A Montana Driving Record, also known as a Motor Vehicle Record (MVR), consists of information that is assembled by the Motor Vehicle Division of the Montana Department of Justice. Five major categories of information are compiled:

• personal history information;
• licensing information;
• convictions for offenses regulating the operation of motor vehicles;
• driver improvement / corrective action records; and
• accident history

All of these records are gathered, retained, utilized and disclosed for the primary purpose of authorizing, promoting and regulating safe, legal operation of motor vehicles on Montana highways.

The record includes details about driver improvement / corrective actions that have been implemented in accordance with conviction reports or judicial orders. Driver improvement actions may include driver control requirements (for example, court ordered imposition of breath alcohol ignition interlock restrictions); court ordered suspensions for failure to appear, comply or pay fines; proof of financial responsibility; the amount or status of license reinstatement fees; and any other regulatory or enforcement actions that have been implemented as a result of a statutory requirement or an order from a court.

All of this information is recorded and maintained in a manner that is consistent with state and federal law, all applicable regulations, standards and administrative systems that have been set up to ensure quality assurance and reciprocity between states. These systems include the National Driver Register (NDR), the Problem Driver Pointer System (PDPS) and the Commercial Drivers License Information System (CDLIS).

According to the MT DOJ your driving record is a lifetime record. Traffic convictions stay on your driving record for life. Montana law restricts how some aspects of a driving record may be utilized or applied. For example, in accordance with Montana Code Annotated 33-18-210 (9), conviction information older than three years that is derived solely from a driving record may not be used to affect your insurance rates or insurance eligibility.

Conviction points – the points associated with habitual traffic offender designation – only apply for three years between the dates of prior and most recent convictions (Montana Code Annotated 61-11-203).

However, convictions for Driving Under the Influence of Alcohol or Drugs (DUI) will affect your driving record for five years between the date of the prior offense and the date of the most recent offense.

Your Montana driving record is for life. All of the information and violations listed on your motor vehicle record remains part of your permanent record.