Required Documents
Most services require documents for proof of identity, proof of authorized presence, and proof of Montana residency. Review all areas before visiting a driver licensing station to ensure you have the appropriate documentation to complete your transaction.
To renew a standard license, you only need your current, valid Montana driver license
To renew a CDL, you will need your current, valid Montana license and proof of authorized presence
If your license was lost, destroyed, or stolen, refer to proof of identity to confirm your identity
Drive tests require specific documentation
Legal name change on a Montana credential requires specific documentation
Change of address on a credential requires a current, valid Montana credential to be shown to the examiner
Proof of Authorized Presence
Required for:
New applicants for a Montana driver license (standard or CDL) or ID card
New resident driver license transfers (standard or CDL)
Applicants applying for a credential after a revocation or cancellation of a driver license (standard or CDL)
Applicants whose driver license or ID card has expired and is beyond the grace period (3 months after expiration date) (standard or CDL)
All CDL applicants renewing their CDL
Acceptable Documents
An original or certified birth certificate issued by a U.S. jurisdiction
A valid, unexpired passport issued by the U.S. Department of State
a valid, unexpired passport card, issued by the U.S. Department of State
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A certification from the U.S. Department of State or a U.S. embassy of the birth abroad of a U.S. citizen (Consular Report of Birth Abroad, form FS-240 or Certification of Report of Birth, form DS-1350)
A digital identification card issued to the applicant by a federally recognized Indian tribe whose reservation is located in Montana, that contains the applicant’s digitized image, date of birth and tribal enrollment number
A valid, unexpired passport issued by a jurisdiction other than the U.S. with:
- an attached U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) record of arrival and departure (form I-94) (same name with an unexpired endorsement of the nonimmigrant status)
OR - an unexpired permanent resident I-551 stamp
A valid, unexpired passport issued by a jurisdiction other than the U.S. and either:
- an attached U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) record of arrival and departure, form I-94 (same name with an unexpired endorsement of the nonimmigrant status) or
- an unexpired resident permanent resident I-551 stamp
A valid, unexpired certificate of naturalization (form N-550, N-570 or N-578
A valid, unexpired certificate of citizenship (form N-560, N-561 or N-645)
A valid, unexpired Northern Mariana card (form I-551) with “Northern Mariana” imprinted instead of “permanent resident”
A valid, unexpired American Indian card (form I-551) with “American Indian” imprinted instead of “permanent resident”
A valid, unexpired U.S. Citizen identification card (form I-179 or I-197)
A valid, unexpired permanent resident card (form I-551)
A valid, unexpired temporary resident identification card (form I-688)
A valid, unexpired U.S. re-entry permit (form I-327)
A valid, unexpired refugee travel document (form I-571)
A valid, unexpired American Indian card (form I-551) with “American Indian” imprinted instead of “permanent resident”
A valid, unexpired employment authorization card (form I-688A, I-688B or I-766)
Proof of Identity
Required for:
New applicants obtaining a Montana driver license (standard or CDL)
New resident driver license transfers (standard or CDL)
All identification card applicants
Renewing OR replacing lost, stolen, or destroyed Montana credentials (standard or CDL)
The following documents are split into two categories: primary and secondary. To prove your full legal name and age, you must provide two documents—either two primary documents, or one primary and one secondary document.
Note: Out-of-state license transfers must have a current, valid driver license from the state they are transferring from in hand to transfer the license. Otherwise, they must take a written and driving test to receive a Montana driver license.
Primary Documents
A color photo driver license or identification card, not expired for more than four years, issued by a U.S. or Canadian jurisdiction. Note: Out-of-state license transfers must have a current, valid driver license from the state they are transferring from.
