Montana Permit Practice Test

How to use this MT practice test

1. Take the full practice test above once, untimed, to find your weak topics.
2. Work through the numbered 20 question sets below. Each one is fixed, so a second attempt is a fair comparison.
3. Read the explanation on every miss. The wording comes from the Montana Driver Manual, which is what the examiners use.
4. Come back on a later day and retake the questions you missed. A score on questions you have not seen before tells you more than a repeat.

MT practice tests, 20 questions each

Fixed sets in a fixed order so you can retake one and compare your score.

1. Test 1
2. Test 2
3. Test 3
4. Test 4
5. Test 5
6. Test 6
7. Test 7
8. Test 8
9. Test 9
10. Test 10
11. Test 11
12. Test 12
13. Test 13
14. Test 14
15. Test 15
16. Test 16
17. Test 17
18. Test 18
19. Test 19
20. Test 20
21. Test 21
22. Test 22
23. Test 23
24. Test 24
25. Test 25

Printable MT practice test with answer key

40 sample practice questions from the MT bank

Every question below comes from the Montana question bank on this page. Open a question to see the correct answer and the explanation. Nothing here is hidden behind a signup.

1. 1. Who sets the speed limit for a Montana construction or work zone?

   1. The nearest school district
   2. The driver based on the normal highway speed
   3. The responsible transportation agency, local authority, utility, or contractor for that zone
   4. A single statewide work zone limit of 25 mph
   Show answer

   The responsible transportation agency, local authority, utility, or contractor for that zone. Montana does not use one standard speed limit for every construction or work zone. Full explanation in Test 1

2. 2. How far before a turn should a Montana driver signal on a rural road?

   1. 300 feet
   2. 100 feet
   3. 200 feet
   4. 50 feet
   Show answer

   300 feet. Montana’s manual calls for a proper turn signal 300 feet before turning on rural roads. Full explanation in Test 2

   Study this in the handbook: Speed limits, passing and turning

3. 3. What change in the roadway does this divided-highway warning announce?

   
   1. The divided roadway ends and opposing traffic will share one lane
   2. A median or divider ahead separates the highway into two one-way roadways
   3. A three-way intersection requires a left turn
   4. Vehicles may cross the median to make U-turns
   Show answer

   A median or divider ahead separates the highway into two one-way roadways. A divided highway begins when a median or divider separates the route into two distinct one-way roadways. Full explanation in Test 3

4. 4. A Montana court finds a driver responsible for crash damages, and the driver does not pay within 60 days. How long does the resulting suspension last?

   1. 30 days, then it ends automatically
   2. One year, whether or not the amount is paid
   3. Until the driver buys a new insurance policy
   4. Until the amount is paid or 6 years have passed
   Show answer

   Until the amount is paid or 6 years have passed. When a court finds a driver responsible for crash damages and the driver fails to pay within 60 days, the license and registration suspensio Full explanation in Test 4

   Study this in the handbook: Your Montana license, renewal and insurance

5. 5. Which check is required immediately before changing lanes?

   
   1. Look over your shoulder for traffic in the blind spot
   2. Rely on the rearview mirror without turning your head
   3. Check only the lane ahead and ignore traffic behind
   4. Turn on hazard flashers and move without signaling
   Show answer

   Look over your shoulder for traffic in the blind spot. Mirrors cannot show every area beside and behind a vehicle. Full explanation in Test 5

   Study this in the handbook: Scanning, blind spots and signaling

6. 6. You are pulling from an alley onto a main road. What must you do before joining traffic?

   
   1. Use the shoulder until traffic clears
   2. Accelerate into the first available gap without stopping
   3. Expect main-road traffic to yield
   4. Stop and yield to vehicles already on the main roadway
   Show answer

   Stop and yield to vehicles already on the main roadway. The vehicle coming from a lesser access point is entering an established roadway, so it must stop and yield to traffic already there. Full explanation in Test 6

   Study this in the handbook: Who yields at intersections

7. 7. What should a Montana driver do when entering a roundabout?

