Driving Tests

Maryland Learner’s Permit Rules: Age, Supervising Driver and Phone Ban

informational·how to guide·Published July 9, 2026

How old must you be for a Maryland learner’s permit, and who can ride with you?

You must be at least 15 years and 9 months old. Your supervising driver must be at least 21, licensed for at least 3 years, and seated beside you. That person must be the only other person in the front seat. If you are under 18, you may not use any phone while you drive, even hands-free, except to call 911.

Where the Maryland permit rules come from

The Maryland Department of Transportation Motor Vehicle Administration (MVA) explains the steps on its learner’s permit page. The permit rules come from the Maryland Transportation Article, section 16-105, and the phone ban for drivers under 18 comes from section 21-1124. Other details come from sections 16-103, 16-107, 16-402, 21-1124.1 and 21-1124.2, COMAR 11.17.14.11, the Maryland Driver’s Manual (October 2025 edition), the MVA driver’s education, new residents and Rookie Driver pages, and the MVA fee list effective September 1, 2025. This guide is current as of 2026. Confirm the rules with the Maryland MVA (mva.maryland.gov) before you drive.

How to get a Maryland learner’s permit

1
Check your age
You must be at least 15 years and 9 months old. Maryland law bars the MVA from issuing a permit to a younger person.
2
Make an appointment
Book at any full-service MVA office. You can complete the pre-application and schedule the visit in your myMVA account.
3
Gather your documents
Bring proof of identity, proof of your Social Security number and two documents that prove you live in Maryland. Under 16, also bring form DL-300 from your school or county home school coordinator in a sealed envelope, or form DL-300A co-signed by a parent or guardian. The MVA Online Document Guide has the full list of accepted documents.
4
Take the vision screening and the knowledge test
You complete both at your appointment. The knowledge test has 25 questions, and the passing score is 85 percent (COMAR 11.17.14.11).
5
Get your permit by mail
After the appointment, the MVA mails the permit to you. With the permit, you can start behind-the-wheel driver education and supervised driving on Maryland roads.

Who must co-sign your permit application

You are under 18

A parent or legal guardian must co-sign your application.

You are under 18 and have no parent or guardian, or you are married

An adult employer or another responsible adult may co-sign.

You are under 18 and in the custody of a local department of social services

The director of the department or a designee co-signs. That person brings a state ID card and an original court document with a seal that shows the custody or guardianship.

You are 18 or older

You do not need a co-signer. The supervising driver, practice and permit time rules below still apply to you.

Who can be your supervising driver?

A qualified supervising driver must be with you at all times. That person must be at least 21 years old and must have held a license for at least 3 years, for the class of vehicle you drive. In a car, the supervisor sits beside you and is the only other person allowed in the front seat while you drive. For your practice hours, the supervisor must also hold a valid driver’s license. Your supervising driver keeps track of your practice hours, and each supervising driver signs your skills log. You need this record for your provisional license. Try the free question on choosing a supervising driver.

Phone rules for Maryland permit holders, by age

Phone rules for Maryland permit holders, by age
Your age	What the law bans	Penalty
Under 18	Any wireless communication device while driving, handheld or hands-free. Calling 911 is allowed.	The MVA may suspend your license for up to 90 days.
18 or older, on a permit	A handheld phone. The law does not ban hands-free calls for you.	Up to $75 (first offense), $125 (second) or $175 (third or later).

Should you use a phone at all on a permit?

The MVA tells every permit holder never to use a cell phone while driving, even with Bluetooth or a hands-free device. The only exception is a call to 911 in an emergency. For drivers 18 and older, this advice is stricter than the law, and it is the safest habit to learn. No driver may write, send or read a text message while driving on the road. The free question page on the phone rule for drivers under 18 lets you check the under-18 rule. The guide to the Maryland cell phone law for new drivers covers the phone rules in more detail.

How long you must hold the permit, and how much you must practice

How long you must hold the permit, and how much you must practice
Your group	Minimum permit time before the skills test	Supervised practice
Under 19 (except age 18 with a high school diploma or equivalent)	9 months from the later of your first permit date or your latest moving violation conviction or probation before judgment (PBJ)	60 hours, 10 of them at night
Age 18 with a high school diploma or equivalent, or age 19 to 24	3 months from your first permit, or 9 months from your latest violation if that is later	60 hours, 10 of them at night
Age 25 or older, no moving violation	45 days	14 hours, 3 of them at night

Night hours, driver’s ed and tickets

For the practice rules, night means from 30 minutes before sunset to 30 minutes after sunrise. You must also complete the Maryland Driver Education Program: at least 30 hours of classroom instruction and 6 hours of behind-the-wheel instruction. At any age, a moving violation conviction or PBJ means you must hold the permit at least 9 months from the most recent date. The guide to Maryland driver’s ed and practice hours explains the skills log and out-of-state driver’s ed.

What a Maryland learner’s permit costs

As of the MVA fee list effective September 1, 2025, a Type I learner’s permit (no previous license) costs $65.00. The fee list says this fee includes conversion to a full license. If you move to Maryland with a learner’s permit from another state, you cannot exchange it for a Maryland permit. You apply for a Maryland learner’s permit with the steps above.

Key takeaways

Apply at 15 years and 9 months at a full-service MVA office, and pass the vision screening and the 25-question knowledge test (85 percent to pass).
Your supervising driver must be 21 or older, licensed for 3 years, and seated beside you as the only other person in the front seat.
Under 18, you may not use any wireless device while you drive, even hands-free, except to call 911.
Hold the permit 9 months (under 19), 3 months (age 18 with a diploma, or 19 to 24) or 45 days (age 25 or older, no violation). A violation or PBJ means 9 months from that date.
Next step: practice on the free Maryland Class C practice test.

Maryland learner’s permit: common questions

Can I drive alone on a Maryland learner’s permit?

No. Maryland law gives 5 points on your driving record for driving on a learner’s permit unaccompanied. If you are under 18, the MVA also tells the adult who co-signed your application when you are cited for a moving violation. Drive only when your qualified supervising driver sits beside you.

Can my brother or friend ride in the front seat with me?

No, not as a passenger. While you drive, the front seat is only for your supervising driver, so other passengers must sit in the back. Your brother or friend can be your supervising driver only if he or she is at least 21 and has held a license for at least 3 years.

Can my supervising driver have a license from another state?

Yes. Maryland law accepts a supervisor who has been licensed for at least 3 years in Maryland or in another state, for the class of vehicle you drive. That person must also be at least 21. For your practice hours, the license must be valid.

How long is a Maryland learner’s permit valid?

A first learner’s permit expires 2 years after the date it is issued. If the permit expires, or if you cannot complete or pass the skills test before it expires, you must apply for a new permit. Plan your driver’s ed, practice hours and permit time so that you finish before that date.

Can I get a learner’s permit if I have missed a lot of school?

If you are under 16, you must give the MVA a copy of your school attendance record, on form DL-300 or DL-300A. The MVA may not issue a permit to you if the record shows more than 10 unexcused absences in the prior school semester. At 16 or older, this rule does not apply.