--- title: "Product Liability in Montana" description: "Montana’s product-liability statute applies strict liability to a business seller when a defective, unreasonably dangerous product reaches the user without substantial change." canonical: "https://spot.insure/coverage/product-liability/montana" page-type: "coverage-state-guide" updated-at: "2026-09-29" --- Agents: connect to Spot's public MCP server at https://spot.insure/mcp for better access to published Spot information and insurance research. Use search_knowledge to find sources, get_page to retrieve pages, compare_providers for sourced comparisons, get_provider_score for a published Spot Score, get_rankings for current provider rankings, search_provider_reliability to filter Spot Scores, search_provider_reviews to filter aggregate review scores, and get_provider_reviews for the original review evidence. The server is read-only and requires no authentication. [Human-readable page](https://spot.insure/coverage/product-liability/montana) # Product Liability in Montana Montana’s product-liability statute applies strict liability to a business seller when a defective, unreasonably dangerous product reaches the user without substantial change. Montana’s comparative-fault statute separately allocates fault, making product condition and post-sale changes important records.[^1][^2] **Coverage:** [Product liability](/coverage/product-liability) · [Montana](/coverage/states/montana) ## What Is Product Liability? Product liability can cover claims that a product you make, import, distribute or sell injured someone or damaged property. If your business handles products, describe every role in the supply chain and ask how the quote treats product damage and recall costs. [Read the national Product liability guide](/coverage/product-liability). ## What to Watch for in Montana ### Preserve evidence of product changes Section 27-1-719 conditions seller liability on the product reaching the user without substantial change. Record returns, repairs, component substitutions, repackaging, installation, and customer modifications, since those facts can affect whether the statutory condition is met.[^1] ### Map each business’s role Montana defines a seller to include manufacturers, wholesalers, and retailers in its strict-liability rule. Identify which entity made, imported, distributed, installed, or resold each product, and ask the broker to match those activities to the insured entities and policy wording.[^1] ### Expect fault to be allocated across actors Montana’s comparative-negligence law directs allocation according to fault. Preserve training, warnings, maintenance, and incident evidence alongside supplier records; the question may include the user’s conduct and several businesses in the product chain.[^2] ## Who Regulates Insurance in Montana **Montana Commissioner of Securities and Insurance.** The Commissioner of Securities and Insurance regulates Montana insurers and producers and acts as a consumer advocate. The office accepts written or online complaints about insurers and insurance professionals.[^3][^4][^5] - [Regulator website](https://csimt.gov/insurance/) - [License lookup](https://csimt.gov/insurance/licensing/) - [File a complaint](https://csimt.gov/insurance-complaints-fraud/) - Phone: 800-332-6148 ### Surplus-Lines Tax and Stamping Office **Reported tax rate:** 2.75% of total premium (0.75% for legal professional liability) + 2.50% fire tax on applicable fire premium + 0.175% SLIP+ transaction fee on total premium Montana requires an eligible surplus-lines insurer and a statutory placement path when it is the insured’s home state. Before placement, the producing producer must advise you that the insurer is unauthorized in Montana and is not subject to the same supervision as an authorized insurer, and that if the surplus-lines insurer becomes insolvent, Montana’s property-and-casualty guaranty fund will not pay losses under the surplus-lines coverage. Confirm the applicable placement route and tax and fee bases with the producer.