Montana requires you to contact the Department of Justice Motor Vehicle Division, pay any outstanding fines or fees, and complete the specific steps tied to why your license was suspended
Your path to reinstatement depends on the reason your license was suspended. Montana suspends licenses for unpaid traffic fines, failure to appear in court, unpaid child support, medical reasons, or accumulation of traffic violations. Each reason has different requirements, different fees, and different timelines. The Motor Vehicle Division will not reinstate your license until you have addressed the underlying cause.
Start by contacting the Montana Department of Justice Motor Vehicle Division at 406-444-3933 or visiting their office in Helena. Have your driver's license number ready. They will tell you exactly why your license was suspended and what you must do to clear it. Do not assume you know the reason — many drivers have multiple suspensions stacked on their record, and you must resolve all of them before driving legally again.
Key Takeaways
- Contact the Motor Vehicle Division by phone or in person to learn the specific reason for your suspension and what must be done to clear it.
- Unpaid fines and court costs must be paid to the court that issued the citation, not to the Motor Vehicle Division.
- Child support suspensions require proof from the Department of Revenue that your account is current or that you have a payment plan in place.
- Medical suspensions require a letter from your doctor or a medical evaluation showing you are safe to drive.
- Once you have resolved the underlying cause, you must pay the Motor Vehicle Division's reinstatement fee, which is currently $50 for most suspensions.
Suspensions for unpaid traffic fines and court costs
If your license was suspended for an unpaid traffic citation, you owe money to the court that issued the ticket, not to the Motor Vehicle Division. Contact that court directly — the citation itself lists the court name and phone number. Ask the court clerk what amount is outstanding and whether you can set up a payment plan.
Montana courts often allow payment plans for traffic fines. If you cannot pay the full amount when ready, ask about a schedule. Once the court confirms that your account is paid in full or that you are current on a payment plan, the court will notify the Motor Vehicle Division electronically. You will then need to pay the $50 reinstatement fee to the Motor Vehicle Division to restore your driving privileges.
If you do not know which court issued your citation, the Motor Vehicle Division can tell you during your initial call. They have access to your suspension record and can direct you to the correct court.
Suspensions tied to failure to appear in court
A failure-to-appear suspension means you missed a court date for a traffic matter. You must contact the court that issued the original citation and resolve the underlying case before the Motor Vehicle Division will reinstate your license. This usually means appearing in court, entering a plea, and paying any fines or costs assessed.
Call the court and explain that you missed your date. Many courts will reschedule you without additional penalty if you contact them promptly. Bring your citation and any paperwork the court sent you. Once the case is resolved and any fines are paid, the court will clear the failure-to-appear flag, and you can then pay the reinstatement fee to the Motor Vehicle Division.
Suspensions for unpaid child support
The Montana Department of Revenue suspends licenses for unpaid child support obligations. To clear this suspension, you must contact the Department of Revenue's Child Support Enforcement Division at 406-444-3100. They will review your account and tell you what is owed.
If you owe back support, you have two options: pay the full amount, or establish a payment plan with the department. Once your account is current or a plan is in place, the Department of Revenue will send a clearance notice to the Motor Vehicle Division. You then pay the $50 reinstatement fee to restore your license.
Medical suspensions and fitness-to-drive requirements
Montana suspends licenses for medical reasons when a doctor reports a condition that affects safe driving, or when you fail to respond to a medical evaluation request. To reinstate, you must provide proof that you are medically safe to drive.
The Motor Vehicle Division will send you a letter explaining what medical documentation is needed. This might be a letter from your treating physician, a completed medical form from the Motor Vehicle Division, or a formal medical evaluation. Follow the instructions in that letter exactly. Once the Motor Vehicle Division receives and approves the medical documentation, you pay the $50 reinstatement fee.
The reinstatement fee and final steps
After you have resolved the underlying cause of your suspension — whether that is paying fines, clearing child support, or providing medical clearance — you must pay the Motor Vehicle Division's reinstatement fee. The current fee is $50 for most suspensions. You can pay by mail, in person at the Motor Vehicle Division office in Helena, or by phone.
Payment by mail: Send a check or money order for $50 to the Montana Department of Justice Motor Vehicle Division, 303 North Roberts Street, Helena, MT 59601. Include a note with your name, date of birth, and driver's license number.
Payment in person: Visit the Motor Vehicle Division office at 303 North Roberts Street, Helena, MT 59601. Hours are Monday through Friday, 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. Mountain Time. Bring your driver's license or identification.
Payment by phone: Call 406-444-3933 and ask about paying by credit card. Not all staff can process card payments, so you may be directed to mail payment instead.
Once your payment is received and processed, the Motor Vehicle Division will mail you a new license or a reinstatement document. You should receive it within 7 to 10 business days. Do not drive until you have the physical license or official reinstatement paperwork in hand.
What to do if you have multiple suspensions
If your license has been suspended more than once, you must clear every suspension before you can drive. The Motor Vehicle Division's computer system will flag your record with all active suspensions. Resolving one does not automatically clear the others.
When you call the Motor Vehicle Division, ask them to list every active suspension on your record. Write down each one and the reason for it. Then work through them systematically — pay court fines to the court, resolve child support with the Department of Revenue, provide medical clearance if needed. Once all suspensions are cleared, you pay a single $50 reinstatement fee to the Motor Vehicle Division.
Frequently Asked Questions
How long does reinstatement take after I have paid everything?
Once the Motor Vehicle Division receives your reinstatement fee and confirms that all underlying causes have been resolved, processing usually takes 5 to 10 business days. Your new license will be mailed to the address on file. Do not drive until you receive it.
Can I get a temporary driving permit while my license is suspended?
Montana does not issue temporary permits for suspended licenses. You cannot drive legally until your license is fully reinstated. Driving on a suspended license is a criminal offense and can result in additional fines and jail time.
What if I cannot afford to pay my fines all at once?
Contact the court that issued your citation and ask about a payment plan. Most Montana courts allow installment payments for traffic fines. You must be current on the plan for the court to clear your suspension, but you do not need to pay the entire amount upfront.
Do I need a lawyer to reinstate my license?
No. You can handle reinstatement on your own by contacting the Motor Vehicle Division and the relevant court or agency. However, if you have a complicated case — multiple suspensions, a failure-to-appear warrant, or a dispute about what you owe — a traffic attorney can help you navigate the process.
What if the Motor Vehicle Division says my suspension is still active even though I paid?
There is usually a delay between when a court or agency processes your payment and when that information reaches the Motor Vehicle Division. Call the Motor Vehicle Division and ask them to check the status. If they confirm payment was received by the court or agency but not yet updated in their system, ask for a temporary clearance letter you can use to drive while the system updates. This typically takes a few more business days.