Private sale — What You Need to Know
A transaction between two private individuals without dealer involvement. Both parties negotiate directly and the seller transfers the title after payment.
Seller guidance
You are responsible for disclosing known defects, providing an accurate odometer statement, and delivering a clean title. Once the bill of sale is signed and funds received, remove the vehicle from your insurance and notify your DMV of the transfer.
Buyer guidance
Run a title search or VIN history report (NMVTIS, CARFAX) before handing over funds. Confirm the seller is the titled owner and the title is free of liens. Take possession of the signed title on the day of sale.
Legal note (Montana-specific)
MT has no sales tax on vehicle sales. Title must be transferred at the county treasurer's office within 40 days.
Private sale checklist
- Verify the seller name matches the title exactly
- Confirm no open liens via your state DMV or NMVTIS
- Complete federal odometer disclosure (vehicles <10 years old)
- Sign and date the bill of sale with both parties present
- Transfer title and notify DMV within your state deadline
- No sales tax in Montana
- Transfer title at county treasurer within 40 days
Dirt Bike Safety & Recall Information
Data sourced from NHTSA safety ratings and recall databases
Average Safety Rating
0 / 5
Avg. Price Range
$1,500–$10,000
Odometer Disclosure
Not required
Safety checkpoints for dirt bike buyers
- Inspect frame and subframe for cracks from jumps and crashes
- Check fork seal condition and suspension linkage bearings
- Verify engine compression and listen for bottom-end noise
- Check sprocket and chain wear — high-wear items on dirt bikes
- Confirm spark arrestor is present and unmodified (USFS land requirement)
- Test kill switch function and bar-mounted controls
- Inspect handlebar bend and crash-bar/skid-plate damage
- Verify sound output meets state OHV decibel limits (typically 96dB)
Common recall categories
Fuel SystemFrameSuspensionEngineExhaust
On average, each dirt bike model has approximately 1.5 recalls. Always check your specific vehicle at NHTSA.gov/recalls before completing a sale.
Miles City Private sale dirt bike pdf — when to file
Montana requires title transfer within 40 days of the sale date on the bill of sale. For private sale transactions specifically, file at Montana DMV – Miles City (Visit https://dojmt.gov/driving to find the nearest Miles City office) during normal hours: Mon–Fri 8:00 AM–5:00 PM (verify hours with local office). Miss the 40-day window and Montana typically charges a late-transfer penalty plus accrued use tax, and the seller can remain on the title for civil liability until the buyer completes retitling. Bring the signed title, the completed Miles City bill of sale, your government-issued ID, and payment for the $12.00 title transfer fee plus No state sales tax sales tax on the purchase price.
PDF reminder. Whether you keep your pdf as a signed digital PDF, both buyer and seller should leave the signing with an identical executed copy. The buyer needs the original to present at Montana DMV – Miles City; the seller keeps a duplicate to prove the date of transfer if a future liability question arises before the title fully retitles.