Montana · CDL truck driver licensing · verified July 2026
Montana CDL truck driver license requirements
The short answer
As of July 2026, Montana CDLs are issued by the Motor Vehicle Division of the Montana Department of Justice under the federal FMCSA framework. Statute sets the CDL fee at $10 per year for an interstate (type 1) CDL and $8.50 per year for an intrastate (type 2) CDL, with licenses valid up to 8 years. Intrastate drivers may be licensed at 18 but must have at least 12 months of licensed driving experience, and Montana DOT is required by law to offer a free ELDT program to Montana residents.
Do you need a license to work as a CDL truck driver in Montana?
Montana licenses CDL truck drivers statewide, so one credential is valid across the whole state.
Federal layer (all states): CDL framework under 49 CFR 383; ELDT from an FMCSA Training Provider Registry provider required since Feb 7, 2022 for first-time Class A/B, B-to-A upgrades, and first-time H/P/S endorsements (performance-based, no federal hour minimum); DOT medical certificate; CLP must be held 14 days before skills testing; endorsements H (TSA background check), N, T, P, S. Ages: 21 for interstate (federal); 18 for intrastate type 2 with 12 months licensed experience (ARM 23.3.505). Montana-specific add-ons: statutorily free state ELDT program via MDT (MCA 61-5-151); seasonal CDL available by rule (ARM 23.3.523); department may enter reciprocal agreements with adjacent states exempting certain farm-product drivers within 150 miles of a farm from needing a CDL (MCA 61-5-112).
What licenses does Montana issue?
The Motor Vehicle Division, Montana Department of Justice issues the credentials below for this trade. Boards often list further classes for specialties and business licenses; these are the ones this page covers.
Hours are what each class asks for on its own terms. Where a senior class shows fewer than a journeyman, the board is counting time served after the earlier license rather than from the start; the prerequisite column says which.
| License | On-the-job hours | Classroom hours | Exam |
|---|---|---|---|
| Class A CDL (Type 1 interstate / Type 2 intrastate) | not published | not published | Yes |
| Class B CDL (Type 1 interstate / Type 2 intrastate) | not published | not published | Yes |
| Class C CDL (Type 1 interstate / Type 2 intrastate) | not published | not published | Yes |
Source: Motor Vehicle Division, Montana Department of Justice (mca.legmt.gov). Verified July 2026.
What exam does Montana require?
CDL knowledge test(s) (general, air brakes, endorsements as applicable). Administered by Montana Motor Vehicle Division (Department of Justice).
CDL skills test (vehicle inspection, basic controls, road test). Administered by Montana Motor Vehicle Division (Department of Justice).
How much does a Montana CDL truck driver license cost?
Getting a journeyman CDL truck driver license in Montana costs $9 in board fees, before any training. That is the initial license fee charged once, with renewal charged separately below. No board publishes this total, so it is added up here from the schedule it does publish. An exam is required and its fee is not in that figure, because no amount for it appears in the board material this page is built from. Check the board's current fee schedule before budgeting.
- Initial license fee$8.5
- Renewal fee (recurring)$10
How often do you renew, and what continuing education is required?
Renewal period: Expires on the anniversary of the licensee's birthday 8 years or less after issue; hazmat-endorsed licenses transferred from another state may be limited to 4 years; renewal window is 6 months before to 1 year after expiration (MCA 61-5-111)
Continuing education: None for the base CDL. Hazmat (H) endorsement holders must repeat the TSA security threat assessment and knowledge testing on the federal cycle; DOT medical certification must be kept current.
How does the apprenticeship route work?
No apprenticeship is required or credited toward licensure. New Class A/B applicants must complete federal Entry-Level Driver Training (ELDT); uniquely, MCA 61-5-151 requires the Montana Department of Transportation to provide an ELDT program (theory and behind-the-wheel) free of cost to Montana residents eligible for a CDL, available in every transportation commission district.
How does Montana compare to neighboring states?
Requirements stop at the state line, which matters if you live near one or expect to move. Here is what the neighboring states ask of the same trade.
| State | Journeyman hours | Licensing model |
|---|---|---|
| Montana | not published | Statewide |
| Idaho | not published | Statewide |
| North Dakota | not published | Statewide |
| South Dakota | not published | Statewide |
| Wyoming | not published | Statewide |
Source: state licensing boards. Verified July 2026.
Sources and verification
Every fact on this page traces to one of these
- MCA 61-5-111 - license expirations and fees for licenses, permits, and endorsements (Montana Legislature)
- MCA 61-5-151 - Entry-level driver training, requirements, responsibilities of department
- MCA 61-5-112 - reciprocal agreements for farm vehicle drivers
- ARM 23.3.505 - Eligibility for Type 2 (intrastate) endorsement (Montana Secretary of State, Administrative Rules)
- Commercial Driver License - Montana Motor Vehicle Division
- ARM 23.3.505 - ELIGIBILITY FOR TYPE 2 ENDORSEMENT (18+; ineligible with less than 12 months licensed driving experience) - Montana SOS Administrative Rules gateway
Last verified July 2026, independently re-verified before publication. Found an error? Report it and it will be corrected and logged on the corrections page.
Other states with published requirements for this trade: Nebraska, Nevada, New Hampshire, New Jersey.
Price the whole path with the license cost estimator, or weigh earning against paying for school with the apprenticeship comparison. Back to CDL truck drivers overview.
Licensing requirements change between our verification sweeps. This page is informational only, so confirm current requirements with Motor Vehicle Division, Montana Department of Justice before making decisions. Not legal advice.