Got This in the Mail, Montana? You Might Not Need to Panic

BUTTE, MT - Across Montana, county treasurers have been dealing with a sudden wave of confusion, frustration, and foot traffic.

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And it’s all thanks to a single postcard.

If you’re one of the thousands of Montanans who received a vehicle registration reminder in the mail recently and thought, “Wait—am I already delinquent?” you’re not alone.

County offices from Missoula to Stillwater have been swamped with concerned citizens, many convinced they’re at risk of being ticketed or fined for driving with expired registration.

Some are even walking—literally—to courthouses just to avoid the risk of a potential ticket.

So, What Happened?

At the start of April, the Montana Department of Justice (DOJ) sent out its usual reminder postcards for vehicle registration renewals. But this time, something was off.

Unlike in previous months, where postcards clarified that you had until the end of the month to renew (thanks to a built-in grace period), the most recent round gave a hard deadline of April 30.

No mention of the grace period. No buffer. Just a flat, bold date—leading many to believe they were already in violation.

“It shows that your registration has already expired,” explained Missoula County Treasurer Tyler Gernant to Daily Montanan. “They, for whatever reason, changed it.”

The Fallout

In Missoula County, 213 people had already rushed in by 1 p.m. on a single day—more than an entire day’s worth of typical foot traffic. Employees report a steady stream of concerned citizens, many “panic stricken,” thinking they were about to be cited by law enforcement.

In Anaconda-Deer Lodge County, one elderly woman even walked to the courthouse rather than risk driving with what she thought was an expired tag.

“We’ve gotten flooded,” Gernant said to the Daily Montanan. “I’ve seen a bunch of treasurer emails from people who are frustrated.”

Stillwater County Treasurer Jerry Friend called the mix-up “a little bit of an embarrassment” and confirmed what many suspected: the postcard wasn’t exactly wrong—it was just missing crucial context. “The expiration date is correct,” he said, “but it’s not complete information.”

So, Are You Actually in Trouble?

The answer, for most people, is: probably not.

If you received one of these postcards and your registration was due in April, you still have until the end of the month to renew. That grace period is still in effect—even if the postcard didn’t mention it.

“They’re in a panic about it, but we just tell them, ‘Nah, it’s just a misprint,’” said Friend to Daily Montanan.

Officials are urging calm and reassuring drivers they won’t be ticketed as long as they renew within the normal time frame.

So... Why the Confusion?

The issue stems from a new statewide motor vehicle system still in its early stages. According to treasurers, the system is riddled with bugs—from incorrect statutory citations to font so small it requires a magnifying glass.

The DOJ has not publicly commented yet but is reportedly working on a fix for the next round of mailers. County officials say they’ve communicated the concerns and expect improvements soon.

Bottom Line for Montanans

If you got that postcard and thought you were already late:

You probably aren’t.

You still have time. And you can still drive legally.

While many are choosing to renew early just to be safe, there’s no legal requirement to panic—and certainly no need to hoof it across town unless you’re feeling particularly athletic.

Until the kinks are worked out, treasurers across the state are doing their best to explain the mix-up. But one thing is clear: That postcard? Don’t let it drive you into a frenzy.