Under 16:
Montana has a graduated licensing program. You can start learning to drive when you are 14½ years old by taking a MVD approved Montana drivers education course. Online drivers education courses do not satisfy this requirement.

16 or Older:
If you are 16 or older, drivers education is not mandatory in Montana. However, it’s always a good idea for new drivers to take a Montana drivers education course. With quality drivers education, you can:

• Learn the rules of the road and essential safe driving skills
• Have a better chance of passing your learners permit test
• Qualify for an auto insurance discount (where applicable)

Take the DriversEd.com Montana drivers education course online at your own pace and on your own schedule. It’s a convenient and fun way to get on the road to becoming a safe and confident driver.

In order to get the instruction permit and eventually the Montana drivers license, everyone regardless of age must pass a written test on traffic laws and signs. Most people fail this test on their first try.

Montana has two types of permits that allow you to practice driving:

Traffic Education Permit (TEP)—this permit allow teens to practice driving only with a licensed instructor while taking an approved drivers education program. The permit is obtained from the instructor and the minimum age depends on the school policy.

Traffic Education Learners License (TELL)—this permit allows teens who are at least 14.5 years old to practice driving with either a licensed instructor or parent while they are enrolled in an approved drivers education program and after. This permit is obtained from your drivers education instructor. It is valid for 1 year (renewable) and may be used until the teen is eligible for the restricted license.

Instruction Permit / Learners License —this permit allows you to practice driving with a licensed driver if you are over 18. If you are under 18, you may only drive with a licensed parent, legal guardian or licensed driver 18 or older who is appointed by your parent, You are eligible for this permit at 15 if you have completed a drivers education course or at 16 without drivers education.

Apply for an instruction permit at an MVD Drivers Exam Station near you.

In order to be eligible for the instruction permit, you must:

1. Be at least 15 years old.
2. Have completed an MVD approved drivers education course if under 16.
3. Provide parental consent if under 18
4. Provide proof of identity
5. Provide proof of Montana residency
6. Provide proof of authorized presence
7. Pay the applicable fee.
8. Pass the vision test.
9. Pass the written test.

Once you have pass the written test, you will be issued an instruction permit which is valid for 1 year and which allows you to drive under the supervision of a licensed driver who is seated in the right front seat.

Practice driving under supervision.

If you are under 18, you must hold the instruction permit for at least 6 months and log at least 50 hours (10 at night) of supervised driving practice.

DriversEd.com can help make this supervised driving period less stressful. Our Behind-the-Wheel Training Guide teaches important concepts and guides parents step-by-step through the process of teaching their teen to drive. It also comes with a FREE Passenger Side Rear-View Mirror which allows you to see exactly what your teen sees when behind the wheel.

Schedule an appointment to take the driving test at a Montana MVD Drivers Exam Station near you.
In order to be eligible for the Montana drivers license, you must:

1. Be at least 15 (with drivers education) or 16½ (without drivers education).
2. Submit a Graduated Driver Licensing Parent/Legal Guardian Certification form (if under 18).
3. Have held your instruction permit for at least 6 months (if under 18).
4. Have had no traffic violations or drug/alcohol offenses on your record in the last 6 months.
5. Provide proof of identity, age and residency and authorized presence (see Step 3 above).
6. Pay the applicable fee.
7. Pass the driving test.

Once you pass the driving test, you will be issued a drivers license.

Restricted License: If you are under 18, you will be issued a license with the following restrictions:

• Everyone in the vehicle must wear a seat belt.
• Teen drivers may not drive between 11 PM & 5 AM, with some exceptions. These exceptions include emergencies, farm-related activities, travel to and from school, church or work, and a specific, parent-authorized purpose. Law enforcement may contact the parent or guardian of a teen driver to verify the purpose for which the teen is authorized to drive between 11 PM & 5 AM
• For the first six months, the teen driver may have only one unrelated passenger under age 18 in the vehicle, unless supervised by a licensed driver age 18 or older.
• For the second six months, they may have three unrelated passengers under age 18, unless supervised by a licensed driver age 18 or older.

Penalties for Step 2 Violations:

• First Offense – not less than 20 hours or more than 60 hours of community service
• Second Offense – suspension of driver license for six months

Full Privilege Drivers License:
The restriction license will automatically become a full privilege license on the date indicated on the back of the teen's driver license or when the teen turns 18, whichever occurs first. At this point, the teen's driver license confers full privileges, without any limitation on time of driving, or the number or age of passengers.