MT Permit Practice Test 7

All 20 questions in test 7

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. 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 license. Three months does not satisfy the minimum, and twelve months confuses the holding period with the learner license validity period, which can be up to one year. The useful memory cue is six months held continuously before moving to the next graduated step.

2. 2. What should you do when a vehicle is disabled and cannot be moved off the roadway?

   1. Remain just over a hill so traffic can pass behind you
   2. Stop where approaching drivers have a clear view and warn them
   3. Stand in the roadway to direct every approaching vehicle
   4. Turn off all lights so the battery will last longer
   Show answer

   Stop where approaching drivers have a clear view and warn them. If a disabled vehicle cannot be moved from the roadway, Montana advises stopping where other drivers have a clear view and warning road users that the vehicle is present. Emergency flashers, flares, or another warning device can help drivers change lanes. Stopping just over a hill or around a curve hides the hazard until it is too late. The driver should never stand in the travel lane. Choose visibility and personal safety together, using a safe roadside position while help is arranged.

3. 3. What does a double solid yellow centerline mean for passing?

   
   1. Both directions may pass when visibility is good
   2. Only traffic traveling uphill may pass
   3. Neither direction may pass across the lines
   4. Passing is allowed if the horn is used
   Show answer

   Neither direction may pass across the lines. Two solid yellow lines separate opposing traffic where passing is restricted for both directions. Montana permits crossing a solid yellow line for a left-turn maneuver, and its lane-marking guidance also allows a safe turn into certain lots, driveways, or roadways. That exception is not permission to overtake. Good visibility and a horn do not change the marking. Read the entire lane pattern before deciding whether a turn, rather than a pass, is allowed.

4. 4. Where should you stop for a STOP sign when a crosswalk is present?

   1. Before entering the crosswalk
   2. After the crosswalk, closest to the intersection
   3. In the center of the intersection
   4. Only at the far edge of the cross street
   Show answer

   Before entering the crosswalk. A STOP sign requires a complete stop before entering the intersection, and Montana adds that the stop should be before the crosswalk when one is present. Stopping beyond the crosswalk can put the vehicle into a pedestrian path and reduces the driver’s ability to yield safely. The intersection’s far edge is not the stopping reference. Look for a marked stop line first; if the line is absent, stop before the crosswalk, then check traffic close enough to be an immediate hazard before proceeding.

5. 5. What must a driver do when a traffic signal is not working?

   1. Stop as though stop signs controlled every direction
   2. Continue through because no active signal can restrict movement
   3. Yield only to traffic on the wider roadway
   4. Wait for a police officer before moving under any circumstance
   Show answer

   Stop as though stop signs controlled every direction. A nonworking traffic signal should be treated as stop signs in all directions. The driver stops, uses ordinary right-of-way courtesy, and proceeds only after checking that the movement is safe. An inactive light does not erase intersection controls, and the rule does not require an officer to remain present. Approach slowly, identify other stopped vehicles, and make a careful decision before entering.

6. 6. What should a driver do when another motorist makes a mistake and needs to merge suddenly?

   1. Move into the other vehicle's lane to teach a lesson
   2. Close the gap so the other vehicle cannot enter
   3. Sound the horn continuously and maintain speed
   4. Slow down and let the other driver merge
   Show answer

   Slow down and let the other driver merge. The manual asks drivers not to make a difficult situation worse. If another motorist needs to change lanes suddenly, slowing down and allowing the merge can keep traffic moving and reduce the chance of contact. Closing the gap removes the escape space the other driver needs. A continuous horn does not solve the lane conflict, and moving into the other lane creates an intentional collision risk. Scan ahead for confused or struggling drivers, lift off the accelerator early, and preserve a usable gap. Courtesy here is a concrete collision-avoidance tool.

7. 7. What recent record must a Montana teen have before advancing from the instruction permit to the restricted-license step?

   1. No traffic violations during the preceding 30 days only
   2. No traffic violations or alcohol/drug offenses during the preceding six months
   3. No alcohol use at any time since birth
   4. No convictions after the teen turns 18
   Show answer

   No traffic violations or alcohol/drug offenses during the preceding six months. Before advancing to the first-year restricted license step, the teen must have no traffic violations or alcohol or drug offenses during the preceding six months. The rule is a recent record requirement, not a 30-day window or a lifetime statement about alcohol. It also applies before the step change, so an offense during that period prevents advancement. Track the six-month period from the intended transition date.