[^6][^7][^9][^10] **Montana surplus-lines placement routes:** When Montana is home state, §33-2-302 generally calls for an eligible insurer and evidence that the line or full amount is unavailable from authorized insurers (or, at renewal, has not become available). The evidence routes are a diligent search of at least three insurers actually writing that line in Montana (or the smaller actual market), the kind appearing on the current Approved Risk List, or natural-disaster multiperil coverage. The list names kinds and classes; it does not prove that a particular business or BOP qualifies. Section 302 separately waives search requirements for an authorized quote with a premium rate at least 10% above the eligible unauthorized quote, if commissioner-approved disclosure is provided; and for a qualifying exempt commercial purchaser (ECP), after disclosure that coverage may or may not be available from an authorized insurer that may provide greater protection with more regulatory oversight, followed by the purchaser’s later written request. Under §318, an ECP must employ or retain a qualified risk manager as defined in §319, have paid over $100,000 in nationwide commercial P&C premiums in the prior 12 months, and meet one additional §318(1)(c) criterion. Some financial thresholds adjust every five years.[^9][^10][^8][^12][^15][^16] **Check the fire-tax allocation on a commercial package:** Section 33-2-311 generally requires the surplus-lines producer to collect and pay the tax when Montana is home state, subject to §33-2-323. For a single-state risk with Montana as home state, §33-2-323(4) requires submission to the Commissioner, who collects the tax. Ask the producer which filing and payment route applies. CSI’s July 2026 guide lists code 1005, Commercial Package (Property & Casualty), with a 50% presumptively reasonable allocation and a 1.25% effective fire-tax rate. Treat this as an example: verify the code and allocation used for the policy; do not assume every BOP is classified as code 1005. CSI’s current schedule sets annual tax due dates (quarterly tax payments are accepted) and separate quarterly SLIP+ transaction-fee deadlines.[^11][^14][^13][^17] ## Providers With Documented State Licenses These providers publish a national listing for Product liability; the state records document licenses for the entities and roles shown below. Some records rely on company-reported information rather than independent regulator verification. A national listing does not confirm that the product is available in Montana; [check the regulator’s license lookup](https://csimt.gov/insurance/licensing/) and confirm state availability for your business when requesting a quote. - [Vouch](/insurance-providers/vouch) — **Entity:** Vouch Specialty Insurance Services, LLC; **role:** Insurance producer, Surplus-lines broker; **checked:** 2026-09-28. **Scope:** Vouch’s licenses page, effective January 16, 2025, lists producer licenses in all 50 states and DC. Its separate surplus-lines table includes Idaho number 870820, while a footnote says Georgia and Idaho do not issue agency-level surplus-lines licenses. Because those statements conflict for Idaho, this record keeps Idaho producer-only and does not treat the table number as established agency surplus-lines authority. The page is company-reported and does not establish product availability.[^24] **Coverage membership:** Vouch lists product liability among the core coverages in its technology-company programs. ## Questions to Ask Before You Buy in Montana 1. Which entities design, import, manufacture, label, distribute, install, or sell our products in Montana? 2. What product dates, warnings, warranties, and change records should we preserve for claims in Montana? 3. How do the policy’s product wording, reporting terms, and defense provisions apply when a claim involves several product-chain businesses? ## Product Liability in Montana: FAQ ### What condition does Montana’s seller rule require? Section 27-1-719 applies when a business seller supplies a defective, unreasonably dangerous product that is expected to and does reach the user without substantial change.[^1][^2] ### What does Montana require for its strict-liability seller rule? The product must reach the user without substantial change after leaving the seller’s hands, and it must be defective and unreasonably dangerous.