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House bill would allow vehicle ownership transfers using unsworn affidavit, remove notary requirement
Summary
A bill before the Montana House Transportation Committee would let owners transfer vehicle titles with an unsworn affidavit instead of a notarized signature; proponents said it eases rural transactions and dovetails with planned electronic titling, while officials urged safeguards against fraud.
Representative Ken Walsh introduced House Bill 165 on behalf of himself, saying the measure would let owners transfer motor-vehicle titles, trailers, campers and watercraft using an affidavit executed under the unsworn-declarations statute rather than requiring notarization.
The change “reduces red tape” for buyers and sellers, Walsh said, particularly in rural areas and outside normal business hours when notary access is scarce. Proponents including vehicle dealers, banks and credit unions told the committee the affidavit approach is already used in many other states and will help Montana move to electronic titling.
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