Montana traffic tickets
Points, traffic school, deadlines and what a ticket does to your insurance in Montana.
Speeding ticket$20–$200state schedule
License at risk30 ptsin 36 months
Insurance after 1 ticket+27%on $2,532 a year
What will my ticket really cost? Check my points
What kind of ticket did you get?
- Speeding
- School zone
- Work zone
- Red light
- Stop sign
- Texting
- No insurance
- Expired registration
- Seat belt
- School bus
- Failure to yield
- Parking
Which court is on your ticket?
One statewide schedule sets most fines. Pick the court named on your ticket.
Every other Montana county court
Phone, pay-online link and traffic school steps for 4 more courts. Tap a county to open it.
Cascade County(406) 454-6873
Cascade County Justice Court. Fines follow the Montana statewide schedule.
- Address
- Cascade County Courthouse, 415 2nd Ave. N, Great Falls, MT 59401
- Phone
- (406) 454-6873
- Hours
- Monday to Friday, 8:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m.
Flathead County(406) 758-5643Pays online
Flathead County Justice Court. Fines follow the Montana statewide schedule.
- Address
- 935 1st Avenue West, Kalispell, MT 59901
- Phone
- (406) 758-5643
- Hours
- Monday to Friday, 8:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m.
Gallatin County406-582-2191
Gallatin County Justice Court of Record. Fines follow the Montana statewide schedule.
- Address
- Gallatin County Justice Center, 515 S. 16th Ave., Suite 1100, Bozeman, MT 59715
- Phone
- 406-582-2191
- Hours
- Monday to Friday, 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. The window closes at 3 p.m.
Missoula County406-258-3470Pays online
Missoula County Justice Court. Fines follow the Montana statewide schedule.
- Address
- Missoula County Courthouse (first floor), 200 W. Broadway, Missoula, MT 59802
- Phone
- 406-258-3470
- Hours
- Monday to Friday, 8 a.m. to 5 p.m.
What are your options with a Montana ticket?
Paying is the fastest route, and it usually puts the ticket on your record. Ask for a deferred sentence is the main way to avoid that.
What does the Montana state schedule charge for speeding?
Most traffic bonds include $35 in surcharges: a $15 misdemeanor charge, a $10 court technology fee and $10 for the law enforcement academy.[4][5][10][17][18]
Every fine on the Montana schedule (19)
| Ticket | You pay |
|---|---|
| Speeding, 1–10 mph overPrinted as: Speeding 1-10 mph over on a two-lane or other non-interstate highway, or a 25 mph urban districtSpeeding fines are set by law and carry no court surcharges. | $20[4][5] |
| Speeding, 11–20 mph overPrinted as: Speeding 11-20 mph overSame on interstates and other highways., but the 2025 statute sets the same amounts as other highways. | $70[4][5] |
| Speeding, 21–30 mph overPrinted as: Speeding 21-30 mph over | $120[4][5] |
| Speeding, 31+ mph overPrinted as: Speeding 31 mph or more overThe bond schedule says to see the judge. | $200[4][5] |
| Speeding, 1–10 mph overPrinted as: Speeding 1-10 mph over on an interstateDay or night. | $40[4][5] |
| Speeding in a posted school zoneAt least double the normal fine. | $75[4][6] |
| Speeding or other moving violation in a posted work zone with workers presentThe fine is at least double the normal fine when a highway worker was within 1,000 feet. | On your notice[7] |
| Failure to obey a red (stop) traffic signalRecommended bond including $35 in surcharges. | $85[4][8] |
| Stop sign violationRecommended bond including $35 in surcharges. | $85[4][8] |
| Failure to yield to a vehicle on the rightRecommended bond including $35 in surcharges. | $85[4][8] |
| Following too closely | $85[4][8] |
| Changing lanes when unsafe | $85[4][8] |
| Careless driving | $85[4] |
| Reckless driving, first offenseMust appear in court. | $285[4] |
| Driving without liability insurance, first offenseThe law sets $250 to $500. | $285[4][9] |
| Operating with expired registrationRecommended bond including $35 in surcharges. | $85[4] |
| Seat belt violationA flat $20 with no surcharges. | $20[4][10] |
| Failure to stop for a stopped school bus, first offenseMust appear in court. | $785[4] |
| Using a handheld phone while driving | On your notice[4] |
How many points is a speeding ticket in Montana?
