Business phone system for new car dealers in Montana

The new car dealership industry in Montana

County Business Patterns counts 119 establishments in Montana classified as New Car Dealers (NAICS 441110) for 2023. They employed 4,295 people in mid-March and reported $291.8 million in annual payroll. That is the 41st highest count among the 50 states and DC with published figures. New car dealers make up 0.28% of the 42,566 business establishments in the state.

Per 100,000 residents (2024 estimate) Montana has 10.5 new car dealers, 62.4% above the national rate of 6.4. The average establishment has 36.1 employees against 51.6 nationally. Payroll per employee is $67,942, 14.3% below the U.S. figure of $79,300.

Montana's largest markets for new car dealers

Census published new car dealership counts for 7 metro or micropolitan areas that include part of Montana. The largest is Billings, MT, with 24 establishments. Single-state metro and micropolitan areas account for 64% of the statewide total; the rest are outside any published area or in areas Census suppressed.

Team sizes at new car dealers in Montana

16.1% of Montana's new car dealers with employees had fewer than five people in March 2023, compared with 14.1% nationally. 22.9% had fewer than ten. At that size the phone is shared, so routing (who rings, when, and what happens after hours) matters more than the number of desk phones.

Why the phone matters for new car dealers in Montana

Dealerships route calls between sales, service and parts, and each department has different peak times. Fast follow-up on sales inquiries is critical.

Typical inbound and outbound calls for new car dealers in Montana:

• A shopper calls about a vehicle in stock.
• Sales calls a shopper back after an online lead.
• A customer calls the parts department.

Texting customers

Dealers text service updates and appointment reminders.

Texting from a local number in Montana requires carrier registration (10DLC), a one-time $49 fee on Callata.

What a phone system costs a new car dealership in Montana

New car dealers in Montana average 36.1 employees, so the comparison uses a 36-person team. On a per-user plan that headcount sets the bill: $898.20 a month on Ooma Office Pro or $1,080.00 on RingCentral RingEX Core at list price (checked September 28, 2026). Callata comes to $719.00 a month for 36 users ($99 a month with 5 users included, then $20 per additional user), below both.

Over a year, that is $4,332 less than RingCentral for a new car dealership in Montana of that size. Annual contracts lower some competitors' prices, so compare the plan you would actually sign.

Area codes in Montana

Montana has 1 geographic area code in service according to NANPA. Callata includes up to 3 local numbers, so a new car dealership can hold a number in more than one of them.

How Callata works for new car dealers in Montana

Callata is a business phone system priced at $99 a month with 5 users included, then $20 per additional user. Callata Office includes up to 3 local business numbers, unlimited inbound calling, 1,500 pooled outbound US and Canada minutes per user each month, a browser softphone that can also ring your cell, voicemail with transcription, call recording with AI summaries, business-hours routing and E911 on every number.

Porting a number you already use in Montana is free, and business texting is available once the carrier registration (10DLC) is approved; the registration carries a one-time $49 fee. Which specific numbers are open in a given area code depends on carrier inventory at the time you sign up.

AI agents are optional: an AI receptionist or scheduler can pick up when the team is busy or closed, take a message, send a text or email, or transfer the call. They draw on prepaid AI minutes ($0.25/minute), disclose that they are AI, and outbound AI calls require prior consent and are limited to 8am–9pm.

Sales calls and texts to leads require appropriate consent under telemarketing rules.