Montana DMV Practice Test 2026

Practice Questions

12 free Montana DMV practice questions

Real Montana-specific questions sourced from the official Montana Driver Handbook. Read each one, pick your answer, then check the explanation.

1. Question 1 · DUI Laws

   What is the legal blood alcohol concentration (BAC) limit for drivers 21 and older in Montana?

   • A0.08%✓ Correct
   • B0.05%
   • C0.10%

   Why: It is illegal to drive in Montana with a blood alcohol concentration (BAC) of 0.08% or higher if you are 21 or older. Drivers under 21 face a zero-tolerance standard, where any detectable BAC is a violation.

   Source: Montana Driver Handbook, page 8 · The Driver License

2. Question 2 · Speed Limits

   What is the speed limit in a Montana school zone when children are present?

   • A20 mph
   • B25 mph
   • C15 mph✓ Correct

   Why: The speed limit in a Montana school zone is 15 mph when children are present. Watch for crossing guards, flashing beacons, and pedestrians entering the roadway.

   Source: Montana Driver Handbook, page 29 · Signs, Signals, and Markings

3. Question 3 · Weather & Visibility

   When must you turn on your headlights in Montana because of low visibility?

   • AWhen you cannot see at least 500 feet ahead✓ Correct
   • BWhen you cannot see at least 1,000 feet ahead
   • COnly after sunset

   Why: You must use your headlights any time you cannot see at least 500 feet ahead, in addition to the period from sunset to sunrise. Turn them on in rain, fog, snow, and other low-visibility conditions.

   Source: Montana Driver Handbook, page 14 · Motor Vehicle Equipment

4. Question 4 · Highway Driving

   What is the minimum following distance recommended in Montana under good conditions?

   • A2 seconds✓ Correct
   • B3 seconds
   • C4 seconds

   Why: Maintain at least a 2-second following distance behind the vehicle ahead under good conditions, and increase it in bad weather, on slippery roads, or when following large vehicles.

   Source: Montana Driver Handbook, page 65 · How to Drive Safely

5. Question 5 · Driver Readiness

   Where should your hands be placed on the steering wheel?

   • A10 and 2 o'clock
   • B7 and 5 o'clock
   • C9 and 3 or 8 and 4 o'clock✓ Correct

   Why: Place your hands at the 9 and 3 o'clock or 8 and 4 o'clock positions on the steering wheel. These lower positions give you better control and reduce injury risk if the airbag deploys.

   Source: Montana Driver Handbook, page 50 · How to Drive Safely

6. Question 6 · Accidents & Emergencies

   What should you do when your vehicle begins to skid?

   • ABrake hard immediately
   • BEase off the gas and steer in the direction you want to go✓ Correct
   • CTurn the wheel sharply in the opposite direction

   Why: If your vehicle starts to skid, ease off the gas and steer smoothly in the direction you want the front of the car to go. Avoid hard braking, which can make the skid worse.

   Source: Montana Driver Handbook, page 60 · How to Drive Safely

7. Question 7 · Parking Rules

   When parking downhill next to a curb, which way should you turn your front wheels?

   • AAway from the curb
   • BStraight ahead
   • CToward the curb✓ Correct

   Why: When parking downhill where there is a curb, turn your front wheels toward the curb. If the vehicle rolls, the front tire will catch the curb and stop it from drifting into traffic.

   Source: Montana Driver Handbook, page 45 · Driving Rules

8. Question 8 · Lane Changes & Passing

   How close to an intersection or railroad crossing may you pass another vehicle?

   • ANo closer than 100 feet✓ Correct
   • BNo closer than 50 feet
   • CNo closer than 200 feet

   Why: You may not pass another vehicle within 100 feet of an intersection or railroad crossing. Sight lines are limited in these areas and cross traffic makes passing dangerous.

   Source: Montana Driver Handbook, page 67 · How to Drive Safely

9. Question 9 · General Rules

   How far from railroad tracks must you stop at a crossing when required?

   • A10 to 25 feet
   • B15 to 50 feet✓ Correct
   • C20 to 60 feet

   Why: When you must stop for a railroad crossing, stop no closer than 15 feet and no farther than 50 feet from the nearest rail. This keeps you clear of the train while letting you see the crossing.

   Source: Montana Driver Handbook, page 33 · Signs, Signals, and Markings

10. Question 10 · Turns & Intersections

    In which direction does traffic flow in a roundabout?

    • AClockwise
    • BCounterclockwise✓ Correct
    • CEither direction

    Why: Traffic in a roundabout always moves counterclockwise around the central island. Slow down, yield to vehicles already circulating, and enter when there is a safe gap.

    Source: Montana Driver Handbook, page 32 · Signs, Signals, and Markings

11. Question 11 · Traffic Signs & Signals

    What shape is a yield sign?

    • AA downward-pointing triangle✓ Correct
    • BAn octagon
    • CA diamond

    Why: A yield sign is a downward-pointing triangle. It means slow down and give the right-of-way to traffic on the intersecting road or in the roundabout, stopping if necessary.

    Source: Montana Driver Handbook, page 25 · Signs, Signals, and Markings

12. Question 12 · Sharing the Road

    When must you stop for a school bus with flashing red lights?

    • AOnly on undivided roads
    • BOnly inside marked school zones
    • COn all roads, unless you are on the opposite side of a divided highway✓ Correct

    Why: You must stop for a school bus showing flashing red lights on all roadways. The only exception is when you are traveling on the opposite side of a divided highway separated by a median or barrier.

    Source: Montana Driver Handbook, page 40 · Driving Rules

How to get your Montana driver's license

The knowledge test is one step in Montana's licensing process. Here's how the path typically works for a new driver.

1. 1

   Check the age and eligibility requirements

   Eligibility in Montana: 14 years 6 months with an approved traffic education course; 16 for a learner license without driver education. Have your proof of identity, residency, and any required parental consent ready.

2. 2

   Study the official handbook

   Read the Official Montana Driver Manual (mvdmt.gov) and practice with DMV Ace until you're consistently scoring above 80%.

3. 3

   Pass the knowledge test

   The Montana written test has 33 questions, and you need 27 correct (80%) to pass. Permit/licensing fee: About $25.50 for a learner license (the fee scales with how long the license is valid until age 21).

4. 4

   Build supervised driving experience

   Hold your permit for the period Montana requires and log supervised driving hours with a licensed adult before you schedule the road test.

5. 5

   Pass the road test and get licensed

   After you pass the behind-the-wheel road test, Montana issues your driver's license — often an intermediate/provisional license first for younger drivers.

Steps are a general guide — always confirm the current process with your local Montana DMV office.

How DMV Ace prepares you for the Montana test

• 1,000+ Montana-specific questions

  Every question is sourced from the official Montana Driver Handbook — same wording style, same topic mix as the real test.

• Explanations on every answer

  Right or wrong, you see exactly why — with a handbook page citation so you can dig deeper.

• Hard Questions module

  A curated bank of the trickiest Montana questions — the ones most testers fail. Master these and you're ready.

• Smart progress tracking

  See exactly which topics you've mastered and which need work. A pass-readiness score tells you when you're truly ready for the Montana DMV.