Photo: Brett Buskirk, Pexels
This guide is for Montana teens on a first-year restricted license (GDL Step 2) and the parents who set the rules at home. For one year, or until you turn 18 if that comes first, you cannot drive between 11 p.m. and 5 a.m. without a valid exception, you have limits on passengers under 18, and everyone in the vehicle must be belted. The rules come from MCA 61-5-133.
Key facts
- How long: one year from issue, or until your 18th birthday, whichever comes first. The restrictions then end automatically.
- Curfew: no driving 11 p.m. to 5 a.m., with listed exceptions.
- Passengers, months 1 to 6: no more than one passenger under 18.
- Passengers, months 7 to 12: no more than three passengers under 18.
- Seat belts: every occupant belted, and no more occupants than seat belts.
- Penalty: 20 to 60 hours of community service; a second conviction means a six-month suspension.
How do you get a first-year restricted license in Montana?
Under MCA 61-5-132, a teen under 18 qualifies after:
- holding a learner permit (NCLP) or traffic education permit for at least six months
- passing the Montana road test
- a parent or guardian certifying at least 50 hours of supervised driving, 10 at night, on form 21-1600 (75 hours, 15 at night, after an MVD-approved alternative course)
- a parent or guardian certifying no traffic convictions and no alcohol or drug offenses in the previous six months, and nothing pending
If the clean-record certification cannot be signed, the MVD may extend the learner permit by one more year or until 18. Log the hours with the Montana 50 hour driving log.
What time can a Montana restricted driver drive?
Not between 11 p.m. and 5 a.m. unless one of these applies (MCA 61-5-133):
- a licensed driver aged 18 or older is with you
- you are driving between home and work, or driving as part of your job
- you are driving between home and a school-sponsored event at your school (including a school transport pickup point)
- you are driving between home and an event run by a religious organization
- it is a medical, fire or law enforcement emergency
- you are hauling farm or ranch products, machinery or supplies within 150 miles of the farm or ranch headquarters
- you are an emancipated minor
- a parent or guardian has given you specific permission for a specific purpose; an officer may call them to check
How many passengers can a Montana teen driver have?
| Period | Passengers under 18 allowed | Exceptions |
|---|---|---|
| Months 1 to 6 | 1 | Family members; or a licensed driver 18+ supervising |
| Months 7 to 12 | 3 | Family members; or a licensed driver 18+ supervising |
| Motorcycle, months 1 to 6 | 0 | None listed |
The limit counts passengers under 18. Whatever their ages, the number of people in the car can never be more than the number of seat belts.
Scenario: Friday night after the game
You are four months into your restricted license. The home game ends at 10:15 p.m. and three friends want a ride. Two problems: you can take only one non-family passenger under 18, and if the drive home runs past 11 p.m., it is only covered by the school-event exception if you are going straight from the event to your home. Dropping friends off on the way is not listed as an exception. The safe plan is one friend, straight home, or a parent’s specific authorization.
Penalties for breaking Montana GDL rules
- First conviction: a court orders 20 to 60 hours of community service (MCA 61-5-134).
- Second or later conviction: the MVD suspends your license for six months, and no probationary license is allowed during that time.
Alcohol is a separate matter: drivers under 21 commit DUI at 0.02 or with any active THC (MCA 61-8-1002). See zero tolerance laws.
When do the restrictions end?
One year after the license was issued or on your 18th birthday, whichever comes first. You then hold a full-privilege license (Step 3). It still expires on your 21st birthday, when you renew as an adult. Compare Montana’s limits with other states in GDL laws by state, or see the full process in learning to drive in Montana.
Common questions
Can I drive my friends in Montana at 15 or 16?
In your first six months on a restricted license, only one passenger under 18 who is not family, unless a licensed driver 18+ is supervising. From month seven, up to three.
Do siblings count toward the passenger limit?
No. Additional passengers under 18 who are family members are allowed.
Can I drive home from work after 11 p.m.?
Yes. Driving between home and your workplace, or as part of your job, is an exception.
Does the curfew apply after I turn 18?
No. All first-year restrictions end at 18, even if the year is not up.
What if I move to Montana with a license from another state?
If you have been licensed in another state for at least six months and surrender that license, the permit-time, road test and practice-hour requirements do not apply (MCA 61-5-132). The first-year restrictions in MCA 61-5-133 cover licenses issued to anyone under 18, so check with the MVD how they apply to you.
Can a parent give permission to drive late for something not on the list?
Yes, for a specific purpose. An officer can contact the parent or guardian to confirm it.
Sources
- Montana Legislature, “Montana Code Annotated 2025”, sections 61-5-132, 61-5-133, 61-5-134, 61-5-111, 61-8-1002 (mca.legmt.gov)
- Montana Office of Public Instruction, “GDL: Graduated Driver Licensing in Montana” fact sheet (revised May 2017) (opi.mt.gov)
- Montana Department of Justice, Motor Vehicle Division, “Montana Driver Manual” (May 2026) (mvdmt.gov)
- Montana Department of Justice, Motor Vehicle Division, “Drivers Under 18” (mvdmt.gov)