FAQs

1)  What age can you take Traffic Education?
A) The new driver must be 14 1/2 when then course begins.

2)  When can a student register for a session?
A)  We have sessions during the school day and during the summer break.  Each student will need to contact our school counselors to request the course.  This is only the beginning.  The counselors will make every effort schedule you into an available session.

3) What is the fee and when is it due?
A)  The current fee is $300 (subject to change) and must be paid in full before the course begins.  As the course draws near, we set an exact due date.  Please call or email for the exact date.

4) When do I need to show my son or daughter's birth certificate and social security card?  We need to see these documents in order to create this new form of I.D. (the driver's license).
A)  Once the course begins, I will set a time in the evening for a parent meeting.  I must meet with you, as the parent,  to begin the licensing process.

5)  How many hours do I need to practice with my son or daughter?
A)  The state requires that parents practice with their new driver for a minimum of 50 hours.  However, this life skill is so dangerous I recommend 100 hours or more.

6) Can my son or daughter practice drive without a learner's license?
A) State law says new drivers must have a learner's license and the parent must be in the passenger seat next to the new driver.

7)  Can my son or daughter drive in another state with his/her learner's license?
A) Yes. Make sure you are sitting in the seat beside your son/daughter.  It would not hurt to call that state to verify.

8) Will my insurance company cover an accident?
A) You will need to call your insurance agent to verify.

  9)  Can I cancel my son/daughters license if they are not behaving responsibly behind the wheel?
A) Yes - A parent has complete control of their son/daughter's driver's license.  Once they turn 18 years of age the parent can no longer cancel their license.

10) My son/daughter lost their learners license.  How can we get another one?

A) You will need to go to the DMV and bring the following items:  $10, son/daughter's birth certificate and social security card.

11) We have completed our 50 hours of driving practice.  When can we go to the DMV and pick up their restricted license?

A) All new drivers under the age of 18 must hold a permit to drive (learners license or instruction permit) for 6 months before they are eligible for a driver's license.  At the end of the session I give the students a letter outlining the items and dates they will need to have when they go to the DMV.  If they have lost this letter you may need to email me to find out.  Please make an appointment at: www.doj.mt.gov/driving


12)  Will the DMV look at the 50 hour practice log?

A) Yes

13) My son/daughter is on the list.  Does this mean s/he will automatically be placed in the summer class?

A) No.  Students need to sign up in the High School or Junior High office and pay the required fee to ensure a seat for the summer class.   Not all students are available for summer so we need to make sure they are able to attend all of the required hours.  Students will need to listen for announcements during early spring.

14)  My son/daughter TELL permit says s/he can get their license on one date but the instructor told him/her a different date. 

A) The date that the instructor told your son/daughter is correct.  We issue a TEP permit and the six month requirement starts from the issue date of the TEP.

15)  When we called for an appointment, they said everyone must drive test.

A) Not true.  Only 10% of the students are retested for the drive test.

16)  How can I help my new driver learn to drive?

A) Driving is a complex task that is not natural.  It will take years/100 of hours to become a safe driver.  Early on,  find safe areas that are not heavily traveled (parking lots, dirt roads, fields).  When the class begins, try to mirror what we are teaching in the class.  For example: our first drive is in the parking lot.  This means that you should also be driving in parking lots with them.  Then just following what we are doing and soon your new driver will become confident and so will you.