Driving Tests

How to Get a Learner's Permit in Massachusetts: Steps and Rules

informational·how to guide·Published July 14, 2026

How do you get a learner's permit in Massachusetts?

To get a Massachusetts Class D learner's permit, you must be at least 16, live in Massachusetts and hold no license or permit from another state. Start the application online, book a visit at an RMV Service Center, pass the vision screening, then pass the 25-question exam with 18 correct answers. The $30 fee covers the application and the exam. The permit is valid for 2 years.

Where the Massachusetts permit rules come from

The steps, fee and exam format come from the RMV page on how to apply for a Class D learner's permit and the RMV First Time Driver guide. The ride-along, night and penalty rules come from M.G.L. chapter 90, section 8B. The Massachusetts Driver's Manual (revised April 2026), other RMV pages and the RMV fee list (last updated May 2025; fees can change) add details. This guide is current as of 2026. Confirm the rules with the Massachusetts RMV (mass.gov/rmv) before you drive.

Who can get a Class D learner's permit in Massachusetts

You are at least 16 years old.
You are a Massachusetts resident.
You do not hold a driver's license or learner's permit from any other state.
You have no outstanding obligations to any state.
You meet the minimum Class D or Class M medical standards.

Parental consent for a permit under 18

If you are under 18, you need written consent from a parent, legal guardian, the Department of Children and Families or a boarding school headmaster. That person gives consent by signing your application. If the person is not your parent, they must show proof of their authority at the time of the written test.

How to apply for a Massachusetts learner's permit

1
Start the application online
If you had a Massachusetts license, permit or ID card in the past, log in with a MyMassGov Personal account.
2
Book an appointment
Choose an RMV Service Center. AAA members can book a AAA location to show their documents.
3
Bring original documents
For a standard permit, bring originals (no photocopies) that prove your identity and date of birth, your Social Security status and your Massachusetts residency. A REAL ID uses a separate checklist. The guide to RMV documents for a learner's permit lists what the RMV accepts.
4
Pass the vision screening and have your photo taken
You must pass a screening for field vision and basic colors, or give an RMV vision screening certificate from your medical practitioner. The RMV captures your photo and signature electronically.
5
Pass the learner's permit exam
Take the exam at the Service Center during your appointment, or online later. Tell the Service Center employee which one you plan to do.
6
Get your permit
If you pass in person, you get a permit printed on secure cardstock. If you pass online, you get instructions to print your permit from your profile, and you do not go back to the Service Center.

How the Massachusetts permit exam works

The exam has 25 questions. You get 25 minutes and need 18 correct answers to pass. Once it starts, you cannot pause it. You may not use the Driver's Manual, other reference materials or electronic devices, online or in person. Class D exams are available in 37 languages; our free practice tests are in English only.
For the online exam, you get login instructions after the RMV verifies your application and documents. The computer needs a working camera that stays on. If your computer cannot meet the rules, or you do not want your picture taken, test at the Service Center.

Massachusetts learner's permit at a glance

Massachusetts learner's permit at a glance
Item	Rule
Minimum age	16
Fee	$30 for the application and exam; $30 again after a failed exam or an expired permit
Exam	25 questions, 25 minutes, 18 correct to pass
Validity	2 years, or the length of your stay in the U.S.
Who rides with you	A licensed driver, 21 or older, with 1 year of experience, in the seat beside you
Night limit under 18	No driving from 12 a.m. to 5 a.m. without a licensed parent or legal guardian

How long a Massachusetts learner's permit is valid

A permit is valid for 2 years from the date of issue, or for the length of your stay in the U.S. It also ends when you get your license. You cannot renew an expired permit: you apply again, retake the exam and pay the $30 fee again. The practice question on the validity of a Class D permit checks the basic rule.

Who must ride with you on a Massachusetts permit

The driver beside you must be licensed and at least 21 years old.
That driver must have at least one year of driving experience.
That driver must sit in the seat beside you.
You must carry the permit whenever you drive, until you earn a junior operator license (JOL) or a full license.
Your permit does not let you break another state's law if you drive there.

Night driving limit for permit holders under 18

If you are under 18, you may not drive from 12 a.m. (midnight) to 5 a.m. unless a licensed parent or legal guardian with at least one year of driving experience is with you. That person's license or right to drive must not be revoked or suspended. Practice the night rule for permit holders under 18 before your exam. After you get a JOL, the night limit changes to 12:30 a.m. to 5 a.m.

Penalties for breaking Massachusetts permit rules

You drive without a qualified licensed driver beside you

The law treats this as driving without a license. Your permit is suspended for 60 days for a first offense, 180 days for a second and 1 year for a third or later offense. Each time, you must apply for a new permit. If you are under 18, the RMV also lists a $100 reinstatement fee.

You are under 18 and drive from 12 a.m. to 5 a.m. without a licensed parent or legal guardian

The law treats this as driving without a license too. The same suspensions, fee and new application apply.

It is your second offense of either kind

You must also complete the Driver Attitudinal Retraining Course.

Your permit is suspended while you are under 18

The suspension invalidates the permit, and your 6-month count for the road test starts again when the suspension ends. The RMV sends the notice to you and to your parent or guardian, unless you are an emancipated minor.

What comes after the permit in Massachusetts

After you get a Class D learner's permit, you must pass a Class D road test to get your license. You can get a permit at 16, but you cannot get a Class D license until you are at least 16 1/2, and if you are under 18, you need the permit for at least 6 consecutive months before the road test. You must also finish a driver's education program to get a license before 18, but you do not need it before the permit exam. The guide to the Massachusetts junior operator license explains the next stage.

Key takeaways

You can apply for a Massachusetts Class D learner's permit at 16 if you live in Massachusetts and hold no other state's license or permit.
Start online, book a Service Center or AAA visit, pass the vision screening and pass the 25-question exam with 18 correct answers.
The $30 fee covers the application and the exam. The permit lasts 2 years and cannot be renewed after it expires.
A licensed driver, 21 or older with one year of experience, must sit beside you. Under 18, you may not drive from 12 a.m. to 5 a.m. without a licensed parent or legal guardian.
Next step: practice on the free Massachusetts Class D learner's permit practice test.

Massachusetts learner's permit: common questions

How much does a learner's permit cost in Massachusetts?

The learner's permit exam fee is $30. It pays for processing your application and for the exam. If you fail the exam or your permit expires, you pay $30 again for the next exam. At a Service Center you can pay by cash, check, money order, credit card or debit card, but the accepted methods vary by location.

Can I drive alone with a learner's permit in Massachusetts?

No. A licensed driver who is 21 or older, has at least one year of driving experience and sits beside you must be with you on every drive. If you drive without one, the law treats it as driving without a license, and your permit is suspended for 60 days for a first offense.

I am an emancipated minor. Who can ride with me after midnight on a permit?

Massachusetts law lets an emancipated minor with a learner's permit drive from 12 a.m. to 5 a.m. only with a person who is 21 or older, holds a valid license, has at least 1 year of driving experience and sits in the seat beside you.

Can I use my Massachusetts learner's permit as ID to fly?

No. The Driver's Manual says a learner's permit is not an identification document for travel, and most airlines and cruise ships will not accept it as a state-issued photo ID.

What if I pass the online permit test but cannot print my permit?

Call the RMV Contact Center at 857-368-8110. The RMV will print your permit and mail it to you in five to seven business days. You must carry the permit whenever you drive, so wait until you have it before your first practice drive.