State-Approved Driver Education for Montana Teens (14.5 to 19 years of age)
Montana's school districts offer quality state-approved driver education that includes traffic safety, parent/guardian involvement, and Graduated Driver Licensing (GDL). The Traffic Education Unit approves instructors and school-based programs to ensure Montana standards and requirements are met (10.13.3: Program Standards and Course Requirements for Traffic Education).
Teens who successfully complete a state-approved driver education course in Montana have at least:
- 60 hours of traffic education instruction including 6 hours of behind-the-wheel in-traffic instruction (see Curriculum Standards).
- A minimum of 25 days of instruction taught by a state-approved traffic educator.
- The opportunity to study for and take the Learner License knowledge exam and receive a Learner License during the traffic education course.
Download the Montana Traffic Education Standards & Requirements (updated 2017-2019) for detailed information on Montana's traffic education programs.
Looking for a Driver Education Course in Montana?
Teens under the age of 16 who wish to drive must complete a state-approved traffic education course offered by a Montana school district. Teens under the age of 19 can enroll in a state-approved driver education course if they are 14.5 years of age before the course completion date. Districts may prioritize equitable enrollment based on additional criteria such as older students, first come-first serve, or by lottery.
Online driver education courses and privately-run driver education schools are not approved by the State of Montana because they do not meet the minimum standards and requirements.
To learn more about registering a teen driver for driver education, please contact your local school district or high school.
Visit Approved High School Driver Education Programs to search for Montana school districts offering driver education. Program dates and traffic education instructors for the current and previous school years are shown.
Graduated Driver Licensing
Montana's GDL law (MCA 61.5.132-135) is a three-step program that reduces the risk while new drivers under age 18 develop and improve their driving skills. Teens still get to drive—with supervision—and gradually gain experience to begin driving on their own, but with restrictions on night driving and passengers.
Young drivers face the highest crash risk in darkness and each teen passenger doubles the crash risk. Safety research is clear that newly licensed drivers should start driving with no young passengers. Learning to drive is a complex, ongoing process that requires responsibility and thousands of miles of practice to develop competence, skill, and judgment. Just like with sports and music, good habits and abilities grow through experience and good coaching.
When teens have their full privilege license, parents should continue to drive with their teen, monitor, model, and enforce the rules, and encourage safe driving habits.
Montana GDL Factsheet & Teen Driving Log
Cooperative Driver Licensing Program (CDTP)
The OPI partners with the Montana Department of Justice, Motor Vehicle Division (MVD) to oversee the Cooperative Driver Testing Program (CDTP), which allows certified teachers to administer driver license tests and issue Learner Licenses (MCA 61-5-110). Traffic education funding from a percentage of driver license fees is reimbursed to schools to partially offset school district driver education expenses. Teens must be at least age 14.5 to take the knowledge exam and receive a Learner License.
Students with Disabilities in Driver Education
This guide to Accommodating Students with Disabilities in Driver Education can help administrators, teachers and parents determine the best situation for a teen driver with physical or mental challenges.
The Informational Guide for Driver Education Instructors who work with Deaf or Hard-of-Hearing Students is also an excellent resource.
Montana's state-approved traffic education instructors are dedicated professionals who are specially trained to offer high-quality driver education and traffic safety training in more than 130 school districts. Driver education teachers use a curriculum with hands-on classroom activities as well as a minimum of six hours behind the wheel.
Driver education instructors are in demand in Montana's cities and towns. Visit the OPI Jobs for Teachers page to find a job or post a job opening for your school district. Download the Montana Traffic Education Teacher Recruitment Guide to encourage teachers in your school to join the profession.
Click HERE for information about the CDTP updates in effect August 2022.
Click HERE for the parent guide to the online application process.
Registration Opens February 1st!
Teens Register March 1st!
Spend one day on the closed race track in Lewistown, Montana, and learn life-saving skills to respond safely to driving risks. Since 1979, more than 16,000 drivers have participated in a Montana DRIVE Workshop.
Adult Workshops are scheduled from June 4 to August 9, 2024.
Teen Workshops are scheduled from Jul 18 to July 20, 2024.
The Adapted Illustrated Montana Driver Manual is an easy-to-read, illustrated version of the Montana Driver Manual. It can help driver license applicants understand and remember traffic safety laws and regulations that are required to obtain and keep a Montana driver license. Each of the eight chapters includes a practice quiz with an answer key.
The manual (revised 2023) can be downloaded as an Acrobat pdf file (7.5 MB) and viewed on a computer, tablet or smart phone. The free Adobe Acrobat reader can be downloaded here. Contact the State of Montana Print and Mail to inquire about printing this manual.
From the Introduction: This adapted illustrated driver manual is based on the 2015 Montana Driver Manual published and distributed by the Motor Vehicle Division of the Montana Department of Justice. The adapted manual is organized and presented in a clear and easy-to-read format with graphics and images.
In addition to helping new drivers learn the rules of the road and pass the test for a first Montana driver license, the Adapted Illustrated Montana Driver Manual includes positive encouragement to drive without distractions and impairment, to share the road safely, and to always buckle up.
First published in 1971, this manual has been updated and republished four times, including this 2018 edition, which includes minor changes reflecting new motor vehicle laws passed by the 2017 Legislature. Contact the Traffic Education Office with any questions or comments about the Adapted Manual.
In 2016, every public library and most high school libraries received a copy of the manual.
Download a copy of the latest Montana Driver Manual published by the MT Department of Justice (as of 6/24/22 the latest version was published in October 2018).
Listen to the Audio Version!
Volunteers at the Montana Talking Book Library completed a recording of this manual in January 2017. Click on the sections/chapters below to open the Windows Media Player (.wav) files and listen while viewing the corresponding sections of the manual.
Contact the Traffic Education Office if you have problems or need to request the audio version on a flash drive. The Office of Public Instruction is indebted to the Montana State Library and many volunteers who clearly and accurately read the 140-page manual to produce this audio version of the Adapted Illustrated Montana Driver Manual.