8. 8. What roadway condition is indicated by this DO NOT ENTER sign?

   
   1. Traffic may enter after yielding to pedestrians
   2. The road is open only to vehicles making right turns
   3. A parking area begins immediately beyond the sign
   4. The road ahead is one-way in the opposing direction, or vehicle traffic is prohibited
   Show answer

   The road ahead is one-way in the opposing direction, or vehicle traffic is prohibited. The square DO NOT ENTER sign warns that the road ahead is a one-way roadway in the direction opposite the driver, or that vehicles are not permitted there at all. It is not a turn restriction limited to right turns, and it does not identify a parking area. Yielding to pedestrians cannot authorize entry where the sign prohibits vehicular movement. The useful driving cue is to stop the intended entry and find the permitted route instead of trying to use an empty lane or a brief gap in traffic.

9. 9. What can the red color on this Montana sign communicate?

   
   1. A service area and a hospital nearby
   2. A recommended speed and a scenic route
   3. Stop, yield, do not enter, or wrong way
   4. A passing zone with traffic moving both ways
   Show answer

   Stop, yield, do not enter, or wrong way. Montana groups several urgent meanings under the color red on traffic signs: stop, yield, do not enter, or wrong way. The pictured sign uses that category to warn that the vehicle is traveling against the permitted direction. The other choices describe unrelated sign purposes and do not match the manual’s red-sign meanings. Treat a red message as an immediate instruction to stop, yield, or correct the prohibited movement safely.

10. 10. How close must a Montana vehicle be to the curb or shoulder when parked on a roadway?

    
    1. Within 18 inches
    2. Within 12 inches
    3. Within 6 inches
    4. Within 3 feet
    Show answer

    Within 18 inches. A vehicle parked on a roadway must be within 18 inches, or 1.5 feet, of the curb or shoulder. One foot is closer than the required maximum but is not the stated rule, and three feet leaves the vehicle too far into the roadway. The visual cue is simple: park close enough that the vehicle does not interfere with moving traffic while staying beside the curb or shoulder.

11. 11. At an intersection with no stop sign or traffic signal, which vehicle should a Montana driver generally yield to?

    1. A vehicle approaching from the left
    2. A vehicle approaching from the right
    3. Only a vehicle traveling faster
    4. No vehicle, because the intersection is uncontrolled
    Show answer

    A vehicle approaching from the right. At an uncontrolled intersection, Montana's general priority rule is to yield to a vehicle coming from the right, while remaining prepared to yield to prevent a crash. The left-side choice reverses the stated direction, and speed does not determine this basic priority. Uncontrolled means there is no device assigning movement, not that drivers may continue without checking. Ease off the accelerator and cover the brake as you look both ways.

12. 12. 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. That unusual shape is a recognition aid when a driver is scanning signs in poor visibility. School, winding-road, and sharp-turn warnings belong to the usual diamond-shaped warning group. The exception does not make the railroad message less urgent: it still announces a hazard ahead and calls for slower, attentive driving. Remember the pairing as a quick test cue: black and yellow warning family, round railroad exception.

13. 13. A traffic signal is flashing yellow as you approach. How should you proceed?

    1. Accelerate so you clear the intersection before red
    2. Stop and remain stopped until a green light appears
    3. Treat the signal as a yield sign and turn only
    4. Proceed with caution and usually slow down
    Show answer

    Proceed with caution and usually slow down. A flashing yellow signal permits movement, but it calls for caution rather than a routine-speed approach. Montana's manual says it usually means you need to slow down, so scan for vehicles, pedestrians, and changing conditions before entering. A complete stop is associated with a flashing red signal, not this indication. Accelerating to beat a light defeats the warning and can leave you committed to an unsafe intersection. The practical cue is the word flashing: yellow tells you to proceed carefully and be ready to stop if another road user creates a conflict.

14. 14. How far to the rear must a Montana vehicle mirror provide visibility?

    1. 200 feet, on vehicles manufactured after January 1, 1956
    2. 50 feet
    3. 1,000 feet
    4. There is no mirror requirement
    Show answer

    200 feet, on vehicles manufactured after January 1, 1956. Vehicles manufactured after January 1, 1956 must provide 200 foot visibility to the rear through their mirrors, must have a safety glass windshield with wipers, and must have front seat belts if built between January 1, 1965 and January 1, 1968. Equipment details and installation requirements are in Montana Code Annotated Title 61, chapter 9, which the examiner may reference during an inspection.

