Photo: Montanasuffragettes, CC BY-SA 4.0, via Wikimedia Commons
This guide is for Montana parents and teens deciding on driver education (called traffic education in Montana). A state-approved school course is the only way to start driving before 16: teens can enroll if they turn 14 1/2 before the course ends, and can get a learner permit through the course. It is also the route to a license at 15.
Key facts
- Who runs it: Montana school districts, approved by the Office of Public Instruction (OPI) Traffic Education Office. More than 130 districts offer it.
- Age: 14 1/2 by the course completion date, and under 19.
- Required before 16: OPI says teens under 16 who wish to drive must complete a state-approved course.
- Course size: at least 60 hours of instruction, including at least 6 hours behind the wheel in traffic, over at least 25 days.
- Permit in the course: students can study for and take the knowledge exam and get a learner permit during the course.
- Not accepted: online or third-party courses.
How to sign up for traffic education in Montana
- Contact your local school district or high school. OPI does not enroll students itself.
- Check the dates. OPI’s search of approved high school programs lists course dates and instructors by school year.
- Apply early. Districts may prioritize places by criteria such as older students first, first come first served, or a lottery.
- Ask about cost. Fees are set locally. Schools get part of their costs back from a share of driver license fees, so ask your district for its current charge.
What permits does a traffic education student get?
| Permit | Who issues it | Who must supervise | How long |
|---|---|---|---|
| Traffic education permit | Your instructor | An approved instructor seated beside you | The school year or a shorter period, on designated roads or areas |
| Learner permit (NCLP) in traffic education | Your instructor, once you meet attendance and testing requirements | The instructor, a licensed parent or guardian, or a licensed driver 18+ with their permission | One year; may be limited to certain times or areas |
Source: MCA 61-5-106 and the MVD’s Drivers Under 18 page. For the exam-station route at 16, see Montana written test and learner permit.
Testing through your school (CDTP)
OPI and the MVD run the Cooperative Driver Testing Program. In a certified program, approved instructors give the standardized knowledge test and road test and send the results to the MVD (MCA 61-5-110). That means many teens never take a test at an exam station. Students must be at least 14 1/2 to take the knowledge exam and receive a learner permit. Ask whether your district’s course is CDTP-certified. More in the Montana road test guide.
Traffic education and the license at 15
After at least six months on the permit, a teen who has completed traffic education and logged 50 hours (10 at night) can apply for a first-year restricted license. Montana law sets 15 as the minimum license age (MCA 61-5-105). Starting the course at 14 1/2 is what makes that timeline possible.
The law also names an alternative route: a course approved by the Department of Justice instead of the traditional school course, with 75 practice hours (15 at night) instead of 50 (MCA 61-5-132). Ask the MVD which alternative courses are approved.
Is traffic education worth it if you are already 16?
It is optional for the learner permit at 16, but not for a license before 18. Montana’s GDL law (MCA 61-5-132) requires a completed traffic education course, traditional or Department of Justice-approved alternative, before the MVD issues a license to anyone under 18, unless they have held another state’s license for at least 6 months or are enrolled in a Montana Job Corps program. Ask the MVD Customer Care Center at 1 (406) 444-1772 which alternative courses are approved before deciding to skip the school course. Beyond that, the course includes professional behind-the-wheel time and testing at school.
Students with disabilities
OPI publishes a guide to accommodating students with disabilities in driver education, and a separate guide for instructors working with deaf or hard-of-hearing students. Ask your district about adjustments before the course starts.
Common questions
Can you take drivers ed at 14 in Montana?
Yes, if you will be 14 1/2 by the course completion date.
Is online drivers ed accepted in Montana?
No. Online and third-party courses are not approved for permits or licenses.
How many behind-the-wheel hours are in Montana traffic education?
At least 6 hours of in-traffic driving with the instructor, within at least 60 hours of instruction in total.
Do the instructor’s hours count toward the 50 hours?
The 50 hours are supervised driving certified by a parent or guardian. Ask your instructor how the district treats course drive time, and keep your own log: Montana 50 hour driving log.
How much does traffic education cost in Montana?
Each district sets its own fee. Ask your school.
What is the Montana DRIVE program?
An OPI-run center in Lewistown that has offered advanced driving workshops for adult and teen drivers every summer since 1979.
For the full licensing path, see learning to drive in Montana.
Sources
- Montana Office of Public Instruction, “Driver Education” (opi.mt.gov)
- Montana Office of Public Instruction, “GDL: Graduated Driver Licensing in Montana” fact sheet (opi.mt.gov)
- Montana Department of Justice, Motor Vehicle Division, “Drivers Under 18” (mvdmt.gov)
- Montana Legislature, “Montana Code Annotated 2025”, sections 61-5-105, 61-5-106, 61-5-110, 61-5-132 (mca.legmt.gov)