Montana SR-22 requirements after a DUI
Montana does not require an SR-22 or other financial-responsibility filing to reinstate a license after a DUI.
What Montana says
Recorded as false under the statutory-enumeration rule (no MVD page addresses SR-22 after DUI). Mont. Code Ann. § 61-6-131 is the section of Title 61, ch. 6, part 1 that makes proof of financial responsibility (a certificate of insurance under §§ 61-6-133/-134, i.e., an SR-22-type filing) a condition of getting a license back, and it applies only (1) when the department REVOKES a license and (2) to a probationary license for a person whose license is revoked; §§ 61-6-122/-123 add suspensions for nonpayment of judgments, and § 61-6-132 states proof is required only 'when required under this part'. A misdemeanor DUI conviction produces a SUSPENSION, not a revocation: § 61-5-205(2)(a) directs the department to suspend for a conviction under § 61-8-1002, and § 61-5-208(2)(b) sets the periods (6 months first offense; 1 year second or subsequent). The MVD Suspensions, Revocations, and Reinstatements page (as published on 2026-08-28) contains no mention of SR-22, financial responsibility, certificate of insurance, or proof of insurance for driver-license reinstatement, and an MVD site search for 'SR-22' returns 0 results. Caveat: a felony (fourth or subsequent) DUI is a revocation under § 61-5-205(1)(b) — the MVD revocation table lists 'Any felony in the commission of which a motor vehicle is used (including 4th offense DUI/BAC violations)' — so § 61-6-131 would require a certificate of insurance before such a license is restored; § 61-6-142(1)(a) lets the department waive the proof requirement after 3 years without a qualifying conviction.
“61-6-131. When proof of financial responsibility required. (1) Whenever the department under any of the laws of this state revokes the license or privilege to drive of any person, the license must remain revoked and may not be restored until the person is otherwise eligible and files a certificate”
Ignition interlock statute (see the state page): Mont. Code Ann. § 61-8-1010
At a glance
| Filing required after a DUI | No |
|---|---|
| Form | — |
| Filing period | Not applicable |
| License reinstatement fee | $200 |
| Licensing agency | Montana Department of Justice, Motor Vehicle Division |
How an SR-22 filing works
An SR-22 is a certificate of financial responsibility. The driver does not file it; the insurer does, electronically, with the state licensing agency, confirming that a policy meeting the state's minimum liability limits is in force. Most insurers charge a one-time filing fee, and a driver who needs one may find that fewer carriers offer it or that premiums are higher.
The filing must stay on file for the period the state sets. If the policy is cancelled or lapses during that period, the insurer notifies the state (an SR-26), and the license is typically suspended again until a new filing is made — which can restart the period.
When the period starts varies by state: some count from the conviction or the start of the suspension, others from the date the license is reinstated. Where the state specifies the start date, the note and the quotation on this page say so.
What "no filing" means
Some states do not condition reinstatement after a DUI on any financial-responsibility filing: their reinstatement requirements or their financial-responsibility statute simply do not include one. That does not mean insurance is optional — every state requires liability coverage to register and drive — only that the state does not require the insurer to file a certificate about it.
Sources
- Montana Code Annotated 2025 - § 61-2-107 ($200 license reinstatement fee)
- Montana Code Annotated 2025 - § 61-6-131 (when proof of financial responsibility required)
- Montana Motor Vehicle Division - Suspensions, Revocations, and Reinstatements (suspension periods; approved interlock vendors; paying a reinstatement fee)
- Montana Motor Vehicle Division - site search for 'SR-22' (no results)
- Montana Code Annotated 2025 - § 61-6-133 (certificate of insurance as proof)