- Speeding (except small violations kept off your record)3 pts[2][5]
- Reckless driving5 pts[2]
- No proof of insurance5 pts[2]
- DUI10 pts[2]
- Driving while suspended or revoked6 pts[2]
- Leaving the scene of a crash with injury or death8 pts[2]
- Leaving the scene of a crash with $1,000 or more in damage4 pts[2]
- Driving without a license2 pts[2]
All 9 point values
- Running a red light2 pts[2]
How points work in Montana
Montana adds points for each conviction only to spot habitual offenders. Most moving violations are 2 points and speeding is 3. Reaching 30 points within 3 years means a 3-year revocation. Paying the bond counts as a conviction. Speeding no more than 10 mph over by day or 5 mph over at night is not put on your record and insurers may not use it.[2][3][5][14]
Commercial driver? Points and disqualifications work differently. How tickets affect a CDL →
When can you lose your license?
- Three reckless driving convictions within 12 months (within 12 months)[13]
- Not appearing on a ticket or not following the sentence[11]
Full wording of each rule
- 30 points in 36 months: Declared a habitual traffic offender: license revoked for 3 years
- Three reckless driving convictions within 12 months: 1-year suspension
- Not appearing on a ticket or not following the sentence: suspended until you appear or comply
Getting your license back after a suspension costs $100 in Montana, before any course or court costs.[12]
Drivers under 21
Drivers under 18 can't be jailed for a traffic offense, but the court can fine them, suspend or revoke their license, or impound the vehicle for up to 60 days.[16]
Can traffic school keep a ticket off your record in Montana?
In Montana it depends on the court. Some courts offer a driving course or deferral that keeps a ticket off your record, so ask the court named on your ticket before you pay.
Is it worth it for your ticket? Get a yes or no →
Do school and work zones cost more?
School zones
Doubled. Breaking a posted school zone speed limit is a misdemeanor with at least double the normal fine.[4][6]
Work zones
Doubled when workers are present. Any moving violation in a posted work zone carries at least double the fine if a highway worker was within 1,000 feet.[7]
When is your ticket due?
- Date on noticePay or respondset by the court[11][19]
Details
Appear in court or pay the bond by the date on the ticket. If you miss it: The court can ask the state to suspend your license until you appear.
- 10daysLast day to appealfrom conviction[15]
Details
Appeal a justice or city court judgment to district court. If you miss it: After 10 days the judgment stands.
What happens if you don't respond
If you miss the date on your ticket, the court first warns you by mail, then reports you to the Motor Vehicle Division, which suspends your license. It stays suspended until you appear or comply. You then pay a $100 reinstatement fee, plus a $25 court fee if the court held your license as bail.[11][12][19]
Work out your exact dates → · Already missed it?
Will an out-of-state ticket follow you home?
- Shares convictions with other states (Driver License Compact)Yes[1]
- Can suspend you over unpaid out-of-state tickets (Nonresident Violator Compact)No[1]
Montana is in the Driver License Compact, so convictions are shared with your home state. It is not in the Nonresident Violator Compact. Speeding tickets a Montana driver gets in another state go on the record even when the same ticket in Montana would not.[1][5]
How out-of-state tickets work →
How much will it raise your insurance in Montana?
One speeding ticket raised a full-coverage premium by about 27% on average in Montana[1], from a clean-record average of $2,532 a year.[1] If that increase stays for three years, that's about $2,051 on top of the fine.
Averages from ValuePenguin State of Auto Insurance in 2026, not a quote. Insurers differ, and many look back three to five years.
