Montana DMV Practice Test 2026

1. at least 75 feet before the turn
2. at least 25 feet before the turn
3. at least 100 feet before the turn
4. at least 200 feet before the turn

Correct answer: at least 100 feet before the turn. Signaling early gives other drivers time to react; in Montana the minimum distance before a turn is 100 feet, unless the intersection is closer than that.

1. 0.04%
2. 0.05%
3. 0.10%
4. 0.08%

Correct answer: 0.04%. Commercial drivers in Montana are held to a stricter BAC standard of 0.04%, lower than the standard adult limit, because of the added responsibility of operating large vehicles.

1. On a bridge or inside a tunnel
2. In a large parking lot
3. On a residential street with no signs
4. Next to a business with a public lot

Correct answer: On a bridge or inside a tunnel. Parking on a bridge, overpass, or inside a tunnel blocks traffic and hides your vehicle from approaching drivers, so it's prohibited almost everywhere.

Source: California Driver Handbook, Parking-Illegal Parking p.68-77 (tunnel or bridge)

1. After honking once
2. After 15 seconds pass
3. When the bus driver waves them on
4. Once the red lights turn off

Correct answer: Once the red lights turn off. The driver may not proceed until the school bus's flashing red lights are turned off.

Source: Montana Driver Handbook, p.50, School Buses

1. The lane ends ahead and traffic must merge in the direction the sign shows
2. The lane you are in ends ahead and you must move into another lane
3. A multi-lane road ahead narrows down to a single lane, so drivers must merge
4. Traffic going straight through ahead must merge to the left

Correct answer: The lane ends ahead and traffic must merge in the direction the sign shows. This warning sign means the lane ends ahead and traffic must merge in the direction the sign shows. Be ready to react safely as you approach this part of the road.

Source: MUTCD 2009 Sec. 2C (Warning Signs)

1. In the same order they stopped, roughly one at a time
2. All four vehicles should go forward at exactly the same moment
3. The largest vehicle always goes first
4. Whichever driver honks first

Correct answer: In the same order they stopped, roughly one at a time. Vehicles at an all-way stop take turns in the order they arrived, moving through one at a time rather than all together.

Source: Florida Driver Handbook, PDF p.55, All Way Stop

1. The train horn will sound continuously and very loudly at every single crossing nearby
2. No trains use this crossing anymore
3. Horns are prohibited for cars approaching the crossing
4. The train may not sound its horn at this crossing, so drivers must rely on lights, gates, and their own caution

Correct answer: The train may not sound its horn at this crossing, so drivers must rely on lights, gates, and their own caution. In some quiet zones, trains are not required to sound their horn at the crossing, so this sign reminds drivers not to rely on hearing a horn before crossing.

Source: MUTCD 2009 Sec. 8B.21

1. Wait; do not begin crossing
2. Cross quickly before traffic arrives
3. Cross only if no cars are visible
4. Cross if you are in a hurry

Correct answer: Wait; do not begin crossing. A steady DON'T WALK signal means it is not legal to begin a new crossing; a pedestrian should wait for the WALK signal.

Source: California Driver Handbook, PDF p.42, Walk or Walking Person means it is legal to cross

1. Toward the center, into oncoming traffic
2. Straight ahead only, regardless of slope
3. It doesn't matter at all without a curb
4. Toward the edge, so it rolls off safely

Correct answer: Toward the edge, so it rolls off safely. Without a curb to stop the wheel, angling the wheels toward the road's edge means the car would roll off the road away from traffic if the brakes failed, rather than into travel lanes.

Source: California Driver Handbook, Parking-Parking on a Hill p.68 (no curb: turn wheels toward the shoulder)

1. Start out slowly and test the brakes gently once moving
2. Accelerate hard from a stop to feel how the wheels spin
3. Wait until reaching highway speed, then brake hard
4. There is no way to know until a skid actually happens

Correct answer: Start out slowly and test the brakes gently once moving. Traction on snow or ice can vary block by block. Starting out slowly and gently testing the brakes once the vehicle is moving helps a driver judge how much grip is available before conditions demand a real stop.

Source: Texas Driver Handbook, Ch9 Winter Driving-Table 23: Get a Feel for the Road, p.55

1. A lane reserved permanently only for city buses
2. A center lane whose direction changes by time of day
3. A lane that is always closed to all traffic
4. A lane used only for police and emergency vehicles

Correct answer: A center lane whose direction changes by time of day. A reversible lane changes its direction of travel at set times of day, for example toward the city in the morning and away in the evening, to help handle rush-hour traffic; always check the overhead signal before entering.

Source: Florida Driver Handbook, PDF p.54, Reversible Lanes: direction of traffic is normally reversed at set times

1. Because the inside lane of a roundabout is always faster
2. Because roundabouts always post stop signs for entering traffic
3. Because pedestrians always outrank circulating vehicles inside
4. It keeps circulating traffic flowing without forcing stops inside

Correct answer: It keeps circulating traffic flowing without forcing stops inside. Requiring entering traffic to yield avoids forcing vehicles already inside the circle to stop, which keeps the roundabout flowing and lowers crash risk.

