Getting a driver license or a set of license plates in Montana means dealing with two layers of government, and many residents only discover that at the counter. The state sets the rules through the Motor Vehicle Division of the Montana Department of Justice. Counties carry out much of the daily work. This page lists 68 offices across the state, so you can choose the right one before you drive, sometimes a long way, to reach it.

How Montana Splits Driver Licensing and Vehicle Registration

Montana's motor vehicle laws sit mainly in Title 61 of the Montana Code Annotated. The Motor Vehicle Division, known as MVD, administers them for the state. The work then divides into two tracks, and knowing which one you need saves a trip.

Driver licensing runs through state driver exam stations. These handle knowledge tests, road tests, vision screening and license issuance. Titles, registrations and plates run through county treasurers' offices, which collect fees and process paperwork close to home.

Our listings use names that signal the difference. A Driver Exam Station is for licenses. A Treasurer's Office is for vehicle paperwork. A few entries, such as the Browning Glacier Satellite Office, are satellite locations that bring county service closer to a community far from the courthouse.

Because the tracks are separate, one errand can need two stops. A new resident, for example, may need a license at the exam station and plates at the treasurer. In some towns both offices are a few blocks apart. In other places they sit in different towns, so plan the order of your visits.

Driver Exam Stations Across Montana, From Baker to Dillon

The database lists driver exam stations in towns of every size. Billings Driver Exam Station is at 615 South 27th Street in Yellowstone County, the most populous county in the state. Bozeman's station is at 2005 Gilkerson Drive in Gallatin County. Smaller communities have their own stations too, including Glasgow, Plentywood, Baker, Circle, Chinook, Chester, Conrad, Cut Bank, Deer Lodge and Dillon.

That spread reflects Montana's geography. The state covers more than 147,000 square miles and has roughly 1.1 million residents. Rather than concentrate testing in a few cities, MVD keeps stations in many county seats and small towns. A rancher in Fallon County can test at Baker Driver Exam Station, 10 West Fallon Avenue, instead of making a long drive to a metro area.

Hours differ from place to place. Larger stations generally offer more open days. Stations in small towns may operate only on certain days, so call before you go. Numbers in our records include Billings at 406-896-4326, Glasgow at 406-228-9599, Baker at 406-778-7109 and Bozeman at 406-587-0461.

Not every record has a phone number. Harlowton Driver Exam Station, at 13 Central Avenue South in Wheatland County, is listed without one, so check the MVD website or ask the county before you travel. Miles City Driver Exam Station, at 1010 Main Street in Custer County, can be reached at 406-874-3427.

County Treasurer's Offices: Titles, Plates and Registration in Montana

Registration is a county function. When you buy or move a vehicle, the treasurer in your county typically processes the title, collects fees and issues plates. The Deer Lodge County Treasurer's Office, at 800 Main Street in Anaconda (406-563-4051), works this way. So does the Silver Bow County Treasurer's Office, at 155 West Granite Street in Butte (406-497-6301).

Other treasurer offices in our listings include these:

Montana has no general sales tax, which surprises many people moving from other states. Vehicle costs still arrive through title and registration fees, and those depend on factors such as the vehicle's age and type. Treasurer staff can quote the exact amount for your vehicle, so ask before you leave home.

Liens, joint owners and gifted vehicles all add paperwork. If a bank holds a lien, bring the lender's details. If a relative gave you the vehicle, bring the signed title. Buying from a private seller is simplest when the seller signs the title in front of you and gives you a bill of sale.

Metro Montana Versus Rural Montana: What Changes

Billings, Butte and Bozeman give you the most options. Billings has two entries in our database, and Yellowstone County has three in total. Busy offices handle more customers, so expect lines at peak times such as lunch hours, Mondays and the days after holidays. Arriving mid-morning on a midweek day often goes more smoothly.

Rural counties work differently. In places such as Powder River, Sweet Grass, Teton and Valley counties, one small office serves a very wide area. Hours may be narrower, and a single staff absence can limit what is offered. Call ahead, especially in winter, when road conditions on routes like US 2 across the Hi-Line can change a day's plans.

Reservation communities add local context. Browning, on the Blackfeet Reservation, has the Browning Glacier Satellite Office at 124 2nd Avenue Northwest (406-338-2389). Cut Bank Driver Exam Station, at 522 East Main Street (406-873-3340), is also in Glacier County. One is a county service point and the other is a testing site, so match the task to the location.

Resource towns have their own pattern. Colstrip in Rosebud County has a driver exam station at 417 Willow Avenue (406-748-2800). Workers there can handle licensing without a trip to a larger city, though vehicle titling still goes through the county treasurer.

What to Bring and How to Prepare for a Montana Visit

Requirements change by service, so confirm with MVD or the office itself. These items are commonly needed:

Montana offers REAL ID-compliant licenses, which are accepted for domestic flights at airport security checkpoints. A standard card is also available. Bring original documents, because photocopies are usually refused.

For a driving test, study the official Montana driver manual from MVD. Bring glasses or contacts if you need them for vision screening. Arrive in an insured vehicle that is in safe working order for the skills test. Younger applicants face extra steps, including driver education requirements, so ask the station what applies to your age.

