Massachusetts RMV Permit Test 2026

Who Can Get a Learner's Permit

To apply for a Class D learner's permit in Massachusetts, you must be at least 16 years old. There is no upper age limit — adults of any age who have never held a license can apply through a similar process.

If you're under 18, a parent or legal guardian must provide written consent on your application. They do not need to accompany you to the RMV, but their signature is required.

Driver education: If you're under 18, you must complete an approved driver education program before you can take the road test (more details below). You can start classroom instruction at age 15 years and 9 months, but you must be 16 with a valid permit to begin behind-the-wheel training.

Residency: You must be a Massachusetts resident. You'll prove residency with documents like a utility bill, bank statement, or other official mail showing your Massachusetts address.

Driver Education Requirements

Massachusetts requires driver education for all first-time license applicants under 18. The program must be completed at an RMV-licensed driving school and includes:

Adults 18+: Driver education is not required if you're 18 or older. However, you'll still need to complete supervised driving practice and pass the road test.

Note: You get your learner's permit before starting the behind-the-wheel portion of driver education. The permit allows you to practice driving legally with supervision.

Fees and What You Pay For

The Massachusetts learner's permit costs $30. This fee covers your permit for 2 years or the length of your legal stay in the U.S., whichever is shorter.

Payment can be made by cash, check, money order, or debit/credit card at RMV Service Centers.

Driver education costs: The driving school course is a separate expense and varies by school. Expect to pay anywhere from $600 to $1,000 or more for the full program. Massachusetts driver education tends to be more expensive than in some other states.

Retakes: If you fail the knowledge test, you can retake it after at least one day. There is no additional fee for retakes at the RMV.

Documents You Need at the RMV

When you visit the RMV to get your learner's permit, bring:

Tip: Use the RMV's online ID Requirements Guide to verify your documents meet requirements before your visit.

Do You Need an Appointment?

Yes, appointments are required for learner's permit services at Massachusetts RMV Service Centers. You cannot walk in without an appointment.

Schedule your appointment online through the myRMV portal. When booking, you'll select where you want to take the knowledge test — either at the Service Center during your appointment or online before your visit.

Online test option: Massachusetts offers the option to take the permit test online before your RMV appointment. This can save time at the Service Center. More details below.

What Happens at the RMV

Here's what a typical RMV visit looks like:

The Vision Screening

The RMV vision screening tests your field of vision and your ability to distinguish basic colors (for traffic signals). It's a quick test done at the service counter.

If you wear glasses or contact lenses, keep them on during the test. If you pass with corrective lenses, your permit will have a restriction requiring you to wear them while driving.

The Knowledge Test

The Massachusetts knowledge test consists of 25 multiple-choice questionscovering:

You need to answer at least 18 questions correctly (72%) to pass. This is one of the lower passing thresholds in the country — you can miss up to 7 questions.

The test is available in over 25 languages, including English, Spanish, Portuguese, Chinese, Vietnamese, and Haitian Creole.

Online Test Option

Massachusetts offers the option to take the permit test online from homebefore your RMV appointment. This can save significant time at the Service Center.

To use the online option:

If you prefer, you can still take the test at the Service Center during your appointment. Both options are available.

Passing Score and Results

When you finish the test, you'll receive your score immediately. If you pass at the Service Center, you'll proceed to get your permit issued. If you took the test online and passed, you'll bring your results to your appointment.

Massachusetts does not have a separate road signs test — sign questions are mixed into the main 25-question exam.

After You Pass

When you pass the knowledge test and complete your RMV visit, you'll receive your learner's permit. It's valid for 2 years from the date of issue.

What comes next: You must hold your permit for at least 6 monthsbefore you can take the road test. During this time:

If You Don't Pass

If you fail the knowledge test, you can retake it after at least one day. There is no additional fee for retakes at the RMV.

There is no limit to the number of times you can retake the test. However, each attempt requires scheduling a new appointment (or taking the online test again).

Study tip: Focus on the areas where you missed questions. The Massachusetts Driver's Manual and practice tests can help you identify weak spots.

Learner's Permit Rules

While driving with a Massachusetts learner's permit:

If your permit expires before you pass the road test, you'll need to reapply and retake the knowledge test.

What is a Junior Operator License?

When you pass the road test as a driver under 18, you'll receive a Junior Operator License (JOL) instead of a regular license. The JOL applies to all drivers between 16½ and 18 years old.

The JOL allows you to drive independently but comes with significant restrictions designed to keep new teen drivers safe during their first months of unsupervised driving.

These restrictions remain in effect until you turn 18, at which point your license automatically becomes a regular license with no JOL restrictions.

JOL Restrictions

The passenger restriction lifts after 6 months (or when you turn 18, whichever comes first). The curfew restriction remains until you turn 18.

Penalties for JOL Violations

Massachusetts takes JOL violations seriously. Penalties include:

Important: If your license is suspended during the 6-month passenger restriction period, the restriction period is extended by the length of the suspension.

The Driver's Manual

The Massachusetts Driver's Manual is the official study guide for the knowledge test. It's available online through the Mass.gov website.

The manual covers Massachusetts traffic laws, road signs and signals, right-of-way rules, safe driving practices, and special situations. All test questions are based on this material.

The manual is available in multiple languages. Focus especially on Massachusetts-specific laws and the rules of the road sections.

Practice Tests

Taking practice tests is one of the most effective ways to prepare. With a 72% passing score, the Massachusetts test is more forgiving than many states, but you still need to study.

DMV Question Bank: For thorough preparation, take Massachusetts RMV practice tests on DMV Question Bank. Practice until you're consistently scoring above 85% to ensure a comfortable margin.

Study strategy: Read the manual, take practice tests to identify weak areas, review those sections, and test again until you're confident.

Supervised Driving Requirements

Before taking the road test, you must complete 40 hours of supervised driving practice with a parent or guardian. This is in addition to the 12 hours of behind-the-wheel instruction from driver education.

Driver Skills Development Program: If you complete an approved driver skills development program, the requirement drops to 30 hours of parent-supervised practice.

Your supervising driver must be:

Keep a driving log signed by your parent/guardian. You'll need to certify completion of these hours when you apply for your road test.

Quick Reference

Official Links