Source: California Driver Handbook, PDF p.48, if you miss your exit, continue around

1. Driving with the windows completely closed
2. Listening to talk radio instead of music
3. Starting a drive without enough sleep beforehand
4. Driving a newer vehicle instead of an older one

Correct answer: Starting a drive without enough sleep beforehand. One of the main causes of drowsy driving is simply not getting enough sleep before starting to drive. The best prevention is getting adequate rest before a trip rather than trying to push through tiredness once on the road.

Source: California Driver Handbook, Fatigued or Drowsy Driving, p.99 (2020 handbook PDF)

1. Turn off the engine immediately while still moving
2. Pump the brakes and apply the parking brake gradually
3. Pull the parking brake as hard and fast as possible
4. Continue driving normally until reaching the destination

Correct answer: Pump the brakes and apply the parking brake gradually. If the brakes fail, a driver should pump the brake pedal to try to build pressure, shift to a lower gear to help slow the vehicle, and apply the parking or emergency brake gradually and gently rather than yanking it, which could cause a skid.

Source: Texas Driver Handbook, Ch9 Brake Failure, p.55

1. 7 seconds
2. 6 seconds
3. 2 seconds
4. 3 seconds

Correct answer: 3 seconds. Montana's handbook recommends at least 3 seconds of gap under normal, favorable conditions.

1. Fines stay the same as anywhere else
2. Fines for that violation are doubled
3. Fines are cut down by half
4. Only a verbal warning is given

Correct answer: Fines for that violation are doubled. Many states double traffic fines for violations committed in active work zones, especially when workers are present, to help protect them.

Source: California Driver Handbook, PDF p.87, Double Fine Zones

1. 10 feet
2. 150 feet
3. 100 feet
4. 15 feet

Correct answer: 15 feet. In Montana, you must stop at least 15 feet from the nearest rail when a railroad crossing signal is active, giving the train room to pass safely.

1. Stop and carefully back up to the exit lane
2. Make a full U-turn in the middle of the roundabout
3. Cut across several lanes to reach the exit
4. Keep circling until you reach your exit again

Correct answer: Keep circling until you reach your exit again. If you miss your exit in a roundabout, keep circling around until you come back to it; do not stop, reverse, or cut across lanes.

Source: California Driver Handbook, PDF p.48, if you miss your exit, continue around

1. Midnight to 5 a.m.
2. 10 p.m. to 5 a.m.
3. 11 p.m. to 5 a.m.
4. 11 p.m. to 6 a.m.

Correct answer: 11 p.m. to 5 a.m.. Montana's first-year restricted license bars driving between 11 p.m. and 5 a.m.

Source: Montana Driver Handbook, p.8, GDL Step 2: First-Year Restricted License

1. Yes, only marked police cars count
2. Yes, but only unmarked police cars count
3. No, it also covers other authorized emergency vehicles
4. No, it applies only to tow trucks

Correct answer: No, it also covers other authorized emergency vehicles. The move-over duty in Montana covers police vehicles as well as other authorized emergency vehicles.

Source: Montana Driver Handbook, p.90, Driver Response to Emergency Vehicles

1. Continue driving normally since it is not in your lane
2. Move to the right and stop, same as if from behind
3. Speed up to clear the area quickly
4. Move into the center turn lane instead

Correct answer: Move to the right and stop, same as if from behind. You must yield to an emergency vehicle regardless of which direction it is coming from, including oncoming traffic on a two-way road.

Source: New York Driver Handbook, Ch3-Emergency Vehicles, p.35: "must pull over and stop for an emergency vehicle even if it is headed toward you in the opposite lane"

1. 17 years old
2. 14.5 years old
3. 15 years old
4. 15.5 years old

Correct answer: 14.5 years old. Montana sets the earliest permit application age at 14.5 years old (additional requirements, like driver education, may also apply).

1. Proceed immediately, since it is legally your turn
2. Speed up so the other driver has to wait
3. Make sure the other driver is actually yielding before you go
4. Honk continuously until the other car stops

Correct answer: Make sure the other driver is actually yielding before you go. The right-of-way is not a guarantee; always confirm the other driver is actually yielding before you proceed, to avoid a crash.

Source: Texas Driver Handbook, PDF p.20, right-of-way is something given, not taken

1. 15 hours
2. 10 hours
3. 12 hours
4. 5 hours

Correct answer: 10 hours. Montana requires 10 hours of the supervised practice to happen specifically at night.

1. 30 hours
2. 50 hours
3. 70 hours
4. 100 hours

Correct answer: 50 hours. Montana requires a teen driver to log at least 50 hours of supervised driving practice.

Source: Montana Driver Handbook, p.7, GDL Step 1: Instruction Permit