MT Permit Practice Test 1

All 20 questions in test 1

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. What safety chain does Montana require on a trailer of 3,000 pounds or less?

   1. No chain if the hitch is rated for the load
   2. A steel chain or cable at least a quarter inch in diameter fastened securely to the towing unit
   3. A rope of any size
   4. Chains only on trailers over 10,000 pounds
   Show answer

   A steel chain or cable at least a quarter inch in diameter fastened securely to the towing unit. Every trailer, semi trailer or pole trailer of 3,000 pounds gross vehicle weight or less must have on the front a steel chain or cable fastened securely to the towing unit, no less than a quarter inch in diameter, so the trailer stays attached if the coupling fails. Pole trailers over 3,000 pounds also need a clearance lamp on each side.

2. 2. At what distance must high beams be dimmed when meeting another vehicle?

   1. 1,000 feet
   2. 500 feet
   3. 350 feet
   4. 100 feet
   Show answer

   1,000 feet. Montana requires high beams to be dimmed when meeting an oncoming vehicle at 1,000 feet. That distance protects the other driver from glare while both vehicles approach. The 500 foot figure applies when overtaking another vehicle, which is a different relationship and direction of travel. Do not wait until the approaching headlights are close; recognize the meeting situation early, switch to low beam, and restore high beam only after the vehicles have safely passed and conditions allow it.

3. 3. What do Montana regulatory signs communicate to drivers?

   1. A warning that a curve is approaching
   2. A scenic route and nearby recreation area
   3. A maximum speed or another required action
   4. An optional suggestion for courteous driving
   Show answer

   A maximum speed or another required action. Regulatory signs communicate obligations that govern how traffic must move. Montana describes them as signs showing the driver's maximum speed or another required action, and it directs drivers to obey the rules on all of them. A scenic route is guide information, while a curve warning identifies a hazard rather than a legal command. Treating the message as optional is especially dangerous because a regulatory sign can establish a speed ceiling or prohibit a movement. The visual cue is often a rectangular white sign with black words or symbols.

4. 4. If heavy rain, snow, or fog limits visibility to about 200 feet, how fast may a driver safely travel?

   1. The posted limit, regardless of what can be seen
   2. No faster than 30 mph
   3. At least 50 mph to clear the weather quickly
   4. Any speed below 70 mph if headlights are on
   Show answer

   No faster than 30 mph. The manual says that when heavy rain, a snowstorm, or thick fog limits visibility to about 200 feet, a driver cannot safely travel faster than 30 mph. Headlights improve visibility to others but do not make an unsafe speed acceptable. The posted limit and a high-speed escape strategy ignore sight distance. If the downpour prevents safe driving at all, pull off in a safe place and wait for conditions to improve.

5. 5. For the second six months of a Montana first-year restricted license, how many unrelated passengers under 18 may ride without licensed-adult supervision?

   1. One
   2. Three
   3. Two
   4. Four
   Show answer

   Three. The passenger restriction expands during the second six-month period to three unrelated passengers under 18, unless a licensed adult driver is supervising. One is the first-period number, not the later one. Two and four do not match the stated limit. Think of the progression as one passenger first, then three during the second half of the restricted year, while keeping the adult-supervision exception in view.

6. 6. Where may an open alcoholic beverage container be kept in a Montana vehicle?

   1. In the driver's door pocket if it has a lid
   2. In an unlocked cup holder beside the driver
   3. On the floor behind the front passenger seat
   4. In a locked glove compartment or storage compartment
   Show answer

   In a locked glove compartment or storage compartment. An open alcoholic beverage container must be kept in a locked glove compartment or storage compartment, among the lawful storage locations listed by Montana. An unlocked cup holder, a door pocket, and a floor area in the passenger compartment leave the container accessible. The key detail is that the compartment must be locked, not merely covered or located away from the driver’s hand. Check the storage location before driving on a highway.

7. 7. How should a driver respond after seeing Montana's pennant-shaped no-passing sign?

   
   1. Use the opposite lane whenever no vehicle is visible
   2. Pass only on the shoulder until the next intersection
   3. Do not pass vehicles traveling in the same direction in that area
   4. Resume passing immediately because the zone has ended
   Show answer

   Do not pass vehicles traveling in the same direction in that area. A no-passing warning marks an area where passing is prohibited, so a driver must not pass a vehicle moving in the same direction. The shoulder is not a substitute passing lane, and an empty view ahead does not cancel the restriction. The choice “Resume passing immediately because the zone has ended” reverses the meaning of the sign. Stay behind the vehicle, maintain a safe gap, and wait for a lawful passing opportunity after the restricted area.