A certified birth certificate issued by a U.S. or Canadian jurisdiction. Note: a certified birth certificate typically has the registrar’s unique seal (e.g., raised, embossed, impressed or multicolored), the registrar’s signature and the date the certificate was filed with the registrar’s office
A valid, unexpired passport issued by the U.S. Department of State
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A valid, unexpired passport card issued by the U.S. Department of State
A certification from the U.S. Department of State or a U.S. embassy of the birth abroad of a U.S. citizen (Consular Report of Birth Abroad, form FS-240 or Certification of Report of Birth, form DS-1350)
A digital identification card issued to the applicant by a federally recognized Indian tribe whose reservation is located in Montana, that contains the applicant’s digitized image, date of birth and tribal enrollment number
An unexpired military identification card issued by the U.S. Department of Defense (active duty, reserve, retired personnel or dependent of active duty personnel) that contains a color photo or digitized image of the applicant and the applicant’s date of birth
A valid, unexpired passport issued by a jurisdiction other than the U.S. and either:
- an attached U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) record of arrival and departure, form I-94 (same name with an unexpired endorsement of the nonimmigrant status) or
- an unexpired resident permanent resident I-551 stamp
One of the following valid, unexpired documents issued by the USCIS:
- certificate of naturalization, form N-550, N-570 or N-578
- certificate of citizenship, form N-560, N-561 or N-645
- Northern Mariana card, form I-551 with “Northern Mariana” imprinted instead of “permanent resident”
- American Indian card, form I-551 with “American Indian” imprinted instead of “permanent resident”
- U.S. citizen identification card, form I-179 or I-197
- permanent resident card, form I-551
- temporary resident identification card, form I-688
- U.S. re-entry permit, form I-327
- refugee travel document, form I-571
- employment authorization card, form I-688A, I-688B or I-766, or
- record of arrival and departure, stamped “refugee”, form I-94 without a valid passport but stamped “refugee” with a photo affixed
A U.S. or Canadian-issued instruction, learner’s driving permit or receipt of driver license or permit, if it is current and contains the applicant’s photo and date of birth
A prison inmate identification card issued to the applicant by the Montana Department of Corrections that contains a photo or digitized image of the applicant and the applicant’s date of birth and adult offender number
An emergency identification photo issued and certified by the driver licensing authority of a U.S. or Canadian jurisdiction that includes the applicant’s name and date of birth – not acceptable for mail renewals or mail duplicates
Secondary Documents
An original U.S. social security card or Canadian social insurance card
A certified copy of a marriage certificate or license issued by a government jurisdiction
A U.S. or Canadian driver license or identification card that has been expired for more than one year but not more than five years
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A second primary document
A current U.S. or Canadian government jurisdiction employee photo identification card
A U.S. or Canadian driver license or identification card that is current but does not have a color photograph
A certified copy of a court order or judgment from a U.S. or Canadian court of competent jurisdiction containing the applicant’s full legal name and date of birth
Any USCIS document approved as a primary document, but that is not expired for more than one year
A certified copy of a birth certificate issued by a jurisdiction other than by a state, territory or possession of the United States, the District of Columbia, or the Commonwealth of Puerto Rico or a province or territory of Canada
A certification of release of discharge issued by the U.S. Department of Defense
A Medicare, Medicaid or health insurance card with the applicant’s name and individual Medicare, Medicaid or health insurance identification number
An unexpired, color photo firearm or concealed weapon permit issued by a chief of police in an organized, full-time police department or the county sheriff in a local jurisdiction within the U.S.