Finally, write down the office name, address and phone number from the listings on this page before you leave. If the line goes unanswered, try the county courthouse switchboard or the MVD website, and ask whether the office keeps limited days. A two-minute call can save a drive of fifty miles or more.

The DMV in Montana operates a network of local service centers providing driver licensing, vehicle registration, and title services for residents across the state, with expanded online services available for routine transactions that do not require in-person identity verification.

Motor Vehicles(DMV) locations are available in 54 cities across Montana. They are spread across 50 counties.

Cities with the highest concentration include Plentywood, Browning, Choteau, which have the largest DMV service centers handling the highest transaction volumes in the state.

Residents of Montana can complete many DMV transactions online through the state DMV portal including license renewals, registration renewals, and address changes. In-person visits are typically required only for new licenses, REAL ID applications, and road skills tests.

Motor Vehicles(DMV) by Counties

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Residents of Montana can avoid long wait times at the DMV by scheduling appointments online and checking the document requirements checklist before visiting. Arriving with complete documentation the first time prevents the need for a return visit and keeps your transaction moving efficiently.

Browse Motor Vehicles(DMV) by county across Montana to find the nearest location.

Planning Motor Vehicle Errands in Northern and Eastern Montana

Northern and eastern Montana show most clearly how far apart offices can be. A driver in Plentywood, in Sheridan County near the North Dakota line, can test at Plentywood Driver Exam Station, 100 West Laurel Avenue, phone 406-765-3414. Richland County residents handle vehicle paperwork at the treasurer's office in Sidney, 406-433-1707. Along the Hi-Line, stations operate in Chester (406-759-5455), Chinook (406-357-2335) and Conrad (406-271-4016).

In Valley County, Glasgow Driver Exam Station sits at 839 1st Avenue South. Circle, in McCone County, has a station at 1004 C Avenue (406-485-3425). In the south, Columbus Driver Exam Station serves Stillwater County at 400 East 3rd Avenue North and lists a toll-free number, 866-450-8034.

West of the divide, Deer Lodge Driver Exam Station at 1003 Buckskin Drive (406-846-6003) serves Powell County. Dillon Driver Exam Station, at 102 North Washington Street (406-683-5821), serves Beaverhead County. In Sweet Grass County, Big Timber Driver Exam Station is at 115 West 5th Avenue (406-932-5151).

A practical approach is to combine errands. If you need a license test and a title transfer, call both offices, ask about their open days, and book the trip so both are open. In winter, check road reports before leaving. Keep your documents in one folder so nothing is left at home.

Frequently Asked Questions About Motor Vehicle Offices in Montana

Montana separates the two jobs. County treasurers' offices handle vehicle titles, registrations and plates. Examples include the Silver Bow County Treasurer's Office in Butte and the Teton County Treasurer's Office in Choteau. Driver exam stations handle knowledge tests, skills tests and license issuance, such as the stations in Billings, Glasgow and Dillon. Both fall under the rules set by the Motor Vehicle Division of the Montana Department of Justice. If you are unsure, read the office name in our listings, then phone the office to confirm that it offers the specific service you need.

No. Billings Driver Exam Station, at 615 South 27th Street in Yellowstone County, is the largest in the state, but stations operate in many smaller towns. Examples include Baker, Chinook, Circle, Colstrip, Columbus, Conrad, Cut Bank, Miles City and Plentywood. Choose the closest station and call first, because rural stations may be open only on certain days. Ask whether you need an appointment, which tests are offered that day, and what identification to bring. Planning around a station's schedule usually saves more time than driving to a bigger city.

Bring original proof of identity, such as a certified birth certificate or U.S. passport, along with your Social Security number and proof of Montana residency. A utility bill or lease often works for residency, but confirm the accepted list with MVD. If you are applying for a REAL ID-compliant license, expect stricter document checks. Bring glasses or contacts for the vision screening. For a road test, you also need an insured vehicle in safe condition. Younger applicants may need proof of driver education, so ask the station before you travel.

Not always. County treasurers' offices usually follow courthouse hours, but driver exam stations in small towns may open only on set days. A station in a county such as Fallon, McCone or Liberty may serve a small population and keep a limited schedule. Because the schedule can change, treat any posted hours as something to verify. Call the number in our listing, such as 406-778-7109 for Baker or 406-485-3425 for Circle, before you drive. Where a record has no phone number, as with Harlowton, contact the county or check the MVD website.

Montana does not run a statewide periodic safety or emissions inspection program for ordinary passenger vehicles, so you generally do not need a test before renewing registration. Titling a vehicle that comes from another state can involve a vehicle identification number verification, and the county treasurer can explain how to get that done. Insurance matters more: Montana requires liability coverage on registered vehicles, and you should carry proof. Ask your county treasurer which steps apply to your situation, especially for a salvage, rebuilt or imported vehicle.

Glacier County lists three offices. The Browning Glacier Satellite Office, at 124 2nd Avenue Northwest (406-338-2389), is a county service point that spares Browning residents a drive to the county seat. Cut Bank Driver Exam Station, at 522 East Main Street (406-873-3340), is the place for license testing. Pick based on the task: call the satellite office for vehicle questions and the Cut Bank station for licensing. Confirm hours first, since small offices may not offer every service every day.