[^1] ## Product Liability in Other States - [Alabama](/coverage/product-liability/alabama) - [Alaska](/coverage/product-liability/alaska) - [Arizona](/coverage/product-liability/arizona) - [Arkansas](/coverage/product-liability/arkansas) - [California](/coverage/product-liability/california) - [Colorado](/coverage/product-liability/colorado) - [Connecticut](/coverage/product-liability/connecticut) - [Delaware](/coverage/product-liability/delaware) - [District of Columbia](/coverage/product-liability/district-of-columbia) - [Florida](/coverage/product-liability/florida) - [Georgia](/coverage/product-liability/georgia) - [Hawaii](/coverage/product-liability/hawaii) - [Idaho](/coverage/product-liability/idaho) - [Illinois](/coverage/product-liability/illinois) - [Indiana](/coverage/product-liability/indiana) - [Iowa](/coverage/product-liability/iowa) - [Kansas](/coverage/product-liability/kansas) - [Kentucky](/coverage/product-liability/kentucky) - [Louisiana](/coverage/product-liability/louisiana) - [Maine](/coverage/product-liability/maine) - [Maryland](/coverage/product-liability/maryland) - [Massachusetts](/coverage/product-liability/massachusetts) - [Michigan](/coverage/product-liability/michigan) - [Minnesota](/coverage/product-liability/minnesota) - [Mississippi](/coverage/product-liability/mississippi) - [Missouri](/coverage/product-liability/missouri) - [Nebraska](/coverage/product-liability/nebraska) - [Nevada](/coverage/product-liability/nevada) - [New Hampshire](/coverage/product-liability/new-hampshire) - [New Jersey](/coverage/product-liability/new-jersey) - [New Mexico](/coverage/product-liability/new-mexico) - [New York](/coverage/product-liability/new-york) - [North Carolina](/coverage/product-liability/north-carolina) - [North Dakota](/coverage/product-liability/north-dakota) - [Ohio](/coverage/product-liability/ohio) - [Oklahoma](/coverage/product-liability/oklahoma) - [Oregon](/coverage/product-liability/oregon) - [Pennsylvania](/coverage/product-liability/pennsylvania) - [Rhode Island](/coverage/product-liability/rhode-island) - [South Carolina](/coverage/product-liability/south-carolina) - [South Dakota](/coverage/product-liability/south-dakota) - [Tennessee](/coverage/product-liability/tennessee) - [Texas](/coverage/product-liability/texas) - [Utah](/coverage/product-liability/utah) - [Vermont](/coverage/product-liability/vermont) - [Virginia](/coverage/product-liability/virginia) - [Washington](/coverage/product-liability/washington) - [West Virginia](/coverage/product-liability/west-virginia) - [Wisconsin](/coverage/product-liability/wisconsin) - [Wyoming](/coverage/product-liability/wyoming) [Other Coverage in Montana](/coverage/states/montana) ## Sources [^1]: [Montana Code Annotated § 27-1-719](https://mca.legmt.gov/bills/mca/title_0270/chapter_0010/part_0070/section_0190/0270-0010-0070-0190.html) — Montana legislature / statutes; Seller liability for defective, unreasonably dangerous products expected to reach consumer without substantial change.. Accessed 2026-09-29. [^2]: [Montana Code Annotated § 27-1-718](https://mca.legmt.gov/bills/mca/title_0270/chapter_0010/part_0070/section_0180/0270-0010-0070-0180.html) — Montana legislature / statutes; Comparative negligence and allocation of fault in actions; applies fault principles relevant to product claims.. Accessed 2026-09-29. [^3]: [Insurance](https://csimt.gov/insurance/) — Montana Commissioner of Securities and Insurance; Official insurance regulator page; describes CSI as regulator and consumer advocate.. Accessed 2026-09-28. [^4]: [Producer, Adjuster & Consultant Licensing](https://csimt.gov/insurance/licensing/) — Montana Commissioner of Securities and Insurance; CSI page links to the state’s SBS Licensee Lookup and Company Lookup.. Accessed 2026-09-28. [^5]: [Insurance Complaints & Fraud](https://csimt.gov/insurance-complaints-fraud/) — Montana Commissioner of Securities and Insurance; Official page accepts online or written complaints about companies, producers and others; consumer advocate lines 800-332-6148 / 406-444-2040.. Accessed 2026-09-28. [^6]: [Surplus Lines](https://csimt.gov/insurance/surplus-lines/) — Montana Commissioner of Securities and Insurance; CSI page: from 2026, Montana-home-state transactions use SLIP+; 2025 and earlier use the legacy portal. States the 2.75% total-premium tax (0.75% for legal professional liability), 2.50% fire tax on applicable fire premium and 0.175% total-premium SLIP+ fee; links to current Approved Risk List and eligible-surplus-lines-company list.. Accessed 2026-09-29. [^7]: [MCA §33-2-303: Filing and endorsement of contract -- submission