I remain unconvinced that there was ever any provision in Montana law that required showing proof of insurance at the time that you register a vehicle. Yes, you are required to have insurance to operate the vehicle, but I don't see anything in the law that says you must show proof in order to register the vehicle.
Note that one section of the Montana Mandatory Liability Protection law [not copied here, see final link on this post] says that a law enforcement officer can access an electronic system to verify liability insurance is in effect and said electronic system supersedes any insurance card that is carried in the car.
Here is what the Montana State Department of Justice website says about "titling" a vehicle in Montana:
[f]
Titling Provisions How to Title a Motor Vehicle
1. Apply at the county treasurer's office in the county you live in.
2. Present the previous year's Montana registration receipt or
out-of-state title:
* If you have recently purchased a vehicle from a licensed
auto dealer, the dealer will send or deliver the necessary
paperwork to the county treasurer's office.
* The county clerk may ask you to complete a Statement of Fact
(Form MV100) to clarify certain facts about the title transfer.
* Be prepared to pay title and security interest/lien filing
fees.
3. Once the title process has been completed, you must pay all taxes
and fees, and your vehicle will be registered and license plates
issued.
4. A copy of the registration receipt must be kept in each
vehicle at all times, along with proof of liability insurance
as required in MCA 61-6-301.5. When the ownership of a vehicle titled in Montana is transferred,
the signatures of all parties shown on the face of the title must
sign off on the title and have their signatures notarized.[/f]
http://www.doj.mt.gov/dri...ration.aspHere is MCA 61-6-301:
[f]
61-6-301. Required motor vehicle insurance -- family member exclusion. (1)(a) Except as provided in subsection (1)(b), an owner of a
motor vehicle that is registered and operated in Montana by the
owner or with the owner's permission shall continuously provide
insurance against loss resulting from liability imposed by law for
bodily injury or death or damage to property suffered by any person
caused by maintenance or use of a motor vehicle in an amount not less
than that required by 61-6-103, or a certificate of self-insurance
issued in accordance with 61-6-143.
(b) Notwithstanding the mandatory motor vehicle liability
insurance protection provided for in subsection (1)(a), nothing in
this part may be construed to prohibit the exclusion from insurance
coverage of a named family member in a motor vehicle liability
insurance policy.
(2) A motor vehicle owner who prefers to post an indemnity bond
with the department in lieu of obtaining a policy of liability
insurance may do so. The bond must guarantee that any loss resulting
from liability imposed by law for bodily injury, death, or damage to
property suffered by any person caused by accident and arising out
of the operation, maintenance, and use of the motor vehicle sought
to be registered must be paid within 30 days after final judgment is
entered establishing the liability. The indemnity bond must
guarantee payment in the amount provided for insurance under
subsection (1).
(3) Any bond given in connection with this section is a continuing
instrument and must cover the period for which the motor vehicle is
to be registered and operated. The bond must be on a form approved
by the commissioner of insurance and must be with a surety company
authorized to do business in the state.
(4) It is unlawful for a person to operate a motor vehicle upon
ways of this state open to the public as defined in 61-8-101 without
a valid policy of liability insurance in effect in an amount not
less than that required by 61-6-103 unless the person has been
issued a certificate of self-insurance under 61-6-143, has posted an
indemnity bond with the department as provided in this section, or
is operating a vehicle exempt under 61-6-303.
History: En. Sec. 1, Ch. 592, L. 1979; amd. Sec. 1, Ch. 503,
L. 1985; amd. Sec. 2, Ch. 425, L. 1989; amd. Sec. 1, Ch. 393,
L. 1995; amd. Sec. 194, Ch. 542, L. 2005.[/f]
http://data.opi.mt.gov/bi...-6-301.htmHere is a link to the entire "Mandatory Liability Protection" section of MCA:
http://data.opi.mt.gov/bi...61_6_3.htm