Montana Junior License

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

Montana's restricted Class D Junior License is the middle stage of the state's graduated driver license (GDL) program. It bridges the learner license and a full unrestricted Class D license, allowing a 15-year-old to drive solo with specific time and passenger restrictions for at least one year. Drive that period without violations and the junior driver graduates to a full license at 16.

Eligibility

To apply for a Montana junior license, the applicant must:

Be at least 15 years old.
Have held a Montana learner license for at least 6 months (if TELL with driver education) or 1 year (standalone learner license).
Have completed 50 hours of supervised driving, with 10 hours at night, documented in a signed practice log.
Pass a Montana MVD road test.
Have no traffic violations during the learner license period.
Provide a parental certification (form completed by parent or guardian).

Application steps

The applicant brings the signed practice log, parental certification, current learner license, and a completed Form 21-301 to a Montana MVD office. After a vision screening and the road test, the field office issues a temporary paper junior license valid for 30 days; the permanent card arrives by mail in 2-4 weeks. The fee is approximately $5-$10 for the junior license stage; the full Class D license fee is paid when the holder graduates at 16.

Driving restrictions

A Montana junior license carries restrictions designed to reduce the high crash rate among new teen drivers:

Passenger limit: No more than one passenger under 18 who is not an immediate family member during the first 6 months. After 6 months without a violation, the limit relaxes.
Curfew: No driving between 11 p.m. and 5 a.m. except to or from work, religious activities, school events, or a documented medical emergency. Driving during curfew with no documentation is a violation.
Mobile phone: Montana prohibits any mobile phone use by drivers under 18 while driving — including hands-free systems. Voice-activated GPS that doesn't require visual attention is generally tolerated.
Seat belts: Every occupant must be belted, regardless of age or seating position.
Alcohol: Zero tolerance. Any detectable alcohol triggers immediate license suspension under Montana's underage driving laws.

Violations during the junior license period

Any moving violation during the junior license period extends the period further. Specifically:

One conviction within the junior license period: the period extends another 6 months.
Two convictions: the license is suspended for 30 days and the junior period restarts at the end of suspension.
Three convictions: the license is suspended for 60 days and may require a hearing with the Montana MVD.
DUI or refusal: immediate license suspension for at least 90 days, plus the consequences described in our Montana DUI laws guide.
Underage drinking and driving: immediate suspension under Montana's zero-tolerance law for any measurable BAC.

Lifting the junior restrictions

The junior license restrictions automatically drop on the holder's 16th birthday if no convictions occurred during the junior period. The Montana MVD does not require a separate test or in-office visit when the restrictions lift — the existing card simply becomes a full Class D when the holder qualifies. The DMV mails a new full Class D card; in the meantime, the existing junior card is valid until the renewal date.

Drivers who reach 16 with violations on their record may have the junior period extended further until they accumulate the required violation-free time. The Montana MVD's driver records section reviews each case individually and notifies the holder by mail.

School attendance requirement

Montana law requires applicants under 18 to be enrolled in school or have completed high school graduation requirements (or its equivalent — homeschool with a state-approved curriculum, GED). A documented school-attendance verification is part of the application. A driver who drops out of school without enrolling in an alternative program may have their junior license suspended until enrollment resumes or they reach 18.

What about insurance?

Montana's minimum liability requirement is 25/50/20 on every vehicle a junior licensee drives. Most parents add the teen to an existing policy rather than opening a separate one, which is generally less expensive. See our Montana car insurance guide for the full breakdown of mandatory coverage and recommended limits.

Junior license and tribal land

Montana includes seven federally recognized tribal nations. Junior license holders driving on tribal land are subject to tribal traffic codes, which may differ from Montana state rules in some respects. The Montana MVD honors tribal-issued driving credentials for tribal-area driving; tribal traffic citations are reported to the Montana driver record under intergovernmental agreements. Junior drivers who live on or near tribal land should check with the tribal council for any specific restrictions.