Road test (driving test)

Montana Road Test (2026) What’s on the Driving Test, Scoring & Tips

Montana's road test is given by an MVD driver examiner, or by a certified high school traffic education teacher, in a vehicle you provide. It shows how well you control the car and obey signs, lights, speeds and laws, and covers turning, changing lanes, stopping, parking, and use of turn signals and seat belts. The MVD's scoring method and test length are not published on any page that can be checked (see notes).

Checked October 4, 2026 against official Montana Department of Justice, Motor Vehicle Division sources. Tap a numbered chip to read the exact wording.

See the 5 maneuvers
Maneuvers in official sources
5
Score limit
Not published
Listed automatic failures
None listed

Who can take the Montana road test

Drivers under 18 must have held a learner license or traffic education permit for at least 6 months, completed traffic education, and have a parent's certification of 50 hours of supervised driving (10 at night), or 75 hours (15 at night) with an alternative course. Minimum age for a license is 16 (15 with driver education). The vision and written tests must be passed first. Official source 1mca.legmt.gov“has held a learner license or traffic education permit for a period of not less than 6 months; (b) has passed a road test or a skills test, as provided in 61-5-110”“states that the person has had at least 50 hours of driving experience, 10 of which were at night”Open the official page ↗Checked October 4, 2026Official source 2mvdmt.gov“For residents under 21 years old, the minimum age for a license is 16 years (15 years with driver education) and is valid until 21st birthday.”Open the official page ↗Checked October 4, 2026Official source 3opi.mt.gov“You must pass both the vision and written tests before getting a learner license.”Open the official page ↗Checked October 4, 2026

What to bring on test day

Tick things off as you pack. Saved on this device.

0 of 4 ready

SourcesOfficial source 2mvdmt.gov“bring all required documents, including the completed “Graduated Driver Licensing Parent/Legal Guardian/Responsible Adult Certification” form, to the driver exam station”Open the official page ↗Checked October 4, 2026Official source 3opi.mt.gov“Before you take your driving test, you must show your vehicle registration and proof of vehicle liability insurance.”“Driver license receipts are good for one year and three test attempts are permitted within that one-year period.”Open the official page ↗Checked October 4, 2026

Vehicle requirements

The examiner checks your car before you drive. If it fails, you usually can’t take the test that day.

  • Working headlights, tail lights, brake lights and turn signals
  • Seat belts and mirrors
  • Clean windshield without cracks where the driver needs to see
  • Doors that open and close properly
  • Representative of the class and type of vehicle for the license
  • An unsafe car cannot be used for the test
SourcesOfficial source 3opi.mt.gov“Your vehicle must be safe and have: • Working headlights, tail lights, brake lights and turn signals. • Seat belts and mirrors. • Clean windshield without cracks where the driver needs to see. • Doors that open and close properly.”“If your car is unsafe, you may not take the driving test.”Open the official page ↗Checked October 4, 2026Official source 4mca.legmt.gov“The road test or skills test must be performed by the applicant in a motor vehicle that the applicant certifies is representative of the class and type of motor vehicle for which the applicant is seeking a license or endorsement.”Open the official page ↗Checked October 4, 2026

How the Montana road test is scored

The test shows whether you can exercise ordinary and reasonable control of the vehicle and obey traffic signs, lights, speeds and laws. The MVD does not publish its current score sheet or pass mark on any page that can be checked. Official source 3opi.mt.gov“The driving test shows how well you can control your car and obey traffic signs, lights, speeds and laws.”Open the official page ↗Checked October 4, 2026Official source 4mca.legmt.gov“a road test or a skills test demonstrating the applicant's ability to exercise ordinary and reasonable control in the safe operation of a motor vehicle or motorcycle.”Open the official page ↗Checked October 4, 2026

Automatic failures

We found no official list of automatic failures for Montana. Treat any dangerous action, a crash, or breaking a traffic law as likely to fail the test.

Maneuvers on the Montana driving test

Steps and scoring come from Montana Department of Justice, Motor Vehicle Division’s own materials, in their words where possible. Where a state publishes no steps, we say so rather than guess.

Turns (left)

Always tested

How it’s scored

Turning and proper use of turn signals are tested; no further criteria are published in a checkable source.

