A vehicle title search is an important part of the used car shopping process. It allows sellers to get a more detailed view into the car’s past helping them to better understand its current value, safety and future performance.

Some of the top benefits of a Montana Vehicle Title Check may include:

• Access Vehicle Ownership History: A Montana vehicle title search may provide valuable insight into the vehicle’s ownership such as the number of previous owners, ownership duration, sale dates, state of ownership and more.


• Detects Title Branding (Salvage, Rebuilt, Flood): A title brand is generally assigned when the insurance company determines that the damage the vehicle exceeds 80% of the vehicle’s value and writes off the vehicle as a total loss. A title check can uncover title brands such as lemon, salvage, rebuilt, theft recovery, fire, flood or junk. All title brands indicate that the vehicle has experienced extensive damage in its past and even after repair, it is considered less desirable due to diminished resale value, potential safety concerns and long-term reliability issues.


• Uncover Outstanding Liens: A Montana vehicle title check can show if there are any liens on the vehicle, which means a bank or lender still has a legal claim to it. Buying a vehicle with an undischarged lease can mean that the new buyer will need to resolve paying off that debt prior to the vehicle being transferred to his or her name. This legal process can be very time consuming and costly and for that reason buying a car with an existing lien is highly discouraged.


• Uncover Odometer Fraud: Title records may include mileage reports, as the vehicle’s odometer readings are recorded throughout various events in its lifetime. Accessing historical odometer data can help detect odometer rollbacks.


• Identify Title Washing and VIN Fraud: A Montana vehicle title search by VIN checks for inconsistencies in the vehicle’s identity, such as title washing (removing branding) or VIN cloning, both of which are red flags. The last thing any buyer wants to do is buy a car with bad paperwork that was stolen or misrepresented in order to artificially and illegally inflate its value.


• Identify Accident Events and Damage History: A title check can indicate if the vehicle was involved in any reported accidents or involved in any loss claims related to weather events causing flooding, hail damage, storm damage and fires.


• Help facilitate Legal Transfer and Registration: A title free of any liens or legal discrepancies is required for registration and insurance in Montana. A title search may help identify potential issues that can become barriers to transferring ownership.


• Supports Smarter Financial Decisions: Understanding a vehicle’s title status allows you to negotiate better, walk away from risky deals or make a more informed purchase.


• Boosts Buyer Confidence: Ultimately, a car title search in MT gives peace of mind aiding you in the car buying decision. Coupled with a professional pre-purchase inspection, you will be able to make a fully informed buying decision free from any unpleasant surprises.