Free · 15 short lessons · Quoted from the manual
Montana Driver Handbook, Chapter by Chapter
Start with lesson 1Every chapter of the Montana Driver Manual that matters for the written test, cut down to the rules and exact numbers you need. Each point links to the manual text it comes from, with the page, and ends with questions from our free Montana practice test.
15 lessons in handbook order
Read one lesson, answer its 3 check questions, then drill that topic in the practice test. Most lessons take about 5 minutes.
- Lesson 1Chapter 1: The Driver LicenseLaws and paperwork
Your Montana license, renewal and insurance
A Class D license covers any non commercial vehicle under 26,000 pounds and normally lasts four to eight years. You can renew up to six months early, you have three months after expiration before retesting, and you must carry liability insurance.
9 key points · 8 numbers · Handbook pp. 1 to 47
- Lesson 2Chapter 1: The Driver LicenseLaws and paperwork
Learner license and the teen GDL steps
Montana teens start with a learner license and supervised practice, then hold a first year restricted license until its limits end. The restricted year limits night driving and teen passengers, and breaking those limits brings community service or suspension.
10 key points · 9 numbers · Handbook pp. 7 to 8
- Lesson 3Chapter 2: Motor Vehicle EquipmentLaws and paperwork
Required lights and equipment
Montana sets exact distances for headlights, tail lights, brake lights and the mirror. Headlights are required from a half hour after sunset to a half hour before sunrise, and whenever you cannot see 500 feet ahead.
10 key points · 8 numbers · Handbook pp. 13 to 20
- Lesson 4Chapter 3: Signs, Signals, and MarkingsRoad signs
Road signs by shape and color
Montana sorts signs into regulatory, warning and information guide signs, each with its own colors and shapes. Red always means stop, yield, do not enter or wrong way, and the eight sided STOP sign is unique.
10 key points · 2 numbers · Handbook pp. 23 to 29
- Lesson 5Chapter 3: Signs, Signals, and MarkingsSignals and markings
Traffic signals, roundabouts and railroad crossings
Each signal color and arrow has a precise meaning, and if a signal is not working you stop as if there were stop signs in all directions. In a roundabout you yield to vehicles already in it, and at railroad crossings you stop at least 15 feet from the nearest rail when a train is coming.
10 key points · 3 numbers · Handbook pp. 30 to 33
- Lesson 6Chapter 3: Signs, Signals, and MarkingsSignals and markings
Lane lines and pavement markings
Yellow lines separate traffic going in opposite directions and white lines separate lanes going the same way. Whether you may pass depends on which side the solid and dashed lines are on.
9 key points · 1 numbers · Handbook pp. 34 to 35
- Lesson 7Chapter 4: Driving RulesSpeed limits
Speed limits, passing and turning
Always obey the posted limit and slow below it when the road or weather is bad. Montana lets you go 10 mph over only to finish a pass on a two lane road, and it sets exact distances for signaling and turning around.
9 key points · 5 numbers · Handbook pp. 37 to 39
- Lesson 8Chapter 4: Driving RulesRight of way
Who yields at intersections
The law says who must yield, but it never gives anyone the right of way, so you must do all you can to avoid a crash. Know the rules for left turns, four way stops, circles, driveways and emergency vehicles.
9 key points · 1 numbers · Handbook pp. 39 to 40
- Lesson 9Chapter 4: Driving RulesRight of way
Pedestrians, school buses, funerals and bicycles
You must yield to pedestrians even when they are wrong, and stop at least 30 feet from a school bus with flashing red lights. Funeral processions and bicyclists also have specific rights you must respect.
10 key points · 2 numbers · Handbook pp. 39 to 43
- Lesson 10Chapter 5: How to Drive SafelySafe driving
Scanning, blind spots and signaling
Ninety percent of driving decisions come from what you see, so look well ahead and check blind spots over your shoulder. Texting takes your eyes off the road for 5 seconds, and tapping your brakes warns drivers behind you before an unexpected stop.
10 key points · 7 numbers · Handbook pp. 49 to 70
- Lesson 11Chapter 5: How to Drive SafelySafe driving
Adjusting speed for roads, weather and sight distance
Stopping distance grows much faster than speed, so slow down on wet roads, packed snow and ice. When rain, snow or fog limits how far you can see, slow down until you can stop within your sight distance.
10 key points · 7 numbers · Handbook pp. 59 to 64
- Lesson 12Chapter 5: How to Drive SafelySafe driving
Following distance, merging and passing
Use the Three Second Rule to check that you are not following too closely, and leave more room on slippery roads. Passing at 55 mph needs over 1600 feet of clear road, so do not start a pass within one third of a mile of a hill or curve.
10 key points · 5 numbers · Handbook pp. 64 to 68
- Lesson 13Chapter 6: Physical RequirementsAlcohol and DUI
Alcohol, drugs and the law
Alcohol is involved in about 40% of fatal crashes, and the average body processes only one drink per hour. Montana sets a 0.08 BAC limit, 0.02 for drivers under 21, and punishes a first conviction with fines, jail and a six month suspension.
10 key points · 10 numbers · Handbook pp. 71 to 73
- Lesson 14Chapter 7: Emergencies, Crashes, and Enforcement StopsEmergencies
Brake failure, blowouts and other vehicle emergencies
Know the first move for each failure: pump failed brakes, hold a blown tire straight, and shift to neutral if the gas pedal sticks. If you break down, get off the road and warn other drivers.
9 key points · 1 numbers · Handbook pp. 56 to 78
- Lesson 15Chapter 7: Emergencies, Crashes, and Enforcement StopsEmergencies
Crashes, emergency vehicles and traffic stops
If you are in a crash you must stop, and injuries, deaths or enough damage must be reported to police. Yield to emergency vehicles, and on fast highways slow at least 20 mph below the limit when passing one that is stopped.
10 key points · 4 numbers · Handbook pp. 79 to 81
Read, check, then practice
- Read a lesson. Open any point's source to see the exact manual wording and page.
- Answer the 3 check questions at the end without looking back.
- Drill that topic in the free Montana practice test, then take a full test when every lesson feels easy.
- Keep the Montana cheat sheet for a last look before test day.
Source: the Montana Driver Manual (Revised October 2018). Lessons are plain English summaries, not the law itself; where they differ, the manual and the statute govern. Every quote on these pages is checked against our saved copy of the manual. Last checked 2026-09-27.