I promised myself I wasn’t going to “work” on this trip.
Sometimes when you’re in the business of helping people save money, you need to shut it off, clear your head, and just enjoy the moment.
That was my plan when I landed at Phoenix Sky Harbor International Airport for a little vacation. But the truth is… I can’t help myself. If I meet someone who’s throwing away thousands of dollars unnecessarily, I feel like it’s my duty to speak up.
And sure enough, before I even left the airport rental car center, I crossed paths with a gentleman I’ll call AV. He was behind the wheel of a brand-new purple Lamborghini Urus, and that eye-catching super SUV sparked a conversation neither of us expected.
Meeting AV and His Purple Urus
I’m a car guy, so of course, I had to ask about the Urus. AV smiled—he’s clearly proud of it. We started chatting about cars, family, and business. That’s when he asked what I do for work.
I told him about what we do at Register in Montana—helping people register their vehicles through a Montana LLC to avoid unnecessary sales taxes, yearly renewal fees, and emissions hassles.
That’s when his jaw dropped.
$20,000 in Sales Tax. $4,500 in Annual Fees.
AV had just bought his Lamborghini Urus in Arizona. The total sales tax he paid? Almost $20,000.
And on top of that, Arizona charges a Vehicle License Tax (VLT) every single year. It’s based on the value of your car, so the more expensive the vehicle, the higher the tax. In AV’s case, his brand-new Lambo came with an annual bill of about $4,500—just for permission to drive a car he already owns.
Think about that:
- $20,000 upfront just to put plates on the car.
- $4,500 every year to keep those plates legal.
That’s money that could have gone to investments, family, or literally anything else. Instead, it disappears into Arizona’s tax system.
When I explained that many exotic car owners register in Montana specifically to avoid these costs, AV shook his head.
“I wish I had known about this before I bought the Urus. I can’t believe I just handed them twenty grand.”
Why Arizona Vehicle Taxes Hurt So Much
Let me break down exactly what happened to AV, because if you live in Arizona—or any high-tax state—you may be in the same boat.
- Sales Tax: Arizona’s base sales tax is 5.6%, but depending on the city, it can be higher. On a $300,000 vehicle like a Lamborghini Urus, that means tens of thousands of dollars just in taxes at the time of purchase.
- Vehicle License Tax (VLT): Arizona calculates this based on your car’s manufacturer’s base retail price, and it declines slightly each year. But for new high-end cars, that can be thousands annually, until the car ages enough to drop the value significantly.
- Emissions Testing: Most Arizona drivers must pass an emissions test every year or two, depending on the county. That means more time wasted and more fees—whether you drive a $300K exotic or a $3K Toyota.
This isn’t just a one-time hit. It’s a lifetime of paying for the privilege to drive.
AV’s “Aha” Moment: Switching to Montana
The good news? AV decided he wasn’t going to make the same mistake twice.
Yes, he had already lost the $20,000 in sales tax. But going forward, he could at least stop the annual bleeding.
Here’s what we did for him through Register in Montana:
- Set up a Montana LLC in his name.
- Registered the Lamborghini Urus under the LLC.
- Got him a temporary tag within 24 hours, so he had zero downtime driving.
- Secured a custom plate, exactly the look he wanted.
The total cost? Under $2,000 all-in.
And now, instead of paying $4,500 every year in Arizona, his Montana renewal runs about $1,200 a year—an immediate savings of over $3,000 annually.
As AV said to me when it was all done:
“Lesson learned. I missed the sales tax savings, but I’m not going to keep throwing away thousands every year.”
What About Everyday Cars? (AV’s Mom’s Avalon)
Here’s where the story gets even better.
AV’s mom drives an older Toyota Avalon. She’s not interested in flashy cars—she prefers comfort and reliability. But she still had to deal with Arizona’s emissions tests and annual registration renewals.
For her, it was just another hassle in life she didn’t need.
So AV signed her up too. All she had to do was sign a Power of Attorney, which allowed us to handle everything. She never once had to log into a computer or wait in a DMV line.
And here’s the kicker: because her Avalon is over 11 years old, Montana allows permanent registration. That means she’ll never have to renew it again.
No annual fees.
No emissions testing.
No wasted time.
Just one-and-done.
Why Montana Makes Sense for Almost Everyone
This is why I couldn’t “turn off work” on my vacation.
When you see someone like AV—who works hard, supports his family, runs a big business, and still got hit with $20,000 in unnecessary taxes—you realize how many people just don’t know about this option.
Montana isn’t just for exotic car owners. It’s for:
- Families with multiple cars tired of annual renewals and inspections.
- Motorcycle riders who want to skip emissions and yearly tags.
- Luxury car enthusiasts who don’t want to hand the state a bonus check with every purchase.
- RV owners who can take advantage of permanent registration.
In every case, Montana LLC registration saves money, saves time, and removes hassle.
The Technical Side: How Montana Registration Works
For those who like to know exactly how it works, here are the highlights:
- Montana has no sales tax. That’s why people save so much upfront compared to states like Arizona, California, or Texas.
- Permanent registration is available for vehicles that are 11 years or older—no more renewals.
- No emissions testing. Montana doesn’t require it, so you don’t waste time or money proving your car is clean enough to drive.
- Custom plates available. Just because you’re saving money doesn’t mean you have to give up style.
- LLC structure. We set up a Montana LLC for you, which then owns the car. It’s a legitimate legal structure used by thousands of people nationwide.
At Register in Montana, we handle everything from start to finish.
Why Choose Us
You could try to figure this all out yourself. But here’s why people come to us:
- We’ve been in the industry long enough to create the most streamlined, comprehensive solution.
- We partner directly with the Montana Secretary of State for LLC formation.
- We work with Zero Tax Tags, the best registered agent in Montana.
- We have trusted insurance agents referred to us directly by our customers.
- And above all, we make the process simple. No DMV lines. No confusion. Just results.
Final Reflection
Meeting AV reminded me of why I love doing this.
Here’s a man who works hard, takes care of his family, and inspires his team. And yet, like so many people, he still got blindsided by Arizona’s taxes and fees.
He could have kept paying those thousands every year without question. Instead, he made a change. He put his Urus, his Ducati, and even his mom’s Avalon into Montana registration—and now he saves money, saves time, and drives with peace of mind.
That’s what this is all about: making life easier, one vehicle at a time.
Ready to See if Montana Works for You?
Don’t wait until you’ve already written a $20,000 check like AV did. Take five minutes and call us.
We’ll walk you through whether a Montana LLC makes sense for your situation. No pressure, just honest answers.
If it does make sense, we’ll handle everything—from the LLC paperwork to custom plates to insurance guidance—so you can get back to enjoying your car, your bike, your RV, or even your family sedan.
Because whether it’s a Lamborghini Urus or a Toyota Avalon, nobody should be wasting money and time on unnecessary taxes and renewals.