   
   1. Stop in the circle before choosing an exit
   2. Force circulating traffic to stop
   3. Drive left of the center island
   4. Yield to vehicles already in the roundabout
   Show answer

   Yield to vehicles already in the roundabout. Traffic already circulating in the roundabout has the right of way, so an entering driver must yield before joining. Full explanation in Test 7

   Study this in the handbook: Traffic signals, roundabouts and railroad crossings

8. 8. About how big a gap in traffic do you need when you merge or change lanes?

   1. About four seconds
   2. About one second
   3. About two seconds
   4. About ten seconds
   Show answer

   About four seconds. The manual says you need a gap of about four seconds any time you merge, change lanes, enter a roadway, or your lane merges with another. Full explanation in Test 8

   Study this in the handbook: Following distance, merging and passing

9. 9. What is the fine for a Montana driver who violates the safety belt law?

   1. $20
   2. $100
   3. $500
   4. A warning only
   Show answer

   $20. No person may drive a motor vehicle in Montana unless each occupant is wearing a properly adjusted and fastened safety belt, and a driver wh Full explanation in Test 9

   Study this in the handbook: Required lights and equipment

10. 10. What must a Montana driver do when a school bus is stopped with red lights flashing?

    
    1. Stop at least 30 feet from the bus
    2. Pass slowly within 10 feet
    3. Stop only if children are visible
    4. Continue if traveling in the opposite direction
    Show answer

    Stop at least 30 feet from the bus. When meeting or passing a stopped school bus with red lights flashing, a driver must stop at least 30 feet away and wait until the red light Full explanation in Test 10

    Study this in the handbook: Pedestrians, school buses, funerals and bicycles

11. 11. When should a Montana driver check tire air pressure?

    1. When the tires are cold
    2. Right after a long highway drive
    3. Only when a tire looks flat
    4. Only when the vehicle is fully loaded
    Show answer

    When the tires are cold. The manual says to check tire pressure with an air pressure gauge when the tires are cold. Full explanation in Test 11

    Study this in the handbook: Required lights and equipment

12. 12. An animal being passed looks scared and begins to shy. What should the driver do?

    1. Accelerate past before the animal reacts
    2. Pull the vehicle to the side and stop
    3. Honk steadily to assert the vehicle's position
    4. Crowd closer so the animal sees the vehicle clearly
    Show answer

    Pull the vehicle to the side and stop. A frightened animal near the roadway calls for pulling to the side and stopping until the danger settles. Full explanation in Test 12

    Study this in the handbook: Following distance, merging and passing

13. 13. A driver parks on a hill. Why turn the wheels sharply toward the side of the road?

    1. To make steering easier when leaving the space
    2. So a rolling car moves away from traffic
    3. To keep tires from developing flat spots
    4. To signal other drivers that parking is temporary
    Show answer

    So a rolling car moves away from traffic. Turning wheels sharply toward the roadside aims a runaway vehicle away from traffic if brakes fail on the grade. Full explanation in Test 13

14. 14. A Montana driver picks a sign far ahead and reaches it before finishing a four second count. What does the Four Second Sight Distance Rule indicate?

    1. The speed is too fast for the visible distance
    2. The following distance is too short
    3. The headlights are aimed too low
    4. The lane position is too close to the shoulder
    Show answer

    The speed is too fast for the visible distance. The Four Second Sight Distance Rule asks a driver to pick a stationary object as far ahead as can be seen clearly and count four seconds. Full explanation in Test 14

    Study this in the handbook: Adjusting speed for roads, weather and sight distance

15. 15. What does Montana say about combining alcohol with driving, even for veteran drivers?

    1. Experienced drivers can drink and drive safely
    2. One drink never affects experienced drivers
    3. No one can drink alcohol and drive safely
    4. Drivers over 40 handle alcohol without risk
    Show answer

    No one can drink alcohol and drive safely. Experience offers no shield: nobody drinks alcohol and then drives safely, because judgment and skill erode from the first drink onward. Full explanation in Test 15

    Study this in the handbook: Alcohol, drugs and the law

16. 16. What should a driver assume about a specialty mixed drink at a bar?

