Massachusetts Permit Test: 25 Questions, 18 Correct to Pass
How many questions are on the Massachusetts permit test, and how many must you get right?
The Massachusetts Class D learner's permit exam has 25 multiple-choice questions, and you must answer 18 correctly to pass. You get 25 minutes, which is about one minute for each question, and you cannot pause the exam once it starts. You take it at an RMV Service Center during your permit appointment, or online after that visit.
Where these Massachusetts permit test facts come from
The facts in this guide come from the Massachusetts Registry of Motor Vehicles (RMV). The apply for a Class D learner's permit page gives the question count, the pass mark, the time limit, the topics, the online rules and the accommodations. The learner's permit exam overview gives the automatic-fail rules of the online exam. The Class D Driver's Manual, revised April 2026, gives the cheating rules and the audio exam. The RMV's First Time Driver guide gives the retake steps. This guide is current as of 2026. Confirm the rules with the Massachusetts RMV (mass.gov/rmv) before you drive.
Massachusetts permit test at a glance
| Item | What the RMV says |
|---|---|
| Questions | 25 multiple-choice questions |
| Passing score | 18 correct answers (you can miss up to 7) |
| Time limit | 25 minutes, about one minute for each question, with no pause |
| Where | An RMV Service Center during your permit appointment, or online within 60 days of that visit |
| Languages | 37, including English and American Sign Language |
| Exam fee | $30 for each exam, including each retake |
| If you cheat | You fail. If the RMV finds you responsible, you cannot hold any license or permit for 60 days. |
What the Massachusetts permit test covers
- Rules of the road, including road signs.
- Driving under the influence of drugs or alcohol, including alcohol misuse.
- License suspensions.
- The Junior Operator Law and junior operator license (JOL) violations.
- Sharing the road with visually impaired people.
- Sharing the road with bicyclists and pedestrians.
How to study for the Massachusetts permit test
Study the Class D Driver's Manual: the RMV bases the permit exam on the information in it. You can download the manual for no fee, or buy a printed copy for $5 at an RMV Service Center. The RMV also recommends a practice exam on Mass.Gov/RMV. Our practice tests and question pages are free and in English only.
How to apply and take the Massachusetts permit test
- 1Check that you can apply
You must be at least 16 years old, be a Massachusetts resident, and not hold a driver's license or learner's permit in another state. If you are under 18, a parent, legal guardian, the Department of Children and Families or a boarding school headmaster must sign your application to give written consent.
- 2Start online and book a visit
Start your application online. Then make an appointment at an RMV Service Center, or at an AAA location if you are a member.
- 3Bring your documents and the fee
At the visit, bring the required documents and the $30 learner's permit application fee. You must also pass a vision screening for field vision and basic colors.
- 4Choose where to take the exam
Tell the Service Center employee if you will take the exam there during your visit or online. If you choose online, you get login instructions after the RMV verifies your application and documents.
- 5Take the exam
Answer 25 questions in 25 minutes. You need 18 correct answers to pass. If you test online, take the exam within 60 days of your Service Center visit.
Can you take the Massachusetts permit test online?
Yes, after your Service Center visit. You can choose to take the exam online within 60 days of that visit. The American Sign Language exam is the one exception: you can take it only at an RMV Service Center. Our guide to permit test languages lists all 37 languages, and our online permit test guide has more on the online option.
Online exam rules
- Use a computer with a working camera, and keep the camera on for the whole session.
- Use Google Chrome 97 or Microsoft Edge 94 or newer, or Internet Explorer 11. You cannot use a smartphone or tablet.
- Agree to photos taken before, during and at the end of the exam.
- Sit in a quiet place with nobody else in the room: no other adults, children or pets.
- Leave your phone, smartwatch and other electronics in another room.
- Do not use the Driver's Manual or search the internet for answers.
- If your computer does not meet the rules, or you do not want your picture taken, take the exam at the Service Center.
What makes you fail the online exam on the spot?
What counts as cheating on the Massachusetts permit test?
Having someone else take the exam for you is cheating. So is using the Driver's Manual, other reference material or an electronic device during the exam, online or in person. The practice question on whether you may use a manual or phone during the exam covers this rule. If you are caught cheating or trying to cheat, you fail, and you are subject to further investigation. If the RMV finds you responsible, you cannot hold any type of driver's license or permit for 60 days.
What if you fail the Massachusetts permit test?
What help can you get with the Massachusetts permit test?
People with a cognitive or physical disability can request an extended-time exam, a paper exam or a person-to-person oral exam. For an extended-time or paper exam, speak to the Service Center Manager at your visit. You need no advance schedule and no extra documents. For an oral exam, call 857-368-8105 and leave a message. The RMV then contacts you to schedule it. You need written proof of the disability, such as a doctor's letter, an IEP or a school letter. Anyone can choose an audio exam, which reads the questions and answers to you through headphones. It needs no advance schedule or extra documents. Bring your own headphones to the Service Center.
Key takeaways
- The Massachusetts permit test has 25 questions. You need 18 correct to pass.
- You get 25 minutes, with no pause. That is about one minute for each question.
- You can take it at a Service Center or online within 60 days of your visit. Online, a camera and a quiet, empty room are required.
- Cheating means you fail. If the RMV finds you responsible, you cannot hold a license or permit for 60 days. Each retake costs $30.
- Next step: practice on the free Massachusetts Class D learner's permit practice test.
Massachusetts permit test: common questions
How many questions can I miss on the Massachusetts permit test and still pass?
You can miss up to 7 questions. The exam has 25 questions, and you need 18 correct answers within the 25-minute limit. The practice question on the number of correct answers needed to pass tests this number.
Can I pause the Massachusetts permit test and finish it later?
No. Once you start, the 25 minutes run, and you must finish within that time. That gives you about one minute for each question. Do not stay on one question too long: on the online exam, more than 2 minutes with no click on a question is an automatic fail.
Can I wear headphones or a hat during the Massachusetts permit test?
Only in some cases. You cannot wear or use any electronic device during the exam, and headphones are allowed only for an audio exam. You cannot wear a hat unless it is for medical or religious reasons. On the online exam, your face must also stay uncovered: no baseball hats, masks or sunglasses.
What happens after I pass the Massachusetts permit test?
If you pass in person, you get a learner's permit printed on secure cardstock. If you pass online, you print the permit from your online RMV profile. If you cannot print it, call the RMV Contact Center at 857-368-8110, and the RMV mails it in five to seven business days. Carry the permit whenever you practice with a qualified licensed driver.
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