Montana · MVD

How to get your CDL permit in Montana

In Montana you book a written test at an MVD driver license station and pass your CDL knowledge tests to get a CLP. The permit lasts one year and can't be renewed.

Last checked September 26, 2026 against official MVD sources

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Minimum age: 18 (in-state only) · 21 to cross state lines
Permit fee: Check with MVD
Permit valid for: 1 year, not renewable
Wait before road test: 14 days (you can test on day 15)
Knowledge test language: Not published
Passing score: 80%

Step by step

1Hold a valid Montana driver's license, or bring ID, residency and SSN proof if you're new to Montana.
2Self-certify your type of driving and get a DOT medical exam if you drive non-excepted.
3Book a written test appointment at an MVD driver license station.
4Bring proof of authorized presence and pass the General Knowledge and any class or endorsement tests.
5Pass the MVD's Drug and Alcohol Clearinghouse check and receive your CLP.
6Complete ELDT with a registered provider before your skills test.
7Hold your CLP at least 14 days, then take your skills test on day 15 or later.

What to bring

Your valid Montana driver's license, if you have one
Proof of authorized presence in the U.S.
Proof of identity, Montana residency and Social Security number if you're new to Montana
Payment for your fees

Medical card

You self-certify as excepted or non-excepted and intrastate or interstate. Your exam must be done by a National Registry examiner, who sends the results electronically. Since June 23, 2025, MVD does not accept paper medical cards.

Fees

Skills testPer skills test you pass. Third-party testers may charge more.	$25
Interstate CDL (4 years, age 21–71)REAL ID costs extra.	$41.72
Intrastate CDL (4 years, age 21–71)REAL ID costs extra.	$35.54

Fees change. Confirm the current amount with MVD before you go.

The tests you'll take

General Knowledge (everyone)
Air Brakes (if your truck has air brakes)
Combination Vehicles (Class A)
Endorsement tests (if you want them)

Testing in Montana

Written tests are taken at a driver license station by appointment.
If you fail a written or endorsement test, you can retake it the next working day.

Study for these tests in the Montana classroom

Good to know in Montana

Your CLP can't be renewed. When it runs out, you retake your knowledge tests.
Drivers 18 to 20 can get an in-state-only CDL, with a lower fee that runs to your 21st birthday.
Every CLP and CDL application is checked against the federal Drug and Alcohol Clearinghouse.
Your CLP supervisor must be licensed and endorsed for the vehicle you're driving.
For medical card problems, call the MVD CDL Helpdesk at (406) 444-3244.

Non-domiciled applicants

Montana now limits non-domiciled CLPs and CDLs to H-2A, H-2B or E-2 visa holders who apply in person with an unexpired passport and I-94. The credential expires at your I-94 date or in 1 year, whichever comes first.

Confirm with MVD before you go

We couldn't confirm these from official sources, so we left them out rather than guess:

The exact CLP fee — MVD lists combined CDL/CLP fees by age, so confirm what you'll pay for the permit.
Whether there's a separate knowledge test fee or a retest fee — ask MVD.
How long you must wait to retake a failed skills test — MVD pages list both 7 days and 24 hours.
Which languages knowledge tests are offered in — ask MVD.
The vision standard and how many residency documents you need — ask MVD.

Federal rules that apply in every state(show)

Age: You can get a CLP at 18, but until you turn 21 you can only drive a commercial vehicle inside your own state. Hauling hazmat requires you to be 21.
Knowledge tests: Everyone takes General Knowledge. Class A adds Combination Vehicles, and anyone driving a truck with air brakes takes Air Brakes. You need at least 80% on each test.
14-day wait: You must hold your CLP for at least 14 days before you can take the skills (road) test. Some states make you wait longer.
Driving on a CLP: A CDL holder with the right class and endorsements must sit in the front seat whenever you drive. Hazmat is never allowed on a CLP. With a passenger or school bus permit you can't carry passengers, and with a tank permit the tank must be empty.
Entry-Level Driver Training: You must finish ELDT with a provider on FMCSA's Training Provider Registry before your Class A or B skills test. You do not need it to get the permit itself.
Medical card: You self-certify the kind of driving you will do. Most new drivers are 'non-excepted interstate' and need a DOT physical from a certified medical examiner, who now sends the results to your state electronically.
Clearinghouse check: Before issuing a CLP, your state checks FMCSA's Drug & Alcohol Clearinghouse. A 'prohibited' status blocks the permit until return-to-duty is complete.

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Official sources

This page is a study aid, not legal advice, and we are not affiliated with Montana Department of Justice, Motor Vehicle Division. Rules and fees change, so always check with MVD before you apply.