    1. It counts as half a normal drink for driving purposes
    2. Its alcohol leaves the body faster than beer alcohol
    3. It is safe to drive after one specialty drink always
    4. It can equal several normal drinks in alcohol content
    Show answer

    It can equal several normal drinks in alcohol content. Specialty drinks can hold more alcohol and act like several normal drinks taken together. Full explanation in Test 16

    Study this in the handbook: Alcohol, drugs and the law

17. 17. Rain falls so heavily that a driver cannot see well enough to keep driving. What should the driver do?

    1. Speed up to clear the storm before visibility gets worse.
    2. Pull off the road in a safe place and wait for clear weather.
    3. Follow the tail lights ahead while continuing at highway speed.
    4. Stop in the nearest travel lane and wait for the rain to ease.
    Show answer

    Pull off the road in a safe place and wait for clear weather.. In a very heavy downpour, the driver may not be able to see well enough to drive. Full explanation in Test 17

    Study this in the handbook: Adjusting speed for roads, weather and sight distance

18. 18. A pedestrian faces a steady yellow vehicle light with no pedestrian signal direction. What should the pedestrian do?

    1. Start across quickly before the light turns red
    2. Not start across the street at that moment
    3. Cross halfway and wait in the center lane area
    4. Begin crossing if no vehicle is within one block
    Show answer

    Not start across the street at that moment. A steady yellow warns that red is coming, and a pedestrian facing it must not start across unless a pedestrian signal directs otherwise. Full explanation in Test 18

    Study this in the handbook: Traffic signals, roundabouts and railroad crossings

19. 19. What habit helps a driver know the actual speed being traveled?

    1. Guess speed from engine sound alone on each road
    2. Check the speedometer often while driving along
    3. Judge speed by how quickly signs seem to pass
    4. Rely on the pace set by the nearest vehicle
    Show answer

    Check the speedometer often while driving along. People judge travel speed poorly, especially after leaving a fast road for a slower street. Full explanation in Test 19

20. 20. A bicycle is traveling in your lane and you need to turn right. What should you check first?

    1. Whether the cyclist has stopped or can pass you first
    2. Whether your horn can warn the cyclist to speed up
    3. Whether the cyclist is riding in single file or not
    4. Whether a bicycle lane begins after the corner ahead
    Show answer

    Whether the cyclist has stopped or can pass you first. Before turning right across a bicycle traveling in the same lane, check that the cyclist has either stopped to let you turn or has passed yo Full explanation in Test 20

21. 21. Nine out of ten crashes are traced to what cause?

    1. Errors in human judgment
    2. Mechanical failure of brakes, tires, or steering systems
    3. Unmarked hazards left in the roadway overnight
    4. Sudden weather changes on mountain passes
    Show answer

    Errors in human judgment. Nine out of ten crashes grow out of errors in human judgment, the choices drivers make about speed, gaps, attention, and risk. Full explanation in Test 21

    Study this in the handbook: Adjusting speed for roads, weather and sight distance

22. 22. Where may an open alcoholic beverage container be kept in a camper or motor home under Montana law?

    1. In the driver's door pocket
    2. On the dashboard while the vehicle is parked
    3. In an unlocked glove compartment
    4. In the living quarters of the camper
    Show answer

    In the living quarters of the camper. Montana allows open containers to be stored within the living quarters of a camper, travel trailer, or motor home. Full explanation in Test 22

    Study this in the handbook: Alcohol, drugs and the law

23. 23. Rain begins on a hot day. Why is the pavement extra slippery for the first few minutes?

    1. Heat draws oil in the asphalt up to the surface.
    2. Rain moves loose gravel into the wheel paths.
    3. Hot tires soften the asphalt enough to create the slick film.
    4. The first rain makes lane paint slippery by lifting it from the pavement.
    Show answer

    Heat draws oil in the asphalt up to the surface.. Heat brings oil in the asphalt to the surface. Full explanation in Test 23

    Study this in the handbook: Adjusting speed for roads, weather and sight distance

24. 24. Why should a driver avoid swinging wide to the left before making a right turn?