8. 8. What does the Montana manual say about local laws on phone use while driving?

   1. No Montana city regulates phone use while driving
   2. Local laws restrict calls but allow texting
   3. Most Montana cities have passed laws against texting and talking on cell phones while driving
   4. Cities may ban texting only inside school zones
   Show answer

   Most Montana cities have passed laws against texting and talking on cell phones while driving. The manual notes that most Montana cities have passed laws against texting and talking on cell phones while driving, so a driver can be cited under a local ordinance. Saying no city regulates phone use contradicts that statement, and the local laws cover texting as well as talking rather than allowing texts. Nothing limits these laws to school zones. The manual's advice is simpler than any ordinance: never text or talk on the phone while driving, and pull over and stop first.

9. 9. At a four-way stop in Montana, which driver generally proceeds first?

   
   1. The driver who reaches the intersection first and stops completely
   2. The driver in the largest vehicle
   3. The driver who flashes headlights first
   4. The driver turning left
   Show answer

   The driver who reaches the intersection first and stops completely. At a four-way stop, the driver who reaches the intersection first gets to go first after making a complete stop. Vehicle size, a headlight flash, and a left turn do not create priority under this rule. Arriving first is not permission to rush: check that the intersection is clear, then proceed while remaining alert for pedestrians and other road users.

10. 10. How low may a Montana school zone speed limit be set?

    1. No lower than 25 mph
    2. No lower than 20 mph
    3. 5 mph
    4. As low as 15 mph
    Show answer

    As low as 15 mph. Montana law lets school zone speed limits be set as low as 15 mph, and local authorities decide the posted speed and how many blocks around a school the zone covers. Floors of 20 or 25 mph are wrong because the law allows lower limits, and 5 mph is below the figure the manual gives. Fines are doubled in all school zones throughout Montana, so speeding near a school costs twice as much. Watch for children near schools and parks day and night.

11. 11. How close to a fire hydrant may a Montana driver park?

    1. No closer than 15 feet
    2. No closer than 5 feet
    3. No closer than 30 feet
    4. No closer than 50 feet
    Show answer

    No closer than 15 feet. Montana prohibits parking within 15 feet of a fire hydrant, so firefighters can reach it without a car in the way. Five feet is far too close. The 30 foot distance applies to a traffic signal, stop sign, or yield sign, and 50 feet applies to a railroad crossing, so those figures belong to other no parking rules. A vehicle parked at the curb must also be within 18 inches of it.

12. 12. What should you do first when the engine keeps increasing speed because the gas pedal sticks?

    1. Quickly shift to neutral
    2. Pump the accelerator repeatedly
    3. Turn the steering wheel off the road before braking
    4. Open the hood while moving
    Show answer

    Quickly shift to neutral. A stuck accelerator requires the driver to separate engine power from the wheels while keeping control. The manual directs the driver to keep watching the road and quickly shift to neutral, then apply steady brake pressure, pull off safely, and turn off the engine. Repeatedly pumping the accelerator can preserve the problem. Steering away before slowing increases risk, and opening the hood is impossible to do safely while moving.

13. 13. What does a flashing red traffic signal require before a driver proceeds?

    1. A stop only when another vehicle is approaching
    2. A reduced speed without stopping if the intersection is clear
    3. A complete stop, followed by yielding and proceeding when safe
    4. Immediate passage because flashing means the signal is inactive
    Show answer

    A complete stop, followed by yielding and proceeding when safe. A flashing red signal operates like a stop sign. The driver must make a complete stop, look for traffic and pedestrians, yield as needed, and continue only when the movement is safe. A clear-looking intersection does not remove the stopping requirement, and flashing does not mean the signal is inactive. Use the same deliberate scan you would use at a stop sign before entering the intersection.

14. 14. What kind of action does this yellow lane arrow warn drivers to expect?