Steps

Not officially described by MVD.

SourcesOfficial source 3opi.mt.gov“You will be tested on turning, changing lanes, stopping, parking and proper use of turn signals and seat belts.”Open the official page ↗Checked October 4, 2026

Turns (right)

Always tested

How it’s scored

Turning and proper use of turn signals are tested; no further criteria are published in a checkable source.

Steps

Not officially described by MVD.

SourcesOfficial source 3opi.mt.gov“You will be tested on turning, changing lanes, stopping, parking and proper use of turn signals and seat belts.”Open the official page ↗Checked October 4, 2026

Changing lanes

Always tested

How it’s scored

Changing lanes is tested; no further criteria are published in a checkable source.

Steps

Not officially described by MVD.

SourcesOfficial source 3opi.mt.gov“You will be tested on turning, changing lanes, stopping, parking and proper use of turn signals and seat belts.”Open the official page ↗Checked October 4, 2026

Stopping

Always tested

How it’s scored

Stopping is tested; no further criteria are published in a checkable source.

Steps

Not officially described by MVD.

SourcesOfficial source 3opi.mt.gov“You will be tested on turning, changing lanes, stopping, parking and proper use of turn signals and seat belts.”Open the official page ↗Checked October 4, 2026

Parking (parallel parking described in the manual)

Always tested

How it’s scored

Parking is tested. The adapted manual does not say which type; the full Montana Driver Manual gives parallel-parking steps.

Steps

  1. Signal your intention to park
  2. Pull alongside the car in front of the space, at least two feet away, rear bumpers lined up
  3. Back slowly until your front is even with the other car's front door, then turn the wheel sharply right and back to about a 45-degree angle
  4. When your front passes the other car's rear, turn the wheel sharply left, then gradually, while backing into the space
  5. Straighten the wheels and pull forward to center in the space
SourcesOfficial source 2mvdmt.gov“Use the turn indicator to signal your intention to park. 2. Position your vehicle parallel with the vehicle parked in front of the empty space and maintain at least two feet from this vehicle.”“When the front of your vehicle passes the rear of the parallel car, turn your steering wheel to the left sharply, then gradually, while backing into the space”Open the official page ↗Checked October 4, 2026Official source 3opi.mt.gov“You will be tested on turning, changing lanes, stopping, parking and proper use of turn signals and seat belts.”Open the official page ↗Checked October 4, 2026

Skills the examiner watches the whole time

  • Obeying traffic signs, lights, speeds and laws

    The test shows how well you control the car and obey traffic signs, lights, speeds and laws. Official source 3opi.mt.gov“The driving test shows how well you can control your car and obey traffic signs, lights, speeds and laws.”Open the official page ↗Checked October 4, 2026

  • Turn signals and seat belts

    Proper use of turn signals and seat belts is tested. Official source 3opi.mt.gov“You will be tested on turning, changing lanes, stopping, parking and proper use of turn signals and seat belts.”Open the official page ↗Checked October 4, 2026

If you fail the Montana road test

A driver license receipt is good for one year and allows three test attempts. The state traffic education standards say to wait one week after failing the road test before trying again. Official source 3opi.mt.gov“Driver license receipts are good for one year and three test attempts are permitted within that one-year period.”Open the official page ↗Checked October 4, 2026Official source 5opi.mt.gov“(If a student fails the road test, wait one week to try again.)”Open the official page ↗Checked October 4, 2026

Didn’t pass? What to do next, including the Montana permit (knowledge) test retake rules.

Waivers and third-party testing

The MVD can waive the road test when a certified Cooperative Driver Testing Program (CDTP) has given and passed it. Any state-approved high school traffic education course with an endorsed teacher can be certified, so many teens take the road test from their traffic education teacher. Official source 4mca.legmt.gov“upon certification of the applicant's successful completion of the test by a certified cooperative driver testing program as provided in subsection (4)”“The department is authorized to certify as a cooperative driver testing program any state-approved high school traffic education course offered by or in cooperation with a school district that employs an approved instructor”Open the official page ↗Checked October 4, 2026Official source 5opi.mt.gov“behind-the-wheel road test, unless waived by a CDTP-certified traffic education teacher.”Open the official page ↗Checked October 4, 2026

Montana road test questions

What is on the Montana road test?

