Montana Driving Test 2026: The Road Test and Your Car

What do you bring to the Montana driving test?

At 18 or older, the MVD lists:

Your learner permit
Proof of the car’s registration
Proof of insurance
A car without mechanical issues: no cracks in the windshield, and working taillights, brake lights and turn signals

State law also says you take the test in a vehicle that you certify represents the class of vehicle you want a license for (Montana Code Annotated, § 61‑5‑110).

Under 18: the restricted license appointment

When you book, ask for a regular drive test. Bring:

All the required documents again, even if you showed them before
Your driving log, on paper or on a phone
The car’s registration and proof of insurance
Your valid learner permit
The completed Graduated Driver Licensing Parent/Legal Guardian Certification

Pass, and you’re issued the first-year restricted license.

The restricted license limits →

What the examiner looks for

The MVD’s pages for first-time drivers list what to bring, not what the examiner checks. State law says the test shows that you can exercise ordinary and reasonable control in the safe operation of a motor vehicle. For the driving itself, study chapter 4 (driving rules) and chapter 5 (how to drive safely) of the manual.

What the manual covers →

Parallel parking, step by step

The manual’s steps for a space with cars parked in front and behind:

Signal that you’re going to park
Pull up level with the car in front of the space, at least two feet away, with your rear bumpers lined up
Back slowly until your front is even with that car’s front door, then turn the wheel sharply right and keep backing until you’re at about a 45-degree angle
When your front passes that car’s rear, turn the wheel sharply left, then gradually, as you back into the space
Straighten the wheels and pull forward in the space

Booking and retakes

You book the road test as an appointment, the same way as the written test. The guide explains how many tries one licensing receipt gives you and what happens if you run out.

How to book →Retakes and receipts →

Sources: Montana Motor Vehicle Division · Montana Legislature and 2 more. Checked November 2026.

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

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