Where are the official pages?
What else do people ask?
How do points work in Montana?
Montana adds points for each conviction only to spot habitual offenders. Most moving violations are 2 points and speeding is 3. Reaching 30 points within 3 years means a 3-year revocation. Paying the bond counts as a conviction. Speeding no more than 10 mph over by day or 5 mph over at night is not put on your record and insurers may not use it.
How many points before your license is at risk in Montana?
30 points in 36 months: Declared a habitual traffic offender: license revoked for 3 years.
Will an out-of-state ticket follow me home to Montana?
Montana is a member of the Driver License Compact, so convictions in other member states are reported to Montana. Montana is in the Driver License Compact, so convictions are shared with your home state. It is not in the Nonresident Violator Compact. Speeding tickets a Montana driver gets in another state go on the record even when the same ticket in Montana would not.
How much does a speeding ticket raise insurance in Montana?
About 27% on average for full coverage, according to ValuePenguin State of Auto Insurance in 2026. Your insurer's rate can differ a lot from the average.
Sources
Montana law and DMV sources (20)
- AAMVA DLC/NRVC Member Joinder Dates (rev. April 2026), AAMVA.
- MCA 61-11-203 Definitions, habitual traffic offenders, point schedule, Montana Legislature (Montana Code Annotated 2025).
- MCA 61-11-211 Department to revoke license of habitual offender, Montana Legislature (Montana Code Annotated 2025).
- Montana Supreme Court Recommended Bond Schedule, January 2024 (AF 12-0292), Montana Supreme Court.
- MCA 61-8-725 Penalty for violation of speed limits, no record for certain violations, Montana Legislature (Montana Code Annotated 2025).
- MCA 61-8-726 Violating speed limit in school zone, penalty doubled, Montana Legislature (Montana Code Annotated 2025).
- MCA 61-8-314 Traffic violations in work zone, Montana Legislature (Montana Code Annotated 2025).
- MCA 61-8-711 Violation of chapter, penalty, Montana Legislature (Montana Code Annotated 2025).
- MCA 61-6-304 Mandatory liability protection penalties, Montana Legislature (Montana Code Annotated 2025).
- MCA 61-13-104 Seatbelt penalty, no record permitted, Montana Legislature (Montana Code Annotated 2025).
- MCA 61-5-214 Mandatory suspension for failure to appear or comply with criminal sentence, Montana Legislature (Montana Code Annotated 2025).
- MCA 61-5-218 License reinstatement fee following license suspension or revocation, Montana Legislature (Montana Code Annotated 2025).
- MCA 61-5-205 Mandatory revocation or suspension of license upon certain convictions, Montana Legislature (Montana Code Annotated 2025).
- MCA 61-5-213 Conviction defined, Montana Legislature (Montana Code Annotated 2025).
- MCA 46-17-311 Appeal from justices', municipal, and city courts, Montana Legislature (Montana Code Annotated 2025).
- MCA 61-8-723 Offenses committed by persons under 18 years of age, Montana Legislature (Montana Code Annotated 2025).
- MCA 3-1-317 User surcharge for court information technology, Montana Legislature (Montana Code Annotated 2025).
- MCA 46-18-236 Imposition of charge upon conviction or forfeiture, Montana Legislature (Montana Code Annotated 2025).
- Yellowstone County Justice Court: FAQ, Criminal and Traffic Cases, Yellowstone County.
- Montana Courts of Limited Jurisdiction, Calendar Year 2025 Criminal Violations Filed, Montana Judicial Branch.
Insurance sources (4)
- State of Auto Insurance in 2026, ValuePenguin (LendingTree).
- Car Insurance Rate Increases with a Speeding Ticket in 2026, ValuePenguin (LendingTree).
- How Does a DUI Affect Your Auto Insurance Rates in 2026?, ValuePenguin (LendingTree).
- How Much Will My Car Insurance Rates Go Up After a Crash in 2026?, ValuePenguin (LendingTree).