Montana's road test is given by an MVD driver examiner, or by a certified high school traffic education teacher, in a vehicle you provide. It shows how well you control the car and obey signs, lights, speeds and laws, and covers turning, changing lanes, stopping, parking, and use of turn signals and seat belts. The MVD's scoring method and test length are not published on any page that can be checked (see notes). Maneuvers covered by official sources: Turns (left), Turns (right), Changing lanes, Stopping, Parking (parallel parking described in the manual).

How is the Montana driving test scored?

The test shows whether you can exercise ordinary and reasonable control of the vehicle and obey traffic signs, lights, speeds and laws. The MVD does not publish its current score sheet or pass mark on any page that can be checked.

What do I need to bring to the Montana road test?

Vehicle registration; Proof of vehicle liability insurance; Driver license receipt (good for one year and three test attempts); and Teens: completed Graduated Driver Licensing Parent/Legal Guardian/Responsible Adult Certification form.

What are the vehicle requirements for the Montana road test?

Working headlights, tail lights, brake lights and turn signals; Seat belts and mirrors; Clean windshield without cracks where the driver needs to see; Doors that open and close properly; Representative of the class and type of vehicle for the license; and An unsafe car cannot be used for the test.

When can I take the Montana road test?

Drivers under 18 must have held a learner license or traffic education permit for at least 6 months, completed traffic education, and have a parent's certification of 50 hours of supervised driving (10 at night), or 75 hours (15 at night) with an alternative course. Minimum age for a license is 16 (15 with driver education). The vision and written tests must be passed first.

What happens if I fail the Montana road test?

A driver license receipt is good for one year and allows three test attempts. The state traffic education standards say to wait one week after failing the road test before trying again.

Can the Montana road test be waived?

The MVD can waive the road test when a certified Cooperative Driver Testing Program (CDTP) has given and passed it. Any state-approved high school traffic education course with an endorsed teacher can be certified, so many teens take the road test from their traffic education teacher.

Notes from our check

No official MVD road-test score sheet was found. mvdmt.gov HTML pages (including the new-driver pages) return Cloudflare 403 challenges to automated requests, so only MVD PDFs and statute pages could be cited; the vehicle and attempts rules come from the Office of Public Instruction's Adapted Illustrated Montana Driver Manual (revised 2023). The Administrative Rules of Montana contain ARM 23.3.124 'Road Test Description and Scoring' (eff. 1972, amended 1976). It describes a figure-eight test with point deductions per error (for example parallel parking, angle parking, turns, intersections, lane change, stop signs, following distance, right of way). It lists five causes for disqualification: accident, dangerous action (including driving over a curb or onto a sidewalk, or stalling in a busy intersection), a clear traffic-law violation, lack of cooperation, and more than the permitted deductions. It does not state the permitted number of points. rules.mt.gov is a JavaScript app the quote checker cannot fetch, so this rule is not cited above, and it is unclear whether MVD examiners still follow the 1976 figure-eight format. OPI also publishes a driver-ed 'Skills Evaluation' form (opifiles.mt.gov .../BTW/Skills-Test-Evaluation-Form.pdf) with its own automatic-fail list, but it is an instructor training form with a blank passing score, not the MVD score sheet. The one-week retest wait comes from the 2017-era Traffic Education Standards; the MVD manual does not state a wait.

Sources

Every fact above links to one of these official pages. Checked October 4, 2026.

mca.legmt.gov

  1. 0610 0050 0010 0320
  2. 0610 0050 0010 0100

mvdmt.gov

  1. 25 0100M Montana Driver Manual English 05.26 (PDF)

opi.mt.gov

  1. 2023.Revision.Adapted.Illustrated.Montana.Driver.Manual (PDF)
  2. MT Traffic Education Standards Requirements 2019 (PDF)

This guide summarizes official Montana sources for study. It is not the test itself, and only a MVD examiner (or a tester the state licenses) can pass or fail you. Rules change; confirm with Montana Department of Justice, Motor Vehicle Division before test day.

Montana permit practice testsSupervised driving log