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Am I Ready for the Montana Permit Test?
12-question diagnostic · 4 easy, 4 medium, 4 hard · Updated July 12, 2026
Twelve questions, deliberately mixed: four easy, four medium, four of the hardest in our verified Montana bank. The real test needs 80% — but a diagnostic this short needs a margin, so read your result like this: 11+ of 12, you're ready to book; 9–10, you're close — drill the 25 hardest first; below that, work the full test ladder before test day.
Answer each question to see the explanation. Your score is tallied against the real passing bar at the end.
1. What does a Montana Class D basic driver license allow you to drive?
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Correct answer: Any non-commercial vehicle under 26,000 pounds gross vehicle weight
A Class D basic driver license allows you to drive any non-commercial vehicle under 26,000 pounds gross vehicle weight. Commercial vehicles need a CDL and motorcycles need a motorcycle endorsement.
2. When you park your vehicle, you are responsible for making sure it:
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Correct answer: Does not become a hazard and is far enough from the travel lane and visible to approaching traffic
Drivers must make sure a parked vehicle does not become a hazard. Park far enough from any travel lane to avoid interfering with traffic, and where cars approaching from either direction can see it.
3. At a four-way stop, who has the right to go first?
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Correct answer: The driver who reaches the intersection first, after coming to a complete stop
At a four-way stop, the driver who reaches the intersection first gets to go first, after coming to a complete stop. If two arrive together, the driver on the right generally goes first.
4. Distracted driving occurs any time you:
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Correct answer: Take your eyes off the road, your hands off the wheel, or your mind off driving
Distracted driving is anything that takes your eyes off the road, your hands off the wheel, or your mind off the task of driving safely. About 90% of driving decisions are based on what you see.
5. To get a Montana driver license, the vision test requires at least:
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Correct answer: 20/40 vision in at least one eye, with or without corrective lenses
Montana requires you to pass a vision test showing at least 20/40 vision in at least one eye, with or without corrective lenses.
6. If your brakes suddenly stop working, you should first:
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Correct answer: Pump the brake pedal several times to try to build up pressure
If your brakes fail, pump the brake pedal several times to try to build up pressure. If that does not work, use the parking brake slowly and shift to lower gears while looking for a safe place to stop.
7. For cars and light trucks, what is the daytime speed limit on a Montana two-lane highway?
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Correct answer: 70 mph
Montana's daytime speed limit for cars and light trucks on two-lane highways is 70 mph (65 mph at night). Always obey the posted limit and slow down when conditions are poor.
8. Where there are no lane markings to control turning, you should:
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Correct answer: Turn from the lane closest to the direction you want to go, into the lane closest to the one you came from
Turn from the lane closest to the direction you want to go and turn into the lane closest to the one you came from. This way you cross the fewest lanes of traffic.
9. A driver who is deaf or hard of hearing can be a safe driver by:
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Correct answer: Relying more on vision and staying alert
Drivers who know they have hearing problems can adjust and be safe drivers by relying more on their vision and staying alert. Studies show their driving records are just as good as those of drivers with good hearing.
10. If your right wheels drift off the pavement onto the shoulder, you should:
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Correct answer: Take your foot off the gas, steer parallel, and ease back on when slowed
If your right wheels leave the pavement, take your foot off the accelerator and steer parallel to the road. Once slowed, ease back onto the road with a small left turn of the wheel. Do not over-steer, which can send you across the road.
11. Compared with stopping at 30 mph, stopping at 60 mph takes:
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Correct answer: More than three times the distance
The faster you go, the more distance it takes to stop. Stopping at 60 mph does not take twice the distance it takes at 30 mph, but over three times the distance.
12. A bicycle used at night in Montana must have, at minimum:
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Correct answer: A white front light visible for at least 500 feet and a rear reflector
At night, a bicycle must have a front light emitting white light visible for at least 500 feet, and rear-facing reflectors (a red rear light may be added). It must also have a brake that can skid the wheel on dry, level pavement.
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