Montana requires, as do all states, that you are properly licensed in order to operate a vehicle. There a few laws in Montana that you broke and could have been cited for if caught driving without a valid driver's license. Here are the 2 most commons laws you may have been ticketed for being an unlicensed driver caught operating a vehicle in MT.

First Montana Code 61-5-116 requires that a driver's license be carried and exhibited on demand. Here it says that every licensee shall have his driver's license in his immediate possession at all times when operating a motor vehicle and shall display the same upon demand of a justice of the peace, a city or municipal judge, a peace officer, a highway patrol officer, or a field deputy or inspector of the department. However, no person charged with violating this section shall be convicted if he produces in court or the office of the arresting officer a driver's license theretofore issued to him and valid at the time of his arrest.

Then under MT Code Section 61-5-102 it is required that drivers to be licensed. Here it states that a person may not drive a motor vehicle upon a highway in this state unless the person has a valid Montana driver's license. The penalty for a first violation of this section of law is a fine of not more than $500, imprisonment for not more than 6 months, or both a fine and imprisonment. The penalty for second and subsequent violations of this section is a fine of not more than $500 and imprisonment for not less than 2 days or more than 6 months.

So it would appear that you will at least receive a fine of up to $500 and/or jail time of up to 6 months for being unlicensed. You may also be penalized for not having a license to exhibit on demand. Since you were already cited by law enforcement for driving without a license in Montana the best way to find out under what portion of law you were cited and the penalties you may be handed in court is to call the court listed on your citation and ask. You may want to see if obtaining a license before your court date, if this is even possible, could help your case.

If you want to get licensed in Montana after being cited and/or convicted of driving without a license you will need to check with the Motor Vehicle Division (MVD) since they may be able to delay your ability to get a license. Or the MVD may have the ability to have your rights to drive suspended for a certain period of time, thus not allowing you to obtain a license during that time period.

Once you are properly licensed in Montana make sure you also have at least the required auto insurance on your vehicle or any vehicle you drive. The minimum required Liability limits for auto insurance, set by Montana law, is $25,000 Bodily Injury coverage for one person, $50,000 Bodily Injury coverage for two or more people and $10,000 Property Damage coverage. $25,000 bodily injury coverage for one uninsured motorist person and $50,000 bodily injury coverage for two or more uninsured motorists is included.

Liability insurance covers you against damages you cause to others if you are at fault in an accident. It does NOT protect you against your own losses. Also, it is mandatory for the car insurance companies in Montana to offer Uninsured Motorist coverage, but you, the consumer, may reject this coverage. You may want to consider higher Liability limits than the state minimum, because the minimums may not cover your exposure to lawsuits.

If you own a financed car, your bank (lien holder) probably will require you to buy Comprehensive and Collision coverage. The state’s minimum requirements do NOT include these coverages which would protect your vehicle. You can get started on a Montana car insurance quote here.