    1. It gives approaching traffic more room to turn left.
    2. It makes the right turn legal only from the left lane.
    3. The driver behind may think you are changing lanes or turning left and pass on your right.
    4. It lets you finish the turn in the far lane without surprising anyone.
    Show answer

    The driver behind may think you are changing lanes or turning left and pass on your right.. A wide move to the left can make the driver behind think that you are changing lanes or beginning a left turn. Full explanation in Test 24

    Study this in the handbook: Speed limits, passing and turning

25. 25. Which vehicle is excused from the Montana seat belt law because of when it was built?

    1. A vehicle built in the model year 1975
    2. A vehicle manufactured after January 1, 1968
    3. A vehicle with belts fitted only in front seats
    4. A vehicle manufactured before January 1, 1968
    Show answer

    A vehicle manufactured before January 1, 1968. One exception to the seat belt law covers a vehicle manufactured before January 1, 1968. Full explanation in Test 25

    Study this in the handbook: Required lights and equipment

26. 26. Which warning sign is the exception to Montana's usual diamond shape?

    1. The sharp right turn sign
    2. The school ahead sign
    3. The winding road sign
    4. The railroad crossing ahead sign
    Show answer

    The railroad crossing ahead sign. Most Montana warning signs are diamond shaped, but the railroad crossing ahead sign is specifically identified as round. Full explanation in Test 1

    Study this in the handbook: Road signs by shape and color

27. 27. What condition does Montana's sharp-right-turn warning sign identify?

    
    1. A four-way intersection ahead
    2. A sharp turn to the right in the road ahead
    3. A road that becomes one-way
    4. A railroad crossing immediately ahead
    Show answer

    A sharp turn to the right in the road ahead. The sharp-right-turn warning sign tells you that the roadway turns sharply right ahead. Full explanation in Test 2

    Study this in the handbook: Road signs by shape and color

28. 28. What does the red slash over the arrow on this sign tell a driver?

    
    1. Do not make the pictured right-turn movement
    2. Make the pictured turn only after accelerating
    3. The pictured turn has priority over oncoming traffic
    4. The turn is required at the next signal
    Show answer

    Do not make the pictured right-turn movement. A red circle and slash over an arrow means the pictured action is prohibited, so this sign rules out the right turn. Full explanation in Test 3

    Study this in the handbook: Road signs by shape and color

29. 29. What happens to traffic fines in a Montana highway work zone?

    1. They are the same as anywhere else
    2. They are doubled
    3. They are waived if no workers are present
    4. They are tripled only at night
    Show answer

    They are doubled. Montana doubles traffic fines in work zones, and exceeding the posted work zone speed is a violation. Full explanation in Test 4

30. 30. After passing a car, when does the Montana manual say it is safe to return to the driving lane?

    1. When you can see both of its headlights in your rearview mirror
    2. As soon as your rear bumper clears its front bumper
    3. When the other driver flashes the headlights
    4. After you have been beside it for three seconds
    Show answer

    When you can see both of its headlights in your rearview mirror. Before moving back into the driving lane, leave enough room between you and the car you passed. Full explanation in Test 5

    Study this in the handbook: Following distance, merging and passing

31. 31. At what core body temperature does heatstroke begin, according to the Montana manual?

    1. About 104 degrees, with about 107 degrees being lethal
    2. About 99 degrees
    3. About 120 degrees
    4. About 95 degrees
    Show answer

    About 104 degrees, with about 107 degrees being lethal. Heatstroke begins when the core body temperature reaches about 104 degrees and the body's cooling system is overwhelmed, and a core temperat Full explanation in Test 6

32. 32. How many months must a new Montana driver under 18 use a learner license before applying for a first-year restricted license?

    1. Three consecutive months
    2. Nine consecutive months
    3. Six consecutive months
    4. Twelve consecutive months
    Show answer

    Six consecutive months. A driver younger than 18 must hold the learner license for at least six consecutive months before applying for the first-year restricted lic Full explanation in Test 7

    Study this in the handbook: Learner license and the teen GDL steps

33. 33. How should you respond when this STOP AHEAD warning appears?