A current pilot’s license issued by the U.S. Department of Transportation, Federal Aviation Administration
A certified copy of school records or a transcript containing the applicant’s full name and, preferably, date of birth and issued by an elementary, secondary or postsecondary school
A certificate of completion of a Montana department-approved traffic or driver’s education course containing the applicant’s name and date of birth
A current school photo identification card with the student’s name and student identification number
A certified copy, fax or photocopy of a certified copy of the birth certificate of the applicant’s child, if the certificate lists the applicant’s name and date of birth as parent
Acceptable Documents
A current automobile or life insurance policy or statement
The original copy of a rental agreement or rent payment receipt signed by the landlord or rental agent that includes the applicant’s name and residential address
A certified copy of school records issued by the school the applicant is attending or attended within four months of the application
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Any of the following, dated or issued not more than four months prior to application:
- a payroll check or payroll check stub
- a bank statement
- a utility bill or utility hook-up order
- canceled mail addressed to the applicant
A written statement from the applicant’s parent, guardian or adult child that the applicant resides at the same address as the parent, guardian or adult child, along with a copy of a document permitted under this rule that shows the Montana residential address of the applicant’s parent, guardian or adult child
A Montana voter registration card
A receipt for personal or real property taxes paid within the last year to the state of Montana or a Montana county
A U.S. or Montana income tax return for the previous year
Home mortgage or equity loan papers showing the applicant’s name and residential address – a rural address will be accepted when there is no other physical address
Any primary or secondary document as listed in Administrative Rules of Montana 23.3.131
Note: if the applicant is homeless, a descriptive address of the location where the applicant actually resides, e.g., “under the west end of the East Street bridge.” The applicant must also provide a separate mailing address and present a written statement from a social service agency on the agency’s letterhead verifying the applicant’s homeless status and the descriptive address given by the applicant
Required Documents
Current registration for the vehicle used in the drive test (payment receipt of registration is not accepted)
Current proof of insurance for the vehicle used in the drive test (payment receipt of insurance is not accepted) NOT required for motorcycles
A valid Learner’s license for standard license applicants AND CDL applicants
A valid driver license if upgrading to CDL or upgrading the class designation of a CDL
Current registration for the trailer used in the road test if conducting a CDL road test with a trailer
Note: HAZMAT vehicles cannot be used for CDL drive tests!
Applications for name change must be supported by a certified copy of one of the following documents:
A marriage certificate from the issuing government jurisdiction
A decree or judgment granting a name change from a court of competent jurisdiction
A divorce decree or dissolution of marriage specifying change of name
A U.S. Department of Homeland Security, Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS), certificate of naturalization (form N-550, N-570) issued to the applicant
A declaration of marriage filed with the district court clerk where the declaration was made
Proof of Identity Information
Your identity is important. Identity theft is now the top-reported form of crime in the United States. The name and birth date on your application for a driver license or ID card must match the primary document you provide and will be checked with the Social Security Administration. This is to help protect you against fraud. It’s important to fix discrepancies now to avoid problems in the future for you and your family. Please make sure the full legal name and date of birth you’re going to use on your application for a driver license or ID card matches what is on file with the Social Security Administration.
Proof of Authorized Presence Information
Beginning in December 2005, the Motor Vehicle Division implemented the “authorized presence” requirements enacted by the 2005 Legislature. Under Montana Code Annotated (MCA) 61-5-105(10), individuals who apply for a Montana driver license or identification card must provide proof that their presence in the United States is authorized under federal law – that is, they must prove that they are either a U.S. citizen or legally authorized to be in the U.S.
Driver licenses no longer simply indicate that someone can safely operate a motor vehicle. In today’s society, a driver license is widely used to verify a person’s identity and may be required for everything from opening a bank account to cashing a check. Given these incidental uses and Homeland Security measures, policy makers have become increasingly concerned that driver licenses be issued only to individuals who can prove that their presence in the U.S. is authorized.
Per MCA 61-5-105, in order to issue a Montana driver license or ID card to a foreign national, their authorized presence in the U.S. will be verified using the federal Systematic Alien Verification for Entitlements (SAVE) system. A driver license or ID card issued to a person who is a foreign national and whose presence in the U.S. is temporarily authorized must expire no later than the expiration date of the official document issued to the person by the U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services.
Proof of Montana Residency Information
Upon original application for a driver license, an applicant must present evidence of the applicant’s Montana residence address. A Montana residence or street address must be provided; if the applicant does not receive mail at the residence or street address, a Montana post office box or mailing address also must be provided. The department accepts the following documents as evidence of a Montana residence address, provided the document shows the applicant’s name and Montana residence address as it appears on the driver license application.
Verification of Social Security Number
MVD uses the Social Security Online Verification (SSOLV) system to verify an individual’s social security number during the license and identification card issuance process.