    1. A signal that all work-zone devices may be ignored
    2. A guarantee that the current lane will remain open
    3. A command to pass every vehicle on the left
    4. Traffic guidance into a lane because part of the road ahead may be closed
    Show answer

    Traffic guidance into a lane because part of the road ahead may be closed. Work zones may use large flashing or sequencing arrow panels during the day or night to guide drivers into certain traffic lanes and show that part of the road ahead is closed. This supports an early, controlled lane adjustment while watching cones, barricades, workers, and nearby traffic. The panel does not guarantee that the current lane stays open, authorize passing, or cancel other work-zone controls. Follow the displayed direction and merge when it is safe.

15. 15. 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. The driver should keep right of that divider and avoid treating it as a place to cross or turn around. The choice “The divided roadway ends and opposing traffic will share one lane” describes the opposite change, while the remaining choices invent an intersection or a U-turn permission. Reduce speed if the roadway layout is changing, identify the correct side of the median, and follow lane markings as the separate directions develop.

16. 16. What does hydroplaning describe?

    1. A tire losing air after striking a pothole
    2. Tires floating on a film of water and losing contact with the road
    3. A vehicle overheating while driving through rain
    4. A controlled braking method for slick pavement
    Show answer

    Tires floating on a film of water and losing contact with the road. Hydroplaning occurs when speed on a wet roadway causes tires to float on a film of water rather than maintain normal contact with the pavement. That loss of traction can make steering feel ineffective and can become complete in heavy rain, especially with worn tires. A puncture, overheating, or deliberate braking technique describes a different problem. The strongest prevention cue is speed: slow down in rain or whenever the road is wet, then avoid abrupt steering and braking if traction begins to disappear.

17. 17. What path does this KEEP RIGHT sign require around the obstruction?

    
    1. Use either side as long as the vehicle stays on pavement
    2. Pass to the left of the obstruction
    3. Stop before the obstruction and wait for a flagger
    4. Pass to the right of the obstruction
    Show answer

    Pass to the right of the obstruction. KEEP RIGHT directs traffic to the right side of an obstruction. The left-side choice reverses the instruction, while stopping for a flagger is not the message of this sign unless a separate work-zone control requires it. Staying on pavement alone does not make either side acceptable, so the choice “Use either side as long as the vehicle stays on pavement” ignores the required direction. Reduce speed, watch for other vehicles and workers, and pass the obstruction on its right as the sign indicates. A divider, island, or work-area object may be the reason for the restriction.

18. 18. When possible, how should a vehicle pass a stationary emergency or police vehicle displaying emergency signals?

    
    1. Switch to a lane farther away from the stationary vehicle
    2. Move closer to the stationary vehicle before passing
    3. Stop beside the stationary vehicle until it leaves
    4. Stay in the adjacent lane even when another lane is safely open
    Show answer

    Switch to a lane farther away from the stationary vehicle. When possible, Montana advises moving into a lane farther away from a stationary emergency or police vehicle displaying emergency signals. That extra lateral distance gives responders more working room. Moving closer reduces the buffer, stopping beside the vehicle can obstruct traffic, and staying in the adjacent lane ignores the safer option when another lane is open. The manual also requires a speed reduction on highways posted at 50 mph or more, so drivers should combine both protections when the situation allows.

19. 19. What response does Montana's deer-crossing warning call for when a driver sees a deer?

    1. Turn sharply into the opposite lane
    2. Speed up before the deer reaches the road
    3. Be alert and slow down
    4. Stop only if another car is present
    Show answer

    Be alert and slow down. The deer-crossing warning tells drivers that deer often use the area, so alertness and reduced speed are the appropriate response. Speeding narrows reaction time, and a sharp turn can create a collision with another vehicle or a roadside object. Waiting for another car to appear misses the hazard entirely. Scan beyond the first animal too, because wildlife may travel together.

20. 20. When strong wind creates a hazard near an oncoming tractor-trailer, how should a driver position the vehicle?

    1. Leave a little more room on the side that the truck will pass
    2. Move closer to the truck to reduce the wind gap
    3. Drive on the shoulder until the truck is gone
    4. Keep equal distance from both hazards even if one is larger
    Show answer

    Leave a little more room on the side that the truck will pass. Montana's Split the Difference Rule says to divide space between two hazards, but to give a little more room to the more dangerous one. An oncoming tractor-trailer is the greater danger in this example, so the driver should bias the vehicle away from the truck while staying in the lane. Moving toward the truck reduces the safety cushion. The shoulder is not a normal escape path, and rigidly equal spacing ignores the different risks. Look ahead early, ease away from the large vehicle, and keep both hands ready for wind movement.