Reinstating a Montana Suspended License

By Javier Marín, Editor·Last reviewed September 2026·How we check this

Montana imposes license suspensions and revocations for serious moving violations, DUI convictions, the Habitual Traffic Offender designation, failure to maintain insurance, and unpaid traffic citations. The reinstatement process depends entirely on why the license was suspended — the steps after a DUI revocation look very different from the steps after a Habitual Traffic Offender designation.

Common reasons Montana suspends a license

DUI conviction: 6-month suspension on first offense, 1-year on second within 5 years, 1-year on third with mandatory waiting period, longer for fourth or felony DUI.
Chemical-test refusal: 6-month suspension on first refusal, 1-year on second, with no eligibility for a probationary license during the first 30 days.
Habitual Traffic Offender: 30 or more violations within 3 years triggers a 3-year revocation under Montana's HTO rules — see our driver record guide.
No insurance: 90-day suspension on first offense for driving without the minimum 25/50/20 liability — see our Montana car insurance guide.
Unpaid citation or failure to appear: indefinite suspension until the underlying citation is resolved.
Medical or vision issues: suspension after a Driver Improvement section review of physician reports.
Failure to pay child support: Montana enforces administrative suspension for delinquent child support orders.
Hit-and-run conviction: 1-year revocation regardless of other factors.

How to confirm a suspension

The Montana MVD mails a written notice of suspension to the address on file. If you suspect a suspension or want to verify the start date and end date, request a copy of your Montana driving record using Form DR-001. The non-certified record costs $7.25 and shows the suspension reason, start date, end date, and any reinstatement requirements still pending.

Standard reinstatement after a non-DUI suspension

For a typical non-DUI suspension, reinstatement requires:

Wait through the full suspension period (varies by reason).
Pay the $100 reinstatement fee — paid online through the Montana MVD portal or in person at a driver license station.
Provide proof of liability insurance meeting the 25/50/20 minimum.
Resolve any underlying citations that contributed to the suspension.
File SR-22 financial responsibility insurance if required for the underlying violation.
Complete any MVD-ordered training or evaluation.

Reinstatement after a DUI revocation

A DUI revocation is more involved than a standard suspension. After a first DUI in Montana, the driver must:

Wait through the 6-month administrative suspension.
Complete the court-ordered ACT (Assessment, Course, and Treatment) program through a state-approved provider.
Complete an alcohol/drug evaluation and any recommended treatment.
File SR-22 insurance with the Montana MVD for at least 3 years — see our Montana car insurance guide.
Install an ignition interlock device (IID) if ordered by the court (mandatory on second and subsequent DUIs, discretionary on first).
Pay the $200 reinstatement fee for DUI cases.
Show proof of completion of all required programs to the MVD's Driver Improvement section.

Probationary license

Montana allows a probationary license for drivers serving a DUI revocation, after a minimum 30-day hard-suspension period (or 45 days for refusal cases). The probationary license authorizes driving for work, treatment, religious activities, and household errands during specified hours. The petition is filed with the Montana MVD's Driver Improvement section and requires:

Proof of SR-22 insurance.
Proof of enrollment in or completion of the ACT program.
Documentation of the need for driving privileges (work schedule, treatment appointments, family caregiver duties).
The $50 probationary license fee.

Habitual Traffic Offender reinstatement

The HTO designation triggers a 3-year revocation, and reinstatement is much more involved than a routine suspension:

Wait through the full 3-year revocation period.
Petition the MVD for relicensure, demonstrating responsibility and rehabilitation.
Repeat the knowledge test and road test.
File SR-22 insurance for 3 years from the date of relicensure.
Pay all reinstatement fees and any outstanding citations.
Avoid additional violations during the revocation period — new offenses can extend the period.

SR-22 filing

An SR-22 isn't a special insurance policy — it's a certificate from your auto insurer filed directly with the Montana MVD showing you carry at least the minimum liability coverage. SR-22s are required for 3 years after a DUI conviction, 1 year after a no-insurance citation, and the duration of any suspension involving an at-fault uninsured accident. If your policy lapses during the SR-22 period, your insurer files an SR-26 cancellation notice with the MVD and your license is suspended again until you reinstate the SR-22.

How long does reinstatement take?

Once you've completed all reinstatement requirements and submitted documentation, the Montana MVD typically processes the reinstatement in 3-7 business days. Online reinstatement through the MVD portal is the fastest route. In-person processing at a driver license station is same-day for completed cases. If any document is missing — particularly the SR-22 or treatment-program completion — the case is held until cleared.