Montana requires 50 hours of supervised driving, including at least 10 hours at night, before a teen moves from a learner license to a first-year restricted license. Montana's traffic education program is the spine of teen licensing here: teens as young as 14½ can get a Traffic Education Learner License once they are enrolled in an approved course. A parent or guardian certifies the hours. Montana's traffic education program uses RoadReady, the supervised driving app from Safe Roads Alliance, so many Montana families are pointed at it directly by their instructor.
Montana supervised driving requirements at a glance
| Requirement | Montana |
|---|---|
| Total supervised hours | 50 hours |
| Night hours | 10 hours at night (of the 50) |
| Professional / instructor hours | An approved traffic education course is required for teens who start before 16; its behind-the-wheel instruction is separate from the 50 hours |
| Minimum permit age | 14½ (Traffic Education Learner License, with enrollment in an approved course); 15 for a regular learner license |
| Permit holding period | 6 months on the learner license before the first-year restricted license |
| Permit validity | Check the expiration on the learner license — Montana issues it on a limited term and it can be renewed |
| Who may supervise | Licensed driver 18 or older who has held a license for at least 1 year (or a licensed traffic education instructor) — confirm the current rule with the MVD |
| Official log form | Montana requires a signed 50-hour log. Traffic education programs commonly direct families to RoadReady; a paper log signed by a parent is the traditional alternative. |
| Certification method | Parent or guardian certifies the 50 hours |
| State app or program | RoadReady — Montana's traffic education program uses the Safe Roads Alliance app for supervised driving hours. |
Who can supervise practice driving in Montana
Montana's supervision rule is looser on age than most states, which fits a state where a lot of teens are already driving farm equipment. Confirm the current wording with the MVD, since supervision rules get updated.
- A licensed driver with at least a year of experience in the front passenger seat is the practical standard — verify the current age floor with the MVD.
- A licensed traffic education instructor qualifies during course sessions.
- Montana distances change the math. A single trip to a regional center can be two hours of driving. That is real experience, but it is highway experience — make sure town driving, four-way stops, and parking get their share.
Night hours, and what "night" means here
Ten of the 50 hours have to be at night. Montana's latitude produces a dramatic seasonal swing: in Billings, December darkness starts around 4:35 PM, while in late June there is usable light past 9:30 PM. Bank the night hours between October and March and they cost you nothing extra. What is worth practicing in the dark in Montana specifically: unlit two-lane highways where deer and elk cross without warning, long stretches with no reference points other than reflective posts, and the winter combination of blowing snow and oncoming headlights.
What counts as a loggable hour
- Public-road driving with a qualified supervisor counts. The trip to school, errands, highway miles, practice loops around the neighborhood — it all counts as long as the permit holder is at the wheel and the supervising driver is in the front passenger seat.
- Time parked, idling, or waiting in a drive-through does not count. Log driving time, not trip time.
- Empty parking lots and closed courses generally do not count. The point of the requirement is real traffic.
- Hours before the permit was issued do not count. The permit has to be in hand first.
- Winter driving is the skill that matters here. Montana does not require inclement-weather hours, but ice on a two-lane at highway speed is what new Montana drivers actually face.
How to actually get to 50 hours
Fifty hours over the six-month learner period is about two hours a week — and in rural Montana, two hours a week is often a single trip. The trap is that all 50 hours become open-highway miles. Deliberately spend a share of them in Bozeman, Missoula, Billings, or Great Falls, where the traffic, intersections, and parking are the things the road test and the first solo year will actually test.
Official Montana resources
- Montana MVD — Apply for a License — learner license, traffic education, and restricted license requirements
- Montana Driver Manual — the handbook the knowledge test comes from
Tracking your hours
Montana's traffic education program uses RoadReady, the supervised driving app from Safe Roads Alliance, and Montana families are commonly pointed to it by their driver education program. If that is what your program or the MVD asks for, use RoadReady — that is the record Montana expects, and there is nothing to gain from keeping a competing log somewhere else.
Where PermitReady fits in Montana is the other half of the process: it is a free iPhone and iPad app with practice questions for the Montana MVD knowledge test, built from the current Montana driver manual. It works offline — useful on the drive between Havre and anywhere — and there is no account to create, so nothing is uploaded and nothing is tied to an email address.
PermitReady does include a supervised driving hours log, and some families use it as a personal backup or for a sibling in another state. But in Montana, if your program is on RoadReady, RoadReady is the log of record. If you want to see how the two compare, we wrote up PermitReady vs RoadReady honestly, including where RoadReady is the better fit. There are also printable paper templates and a full write-up of the driving log if you want a paper backup.
Frequently asked questions
How many supervised driving hours does Montana require?
50 hours, including at least 10 at night, before a first-year restricted license. A parent or guardian certifies the hours.
Does Montana use RoadReady?
Yes. Montana's traffic education program uses RoadReady, the supervised driving app from Safe Roads Alliance, and many families are directed to it by their instructor. If that is what your program asks for, that is the log to keep.
How old do you have to be to get a Montana learner license?
14 and a half for a Traffic Education Learner License, once enrolled in an approved traffic education course. A regular learner license is available at 15.
How many night hours does Montana require?
10 of the 50. Montana's early winter darkness makes October through March by far the efficient window for collecting them.
Is traffic education required in Montana?
An approved traffic education course is required for teens who start the licensing process before 16. Its behind-the-wheel instruction is separate from the 50 supervised hours.
Also for Montana
Montana permit test practice · Supervised driving hours log · Printable log templates · Supervised driving hours by state
Verification and disclaimers
Requirements verified August 2026 against Montana Department of Justice, Motor Vehicle Division. Requirements change, and the Montana Motor Vehicle Division can revise them without much notice — always confirm the current rules with the Montana Motor Vehicle Division before your road test.
PermitReady's driving hours log is a personal tracking tool. It is not a state form and has not been approved or endorsed by any state licensing agency. Check with your state's DMV, RMV, DPS, BMV, or equivalent agency for which log format they require, and use their official state form if one is mandated.
RoadReady® is a registered trademark of Safe Roads Alliance, Inc. PermitReady is not affiliated with, endorsed by, or sponsored by Safe Roads Alliance, Inc.
PermitReady is not affiliated with, endorsed by, or approved by the Montana Motor Vehicle Division or any government agency.