet. Signal lamps
are not required on any vehicle manufactured or assembled before January 1, 1953.
(4) A stop lamp or signal lamp or device may not project a glaring light.
MCA 61-9-312. Performance ability of brakes
On a dry, hard, approximately level stretch of highway free from loose material, a motor vehicle
or combination of vehicles, upon application of the service brake, must be capable of stopping
at a speed of 20 miles an hour within the following distances:
(1) 25 feet for passenger motor vehicles, except buses and pioneer vehicles;
(2) 40 feet for buses, trucks, and tractor trucks;
(3) 45 feet for motor vehicles registered or qualified to be registered as pioneer vehicles under
61-3-411(2)(a) when equipped with two-wheel brakes or 25 feet when equipped with fourwheel
brakes;
MCA 61-9-407. Fenders, splash aprons, or flaps required on certain vehicles--dimension and
location
(1) A person may not move, or permit to be moved, a vehicle, except a motorcycle, quadricycle,
motor-driven cycle, or farm tractor, as defined in this title, upon the public highways without
having first equipped the rearmost wheels or set of wheels of the vehicle with fenders, splash
aprons, or flaps. The fenders, splash aprons, or flaps must be designed, constructed, and
attached to the vehicle in a manner that arrests and deflects dirt, mud, water, rocks, and other
substances that may be picked up by the rear wheels of the vehicle and thrown into the air, as
follows:
(a) If the vehicle is equipped with fenders, the fenders must extend in full width from a point
above and forward of the center of the tire or tires over and to the rear of the tires.
(b) If the vehicle is equipped with splash aprons or flaps, the splash aprons or flaps must extend
downward in full width from a point not lower than halfway between the center of the tire or
tires and the top of the tire or tires and to the rear of the tires.
(c) If the vehicle is in excess of 8,000 pounds gross vehicle weight or rating, the fenders, splash
aprons, or flaps must extend downward to a point that is not more than 10 inches above the
surface of the highway when the vehicle is empty.
(d) If the vehicle is 8,000 pounds or less gross vehicle weight or rating, the fenders, splash
aprons, or flaps must extend downward to a point that is not more than 20 inches above the
surface of the highway when the vehicle is empty.
(2) Fenders, splash aprons, or flaps, as used in subsection (1), must be constructed as follows:
(a) when measured on the cross-sections of the tread of the wheel or on the combined crosssections
of the treads of multiple wheels, the fender, splash apron, or flap extends at least to
each side of the width of the tire or of the combined width of the multiple tires; and
(b) the fender, splash apron, or flap is capable at all times of arresting and deflecting dirt, mud,
water, or other substance that may be picked up and carried by the wheel or wheels.
(3) This section does not apply to a street rod as defined in 61-1-101, motor vehicles not
originally equipped with fenders, splash aprons, or flaps, or motor vehicles for which fenders,
splash aprons, or flaps were not required by federal law or regulation at the time of
manufacture.
61-9-409. Seatbelts required in vehicles manufactured after 1964
(1) An automobile that was manufactured or assembled after January 1, 1965, and on or before
January 1, 1968, must be equipped with safety belts installed for use in the left front and right
front seats.
(2) A motor vehicle manufactured after January 1, 1968, must be equipped at each designated
seating position with a safety belt system required for that seating position by the standards of
the United States department of transportation at the time that the vehicle was manufactured.
(3) The safety belts required by this section must remain installed and in good working
condition.
61-9-430. Bumpers
(1) A motor vehicle of less than 10,000 pounds gross vehicle weight or rating registered in
Montana, except a motorcycle, a quadricycle, a motor-driven cycle, or a farm tractor, must be
equipped with a front bumper and, unless the vehicle is equipped with work-performing
features that make installation impractical or unnecessary, with a rear bumper.
(2) This section does not apply to a street rod, as defined in 61-1-101, vehicles not originally
equipped with front or rear bumpers, or vehicles for which bumpers were not required by
federal law or regulation at the time of manufacture.
61-3-206. Odometer disclosure requirements on transfer of vehicle--dealer to preserve record
(1) Except as provided in subsection (4), before executing any transfer of ownership document
relating to a motor vehicle, each seller of a motor vehicle shall record on the certificate of title
the odometer reading at the time of transfer or, if the certificate of title does not provide for
the recording of the odometer reading, furnish to the purchaser a written statement, to be
signed by the seller, that contains the following information:
(a) the odometer reading at the time of transfer;
(b) the date of transfer;
(c) the seller's name and current address;
(d) the purchaser's name and current address;
(e) the motor vehicle year, make, model, body style, and identification number;
(f) one of the following statements or certification:
(i) a certification by the seller that, to the best of the seller's knowledge, the odometer reading
reflects the actual miles or kilometers the vehicle has been driven;
(ii) if the seller knows that the odometer reading reflects the amount of mileage in excess of the
designed mechanical odometer limit of 99,999 miles or kilometers, the seller shall include a
statement to that effect; or
(iii) if the seller knows that the odometer reading differs from the number of miles or
kilometers the motor vehicle has actually traveled and that the difference is greater than that
caused by odometer calibration error, the seller shall include a statement that the odometer
reading is not the actual mileage and should not be relied upon.
(2) The purchaser shall acknowledge receipt of the disclosure statement by signing it.
(3) For the purposes of this section, an odometer disclosure statement may be executed in
electronic form and used with an electronic signature pursuant to Title 30, chapter 18, part 1.
(4) The seller of the following types of motor vehicles need not disclose the odometer reading
of the vehicle as required in subsection (1):
(a) a motor vehicle that is 10 years old or older;
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61-9-222. Single-beam road-lighting equipment
Headlamps arranged to provide a single distribution of light shall be permitted on motor
vehicles manufactured and sold prior to July 1, 1956, in lieu of multiple-beam road-lighting
equipment herein specified if the single distribution of light complies with the following
requirements and limitations:
(1) The headlamps shall be so aimed that when the vehicle is not loaded none of the highintensity
portion of the light shall at a distance of 25 feet ahead project higher than a level of 5
inches below the level of the center of the lamp from which it comes, and in no case higher
than 42 inches above the level on which the vehicle stands at a distance of 75 feet ahead.
(2) The intensity shall be sufficient to reveal persons and vehicles at a distance of at least 200
feet.