Montana (MT) Teen Auto Insurance Laws, Rates & Requirements

The state of Montana has always been a bit more lax than other states when it comes to drinking and driving. In fact, the state of Montana is one of the few states in the U.S. that, until recently, allowed drivers and passengers to have open alcoholic beverage containers in the car. As a result, the state has lost one person to drunk driving accidents for every 100 million miles driven there. Overall, 200 people die in car crashes each year in the state.

For decades, Montana’s lax drinking laws even trickled down to teens. Fortunately, in 2005, the state of Montana fell in line with the rest of the states across the country by creating better laws and stiffer penalties for drinking and driving. The laws have been updated for adults as well as teens. The state has even fallen in line with the rest of the states across America by adopting a Graduated Driver Licensing program. Although Montana and Wyoming were the last to adopt the program, both states have reported a decrease in teen crash statistics since updating its laws.

Continue reading to learn more about Montana’s Graduated Driver Licensing program and the serious consequences for violating the state’s new and improved teen driving laws. 

Montana Graduated Driver Licensing (GDL) and Driver License Requirements

In the state of Montana, the Graduated Driver Licensing Program consists of three steps. These include:

1.    Permit Period
2.    First-Year Restricted License
3.    Full Privilege Driver License

In order to enter the permit period, drivers must be at least 14 ½ years of age and enrolled in a state-approved traffic education program. If 14 ½ years of age, you must obtain a Traffic Education Learner’s License (TELL) first. To obtain a Learner’s License, you must be:

•    At least 15 years of age
•    Successfully complete a state approved traffic education program
•    Pass the required driver license tests
•    Pass the medical requirements for the type of driver license desired
•    Have a clean criminal and medical record

Under the terms of the Learner’s License, the teenager must complete 50 hours of supervised driving, including 10 hours at night. The teen must also hold the permit for a minimum of 6 consecutive months before applying for a first-year restricted license. The Learner’s Permit is valid for one year.

To qualify for a First-Year Restricted License, the teen must satisfied all requirements of the Permit Period. Once it has been determined that all requirements have been satisfied, the teen can apply for the restricted license. The teen can apply at any Montana Driver Exam Station, but he must first:

•    Pay any associated fees (fees are based on age at the time of application)
•    Provide proof of identity
•    Provide proof of Montana residency
•    Provide proof of authorized presence
•    Provide proof of a completed Graduated Driver Licensing Parent/Legal Guardian Certification form

Your First-Year Restricted License will have a restriction code on the front and back. This means you must follow all restrictions associated with the license (see next section). Your First-Year Restricted License will confer on the date stamped on the license – usually one year from the time you obtain it. If you are approaching age 18 in less than a year, the restricted license will confer on your 18th birthday.

Montana Teen Driving Laws and Enforcement

In the state of Montana, during the Permit Period, a licensed parent or guardian must supervise TELL drivers at all times. A licensed parent or guardian must also supervise drivers with a Learner’s License, but they can also drive with a licensed individual 18 or older. The license holder’s parent or guardian must authorize the designated driver. In addition:

•    All passengers must wear seatbelts at all times
•    The teen driver cannot collect any alcohol or drug related traffic violations during the 6-month period prior to moving to the First-Year Restricted License stage.

Under the conditions of the First-Year Restricted License:

•    The teen may not drive between the hours of 11 p.m. and 5 a.m. except in cases of emergencies, farm-related activities, travel to and from school, church, or work
•    During the first six months, the teen may not transport more than one unrelated passenger under the age of 18 unless supervised by a licensed driver 18 or older
•    During the second six months, the driver may have only 3 unrelated passengers under age 18 in the car, unless supervised by a licensed driver 18 or older

If the teen violates any of the conditions of the First-Year Restricted License, a first offense will cost between 20 and 60 hours of community service and a second offense will result in suspension of the teen’s driver license for 6 months.

Montana Cell Phone Use/Texting While Driving Laws

In the state of Montana, it is still legal for driver’s to use a cell phone while driving. The state has attempted to pass several cell phone bans, but the latest bill (April 2009) “died in the process.” SB 278 would have prohibited the use of handheld cell phones and “mobile electronic devices” for all drivers. 

While Montana does not have a cell phone law in place, driving while using a cell phone in any capacity is still dangerous. If you must talk or text, find a safe place to communicate or wait until you are no longer behind the wheel.

Montana Teen DUI Laws

In the state of Montana, it is a crime for a teen to operate a motor vehicle with a blood alcohol concentration level (BAC) of 0.02% or higher. A BAC of 0.02% is as little as one beer, one glass of wine or one mixed drink for most people. It can be even less for some. Proof of a BAC of 0.02% is all that is needed to convict a Montana teen of DUI. The Montana Department of Justice lists the following penalties for DUI for adults and teens:

•    Drivers in Montana are considered to have given consent to blood or breath tests to determine the presence of alcohol or drugs. An arrested person may refuse to submit to such a test, but Montana law then allows a peace officer to seize the driver license. The license may then be suspended or revoked and the length of the suspension depends on whether it is a first refusal or second or subsequent refusal
•    The penalties for a first-offense drunk-driving conviction include up to six months in jail and a fine of up to $1,000. Parts of the imprisonment may be suspended, pending the completion of a court-ordered chemical dependency program.
•    Vehicles may be forfeited on the second or subsequent DUI
•    A fourth or subsequent DUI is a felony

Montana Teen Auto Insurance Requirements

At an average of $661 per year, Montana currently has the 37th highest auto insurance rates in the nation, making it one of the cheapest states for auto insurance. It doesn’t mater how cheap the auto insurance may be, Montana has mandatory insurance laws and stiff penalties for violating them. Whether you’re a parent or a teen, you must carry minimum auto liability coverage of 25/50/10. This means that all drivers must carry at least $25,000 for personal injury or death to one person, $50,000 for personal injury or death to more than one person, and $10,000 injury to or destruction of property of others in any one accident. Because the risk of an auto collision is significantly higher during a teen’s first year behind the wheel, Montana auto insurance companies recommend purchasing higher amounts of coverage than the legal limits.

If you plan to add a teen driver to your policy, instead of purchasing a separate policy, keep in mind that your annual rate will increase anywhere from $1,200 to $4,900 a year - or an average of $2,171 a year.