Montana license renewal for older drivers
From age 75 the license term is four years or less. Renewal requires a personal appearance, a vision test and a new photo; applicants who may lack functional ability may be required to take written and road tests. Physicians and others can file a Recommendation for Re-Exam (32-1800). A driver who gives up the license more than six months before renewal eligibility gets a free ID card. Online or mail renewal is allowed for U.S. citizens within the renewal window (6 months before to 1 year after expiration) if the previous renewal was not online or by mail.
Preparing for the renewal test
If you need to take a written or signs test to renew, it covers the same handbook as new drivers' tests. Our Montana practice tests and road signs test are free to use, and the read-aloud button can help if small print is hard to read.
Rules that may have changed since you first got your license
Some of the rules in today's Montana handbook are newer than many drivers' first test. Worth a look before renewal:
- Phones: No statewide hand-held or texting ban is stated in the manual; it says most Montana cities have passed laws against texting and talking on phones while driving, and advises never to text or talk while driving. Do not drive with headphones or earbuds.
- Move over: Yield to emergency vehicles using audible and visual signals by pulling parallel to the right edge and stopping. On highways posted 50 mph or more, vehicles in the lane next to a stationary emergency or police vehicle with signals on must slow to at least 20 mph below the posted limit and, when possible, move to a lane farther away.
- School buses: When meeting or passing from either direction a school bus stopped with red lights flashing, stop at least 30 feet from the bus and stay stopped until the red lights are turned off. Slow down for a bus with flashing yellow lights. No stop needed for a bus on a different road or stopped in an adjacent loading zone where pedestrians may not cross.
- Alcohol: the limit for adult drivers is 0.08%.
Vision standard
At least 20/40 vision in at least one eye, with or without corrective lenses.
Source: Montana Department of Justice, Motor Vehicle Division (Driver Services Bureau), checked 2026-10-27.