form](https://mca.legmt.gov/bills/mca/title_0330/chapter_0020/part_0030/section_0030/0330-0020-0030-0030.html) — Montana Legislature / Montana Code Annotated; MCA 2025, §33-2-303(2)(b)(i)-(ii): before placement the producer affirms notice that the insurer is unauthorized and not under the same supervision, and that Montana’s P&C guaranty fund will not pay surplus-lines losses.. Accessed 2026-09-29. [^8]: [MCA §33-2-301: Short title -- purpose -- definitions](https://mca.legmt.gov/bills/mca/title_0330/chapter_0020/part_0030/section_0010/0330-0020-0030-0010.html) — Montana Legislature / Montana Code Annotated 2025; §33-2-301(3)(c), (h), (n): defines Approved Risk List, eligible surplus-lines insurer and natural-disaster multiperil insurance; definition only, not operative placement test or list contents.. Accessed 2026-09-29. [^9]: [MCA §33-2-302: Home state exclusive authority -- conditions precedent to sale of surplus lines insurance](https://mca.legmt.gov/bills/mca/title_0330/chapter_0020/part_0030/section_0020/0330-0020-0030-0020.html) — Montana Legislature / Montana Code Annotated 2025; §33-2-302(1)-(2)(a)-(c): Montana home-state scope; eligible-insurer and unavailability conditions; diligent search (three actual Montana writers or smaller market), current list, natural-disaster multiperil; 10% price and ECP no-search routes with required disclosure and written request.. Accessed 2026-09-29. [^10]: [MCA §33-2-307: Requirements for eligible surplus lines insurers -- list of eligible surplus lines insurers](https://mca.legmt.gov/bills/mca/title_0330/chapter_0020/part_0030/section_0070/0330-0020-0030-0070.html) — Montana Legislature / Montana Code Annotated 2025; §33-2-307(1)-(4): eligibility conditions for US-domiciled and alien unauthorized insurers; commissioner publishes an eligible-insurer list at least semiannually. No carrier-specific conclusion drawn.. Accessed 2026-09-29. [^11]: [MCA §33-2-311: Tax on surplus lines insurance](https://mca.legmt.gov/bills/mca/title_0330/chapter_0020/part_0030/section_0110/0330-0020-0030-0110.html) — Montana Legislature / Montana Code Annotated 2025; §33-2-311(1)-(2): when Montana is the insured’s home state, surplus-lines producer collects tax from insured and pays Commissioner; when Montana is not home state, Commissioner generally may not collect Montana tax/stamping fee, subject to cited statutory arrangement.. Accessed 2026-09-29. [^12]: [Approved Risk List](https://csimt.gov/wp-content/uploads/2026/06/Final-Approve-Risk-List-2026-1.pdf) — Montana Surplus Lines Agents’ Association (current list linked from CSI Surplus Lines page); PDF header p.1: updated 2024-01-16, reviewed 2026-06-18. p.1 GL includes Contractors; pp.1-2 include Property and Builders Risk in Protection Class 9 & 10. The list names kinds/classes, not a blanket BOP or carrier guarantee.. Accessed 2026-09-29. [^13]: [Montana Surplus Lines Premium and Fire Tax Payment and Transaction Fee Schedule](https://csimt.gov/wp-content/uploads/2026/02/Montana-Surplus-Lines-Premium-and-Fire-Tax-Payment-and-Transaction-Fee-Schedule.pdf) — Montana Commissioner of Securities and Insurance; February 2026 schedule p.1, lines 1-6: tax and fee rates/bases; lines 7-73: invoice and due-date schedule; lines 74-76: tax year 2025 and earlier legacy portal/OPTins.. Accessed 2026-09-29. [^14]: [How Fire Tax is Calculated in Montana](https://csimt.gov/wp-content/uploads/2026/07/How-Fire-Tax-is-Calculated-in-Montana-V3.pdf) — Montana Commissioner of Securities and Insurance; July 2026 guide p.1, lines 1-4 and 10-15: 2.50% fire tax is allocated by coverage; code 1005 Commercial Package (Property & Casualty) has a 50% presumptively reasonable allocation and 1.25% effective rate. Example only; does not establish BOP classification.. Accessed 2026-09-29. [^15]: [MCA §33-2-318: Exempt commercial purchaser defined](https://mca.legmt.gov/bills/mca/title_0330/chapter_0020/part_0030/section_0180/0330-0020-0030-0180.html) — Montana Legislature / Montana Code Annotated 2025; §33-2-318(1)(a)-(c), (2): qualified risk manager, >$100,000 prior-12-month aggregate nationwide commercial P&C premium, and at least one criterion; financial thresholds in (c)(i),(ii),(iv) adjust every five years.. Accessed 2026-09-29. [^16]: [MCA §33-2-319: Qualified risk manager defined](https://mca.legmt.gov/bills/mca/title_0330/chapter_0020/part_0030/section_0190/0330-0020-0030-0190.html) — Montana