What You Pay to Reinstate in Montana
Montana charges a reinstatement fee of $50 to restore a suspended or revoked license. This is a flat fee regardless of why your license was suspended — whether for unpaid traffic fines, DUI conviction, medical suspension, or administrative reasons. The $50 covers the processing of your reinstatement request only; it does not cover any underlying fines, court costs, or restitution you may owe.
You must pay this fee before the Montana Department of Justice (DOJ) will process your reinstatement. Payment alone does not reinstate your license if other conditions remain unmet — for example, if you still owe court-ordered fines or have not completed a required DUI education program. But without payment, the reinstatement process cannot move forward at all.
The reinstatement fee is separate from any other money you may need to pay. If your suspension was due to unpaid traffic citations, you must resolve those fines with the court. If it was a DUI suspension, you may owe court costs, fines, and fees for an alcohol education program. Check with the court that issued the suspension order to understand the full financial picture before you pay.
Key Takeaways
- Montana's reinstatement fee is $50, paid directly to the Department of Justice, and must be submitted before your license can be restored.
- The reinstatement fee covers only the processing of your request; you must separately resolve any court fines, restitution, or program completion requirements tied to your suspension.
- You can pay the reinstatement fee by mail, in person at a DOJ office, or online through the Montana driver services portal.
- After you pay and meet all other conditions, the DOJ typically processes reinstatement within 5 to 10 business days.
- If your license was suspended for medical reasons, you may need to submit a medical clearance form before paying the reinstatement fee.
How to Submit Payment to the Montana DOJ
You have three payment methods available. Online payment is the fastest: visit the Montana driver services website, log into your account, and pay the $50 reinstatement fee using a debit or credit card. You will receive a confirmation number when ready, and the DOJ processes online payments within one business day.
Mail payment takes longer but requires no online account. Send a check or money order for $50 made payable to "Montana Department of Justice" to the address listed on your suspension notice. Include your driver's license number and full name on the check. Mail processing typically takes 7 to 10 business days after the DOJ receives your payment.
In-person payment at a local DOJ driver services office is when ready. Bring your ID and the $50 fee in cash, check, or card. The office will provide a receipt and can answer questions about other reinstatement requirements on the spot. Find your nearest office on the Montana DOJ website.
What Conditions Must Be Met Before You Pay
Before submitting the $50 reinstatement fee, confirm that you have satisfied all other requirements tied to your suspension. If you have not, the DOJ will reject your reinstatement request even after you pay, and you will not receive a refund of the fee.
For traffic fine suspensions, contact the court listed on your suspension notice and pay any outstanding fines in full. Request written confirmation that the fines are paid; you may need to provide this to the DOJ. For DUI suspensions, you must complete the required alcohol education program (usually a 24-hour or 48-hour course depending on your offense) and submit proof of completion to the DOJ before or with your reinstatement request. For medical suspensions, obtain a signed medical clearance form from your doctor and submit it to the DOJ before paying the reinstatement fee — the DOJ will not process payment until this form is on file.
Check your suspension notice or call the DOJ at 406-444-3933 to confirm which conditions explore to your case. This step prevents you from paying the fee only to discover later that you are missing a required document or completion certificate.
Timeline From Payment to Reinstatement
Once the DOJ receives your $50 payment and confirms that all other conditions are met, reinstatement typically takes 5 to 10 business days. Online payments are processed fastest — usually within 1 to 2 business days. Mail payments take longer because the DOJ must receive and log the check before processing begins.
You will not receive a new physical license in the mail after reinstatement. Instead, your driving privileges are restored in the system, and you can drive legally when ready once the DOJ notifies you. You can check your license status online through the Montana driver services portal or by calling the DOJ. Your current license card remains valid; you do not need to request a replacement.
If you need proof of reinstatement for your insurance company or employer before your status updates in the system, the DOJ can issue a letter of reinstatement. Request this at the time you pay the fee, either online or in person.
What Happens If You Cannot Pay the $50 Fee
Montana does not offer a fee waiver or payment plan for the $50 reinstatement fee. The fee is non-negotiable and must be paid in full before the DOJ will process your request. However, if you cannot pay when ready, you can delay payment without penalty — there is no important date to reinstate once your suspension period ends.
If your suspension was for unpaid fines and you are struggling financially, contact the court that issued the suspension. Some courts offer payment plans, community service options, or fee reductions for people with low income. Resolving the underlying fines may be more urgent than paying the $50 reinstatement fee, because the court can refuse to lift the suspension until fines are addressed.
If your suspension was for a DUI and you have not completed the required education program, focus on that first. The program cost (typically $300 to $500) is separate from the reinstatement fee, but you cannot reinstate without proof of completion. Some programs offer sliding-scale fees based on income.
Common Mistakes When Paying for Reinstatement
The most common error is paying the $50 reinstatement fee without first resolving underlying fines or completing required programs. The DOJ will cash your check or charge your card, but will not process reinstatement if other conditions are not met. You will then have to contact the DOJ to request a refund, which can take several weeks. Always verify all requirements before paying.
A second mistake is mailing payment without including your driver's license number and full name on the check. The DOJ receives hundreds of payments weekly, and without this information, your payment may be logged to the wrong account or delayed while staff tries to match it to your file. Write your license number clearly on the memo line of any check you mail.
A third mistake is assuming your license is reinstated as soon as you pay. The DOJ needs time to process the payment and update the system. Do not drive until you receive written confirmation of reinstatement or have checked your status online. Driving on a suspended license, even if you have paid the fee and are waiting for processing, is illegal and can result in additional charges.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can I pay the reinstatement fee online if I do not have a Montana driver's license number?
You need your driver's license number to set up an account on the Montana driver services portal. If you have lost this number, call the DOJ at 406-444-3933 and provide your full name and date of birth. They will give you your number so you can create an online account and pay the fee.
What if I paid the reinstatement fee but the DOJ says I still owe court fines?
The reinstatement fee and court fines are separate. Contact the court that issued your suspension and ask for an itemized list of what you owe. Pay the court directly, then contact the DOJ with proof of payment. The DOJ will then process your reinstatement. You cannot get a refund of the $50 fee, but paying the court fines will allow reinstatement to move forward.
Do I have to pay the reinstatement fee if my suspension has already expired?
Yes. Even if your suspension period has ended, you must pay the $50 reinstatement fee to officially restore your license in the system. Without this payment, your license remains suspended in the DOJ database even though the suspension period is over. Pay the fee to clear the suspension status.
Can I pay the reinstatement fee for someone else?
Yes. You can pay the $50 fee on behalf of another person by mail or in person at a DOJ office. Include the license holder's name and license number with your payment. Online payment requires the license holder's account login, so they must pay online themselves or you must have access to their account credentials.