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CURRENT RULEMontanaShop operations✓ Human reviewed

Are you preserving your Montana possessory repair or storage lien?

Montana law gives a person who lawfully possesses personal property and renders covered labor or skill for making, repairing, protecting, improving, safekeeping, carriage, towing, or storage a special lien for compensation and materials furnished. For ordinary property covered by the possessory rule, the lien depends on possession; towing or storage liens cover the reasonable cost of those services.

Quick check

Document the repair/storage services and amount due, and avoid releasing the vehicle before understanding whether doing so would end the possessory lien.

At a glance
JurisdictionMontana
TopicShop operations
VerifiedOct 5, 2026
Review cadenceReview before releasing an unpaid vehicle or enforcing a lien and whenever MCA §71-3-1201 changes.
When this applies

Your Montana shop lawfully possesses a customer's vehicle or other personal property and has unpaid charges for repair, improvement, safekeeping, towing, storage, or related materials.

If you may rely on the lien, keep possession where the possessory lien is required, document the services/materials and amounts due, and distinguish ordinary vehicle liens from Montana's separate nonpossessory lien rules for specified equipment.

Official evidence

Source and verification

Verified
Oct 5, 2026
Applies to
All shop types

Quick-reference compliance planning only; not legal advice or an exhaustive statement of every applicable Federal, state, or local rule. Always verify the official source.

Regulatory history

Related Montana changes

View state page →
EFFECTIVEApr 29, 2021Montana revised dealer warranty reimbursement and retail-rate proceduresMontana franchised dealer service departments should use the current MCA 61-4-213 process when establishing warranty labor rates and…Open update →