15. 15. When a parent signs the consent form for a Montana applicant under 18, what does the signature commit the parent to?

    1. Accepting financial responsibility for damage caused by the minor's driving
    2. Certifying that the teen has already passed a driver education course
    3. Riding along on every trip until the teen turns 18
    4. Confirming only that the teen's date of birth is correct
    Show answer

    Accepting financial responsibility for damage caused by the minor's driving. A teen under 18 needs a consent form signed by a parent or guardian before testing can begin. Signing is not a formality about the birth date or a statement about driver education. It obligates the parent or guardian to accept financial responsibility for any damage that results from the minor operating a motor vehicle. The form does not require the parent to supervise every trip; supervision rules come from the learner license and GDL steps instead. Parents should understand that the signature carries real financial risk.

16. 16. After a first alcohol driving conviction in Montana, how long is the license suspended?

    1. 30 days
    2. Three months
    3. Six months
    4. Two years
    Show answer

    Six months. A first alcohol conviction in Montana brings a license suspension of six months, on top of the fine and possible jail time a court can impose. Thirty days and three months are too short, and two years exaggerates the first offense penalty. The manual warns that second and later convictions carry much worse penalties. Refusing a BAC test is a separate problem, since refusal alone can also cost a driver the license, so a driver who has been drinking gains nothing by declining the test.

17. 17. What force does a 100 pound adult exert on a child in a 30 mph crash, according to the Montana manual?

    1. A 100 pound force
    2. A 300 pound force
    3. A 3,000 pound force
    4. No force if belted
    Show answer

    A 3,000 pound force. In a 30 mph crash, a 100 pound adult becomes a 3,000 pound force against the child, which is why a child must never ride in a lap or share a belt with an adult. Children up to age 6 and 60 pounds ride in a child safety seat, and children under 13 belong in the back seat whenever possible. Every occupant must be belted under Montana law.

18. 18. A slow farm vehicle in Montana has traffic backing up behind it. When must it turn off the roadway?

    1. Only when a police officer orders it off
    2. When two vehicles are following
    3. Never, since farm vehicles have the right of way
    4. When four or more vehicles are slowed and there is room for a safe turnout
    Show answer

    When four or more vehicles are slowed and there is room for a safe turnout. Slow moving vehicles must drive in the extreme right lane, and when four or more vehicles are slowed behind one, it must turn off the roadway whenever there is enough room for a safe turnout. Two following vehicles do not trigger the rule, and no officer's order is needed. Farm tractors, animal drawn vehicles, and road maintenance vehicles usually travel 25 mph or less and carry a slow moving vehicle sign, but they have no general right of way over faster traffic.

19. 19. What does a steady yellow vehicle signal mean?

    1. A protected movement with no need to check traffic
    2. Caution because the signal is about to turn red
    3. The same command as a flashing red signal
    4. Permission to enter even when the intersection is blocked
    Show answer

    Caution because the signal is about to turn red. A steady yellow signal means caution and warns that the signal is about to turn red. Montana says not to enter against it unless your vehicle is already too close to stop safely. That exception is about avoiding an unsafe sudden stop, not permission to accelerate toward the intersection. A yellow light is also not a protected movement and does not excuse entering a blocked intersection. Check your distance, brake smoothly when stopping is safe, and never use the color as a reason to speed up.

20. 20. What should a driver do when wet pavement, packed snow, or ice makes the road increasingly hazardous?

    1. Drive at the posted limit because the limit already accounts for weather
    2. Reduce speed as conditions worsen and increase the space ahead
    3. Maintain speed until the tires begin to slide
    4. Use the shoulder to avoid slowing traffic
    Show answer

    Reduce speed as conditions worsen and increase the space ahead. Montana's guidance connects speed to actual road and weather conditions, not merely to the number on the sign. Wet pavement, snow, and ice reduce traction and lengthen the distance needed to stop, so the driver should slow progressively and leave more room ahead. Waiting for a slide means waiting until control has already been lost. The posted-limit choice ignores the manual's warning that limits assume ideal conditions. Driving on the shoulder is neither a substitute for a safe speed nor a normal travel option. A simple cue is less grip means less speed and more cushion.