Montana driving guide

Whether you’re visiting on vacation, for business, or moving to the state, you need to know the rules of the road in Montana. In this guide, we’ll explain everything from the legal driving age to speed limits in Montana. 

Jump to a section:

• Quick rules of the road
• Speed limits
• Toll roads
• Driving ages
• Essential equipment
• Speed violations
• Driving with children
• Gas prices
• Electric car charging
• Driving between Montana and other states
• Driving conditions

Quick rules of the road

• The right of way goes to the vehicle approaching from the right at unmarked intersections.
• You must use your headlights when weather conditions limit visibility to 500ft or less. You must also use them when on the highway from 30 minutes after sunset until around 30 minutes before sunrise.
• There are no state bans on using your cell phone while driving in Montana.

Speed limits in Montana

Montana has some of the highest speed limits in the US. As with most states, the highest speed limit in Montana will depend on the vehicle you’re driving and the type of road you’re on.

Toll roads in Montana

There are currently no toll roads in Montana – in fact, it’s one of only a few states where this is the case. 

Driving ages and license requirements in Montana

• The legal driving age in Montana is 15 years old with a restricted permit and 16 years old with a full permit.
• The minimum age to rent a car in Montana with Hertz is 20.

Young drivers under 25 will be unable to rent specialty vehicles and vehicles from our Dream Car® collection, Prestige collection, or the Adrenaline Collection. You can find more information in our guide for young drivers.

Essential equipment to carry in your car in Montana

In your vehicle, you must have:

• Your driving permit
• Proof of insurance

For a list of items that you can’t carry in your Hertz car, please check your rental agreement.

Montana speed violations, infractions and penalties

Breaking the speed limit in Montana carries a fine that’s dependent on how high above the limit you are traveling.

Driving with children in Montana

• Car seat requirements in Montana state that all children under six years old, weighing less than 60lbs, must be in a child seat when traveling in the car.
• Children should be in a booster sear until they are at least 4’9’’.
• Car seats and restraints should not be used by more than one child at a time.
• Do not leave your child unattended in a vehicle.
• Car and booster seats must be fastened securely to the seat or to the floor of the vehicle.
• You should have one adult, plus the driver, for every four children under the age of two years old. 

Gas prices in Montana

The average gas price in Montana is $4.06 per gallon.

Based on manufacturers’ average fuel figures:

• For a small car like a Ford Focus, that’s about $0.10 per mile.
• For a larger family car like a Chevrolet Malibu, it works out at $0.11 per mile.
• And for an SUV like a Ford Expedition, it’s around $0.24 per mile.

Gas price figure last updated October 14, 2022.

Electric car charging in Montana

There are over 400 public electric car charging points in the state of Montana. Some of these allow you to charge your car for free, but most will carry a pay-as-you-go fee, where you’ll pay for any electricity you use to charge your car.

Generally, the more populated a city is, the more charging points you’ll find, so if you’re planning on heading somewhere more remote, make sure you have plenty of charge available.

Driving between Montana and other states

Montana shares a border with North and South Dakota, Wyoming, and Idaho, making it a great spot to start a wider exploration of the northern states.

From the north of Montana, you can drive into Canada in your Hertz rental car.

Driving conditions in Montana

The driving conditions in Montana can vary drastically depending on the area of the state you’re in.

The west of the state is mountainous, and as such can experience extreme snow in the winter as well as cooler summers. The east of Montana, however, tends to have warmer winters than the west and therefore less snow. If you’re driving in the mountains, you may need snow chains on your tires if the snow is particularly thick or heavy.

On average, winter temperatures range between 12°F in the northeast to above 25°F in some south-central and western areas. During summer, temperatures tend to vary between 64°F in the western mountains to more than 72°F in the southeastern plains.