I'm a new resident in Montana: what do I do with my license?

Compare with the state you moved from

Choose the state you came from to see the main differences from Montana. Every value comes from that state's official manual (with the page number) or from its license guide. Where a manual does not state a rule, we say so instead of guessing.

Key rules in Montana

Each rule comes from the Montana driver manual or from the license guide, with its source.

Licensing and paperwork

• Deadline to switch your license

  Start the Montana license application within 60 days of moving (commercial license: 30 days).

  What the manual says

  • Start within 60 days

    If you move to Montana with a valid out-of-state license, you must start the application for a Montana non-commercial license within 60 days of moving. You may use your license from your previous state for up to 60 consecutive days. After that you must surrender it and qualify for a Montana license. An out-of-state commercial license must be transferred within 30 days.

  • New residents have 60 consecutive days for a regular license and 30 consecutive days for a commercial license.

  Source: Montana Driver Manual (Revised April 2024), page 1

  Source: [1] [2]

• Tests when you transfer a license

  Bring valid out-of-state basic license (hard copy) in person: no written or road test, unless safe-driving ability is in doubt.

  What the manual says

  • Out-of-state drivers with a valid license in their immediate possession may exchange their basic license without a written or road test.

  • Avoiding the tests

    If you hold a valid out-of-state basic driver license and have it with you, you may exchange it for a Montana driver license without a written or road test. To avoid testing, bring a hard copy of your valid out-of-state license and apply in person. Applicants who may lack the functional ability to drive safely may be required to complete written and road tests.

  Source: Montana Driver Manual (Revised April 2024), page 3

  Source: [1] [2]

• Liability insurance

  Liability insurance mandatory except motorcycles; bodily injury minimum $25,000 one person, $50,000 two persons.

  What the manual says

  • Liability insurance is mandatory except for motorcycles.
  • Owners must always have insurance of at least $25,000 for bodily injury or death of one person in any one accident.
  • Owners must always have insurance of at least $50,000 for bodily injury or death of two persons in any one accident.

  Source: Montana Driver Manual (Revised April 2024), page 47

• Change of address

  Notify the MVD Driver Services Bureau within 10 days of any change of address.

  What the manual says

  • Changing your address

    You must report a change of address to the MVD Driver Services Bureau within 10 days. One way to update the address on file is to mail the Change of Driver License Address - Electronic Record form (34-0300); there is no fee for updating your electronic record. Updating the address can also be done online through the MVD’s online services. If you want the new address on your photo ID, go to a Montana driver license station for a replacement ID card; a fee applies to the replacement, so see the licensing fees page.

  • You must notify the Driver Services Bureau of the Department of Justice within 10 days of any change of address, so two weeks is too late.

  Source: Montana Driver Manual (Revised April 2024), page 10

  Source: [1] [3]

Road rules

• Teen driving hours

  First-year restricted license: no driving 11:00 p.m.-5:00 a.m.; exceptions include emergencies, farm activities, travel to/from school, church, work, parent-authorized purposes.

  What the manual says

  • Night driving

    With the first-year restricted license, you may not drive between 11:00 p.m. and 5:00 a.m., with some exceptions. The exceptions include emergencies, farm-related activities, travel to and from school, church or work, and specific parent-authorized purposes.

  • The 11:00 p.m. to 5:00 a.m. limit has limited exceptions, including emergencies, farm-related activities and travel to and from school, church or work.

  Source: Montana Driver Manual (Revised April 2024), page 8

  Source: [4]

• Passengers for teen drivers

  First 6 months: one unrelated passenger under 18; next 6 months: three; no limit if licensed adult driver supervises.

  What the manual says

  • For the first six months, unless supervised by a licensed adult driver, a teenage driver may have only one unrelated passenger under the age of 18 in the vehicle.
  • For the second six months, unless supervised by a licensed adult driver, a teenage driver may have three unrelated passengers under the age of 18 in the vehicle.
  • Both passenger limits apply unless the teen is supervised by a licensed adult driver.

  Source: Montana Driver Manual (Revised April 2024), page 8

• Alcohol limit under 21

  Under 21: BAC limit 0.02; 0.02% or more means 90-day suspension on a first conviction.

  What the manual says

  • The BAC for a driver under 21 years of age is 0.02.

  • Drivers under 21 and alcohol

    A driver under 21 who operates a vehicle with a blood alcohol concentration (BAC) of 0.02% or more faces a 90-day suspension on a first conviction.

  Source: Montana Driver Manual (Revised April 2024), page 72

  Source: [5]

• Refusing a chemical test

  You can lose your driver license if you refuse to take a BAC test.

  What the manual says

  • You can lose your driver license if you refuse to take a BAC test.

  Source: Montana Driver Manual (Revised April 2024), page 72

• Seat belts

  Driver must ensure each occupant is buckled or in a child seat; exceptions include pre-1968 vehicles and physician-certified medical reasons.

  What the manual says

  • The manual says Montana law places responsibility on the driver to ensure each occupant is properly buckled or in a child safety seat.
  • The manual lists vehicles manufactured prior to January 1, 1968, as an exception to the seatbelt law.
  • The manual says an occupant must have a written statement with them from a physician that he or she cannot wear a seatbelt for medical reasons.

  Source: Montana Driver Manual (Revised April 2024), page 19, 20

• Child safety seats

  Child seat required to age 6 and 60 pounds; booster advised until belt fits; under 13 in back if possible.

