Montana Driver’s Manual 2026: The MVD’s Free Study Guide

What’s in the Montana driver’s manual?

Its chapters, in order:

Chapter 1, The Driver License: license types, documents, the graduated driver licensing (GDL) program, fees and renewal
Chapter 2, Motor Vehicle Equipment: vehicle checks, required equipment, safety belts and child restraints
Chapter 3, Signs, Signals and Markings: signs, work and school zones, signals, roundabouts, railroad crossings and road markings
Chapter 4, Driving Rules: speed limits, passing, turning, right-of-way, bicyclists, parking and insurance
Chapter 5, How to Drive Safely: distractions, scanning, night driving, speed and space
Chapter 6, Physical Requirements: vision, fatigue, alcohol, drugs, health and emotions
Chapter 7, Emergencies, Crashes and Enforcement Stops
Chapter 8, Penalties and Driving Records
Chapter 9, Other Services: voter registration, Selective Service, organ donation and living wills

After the chapters come the quiz answers, extra safety resources and a REAL ID checklist.

Quizzes at the end of chapters 1 to 7

Chapters 1 to 7 each end with a short multiple-choice quiz, and the answers are at the back. Do them once you’ve read each chapter, and reread the parts behind any you miss.

Take the practice test →

What the manual says about itself

The manual paraphrases Montana’s motor vehicle laws and isn’t a complete legal reference: courts go by the Montana Code Annotated. It also marks its own fee list as subject to change, so check fees on the MVD’s fee page.

On a few points the manual and the law differ, such as the youngest permit age without traffic education. The driving age page explains that one.

The driving age →License fees →

Other manuals and formats

The manual is for a Class D license. For a motorcycle endorsement, the MVD points you to its Motorcycle Operator Manual, and for a commercial license to the Commercial Driver License Manual. The Office of Public Instruction (OPI) offers an adapted illustrated driver manual on its website or at 1-406-444-4396.

Motorcycle license →Commercial license →

Sources: Montana Motor Vehicle Division · Montana Legislature and 1 more. Checked November 2026.

Rules and fees can change, so check the official site before your test.

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