HOW IT WORKS

We Offer a Simple, Proven Vehicle Ownership Process

We’ve done this hundreds of times. Read about the easy, fast, and low-cost process of owning a vehicle in America. No US passport or US driver’s license needed. Reach out if you have questions.

Steps

There are 3 simple steps to owning a vehicle in America

1

visitor.us forms a Montana company, owned 100% by you

Your company is your presence in Montana, the best US state for an international visitor to own a vehicle.

2

You buy a vehicle in the name of your Montana company

Buy any vehicle for sale with US ownership documentation, offered by a dealer or an individual. You pay 0% sales tax (in most situations).

3

visitor.us registers your vehicle to your Montana company

visitor.us registers your vehicle to your company, and sends your Montana license plates, registration, and title to a location convenient to you.

a brief overview

visitor.us in 2 Minutes

Here’s the Detailed Process

Sign up for visitor.us today!
Step 0

Sign up for visitor.us

When you’re ready to get started with visitor.us, click the Get Started button.

Form your Montana LLC, your presence in Montana that allows you to register a vehicle here.
Step 1

LLC Formation

First, we form your Montana Limited Liability Company (LLC).  This LLC is the presence in Montana that allows vehicle registration here.

Purchase and insure your vehicle

Now that your LLC is established, it's time to find a vehicle.

Purchase your vehicle

Buy whatever vehicle you want, from whoever you want, wherever you want.

Purchasing your vehicle is your responsibility.

Insure your vehicle

When you hire visitor.us to register your vehicle, you get the flexibility to decide what insurance you want.

Insuring your vehicle is your responsibility; visitor.us is not an insurance agent.

Provide the details of the vehicle that you purchased, such as year, make, model, VIN and color.
Step 2

Your vehicle

Next, tell us about the vehicle that you purchased - year, make, model, mileage, etc.

Send the vehicle's title to visitor.us for registration using the pre-paid shipping label that we provide.

Receive your temporary registration by email. Print it out, attach it to your vehicle, and hit the road.
Step 3

Temporary registration

visitor.us provides a 40-day Montana temporary registration within one business day of your request. It's a PDF document that you print and attach to the rear of your vehicle, so you can hit the road while your annual registration is in process.

Receive your Montana license plates and registration document. Attach your plates to your vehicle and continue your visit.
Step 4

License plates and registration

We usually complete registration about one week after receiving your vehicle’s prior title (if the title is free of errors). When your license plates and registration are ready, you’ll be prompted to provide an address that’s convenient for you to receive your items.

Receive your vehicle's Montana title by courier at a location convenient to your visit.
Step 5

Montana title

We receive your vehicle’s Montana title by mail, usually about three weeks after registering your vehicle. When your title is ready, you’ll be prompted to provide an address that’s convenient for you to receive the document.

Order complete!

Let's get you on the road

We make US vehicle ownership easy so you can enjoy your visit.

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Unlock the keys to US vehicle ownership: Grab our free eBook today!

Get over 50 pages of expert advice on vehicle ownership in the U.S. This eBook covers everything from buying and registering your car to getting insurance and selling it. Download now and navigate the process with ease!

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FAQs

Answers to common questions about visitor.us

What does visitor.us do?

visitor.us helps international visitors to the US buy vehicles as an alternative to renting.

We help with the hardest part of the process: vehicle registration.  (Why is vehicle registration the hardest part of the process?)

visitor.us registers vehicles for international visitors in the best US state for vehicle registrations: Montana.  (Why is Montana the best state?)

In order to register a vehicle in Montana, you have to have a presence here.  That’s why we form a Montana Limited Liability Company (LLC), owned 100% by you, and then register the vehicle to your LLC.

How much does visitor.us cost?

visitor.us charges a flat fee of $995 for most vehicles.*

This cost covers forming your Montana Limited Liability Company (LLC), registering your vehicle, couriering your vehicle’s paperwork, a 40-day Montana temp tag that will let you hit the road while your registration is in process, support for the LLC’s required filings, and termination of your LLC when your visit is complete.

visitor.us charges a reduced flat fee of $745 for each additional vehicle registration.

