Pro tip: As you navigate Massachusetts's historic routes and bustling city streets, strong driving skills are indispensable. Explore our guides on manual gear shifting and parallel parking. Gain expertise in reverse parking and three-point turns. Proper mirror placement is critical for safe driving. Our Online Driving Simulator offers a virtual environment to practice, and international drivers should be aware of Massachusetts's international driver's license stipulations.
You can get a REAL ID MA permit (valid for federal purposes) or Standard permit (not valid for federal purposes). Use The RMV's REAL ID, Real Answers Wizard to see what's right for you.
You must verify
Use this guide to choose documents correctly.
$30.00. Most service centers accept cash, check, money order, and credit or debit cards. However, check what’s accepted at the site you will be visiting. If you fail the permit exam, you will have to pay the fee again.
According to Junior Operator License (JOL) law , all applicants between16 ½ and 18 receive this type of license which allows them to drive unsupervised but with some restrictions. These restrictions will be lifted once you complete the six-month period or turn 18, whichever comes first:
You should keep your driving record clean during this time. A suspension will invalidate the permit and the six months will start to run anew when the suspension is lifted.
You should complete it at a public high school or at a professional driving school licensed by the RMV. Click here to locate a licensed education program. To get a driver education certificate, you must complete classroom instruction (30 hours) and on-road instruction (12 hours of behind-the-wheel training; and 6 hours of in-car experience observing other student drivers).
Your parent or guardian must provide a certified statement verifying the completion. The RMV will accept 30 hours of driving supervised by a parent or guardian if you completed a driver skills development program.
Your parent or guardian is required to participate in 2 hours of instruction on the driver's education curriculum (unless they have participated within the past five years).
$35.00. You can use the "Pay My Road Test and/or License Fees" transaction to pay these fees before or after you take the road test. If fees have been paid, your driver's license will be automatically sent to you, and you will not need to visit an RMV Service Center after passing the road test.
Alternatively, you may schedule by calling the RMV Automated Service Line at
866-MASSRMV (866-627-7768). Cancel or reschedule the test online or through the RMV Contact Center. There is no additional fee if you give more than 72 hours' notice.
Road tests may be cancelled by examiners due to inclement weather.
Note that if you got a learner's permit before March 26, 2018, additional documentation may be required. You will need to prove U.S. citizenship or lawful presence in the U.S. Provide this before scheduling or taking the road test. If you apply for a Standard Driver's License, provide this online or in an RMV Service Center. If you apply for a REAL ID Driver's License, you must provide it at an RMV Service Center.
Arrive with a qualified fully licensed sponsor (21 or older with at least a year of driving experience) in a properly equipped, legally registered vehicle to use for the test. If you fail the test, you can reschedule for the later date, but you are not allowed to attempt more than six road tests in a 12-month period.
If you pass the test, the examiner will stamp the back of your learner's permit and it will immediately serve as your temporary driver's license. Your permanent license will arrive in the mail within 4 weeks. Call the RMV Contact Center if you don't get your license after 4 weeks.
Note that if you got a learner's permit before March 26, 2018, additional documentation may be required. You will need to prove U.S. citizenship or lawful presence in the U.S. Provide this before scheduling or taking the road test. If you apply for a Standard Driver's License, provide this online or in an RMV Service Center. If you apply for a REAL ID Driver's License, you must provide it at an RMV Service Center.
Arrive with a qualified fully licensed sponsor, who is 21 or older with at least a year of driving experience. Foreign license holders are not eligible to be sponsors. You must come in a properly equipped, legally registered vehicle to use for the test. If you fail the test, you can reschedule for the later date, but you are not allowed to attempt more than 6 road tests in a 12-month period.
If you pass the test, the examiner will stamp the back of your learner's permit and it will immediately serve as your temporary driver's license. Your permanent license will arrive in the mail within 4 weeks. If you are over the age of 21, but still have a photo on file from when you were under 21, you will need to visit a service center to obtain your license.
Call the RMV Contact Center if you don't get your license after 4 weeks.
Learner's permit exams are offered only on a walk-in basis at an RMV service center.You cannot schedule your learner's permit exam in advance
The exam contains 25 multiple choice questions about rules of the road, road signs, alcohol misuse, suspensions, and Junior Operator Law (JOL) violations. All RMV Full Service Centers have automated testing stations (ATS). They are easy to use video screen kiosks that let you practice with sample questions before beginning the actual exam. To pass the exam, you must answer at least 18 questions correctly. Time limit: 25 minutes (about a minute per question).
Study the MA Driver's Manual as all questions are based on the information provided there. Then prepare with the help of our free practice tests available here. When you feel comfortable with your score, you are ready! You can also download our free DMV Genie app to study on the go. Get it on the App Store or on Google Play.
No. Usage of a Driver's Manual, other reference material, or electronic device during the exam is considered cheating. Don't wear any electronic and audio devices. No hats are allowed unless for religious and medical reasons.
If you are caught cheating or trying to cheat on an exam, you will fail and won't be allowed to hold any type of driver's license or permit for 60 days. In some cases, you may even be subject to further investigation.
Road tests are scheduled online or by phone at 866-627-7768. You may also cancel or reschedule your road test online or through the RMV Contact Center. You should arrive 15 minutes before your appointment time. If you are late for your appointment, you will not be tested and will have to pay another road test fee.
Bring the following:
Vehicle requirements:
Your vehicle should be safe, in good working order and have the following:
Your job now is to prove that you can operate a vehicle safely. Be prepared to demonstrate the following skills:
Additionally, the examiner will be judging your general good-driving procedures including the following:
Critical Driving Mistakes
You will fail automatically if you commit one of the following:
The examiner will tell you if you pass or fail and discuss your driving errors. If you have prepaid for your license, have proven lawful presence, and have no outstanding obligations, your examiner will stamp your learner's permit and it will become a temporary license, valid up to 60 days. Your permanent license will be mailed to you.
If you fail, you may schedule another appointment and pay another fee to retake the exam. Note that you are not allowed to take more than 6 road tests in a 12-month period.
If you are a visitor from another country, you may drive with your valid foreign driver's license for up to one year from your arrival in the United States provided your license is from one of the countries from the list.
If your legal immigration status is less than 12 months, you are not eligible to obtain a Massachusetts driver's license.
If you have a license from Canada, Mexico, or a U.S. territory (including Puerto Rico), Republic of Korea, Germany, France or Taiwan, you won't be asked to take tests. However, you will have to surrender your foreign license. The procedure of transferring licenses for these countries are similar to transferring an out-of-state license.
Note that to transfer your driver's license, you must have a valid immigration status for at least 12 months from the date of application. If your legal immigration status is less than 12 months, your application will be placed on hold.
If your license is not from the country mentioned above, you will not be able to convert your license. Instead, you will be required to apply for the driver's license as if you never had one. Follow all the requirements in How to Apply for MA Learner's Permit.
