Massachusetts Permit Test Languages: 37 Options, ASL and Audio
In which languages can I take the Massachusetts Class D permit test?
You can take the Massachusetts Class D learner's permit exam in 37 languages, including English and American Sign Language (ASL). Spanish, Portuguese, Vietnamese, Haitian Creole, Mandarin and Nepali are on the list. Anyone can choose an audio exam that reads each question through headphones. The ASL exam is given only at an RMV Service Center, and oral exams in other languages start with an email to RMV Interpreter Services.
Where these Massachusetts permit test rules come from
The language list, the ASL rule, the interpreter email and the oral exam rules come from the RMV page for a Class D learner's permit. The audio exam, the exam rules and the deaf and hard of hearing road test steps come from the RMV Driver's Manual (revised April 2026). The translated manuals and their price come from the RMV Driver's Manuals page. The road test interpreter rules come from the RMV Class D road test page. The online exam answer comes from the RMV learner's permit FAQ, and the First Time Driver guide has the same 37-language list. This guide is current as of 2026. Confirm the rules with the Massachusetts RMV (mass.gov/rmv) before you drive.
The 37 languages of the Class D permit exam
If English is not your primary language, you may ask to take the learner's permit exam in a foreign language. The 37 options are: Albanian, American Sign Language, Arabic, Armenian, Burmese, Cape Verdean Creole, English, Farsi, French, German, Greek, Gujarati, Haitian Creole, Hindi, Hungarian, Italian, Japanese, Khmer/Cambodian, Kiswahili, Korean, Laotian, Mandarin (Simplified), Mandarin (Traditional), Nepali, Pashto, Polish, Portuguese, Russian, Serbo-Croatian, Somali, Spanish, Tagalog, Thai, Turkish, Ukrainian, Urdu and Vietnamese.
Language and help options for the Massachusetts permit test
| Option | Who can use it | How to get it |
|---|---|---|
| Written exam in a foreign language | Anyone whose primary language is not English | Ask the RMV for the exam in your language. The list above applies. |
| ASL exam | Anyone who wants the ASL version | Service Center only. Book a permit appointment by 2:30 p.m. |
| Audio exam | Anyone | No advance booking and no extra documents. Bring headphones. |
| Foreign language oral exam | Applicants who need an oral exam in their language or dialect | Email RMV Interpreter Services at rtinterpreters@dot.state.ma.us. |
| Person-to-person oral exam | Applicants with a cognitive or physical disability | Call 857-368-8105 and leave a message. Book in advance and bring written proof of the disability. |
| Online exam | Class D and M applicants | All the Driver's Manual languages, except ASL. Audio works online too. |
Can I take the permit test in American Sign Language?
Yes. ASL is one of the 37 languages. Because of the exam format, the ASL Class D exam can only be taken at an RMV Service Center, not online. Self-schedule a permit appointment no later than 2:30 p.m. at any Service Center that offers testing services. If you also need an in-person ASL or ASL/CDI interpreter for the permit test, a road test or another RMV transaction, email RMV Interpreter Services at rtinterpreters@dot.state.ma.us. You can also call 857-368-8105 and leave your name, phone number and the Service Center where you want to test.
How the audio exam works
- An automated voice reads the test questions and the possible answers through headphones.
- It works on the testing stations at the RMV Service Center and on the online exam.
- Audio is available in all the Class D and M languages. Commercial (CDL) audio exams are English only.
- You do not book it in advance.
- Bring your own headphones to the Service Center. Every testing station has a splitter with a universal headphone connection.
- The time limit for a Class D audio exam is 25 minutes.
How to ask for an oral exam with an interpreter
For an oral exam in a foreign language, email RMV Interpreter Services at rtinterpreters@dot.state.ma.us. This is not the same as the person-to-person oral exam, where an RMV employee reads the questions aloud to an applicant with a cognitive or physical disability. For that exam, call 857-368-8105 and leave a message with your name, phone number, request and Service Center. It is given only if booked in advance, and you must give the manager written documentation of the disability, such as a doctor's letter or an Individualized Education Plan (IEP).
What to put in your interpreter email
- Your full name
- Your contact phone number
- Your contact email
- The language or dialect you need
- The RMV location where you want service
Is the online permit exam offered in other languages?
Yes. The online version of the learner's permit exam is available in all the languages listed in the Driver's Manual, except ASL, which is given only at a Service Center. The audio exam works online too. Only Class D (passenger) and Class M (motorcycle) exams can be taken online. The guide to the Massachusetts online permit test explains how the online exam works.
Is the Massachusetts Driver's Manual in my language?
The RMV Driver's Manuals page has the English Class D manual and translations in 14 languages: Arabic, Cape Verdean Creole, Simplified Chinese, Traditional Chinese, French, Haitian Creole, Hindi, Khmer, Korean, Pashto, Portuguese, Russian, Spanish and Vietnamese. That is fewer than the 37 exam languages. You can download each manual for no fee with a PDF viewer, or buy a printed manual at an RMV Service Center for $5 (U.S. dollars).
Language help on the Massachusetts road test
Massachusetts permit exam rules in every language
Every Class D permit exam has 25 questions, and you must answer 18 correctly within 25 minutes. Our practice question on the time limit of the permit exam covers the 25 minutes. No Driver's Manual, dictionary or other reference material is allowed, and no electronic device of any kind, including a phone translation app. Headphones are allowed only for the audio exam. Use of a manual or a device counts as cheating: you fail, and if you are found responsible, you cannot hold any license or permit for 60 days. Our free practice tests and question pages are in English only.
Key takeaways
- The Massachusetts Class D permit exam comes in 37 languages, including English and ASL.
- The ASL exam is given only at an RMV Service Center. Book your permit appointment by 2:30 p.m.
- Anyone can choose the audio exam, at a Service Center or online. Bring headphones to the Service Center.
- For an oral exam in your language, email RMV Interpreter Services with your name, phone, email, language and RMV location.
- Commercial (Class A, B and C) permit exams are English only.
- Next step: practice on the free Massachusetts Class D learner's permit practice test.
Massachusetts permit test languages: common questions
Can I take the Massachusetts permit test in Spanish?
Yes. Spanish is one of the 37 languages of the Class D exam, at a Service Center or online. You can also hear the questions read aloud in Spanish with the audio exam. To study, download the Spanish Driver's Manual for no fee from the RMV manuals page, or buy a printed copy at a Service Center for $5.
Do I need to prove a disability to get the audio permit test?
No. Anyone can choose the audio exam. You do not need extra documents, and you do not book it in advance. Written proof of a disability is needed for the person-to-person oral exam, where an RMV employee reads the questions to you. That exam must be booked in advance at 857-368-8105.
Can I take the Massachusetts permit test in Portuguese?
Yes. Portuguese is one of the 37 exam languages, and the Driver's Manual lists it as Portuguese (Brazilian). The RMV manuals page also has a translated Portuguese Driver's Manual, labeled Portuguese (Portugal), that you can download for no fee. You can take the audio exam in Portuguese too, at a Service Center or online.
Can I take the Massachusetts permit test in Chinese?
Yes. The exam comes in Mandarin (Simplified) and Mandarin (Traditional). The RMV manuals page has both a Simplified Chinese and a Traditional Chinese Driver's Manual. The audio exam is available in these languages too, at a Service Center or online.
Is the Massachusetts CDL permit test offered in other languages?
No. The Class A, B and C learner's permit exams are available only in English, and the CDL audio exam is English only too. A commercial permit exam also cannot be taken online. The language options in this guide apply to Class D (passenger) and Class M (motorcycle) exams.
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