    
    1. Ignore it unless cross traffic is visible
    2. Stop immediately where the warning sign stands
    3. Accelerate to pass the upcoming stop sign before others arrive
    4. Begin slowing because a stop sign is ahead
    Show answer

    Begin slowing because a stop sign is ahead. STOP AHEAD is advance notice of a stop sign, so the driver should begin slowing and prepare for the required stop at the upcoming intersecti Full explanation in Test 8

    Study this in the handbook: Road signs by shape and color

34. 34. According to the Montana manual, what should you do if your windshield glass is damaged?

    1. Cover the damaged area with paper
    2. Have the windshield replaced
    3. Drive only below 15 mph
    4. Use high beams to see around it
    Show answer

    Have the windshield replaced. The Montana manual says to keep your windshield clear so you can focus on the road ahead. Full explanation in Test 9

    Study this in the handbook: Required lights and equipment

35. 35. How much supervised practice must a Montana teen complete during the instruction-permit step?

    1. At least 50 hours, including 10 hours at night
    2. At least 40 hours, including 5 hours at night
    3. At least 60 hours, with no nighttime requirement
    4. At least 25 hours, including 10 hours at night
    Show answer

    At least 50 hours, including 10 hours at night. The instruction-permit requirement combines a total and a nighttime minimum: at least 50 supervised hours, with 10 of those hours at night. Full explanation in Test 10

    Study this in the handbook: Learner license and the teen GDL steps

36. 36. Once the lead vehicle in a Montana funeral procession proceeds into an intersection, what may the rest of the procession do?

    1. Stop and wait for the next green light
    2. Turn off headlights and continue through
    3. Change lanes and pass the lead vehicle
    4. Follow the lead car through the intersection
    Show answer

    Follow the lead car through the intersection. When the lead vehicle proceeds, the rest of the procession may follow through the intersection despite the official traffic control device, Full explanation in Test 11

    Study this in the handbook: Pedestrians, school buses, funerals and bicycles

37. 37. Warning signals show a train approaching a crossing. What is the closest a driver may stop to the nearest rail?

    1. Not less than 5 feet from the rail
    2. Stop at least 15 feet from the rail
    3. Not less than 50 feet from the rail
    4. Close enough to touch the first rail
    Show answer

    Stop at least 15 feet from the rail. When signals, gates, stop signs, or watchmen warn of a train, drivers must stop as close as practicable but not less than 15 feet from the n Full explanation in Test 12

    Study this in the handbook: Traffic signals, roundabouts and railroad crossings

38. 38. A Montana rider is learning to operate a motorcycle on public roads. Which requirement applies?

    1. Carry a passenger car learner license and ride alone.
    2. Carry the motorcycle learner license and ride with a supervisor who has a motorcycle endorsement.
    3. Carry motorcycle registration and use any adult supervisor.
    4. Carry the motorcycle learner license only when the supervisor is absent.
    Show answer

    Carry the motorcycle learner license and ride with a supervisor who has a motorcycle endorsement.. A motorcycle learner must have the motorcycle learner license in immediate possession and ride under the immediate and proximate supervision Full explanation in Test 13

    Study this in the handbook: Your Montana license, renewal and insurance

39. 39. You are below the posted limit on a wet road with poor visibility and heavy traffic. What can still happen?

    1. You can be ticketed for traveling too fast for conditions
    2. You are protected from a ticket by staying under the limit
    3. Your speed is legal no matter how poor the view becomes
    4. Only drivers above the posted limit can be ticketed then
    Show answer

    You can be ticketed for traveling too fast for conditions. A posted limit is not a guarantee of safety in bad conditions. Full explanation in Test 14

    Study this in the handbook: Adjusting speed for roads, weather and sight distance

40. 40. On the highway, looking 10 seconds ahead of the vehicle covers roughly what distance?

    1. About one city block of travel on a highway
    2. About four city blocks, a quarter of a mile
    3. About half of a mile of highway travel distance
    4. About two miles of roadway at highway speed
    Show answer

    About four city blocks, a quarter of a mile. Ten seconds of travel at highway pace spans about four city blocks, roughly a quarter of a mile, and scanning that far ahead replaces last s Full explanation in Test 15

    Study this in the handbook: Scanning, blind spots and signaling