Massachusetts learner's permit and permit test: how to get yours
The Massachusetts permit test is 25 questions, and you need 18 right to pass. Here is who can apply, what to bring, what it costs, how the test works, and how to book the appointment.
The short answer
- Age: 16 or older. Under 18 needs a parent or guardian’s signature.
- Test: 25 questions, 18 right to pass, 25 minutes. Online or at the service center.
- Cost: $30.
- Appointment: required. You visit a service center (or AAA, for members) so the RMV can check your documents and vision and take your photo.
- Valid for: 2 years.
Who can get a learner’s permit
To get a Massachusetts learner’s permit, you must:
- Be at least 16
- Live in Massachusetts
- Not hold a license or learner’s permit from another state
- Have no outstanding obligations to any state
- Meet the Class D or M medical standards
If you’re under 18, a parent, legal guardian, the Department of Children and Families, or a boarding school headmaster signs your application. You also drive under Junior Operator rules until you turn 18.
What to bring to your permit appointment
| What you’re proving | Documents that count |
|---|---|
| 1 · Your identity and date of birth | U.S. passport or passport card; U.S. birth certificate issued by the city, county, or state of birth; Permanent Resident Card; Certificate of Citizenship or Naturalization; foreign passport with a valid U.S. visa and I-94; Employment Authorization Document |
| Your Social Security status | Your Social Security number. If you were never issued one, an Affidavit of No SSN or an SSN denial notice. |
| 1 · You live in Massachusetts | Current lease or mortgage; pay stub, cell phone bill, or insurance bill dated within 60 days; current-year excise or property tax bill; RMV mail dated within 60 days. Under 18: an Alternative Residency Affidavit. |
- Originals only. Photocopies and laminated documents are turned away.
- Documents not in English need a certified translation.
- You can choose a REAL ID permit. That takes 2 residency documents and the stricter REAL ID checklist.
Full list: Mass.gov learner’s permit documents checklist (PDF). Missing a document means your permit won’t be processed.
The Massachusetts permit test
| Detail | Answer |
|---|---|
| Questions | 25 |
| Correct answers to pass | 18 |
| Time limit | 25 minutes, no pausing |
| Topics | Rules of the road, road signs, driving under the influence, the Junior Operator Law, sharing the road with pedestrians, bicyclists, and people who are visually impaired |
| Languages | 37, including Spanish, Portuguese, Haitian Creole, Chinese, and American Sign Language |
Study the Class D Driver’s Manual. The test comes from it, and you can’t use it during the test. When you’re ready, take our free permit practice test: 25 questions and a 25-minute timer, like the real one.
Taking the test online
You tell the service center at your appointment where you’ll take the test. If you choose online, you get login instructions once your application is verified. You’ll need:
- A computer with a working camera, turned on for the whole test. Phones and tablets don’t work.
- Chrome 97, Edge 94, or newer
- A quiet room with nobody else in it: no other adults, children, or pets
- No manual, notes, phone, or smartwatch, and no other browser windows
- A clear view of your face: no hats, masks, or sunglasses
The RMV takes photos at random during the test to confirm it’s you. If your computer can’t meet these rules, take the test at the service center instead. The American Sign Language test is only given at a service center.
How to get your permit
Use the RMV’s learner’s permit application. Log in with a MyMassGov account if you’ve had a Massachusetts license, permit, or ID before.
Book under “Apply for a Learner’s Permit,” or at AAA if you’re a member.
Bring your documents and $30. The RMV checks your documents, gives you a vision screening, and takes your photo.
At the service center, or online afterward.
Pass online and you print it at home. There’s no second visit.
Booking the permit appointment
Mass.gov emails you a personal booking link when a permit appointment opens. A learner’s permit link covers one assigned service center and lasts 24 hours, so open it the day it arrives. For other appointment types, see the appointment guide.
Don’t lose your permit appointment link
A learner’s permit link covers one service center and lasts 24 hours. Paste yours and RMVFinder shows every open time at that center, soonest first. Nothing that fits? We check every minute until the link expires and email or text you when a time opens, or auto-book the first match.
See open appointmentsAfter you get your permit
- A licensed driver who is at least 21, with at least one year of experience, must sit beside you.
- Under 18: no driving between midnight and 5 am unless a licensed parent or legal guardian is with you.
- Carry your permit whenever you drive.
- Your permit lasts 2 years. If it expires, you reapply and retake the test.
- To get your license, you pass a road test. Under 18, you also need an RMV-approved driver’s education course.
If you need a different test format
- Extended time or a paper test: ask the service center manager at your visit. No advance scheduling or paperwork needed.
- Person-to-person oral test: call 857-368-8105 ahead of time and bring written documentation of your disability.
- A test in another language, read aloud: email RMV Interpreter Services at rtinterpreters@dot.state.ma.us.
Frequently asked questions
How many questions are on the Massachusetts permit test?
25 questions. You need to answer 18 correctly to pass, and you have 25 minutes. The online version and the in-person version are the same test.
What do you need to pass the Massachusetts permit test?
18 correct answers out of 25. Questions cover rules of the road, road signs, the consequences of driving under the influence, the Junior Operator Law, and sharing the road with pedestrians, bicyclists, and people who are visually impaired. Study the Class D Driver's Manual.
Can I take the Massachusetts permit test online?
Yes, after your service center appointment. You need a computer with a working camera (not a phone or tablet), a quiet room with no one else in it, and no notes, manual, or other devices. If you pass, you print your permit at home.
How much is a learner's permit in Massachusetts?
The learner's permit application fee is $30.
How old do you have to be to get a learner's permit in Massachusetts?
At least 16. If you are under 18, a parent or legal guardian has to sign your application.
What happens if I fail the permit test?
If you fail the online test, you get instructions at the end on how to pay for and take another one.
Can I drive alone with a learner's permit?
No. A licensed driver who is at least 21, with at least one year of driving experience, has to sit beside you. If you are under 18, you can't drive between midnight and 5 am unless a licensed parent or legal guardian is with you.
How long is a Massachusetts learner's permit valid?
2 years, or the length of your stay in the U.S. An expired permit can't be renewed; you reapply and retake the test.
Can RMVFinder help me get a permit appointment?
RMVFinder is an independent third-party tool — not MassDOT, the Massachusetts RMV, or mass.gov. A learner's permit link covers one assigned service center and lasts 24 hours. Paste yours and RMVFinder shows every open time at that center, soonest first. Step away and it keeps checking every minute and emails or texts you when a time opens, or auto-books the first match if you turn that on.
Related guides
Get your permit appointment booked
Paste the learner's permit link Mass.gov emails you. RMVFinder shows every open time at your assigned center, soonest first, and checks it every minute until the link expires.
See open appointmentsNot affiliated with MassDOT or the Massachusetts RMV