Maine learner’s permit requirements

Everything here comes from Maine Bureau of Motor Vehicles (Department of the Secretary of State) pages, handbooks or state law, and each fact links to its source. Where Maine doesn’t publish something, we say so rather than guess.

Last checked September 22, 2026.

At a glance

Minimum age
15 years
To pass the knowledge test
24 of 30 correct (80%)
Fees
$35 total
Supervised driving
70 hours (10 at night)

The knowledge test and your permit

Test format
30 questionsSources 123
Passing score
24 of 30 correct (80%)Sources 123
Time limit
None published
Permit and test fees
$35 totalThe $35 application fee covers the written test and the learner's permit (and the first road test under 29-A §1307); the $30 license fee comes after the road test.Sources 123
Minimum age for a permit
15 yearsPermit at 15 with a driver education completion certificate (driver education required under 18); license at 16 with driver education, or 18 without.Sources 563
Supervised driving
70 hours (10 at night)Sources 563
Hold your permit
6 months minimumSources 563
Test languages
9 languagesEnglish, Arabic, French, French (Canadian), Lingala, Portuguese, Somali, Spanish, SwahiliSources 123
Take it online
No, in personSources 123
Vision standard
Visual acuity of at least 20/40 in the better-seeing eye (with or without correction) and at least 20/100…in the other eye; corrective-lens restriction if uncorrected acuity is worse than 20/40 in both eyes; daylight-only restriction if the better eye is 20/50-20/100Sources 563

From permit to full license

  • Under 21: hold the learner's permit 6 months, log 70 hours (10 after dark) with a licensed driver at least 20 years old who has held a license 2 years, then pass the road test.
  • Licensees under 18 have an intermediate license for 270 days: no mobile phone/handheld device use, no driving 12 a.m.-5 a.m., no passengers other than immediate family unless a qualifying supervising driver is present; violations suspend the license and extend restrictions 270 days.
  • First license is provisional for 2 years (under 21) or 1 year (21+). Applicants 21+ need no driver education, practice hours, or 6-month wait.

Before you go

Rules and fees change. Confirm appointments, documents and current fees on the official Maine Bureau of Motor Vehicles (Department of the Secretary of State) website: maine.gov.

Sources

  1. maine.gov: drivers license exam
  2. maine.gov: drivers license and examination fees
  3. maine.gov: how to obtain a license
  4. legislature.maine.gov: title29 Asec1307
  5. maine.gov: license age restrictions
  6. maine.gov: graduated drivers license
  7. maine.gov: Maine Driver License Manual 2
  8. maine.gov: Visual 20Conditions

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