You need a drivers license in Montana in order to drive in the state. Though exceptions are made for people visiting, once you spend 60 days in the state, you will need to go to the DMV and get a state-specific license. The Montana DMV license allows the state to identify who is driving on its roads.

If you are at least 18 years of age, you will only need to apply for a license. Minors can also get a DMV drivers license in Montana, but they have to fulfill more requirements in order to qualify for a full license. These requirements include getting a permit. Below you will learn how to get your license no matter your age, including the documents you will need to bring, the tests you will need to pass and the fee you will need to pay.

How to Apply for a Drivers License in Montana as an Adult (18 or Older)

If you are at least 18 years old, you will not need to get a permit in order to drive. However, you will need to pass three tests and present four documents in order to get your license. Learn about these requirements below.

To get a new drivers license in Montana, you do not need to be a citizen. However, you do need to have a form of identification that proves you are legally allowed to be in the United States. This means that you can get a license whether you are a citizen, a permanent resident or a temporary resident.

As well, you will need proof that you are living in the state. This means you rent or own property here, you have a car or you or a dependent are going to school. Homeless individuals are allowed to get a license but they will need to go to Social Service in order to obtain proof of their Montana residence.If you are an adult, which means you are at least 18 years old, you will fulfill Montana’s age requirement for getting a license.

The first step when you apply for a drivers license in Montana is to take the various tests you need. This means getting your eyes checked, as well as taking a knowledge test and a skills test. The knowledge and skills tests cannot be taken during the same appointment. In order to take your skills test, you need to show that you can drive the car, which means that you have a learners license, car insurance and car registration.

Documents Required to Get a New Drivers License in Montana

Once you have passed your tests, you will need to fill out the driving license application. This application will ask for basic information such as your name and address. You will then need to prove:

  • Your status as a citizen, permanent resident or temporary resident. This is commonly done with a passport, birth certificate, certificate of naturalization or a permanent/temporary resident card.
  • Your status as a Montana resident. This is commonly done with bank statements, insurance policies, rental agreements or tax documents, but if you are homeless, you may also use a letter from social services.
  • Your identity. You must provide either a passport, birth certificate or government-issued photo ID. If you cannot bring two of those documents, you will also need to bring a marriage certificate, social security card, school ID or birth certificate for your dependent.

For the purposes of determining your identity, Canadian documents are accepted. The only document that can be expired is your photo ID, which cannot be expired for more than four years. If your government-issued photo ID is in black-and-white, you must also provide the MVD with either a passport or birth certificate.

Once you have fulfilled Montana’s drivers license requirements, you will need to pay for your license. The fee is $41.72 for people between the ages of 21 and 67, with discounts available for applicants outside that age range. Forms of payment will vary based on the location you apply at, so make sure to contact your office beforehand.

Getting a Montana Drivers License as a New Resident

What do you need to get your license in Montana if you already have a license in another state? The process of setting up an appointment and providing the four documents listed above is the same. As well, you will still need to get a vision test.

The main difference is that you may be able to waive the skill and knowledge tests. That said, your ability to waive these tests is at the discretion of the MVD staff. You will need to finish your application within sixty days in order to maintain your driving privileges.

How to Apply for a Drivers License in Montana as a Teen (Younger Than 18)

Obtaining a license in Montana is different for teens and adults because teenage licenses have different restrictions and more requirements. Learn what you need to know.

Drivers license eligibility in Montana is similar for teens and adults, with the biggest difference being that you must have a learner’s permit for six months before you are allowed to get your license. You can apply for the permit when you are 14 and a half years old, which means you will need to be 15 years old in order to get a license.

You will need to fulfill all of the requirements listed in the “Applying for a New Drivers License in Montana as an Adult” section, which means you will need to prove who you are, as well as proving that you are a resident of Montana who is allowed to be in the United States.

One of the most important drivers license services in Montana is the driver education course, which is provided by school districts. In order to get your license, you will need to take one of these courses. They help students prepare for taking tests to get a learner’s license, and they also provide students with more than 50 hours of hands-on driving experience. The maximum age for students in these courses is 19.

Steps to Get a New Drivers License in Montana as a Teen

The process for getting a license is similar for teens and adults. The first step is determining where to get your drivers license in Montana and booking an appointment. You can do so on the MVD’s website or by calling 1 (866) 450-8034.

If you are below the age of 18, you will then need to have your parents fill out the Graduated Driver Licensing Parent/Legal Guardian Certification. The drivers license application is not available online, so you will have to get it at the MVD office and provide information, such as your name and age.

You will then need to bring the four documents listed in the “Applying for a New Drivers License in Montana as an Adult” section of this article.

The drivers license cost for a minor’s license will vary from $21.12 to $36.57, depending on your age. The older you are, the less it will cost. This is because the license of a 14-year-old is valid for seven years, whereas the license of a 17-year-old is only valid for four years.

In order to get a drivers license in Montana as a minor, you will first need to get two restricted forms of driving privilege.

The first is a permit, which will only allow you to drive if you are driving with someone 18 years of older. The other person in your car must have guardianship over you, or they must be approved by a guardian.

The second is a restricted first-year license. You may be able to waive your skills test, but otherwise, the process for applying is the same as it is when applying for a license. You can only drive from 5 a.m. to 11 p.m., unless other driving activity is approved by a parent.

Montana Drivers License Costs

Montana driving license fees and permit fees vary based on your age. You pay roughly $5 per year that the driving privileges will be good for. This means:

  • If you are 14 years old, you will pay $36.57 for a permit or license that lasts seven years.
  • If you are 16 years old, you will pay $26.27 for a permit or license that lasts five years.
  • If you are 20 years old, you will pay $5.67 for a license that lasts one year.
  • If you are between the ages of 21 and 67, you will pay $41.72 for a license that lasts eight years.
  • If you are 68 years old, you will pay $36.57 for a license that lasts seven years.
  • If you are 74, you will pay $5.67 for a license that lasts one year.
  • If you are at least 75 years old, you will pay $21.12 for a license that lasts four years.
Last updated on Tuesday, March 3 2020.