*Motorhomes with an MSRP of $350k or more and non-RV vehicles with an MSRP of $150k or more are subject to additional fees.  (More detail on fees for high-value vehicles.)

How long does registration take?

Once we have your vehicle’s properly signed prior title, we will register your vehicle in two weeks or less.

visitor.us offers 40-day Montana temp tags that will allow you to hit the road while your registration is in process.

When your registration is complete, we will send your Montana license plates, registration document, and title to a location that’s convenient for you.

How does insurance work?

You can book an insurance policy directly, online or over the phone.

A handful of US auto insurers accept drivers without a US driver’s license.

You’ll want a personal auto policy, booked at an address where the vehicle will spend time (at least a night or two), that lists your Montana LLC as an “additional insured interest.”

This article
provides an in-depth look at insurance for visitor.us users.

How long before I buy my vehicle should I sign up for visitor.us?

When you hire visitor.us to register your vehicle, we form a Montana Limited Liability Company (LLC), owned 100% by you.  This LLC is a resident of Montana, and can therefore register a vehicle here.

Because your vehicle will be registered to your LLC, its paperwork needs to reflect your LLC as the buyer.

Therefore, your LLC should be set up before you sign your vehicle’s paperwork.

Forming a Montana LLC takes about one business day - not long at all.

So, you should consider signing up for visitor.us when you identify a specific vehicle that you’d like to purchase.

Why don’t all Americans register their vehicles in Montana?

All US states have laws requiring people to register their vehicles in-state with a certain time period of becoming a resident.

For example, California requires everyone to register their vehicle(s) in California within 20 days of becoming a California resident.

So, Americans have to register their vehicles in the state in which they live.

However, if you are traveling, and do not become a resident of any US state, you’re not subject to any state’s registration requirements, and are therefore free to choose the best US state to register your vehicle in (which, for most travelers, is Montana).

Can I own an LLC on my visa?

Visas and visa waivers (such as ESTAs) are issued by the national US government, while company formation is handled by the US states.

Montana doesn’t require US citizenship, residency, or even presence in the United States to form a Montana limited liability company (LLC).

If you’re on a B1, B2, ESTA, or other “non-working” visa (or visa waiver), you are prohibited from being employed in the United States while you’re here.

The relationship between yourself and your LLC is one of ownership, not of employment.

However, using your LLC for commercial purposes while you’re in the US - i.e., regularly selling goods and/or services - may cause authorities to consider your relationship to your LLC as one of employment.  If you have questions about employment while in the United States, please consult an immigration attorney.

What are the tax impacts of owning a Montana LLC?

In most cases, an LLC that doesn’t earn income doesn’t owe income tax.

If your LLC simply exists to own a vehicle, its only opportunity to earn income is by selling the vehicle for more than it cost to purchase.

For a bit more detail on tax impacts, kindly consult this article.

What are the filing requirements for owning a Montana LLC?

Owning a Montana Limited Liability Company (LLC) does come with some filing requirements.

Included with your visitor.us order is our support with the required filings.  visitor.us populates all the necessary forms with your LLC’s details, then you simply input the required values (e.g., the price you paid for the vehicle), sign the form, and visitor.us submits it to the authorities.

You can learn more about the specific forms here.

Can multiple vehicles be registered to my Montana LLC?

Yes, visitor.us can register as many vehicles as you want to your LLC.

visitor.us charges a reduced fee of $745 to register each additional vehicle after the first.

(Additional fees for high-value vehicles apply to each vehicle.)

Can I keep my vehicle for longer than a year?

Absolutely!  Many visitor.us customers keep their vehicle(s) in the US for use year after year.

For more detail on the annual requirements and costs, please see this article.

Can I take my vehicle outside of the US?

Absolutely!

Your vehicle can enter and remain in Canada as long as its registration is current and valid.  (If you’re a Canadian resident, check with your provincial authorities, as local registration may be required.)

Vehicles brought into Mexico and Central- and South-American countries usually require a temporary registration permit (TIP).  For more information about crossing borders south of the US, please consult this article.

And you are welcome, of course, to import your vehicle to your home country and register it there.

Still have a question?

Get answers to common questions not listed here.

Let's Get You on the Road

We make US vehicle ownership easy so you can enjoy your visit.