Montana Introduces Online Temporary Vehicle Permits.

HELENA, Mont. -- Registering for a temporary vehicle permit in Montana is becoming easier, thanks to a new online system currently in testing at five car dealers across the state.

More than 200,000 vehicles are sold in Montana each year. When someone buys a vehicle, the new owner places a temporary registration permit in the vehicle's back window until its regular license plates arrive. The temporary permit allows the new owner to legally drive the vehicle while the title and registration paperwork is being completed.

The online permits replace handwritten forms by electronically generating a unique number and detachable proof of temporary registration. The top portion is designed to slip into a plastic sleeve and attach to the rear of the vehicle where the license plate normally goes. The easy-to-read permit is the size of a standard license plate and features an eight-character code used by law enforcement for identification purposes.

"This is the first of many new electronic services that will streamline the way the Motor Vehicle Division does business and, at the same time, provide better customer service to Montana drivers," said Dean Roberts, Motor Vehicle Division Administrator.

Vehicle owners typically get a permit either from the dealer who sells the vehicle or, if they purchase a vehicle from a private individual, from their local law enforcement agency or county treasurer's office. In the future, permits also will be available from financial institutions, any county treasurer's office, and over the Internet.

"Our ultimate goal is to allow anyone who buys a vehicle to use this service," explained Roberts. The process is being introduced in stages, with automobile dealers testing it first. By spring next year, someone who buys a car will be able to go online, get a temporary permit and print it, even on the weekend or after hours."

Car dealers in Helena, Great Falls, and Billings are currently testing the online temporary vehicle permit service. After the pilot project is complete and all agencies can issue the new permits, the division will completely phase out the hand-written permits. The division expects the transition to the new permits to take about one year.

The temporary registration permit service was cooperatively developed and is supported by the Montana Department of Justice, the Montana Department of Administration's Information Technology Services Division, and Montana Interactive, a wholly owned subsidiary of eGovernment provider NIC (Nasdaq: EGOV).

About Montana Interactive

Helena-based Montana Interactive built, operates, and maintains Montana's online government services (www.DiscoveringMontana.com) and is a wholly owned subsidiary of eGovernment firm NIC (Nasdaq: EGOV).

About NIC

NIC manages more eGovernment services than any provider in the world. The company helps government communicate more effectively with citizens and businesses by putting essential services online. NIC provides eGovernment solutions for 2,000 state and local agencies that serve more than 51 million people in the United States. Additional information is available at www.nicusa.com.