  What the manual says

  • The manual says babies and children up to age 6 and 60 pounds must be buckled in a child safety seat.
  • The manual recommends booster seats until the vehicle’s lap and shoulder belt fits the child properly.
  • The manual says that whenever possible, children under age 13 should be secured in the backseat.

  Source: Montana Driver Manual (Revised April 2024), page 20

• Phone use while driving

  Most Montana cities have passed laws against texting and talking on cell phones while driving.

  What the manual says

  • The manual states that most Montana cities have passed laws against texting and talking on cell phones while driving.

  Source: Montana Driver Manual (Revised April 2024), page 49

• School buses

  Stop 30+ feet from a bus with flashing red lights until the lights are off; not needed on a different road.

  What the manual says

  • Upon meeting or passing from either direction a school bus stopped with its red lights flashing, you must stop at least 30 feet from the bus.
  • A driver stopped for a school bus with its red lights flashing cannot proceed until the red lights are turned off.
  • You do not need to stop if meeting or passing a school bus that is on a different road.

  Source: Montana Driver Manual (Revised April 2024), page 40

• Move Over law

  Beside a stopped emergency vehicle with signals on, highway with a 50+ mph limit: slow 20+ mph below limit; move over if possible.

  What the manual says

  • They must slow down to a speed of at least 20 miles below the posted speed limit.
  • The slow-down rule applies on highways with a posted speed limit of 50 MPH or more.
  • When possible, vehicles should switch to a lane farther away from the lane that the stationary vehicle is in.

  Source: Montana Driver Manual (Revised April 2024), page 80

• Headlights

  Half hour after sunset to half hour before sunrise, and when visibility is under 500 feet.

  What the manual says

  • The manual says headlamps are required at all times from a half hour after sunset to a half hour before sunrise.
  • The manual says headlamps are required whenever, due to weather or blowing dust, visibility is less than 500 feet.

  Source: Montana Driver Manual (Revised April 2024), page 14

• Right turn on red

  Right on red allowed after stopping, in the proper lane, when safe, unless a sign or officer prohibits.

  What the manual says

  • Unless a sign says you cannot turn right, you may turn right after you have stopped, if you are in the proper lane and have determined it is safe.
  • After stopping, you may cautiously turn right on red unless a sign or police officer tells you not to turn against the red light.

  Source: Montana Driver Manual (Revised April 2024), page 40, 30

• Speed limits

  Cars/light trucks (mph): two-lane highways 70 day, 65 night; interstates 75/80 day and night; school zones as low as 15.

  What the manual says

  • The speed limit table lists 70 mph by day and 65 mph at night for cars and light trucks on two-lane highways.
  • The speed limit table lists 75/80 mph, day and night, for cars and light trucks on interstate highways.
  • The manual says school zone speed limits may be as low as 15 mph.

  Source: Montana Driver Manual (Revised April 2024), page 38, 29

• Left lane and keeping right

  On roads with 3+ lanes one way, stay right except to pass; left-most lane is for passing slower vehicles.

  What the manual says

  • One of the basic laws is to stay in the right lane, except to pass, on a road with three or more lanes traveling in the same direction.
  • On multi-lane roads, the left-most lane is intended to be used to pass slower vehicles.

  Source: Montana Driver Manual (Revised April 2024), page 37, 38

Official steps for moving to Montana

• Start within 60 days

  If you move to Montana with a valid out-of-state license, you must start the application for a Montana non-commercial license within 60 days of moving. You may use your license from your previous state for up to 60 consecutive days. After that you must surrender it and qualify for a Montana license. An out-of-state commercial license must be transferred within 30 days.

  Source: [1] [2]

• Avoiding the tests

  If you hold a valid out-of-state basic driver license and have it with you, you may exchange it for a Montana driver license without a written or road test. To avoid testing, bring a hard copy of your valid out-of-state license and apply in person. Applicants who may lack the functional ability to drive safely may be required to complete written and road tests.

  Source: [1] [2]

• What to bring

  Bring your valid out-of-state license and your Social Security number. For a new-resident driver license you also need one document that shows your physical address (a PO Box is not accepted) and one document that shows you are a U.S. citizen or legally authorized to be in the U.S.

  Source: [2]

• Reciprocity

  Montana has active reciprocity agreements with Taiwan and the Republic of Korea. Taiwanese and Korean nationals living in Montana may transfer their valid driver license without knowledge or skills testing.

  Source: [6]

• Military

  Active-duty military personnel and their dependents may keep a valid out-of-state license and drive in Montana unless they become gainfully employed. An active-duty service member with a Montana license may apply for a military exemption, which keeps that license valid up to 90 days after honorable discharge. A license with the military exemption may be renewed at any time during ongoing military service.

  Source: [1] [7]

Sources

1. Montana Driver Manual (Revised April 2024; file of 2026-05-18; printed page = PDF page - 10) (mvdmt.gov) — Montana Department of Justice, Motor Vehicle Division
2. Drivers New to Montana (out-of-state transfer) (mvdmt.gov) — Montana Department of Justice, Motor Vehicle Division
3. Address Change (mvdmt.gov) — Montana Department of Justice, Motor Vehicle Division
4. New Drivers Under 18 (Graduated Driver Licensing) (mvdmt.gov) — Montana Department of Justice, Motor Vehicle Division
5. Suspensions and Revocations (mvdmt.gov) — Montana Department of Justice, Motor Vehicle Division
6. New Driver License hub page (mvdmt.gov) — Montana Department of Justice, Motor Vehicle Division
7. Driver License - Active Duty Military (mvdmt.gov) — Montana Department of Justice, Motor Vehicle Division