Who has used a Montana LLC to make your UTV Street Legal?

J

jsodep5338

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I have been trying to do my research to make my P1k-5 Street legal in Michigan. The cost alone is prohibitive, the cheapest parking brake I could find which is required in Michigan is $750. For roughly $850 I can have an LLC set up in Montana and get permanent Montana plates registered to the LLC. This can only be accomplished if there is no lein on your buggy, but it comes back titled as a quadricycle and Montana's laws to make their UTV's street legal are much less restrictive. Just wondering if anybody has actually gone this route?
 
BigOL3

BigOL3

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I have been trying to do my research to make my P1k-5 Street legal in Michigan. The cost alone is prohibitive, the cheapest parking brake I could find which is required in Michigan is $750. For roughly $850 I can have an LLC set up in Montana and get permanent Montana plates registered to the LLC. This can only be accomplished if there is no lein on your buggy, but it comes back titled as a quadricycle and Montana's laws to make their UTV's street legal are much less restrictive. Just wondering if anybody has actually gone this route?
I don't know about Michigan, but if it is like here (La.) the vehicle has to be registered in state. Are you thinking of reg in Montana, the transferring to Michigan? I assume you would still need the brake and all other requirements.
 
J

jsodep5338

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I don't know about Michigan, but if it is like here (La.) the vehicle has to be registered in state. Are you thinking of reg in Montana, the transferring to Michigan? I assume you would still need the brake and all other requirements.

It actually remains titled in Montana. The vehicle is owned by the LLC which is based in Montana. Therefore, it is registered in Montana with a permanent Montana plate. I would be an authorized driver.
 
Cuoutdoors

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I have been trying to do my research to make my P1k-5 Street legal in Michigan. The cost alone is prohibitive, the cheapest parking brake I could find which is required in Michigan is $750. For roughly $850 I can have an LLC set up in Montana and get permanent Montana plates registered to the LLC. This can only be accomplished if there is no lein on your buggy, but it comes back titled as a quadricycle and Montana's laws to make their UTV's street legal are much less restrictive. Just wondering if anybody has actually gone this route?

I don't know what all Michigan requires besides the brake but you can get a "Hillbilly Brake" for like $50. It works awesome and you can put a padlock on it. Yes it is a parking brake. I'll be taking a trip to Montana this summer and plan to ride out there. If you would put a link to the info regarding getting a Montana plate that would be much appreciated.

 
Vikes79

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I’ve heard that SD is a much easier route.....but since I live here I don’t have the same issue.

Here is a link that might be a start.

 
J

jsodep5338

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I don't know what all Michigan requires besides the brake but you can get a "Hillbilly Brake" for like $50. It works awesome and you can put a padlock on it. Yes it is a parking brake. I'll be taking a trip to Montana this summer and plan to ride out there. If you would put a link to the info regarding getting a Montana plate that would be much appreciated.



I already have a hillbilly brake. That's a no go, the parking brake must be mechanical, and not hydraulic. Mechanical brake calipers activated by either a hand lever or foot pedal and cable assembly is required. Michigan requires High/Low beam headlights, Turn Signals front and rear, License plate light, brake lights, Horn, High beam indicator, Windshield wiper, windshield washer, DOT glass windshield, safety belts, outside rearview mirror on driver's side, bumpers, DOT rated tires.

Here is the Montana LLC company I am considering going with.


Montana since it will be titled as a quadricycle, it only requires a mirror, horn, headlight, and brake lights. I will add a turn signal kit and DOT tires. But not the $700 windshield Michigan requires for their plate or the $750 parking brake, or the $200 windshield wiper and washer.
 
J

jsodep5338

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Mar 6, 2020
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I’ve heard that SD is a much easier route.....but since I live here I don’t have the same issue.

Here is a link that might be a start.


The problem with SD is that they register your vehicle under the owners home address. the registration will be a SD registration with my actual street address. In Michigan if a vehicle is registered to your home address, you have 60 days to transfer title to Michigan. Then I'd be stuck having to spend all the money to make it Street legal in Michigan and paying $300 a year for a plate. as opposed to Montana's permanent plate.
 
BigOL3

BigOL3

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It actually remains titled in Montana. The vehicle is owned by the LLC which is based in Montana. Therefore, it is registered in Montana with a permanent Montana plate. I would be an authorized driver.
OK. In La. if the vehicle is in state 50% of the time, a La regs is required, regardless of owners location.
 
Cuoutdoors

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I already have a hillbilly brake. That's a no go, the parking brake must be mechanical, and not hydraulic. Mechanical brake calipers activated by either a hand lever or foot pedal and cable assembly is required. Michigan requires High/Low beam headlights, Turn Signals front and rear, License plate light, brake lights, Horn, High beam indicator, Windshield wiper, windshield washer, DOT glass windshield, safety belts, outside rearview mirror on driver's side, bumpers, DOT rated tires.

Here is the Montana LLC company I am considering going with.


Montana since it will be titled as a quadricycle, it only requires a mirror, horn, headlight, and brake lights. I will add a turn signal kit and DOT tires. But not the $700 windshield Michigan requires for their plate or the $750 parking brake, or the $200 windshield wiper and washer.

Dang, Michigan is out of control. Sucks to hear the hillbilly brake wont pass.

I just filed my business with the Montana Secretary of State. It was pretty easy. I have all the paperwork they need but for someone doing it just for the plate it may be worth having someone else get it handled. The page makes it sound more overwhelming than it really is. I'll have it whipped pretty shortly.
 
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D

Djbunkerking

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southeast michigan
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The problem with SD is that they register your vehicle under the owners home address. the registration will be a SD registration with my actual street address. In Michigan if a vehicle is registered to your home address, you have 60 days to transfer title to Michigan. Then I'd be stuck having to spend all the money to make it Street legal in Michigan and paying $300 a year for a plate. as opposed to Montana's permanent plate.
Jsodep,
Have you done this yet? I'm in the same boat, debating if they'd come after the little guy down the road.
 
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BigOL3

BigOL3

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Oct 27, 2017
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Deep in the heart of Dixie, Kentwood, La.
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  1. 1000-5
The problem with SD is that they register your vehicle under the owners home address. the registration will be a SD registration with my actual street address. In Michigan if a vehicle is registered to your home address, you have 60 days to transfer title to Michigan. Then I'd be stuck having to spend all the money to make it Street legal in Michigan and paying $300 a year for a plate. as opposed to Montana's permanent plate.
That is common in other states also. In LA., regardless of where the owner lives, if the vehicle is in state 50% of the time, it has to be registered in LA. Yeah, it will slide by for a while, esp if in large Metro area, but the more rural it is, the sooner it will come to the attention of local LEOs.
 
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1HasBeen

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RVers who do the Montana LLC thing are finding out that your insurance company might use that to dump you in the event of a claim. Just google Montana RV scam.
 
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