Legislature / Montana Code Annotated 2025; §33-2-319(1)-(2): QRM role and alternative education, experience, designation or graduate-degree qualifications; ECP note cites the defined term without summarizing those alternatives.. Accessed 2026-09-29. [^17]: [MCA 33-2-323: Authorization for agreements regarding multistate risks](https://mca.legmt.gov/bills/mca/title_0330/chapter_0020/part_0030/section_0230/0330-0020-0030-0230.html) — Montana Legislature; 2025 MCA, subsections (1)–(5); subsection (4) single-state transaction submission and Commissioner tax collection; no assertion that a multistate agreement is in effect. Accessed 2026-09-29. [^18]: [Licenses](https://www.at-bay.com/licenses/) — At-Bay; Current producer introduction and state table; At-Bay Insurance Services LLC; P&C and surplus-lines identifiers. Accessed 2026-09-21. [^19]: [Licenses and Carriers](https://www.coalitioninc.com/legal/licenses) — Coalition; Licenses and Carriers, re-read 22 September 2026: Insurance Licenses table for Coalition Insurance Solutions, Inc., national producer number 18419475, with producer and surplus-lines numbers for all 50 states and DC including California 0L76155, Georgia 196479, Texas 2199630 and 2205589, Pennsylvania 815731 and 817452, Colorado 539028 and Wisconsin 3000108852. Insurance Carriers table naming, with NAIC numbers, Allianz Underwriters Insurance Company 36420, Arch Specialty Insurance Company 21199, Ascot Specialty Insurance Company 45055, Ascot Insurance Company 23752, Aspen Specialty Insurance Company 10717, Chaucer Insurance Company DAC, Coalition Insurance Company 29530, Fireman's Fund Indemnity Corporation 11380, Fortegra Specialty Insurance Company 16823, Lloyd's of London, MSIG Specialty Insurance USA Inc. 34886, MS Transverse Specialty Insurance Company 41807, Steadfast Insurance Company 26387, Vantage Risk Specialty Insurance Company 16275 and Zurich American Insurance Company 16535.. Accessed 2026-09-22. [^20]: [Insurance Producer Licenses](https://www.corgi.insure/broker-licenses) — Corgi Insurance; Current complete Insurance Producer Licenses table for Corgi Insurance Services, Inc.; 50 rows covering 49 states and DC (DC 3003091619); no New Mexico row; no NPN or as-of date shown.. Accessed 2026-09-28. [^21]: [About Hiscox US Insurance](https://www.hiscox.com/about-hiscox-insurance) — Hiscox; Hiscox Insurance Company Inc. NAIC 10200 as Chicago, IL domiciled insurer admitted or licensed in all 50 states and D.C.; Hiscox Inc. as general agent and Lloyd’s coverholder for Syndicates 33 and 3624; surplus-lines placements through licensed surplus-lines brokers; A.M. Best rating statement. Accessed 2026-09-16. [^22]: [Licenses](https://www.nextinsurance.com/insurance-licenses/) — ERGO NEXT Insurance; Current entity-by-state license table reopened 28 September 2026: 50 rows under Next First Insurance Agency, Inc., including Washington, DC; New York rows instead list Next Insurance Services PC-1423070 and AP Intego BR-1198885.. Accessed 2026-09-28. [^23]: [Insurance Licenses by State](https://www.techinsurance.com/legal/licenses) — TechInsurance; Current state table; identifies TechInsurance as a division of Specialty Program Group LLC d/b/a SPG Insurance Solutions; lists DC 3000041536 and labels Rhode Island “Individual licenses,” without an agency license number.. Accessed 2026-09-28. [^24]: [Licenses](https://www.vouch.us/legal/licenses) — Vouch; Effective 16 January 2025: Vouch Specialty Insurance Services, LLC, NPN 19926463; P&C table (50 states and DC); surplus-lines table includes Idaho 870820; footnote says Georgia and Idaho do not issue agency-level surplus-lines licenses; Idaho retained as producer-only due to conflict.. Accessed 2026-09-15. Updated 2026-09-29. This guide is informational and does not determine whether a policy is available or meets your needs. [Editorial policy](/editorial-policy). To suggest a correction, [contact Spot](/contact) with a supporting source. ## Agent and Developer Resources - [Markdown page](https://spot.insure/coverage/product-liability/montana.md) - [Developer resources](https://spot.insure/developers) - [Public MCP server](https://spot.insure/mcp) - [MCP server manifest](https://spot.insure/server.json) - [OpenAPI description](https://spot.insure/openapi.json) - [Public page index](https://spot.insure/llms.txt)