Driving Tests

Maryland Driver’s Ed and 60 Practice Hours: Rules for Teens and Adults

informational·how to guide·Published May 23, 2026

Do adults need driver’s ed in Maryland, and how many practice hours do you need?

Yes. Maryland’s Rookie Driver program covers new drivers of any age, and each one must finish an approved driver education course: 30 hours in the classroom and 6 hours behind the wheel. Permit holders under 25 also log 60 supervised practice hours, 10 of them at night. Permit holders 25 and older log 14 hours, 3 of them at night.

Where the Maryland driver’s ed and practice hour rules come from

The age groups, practice hours and waiting times come from Maryland Transportation Article § 16-105. The 3-hour program comes from § 16-212.1. The course, the provider list and the out-of-state rules come from the MVA driver’s education page, and the MVA provisional license page lists the same hours. The skills log rules come from COMAR 11.17.14.13, the MVA learner’s permit page and the Maryland Driver’s Manual. The rule for drivers who turn 25 comes from an older MVA permit page. This guide is current as of 2026. Confirm the rules with the Maryland MVA (mva.maryland.gov) before you drive.

Maryland practice hours and permit time by age

Maryland practice hours and permit time by age
Age group	Driver ed course	Supervised practice	Earliest skills test
Under 19 (except 18 with a diploma)	30 hours classroom, 6 hours behind the wheel	60 hours, 10 at night	9 months after your first permit date, or after your latest moving violation conviction or probation before judgment if that is later
18 with a high school diploma or equivalent, or 19 to 24	30 hours classroom, 6 hours behind the wheel	60 hours, 10 at night	3 months after your first permit date, or 9 months after your latest conviction or probation before judgment if that is later
25 or older, no moving violation	30 hours classroom, 6 hours behind the wheel	14 hours, 3 at night	45 days after your first permit date
25 or older, with a conviction or probation before judgment	30 hours classroom, 6 hours behind the wheel	14 hours, 3 at night	9 months after your most recent conviction or probation before judgment

Do adults need driver’s ed in Maryland?

Yes. The Rookie Driver program applies to every new driver, whatever the age, who has never held a license in Maryland, another state or another country. A 30-year-old first-time driver takes the same course as a teen: at least 30 hours of classroom instruction and 6 hours behind the wheel. Check the numbers with our free question on Maryland driver education course hours.
You need a valid learner’s permit before you start the behind-the-wheel part or drive on Maryland roads. The minimum age for the permit is 15 years and 9 months. For the full permit steps, read our guide to the Maryland learner’s permit rules.

Steps from permit to provisional license

1
Get your learner’s permit
You must hold a valid permit before behind-the-wheel driver education and before any driving on Maryland roads.
2
Choose an MVA-approved driving school
The course must be approved by the MVA. The MVA driver’s education page has the list of providers.
3
Finish the 30 classroom hours and 6 behind-the-wheel hours
Your school sends proof that you finished to the MVA electronically.
4
Practice with a qualified supervising driver
Record each practice drive in the skills log. Your supervising driver should keep track of the hours, because you need the record for the provisional license.
5
Hold the permit for the full waiting time
Check the table above for your age group. A moving violation conviction or probation before judgment can push the date back.
6
Apply for the provisional license and pass the driving test
Bring the completed skills log, the completed certification page and your unexpired permit, then pass the behind-the-wheel test. See what happens on the Maryland MVA driving test.

Supervising driver rules for Maryland practice hours

The supervising driver holds a valid license, is at least 21 years old and has been licensed for at least 3 years.
A parent, a guardian or any other adult who meets these rules can supervise.
The supervising driver sits beside you in the front passenger seat. No other person may sit in the front seat while you drive.
The supervising driver must be with you every time you drive on a permit.

What counts as night driving

Night driving runs from 30 minutes before sunset to 30 minutes after sunrise. For example, if sunset is at 6:00 p.m. where you drive, night practice starts at 5:30 p.m. The night hours count inside the total: under 25, 50 other hours and 10 night hours make 60. At 25 or older, 11 other hours and 3 night hours make 14.
If you practice 4 hours a week, 60 hours takes 15 weeks, about 3.5 months. Most drivers under 19 hold the permit 9 months, so the wait sets the test date. From 19 to 24, the hold is 3 months, so the hours set it.

How to prove your hours with the skills log

You record the hours in the practice skills log, and each supervising driver signs it. With the signature, they certify that you showed the required skills and finished the practice hours. If a parent, guardian or other person signed your permit application as a minor, that person signs the log too. The log has a certification page with your name, your permit or soundex number and that signature. Not sure of your hours? See our free question on how many practice hours applicants under 25 need.

Maryland driver’s ed special cases: turning 25, other states, foreign licenses

You got your permit before age 25 and turn 25 while you hold it

An older MVA permit page says you may take the skills test once you have held the permit for 45 days, and the days before your 25th birthday count. You still need at least 14 supervised hours and the full driver education course. Ask the MVA to confirm your date.

You finished driver education in another state

As of 2026, the MVA accepts driver education from Colorado, Delaware (approved schools only), North Carolina and Virginia. It does not accept driver education from Maine, Pennsylvania or West Virginia. For any other state, ask the MVA Driver’s Education team for a review.

You hold a license from another country or the U.S. armed forces, but never held a license from Maryland or another state

If the MVA issues your license without a permit, you must first complete the 3 Hour Roadway Safety Driving Education Program. It covers signs, signals and pavement markings, work zone safety, impaired driving and the Maryland points system. The same program is part of the standard driver education course.

Key takeaways

Every new Maryland driver, at any age, completes 30 classroom hours and 6 behind-the-wheel hours of driver education.
Under 25, log 60 supervised hours with 10 at night. At 25 or older, log 14 hours with 3 at night.
Your supervising driver must be 21 or older, licensed at least 3 years, and the only other person in the front seat.
Hold the permit 9 months under 19 (most drivers), 3 months from 19 to 24, or 45 days at 25 or older with no moving violation.
Next step: practice on the free Maryland Class C practice test. It is in English only.

Maryland driver’s ed and practice hours: common questions

How do I find an MVA-approved driving school in Maryland?

The MVA driver’s education page has a list of approved providers. The MVA gives the list as a public service and does not endorse or recommend any school on it. If a detail on the list is wrong, or you have another concern about a school on the list, contact the MVA’s Business Licensing and Compliance Division.

How do I get out-of-state driver’s ed approved in Maryland?

If your state is not on the MVA list, email your completion documents to the MVA Driver’s Education team and ask for a review. The MVA says it contacts you within two business days. If it approves your training, you get a letter. Bring that letter to your MVA appointment as proof that you completed driver education.

What should I do if my Maryland driving school closes?

The MVA reviews your records and gives you credit for the training you completed. Keep copies of your records; if you have none, email the MVA Driver’s Education team. You can file a claim with the insurance company that issued the school’s surety bond, with your records and payment receipts. Then choose a new school. It decides what training you still need and the cost.

What happens to my practice log after the Maryland driving test?

After you meet all the requirements and pass the skills test, the MVA keeps the skills log certification page in its records as part of your license application. Before your test day, make sure that each supervising driver has signed the log, and that a parent or guardian has signed too if you are a minor.