The U.S. state of Montana first required its residents to register their motor vehicles and display license plates in 1915.
In 1956, the U.S. states and Canadian provinces came to an agreement with the Automobile Manufacturers Association that fixed the size for license plates for vehicles, except those for motorcycles, at six inches in height by twelve inches in width, with standardized mounting holes. The 1956 (dated 1957) issue was the first Montana license plate that complied with these standards.