Massachusetts learner’s permit requirements

Everything here comes from Massachusetts Registry of Motor Vehicles (MassDOT) pages, handbooks or state law, and each fact links to its source. Where Massachusetts doesn’t publish something, we say so rather than guess.

Last checked September 22, 2026.

At a glance

Minimum age
16 years
To pass the knowledge test
18 of 25 correct (72%)
Fees
$30 total
Where you take the test
Online or in person

The knowledge test and your permit

Test format
25 questionsSources 123
Passing score
18 of 25 correct (72%)Sources 123
Time limit
25 minutesSources 123
Permit and test fees
$30 totalThe $30 learner's permit fee covers the application, the exam and the permit; it is charged again for every re-exam.Sources 123
Minimum age for a permit
16 yearsClass D and Class M learner's permits at 16 (M.G.L. c.90 s.8B).Sources 156
Supervised driving
40 hoursSources 156
Hold your permit
6 months minimumSources 156
Test languages
37 languagesEnglish, Albanian, American Sign Language, Arabic, Armenian, Burmese, Khmer, Cape Verdean Creole, Chinese (Simplified), Chinese (Traditional), Farsi, French, German, Greek, Gujarati, Haitian Creole, Hindi, Hungarian, Italian, Japanese, Swahili, Korean, Lao, Nepali, Pashto, Polish, Portuguese (Brazilian), Russian, Serbo-Croatian, Somali, Spanish, Tagalog, Thai, Turkish, Ukrainian, Urdu, VietnameseSources 123
Take it online
YesSources 123
If you fail
If you fail, you pay the $30 fee again and retake the exam (online via myRMV 'Retake Knowledge Exam' or by…making another Service Center appointment). Online exam auto-fails for inactivity over 2 minutes, exceeding 25 minutes, or leaving the browser. No published minimum waiting period.Sources 123
Vision standard
At least 20/40 visual acuity in the better eye (corrected) and at least 120 degrees of horizontal…peripheral vision; corrected vision 20/50-20/70 may qualify for a daylight-only licenseSources 156

From permit to full license

  • Learner's permit at 16: drive only with a licensed driver 21+ with one year of experience seated beside you; under-18 permit holders may not drive midnight-5 a.m. unless with a parent/guardian.
  • Junior Operator License (JOL) at 16 1/2 to 18: hold the permit 6 consecutive months with a clean record, complete RMV-approved driver education (30 h classroom, 12 h behind-the-wheel, 6 h observation, parent 2-hour class), log 40 hours of supervised driving (30 if a driver skills development program is completed), then pass the road test.
  • JOL restrictions: no passengers under 18 (other than immediate family) during the first 6 months unless a qualifying 21+ driver is present; no driving 12:30-5:00 a.m. unless with a parent/guardian; no electronic device use even hands-free.
  • Full Class D license at 18.

Before you go

Rules and fees change. Confirm appointments, documents and current fees on the official Massachusetts Registry of Motor Vehicles (MassDOT) website: mass.gov.

Sources

  1. mass.gov: download
  2. mass.gov: download
  3. mass.gov: download
  4. mass.gov: apply for a passenger class d learners permit
  5. mass.gov: junior operator license jol requirements
  6. malegislature.gov: Section8

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