DMV Maryland · Fees, age, and practice test
Maryland Permit Test: Cost, Age, and DMV Facts
Start the free Maryland practice testSourced procedural facts for Maryland DMV, plus a free 500-question practice test with real sign images and audio.
Free Maryland DMV practice test with 500 practice questions written from the official Maryland Driver's Manual, each with an explanation and a handbook page citation. No signup and no ads. The Maryland permit test has 25 questions, and you need 22 correct (88%) to pass. Page updated 2026-10-22.
Also here: exam simulator in the real test format, flashcards for the whole bank, a one-page cheat sheet, handbook lessons, chapter by chapter, and audio read-aloud for questions.
How many questions are on the Maryland permit test?
The Maryland permit test has 25 questions, and you need 22 correct (88%) to pass.
See the official source · Checked 2026-10-18 against the official text on file.
How much does the Maryland permit test cost?
$0 MVA fee for the knowledge test; permit or license issuance fees still apply
- Learner permit / application fee: $65 Type I for a new driver, including full-license conversion; $45 Type II for currently or previously licensed drivers.
- Initial driver license fee: Full-license conversion is included in the $65 Type I permit. Other new-license transactions use the published $11-per-year schedule (up to $88).
Source: MDOT Motor Vehicle Administration · Fee source checked 2026-10-05. Our 500-question Maryland practice test is free and separate from these DMV fees.
Is the Maryland permit test hard?
You can miss up to 3 of the 25 questions and still pass with 22 correct (88%).
Every question comes from the Maryland Driver's Manual, so reading it and practicing until you pass consistently is the most direct preparation.
What do I need to bring to the Maryland DMV for a permit?
The official Maryland checklist for a permit has 9 items, covering application, identity, Social Security number, residency, fees and vision test.
Who this list covers: First Maryland noncommercial Type I learner permit for U.S.-citizen residents ages 18-64 with an assigned Social Security number and no previous driver license, using the regular federally compliant document pathway. Excludes minors, noncitizen/noncompliant applications and age-65+ documentary alternatives.
- Complete the pre-application and schedule a full-service MVA visit
- Bring original proof of identity, birth date and citizenship
- Bring original or government-certified documents
- Bring legal name-change evidence if your documents differ
- Bring one proof of your full Social Security number
- Bring two Maryland residency documents
- Bring payment for the $65 Type I learner permit
- Pass the vision screening and knowledge test
- If you are a dependent, bring relationship or dependency proof when needed
Source: official Maryland document list · Checked 2026-10-05. Conditions and exceptions for each item are on the full printable checklist, with a source for every item.
Practice the Maryland permit test now
500 questions written from the official Maryland driver manual. Free, no signup, with an explanation and the manual quote for every answer.
Your 3-stage Maryland study path
- Stage 1: Study the sheets. Read the Maryland cheat sheet for signs, numbers, and must-know rules.
- Stage 2: Drill topics. Run the free Maryland practice test with instant explanations until weak topics turn green.
- Stage 3: Simulate the exam. Take the timed exam simulator under graded practice conditions.
Maryland verified practice bank · 500 questions · Page updated 2026-10-22
Before your Maryland knowledge test
Cost details
- Type I costs $65 for drivers with no previous license and includes full-license conversion. Type II costs $45 for previously licensed drivers. Official cost source
- MVA does not charge for knowledge tests; permit issuance still costs money. Official cost source
Before you apply
These notes cover selected application steps. Check the linked official instructions for the full requirements for your situation.
- Complete the myMVA pre-application and reserve a full-service office appointment for vision and knowledge testing. Official application instructions
- Prepare identity and Social Security evidence. Under-16 applicants need DL-300 in a sealed school envelope or parent-co-signed DL-300A. Official application instructions
Cost and application notes checked .
Quick facts
Minimum permit age
15 years and 9 months old
Permit fee
$65 Type I for a new driver, including full-license conversion; $45 Type II for currently or previously licensed drivers.
Initial license fee
Full-license conversion is included in the $65 Type I permit. Other new-license transactions use the published $11-per-year schedule (up to $88).
Questions on the knowledge test
25 questions (Class C, Class M, and Moped Permit)
Passing score
88% or higher
Retake fee
Free; there is no MVA fee for taking a knowledge test (after failing twice, wait at least seven calendar days before retesting)
Retake wait after failing
Next business day after the first failure if an appointment is available; seven calendar days after two or more failures
Supervised driving before road test
60 supervised practice hours, including at least 10 nighttime hours, for most drivers under 25; 14 hours including 3 nighttime hours if age 25 or older
What to bring
Proof of identity, required identification, and learner permit application materials for test day
Find an office / appointment
Use the Locations tool on mva.maryland.gov to find nearest branch/kiosk; appointments recommended and can be booked via Appointments & Online Services page.
REAL ID status
Maryland is over 99% REAL ID compliant; use the MVA's Real ID Check tool to confirm whether your license still needs documents.
Motorcycle license
At least 16 years old for Class M motorcycle license; under 18 must complete Maryland Motorcycle Safety Program Basic Rider Course; knowledge test plus skills test or Fast Track course.
Commercial license (CDL)
18 for intrastate only (K restriction, no interstate/hazmat/passengers); 21 for interstate/hazmat/passenger. Requires 14-day CLP hold, knowledge+skills tests, DOT medical cert, ELDT for Class A/B.
Official source: MDOT Motor Vehicle Administration
Things like renewing registration, REAL ID, or a change of address are outside what this page covers -- go straight to the official Maryland Motor Vehicle Administration (MVA) site.
Maryland DMV fees at a glance
| Fee | Official figure | Source |
|---|---|---|
| Permit fee | $65 Type I for a new driver, including full-license conversion; $45 Type II for currently or previously licensed drivers. | source |
| Initial license fee | Full-license conversion is included in the $65 Type I permit. Other new-license transactions use the published $11-per-year schedule (up to $88). | source |
| Retake fee | Free; there is no MVA fee for taking a knowledge test (after failing twice, wait at least seven calendar days before retesting) | source |
Studying for it? Take the free Maryland DMV practice test (500 questions, instant explanations, no signup).
What a Maryland driver license covers
Initial license fee: Full-license conversion is included in the $65 Type I permit. Other new-license transactions use the published $11-per-year schedule (up to $88). (official source)
REAL ID status: Maryland is over 99% REAL ID compliant; use the MVA's Real ID Check tool to confirm whether your license still needs documents. (official source)
See a real Maryland license sample on the official DMV site (MDOT Motor Vehicle Administration) →
The gold star marks a REAL ID compliant card. Many states hand you a paper interim license the day you pass and mail the physical card later; the interim paper generally works for driving but not for TSA airport ID. Check the official Maryland DMV site for exact card timelines.
Getting a license in Maryland
Getting your first permit
In Maryland, the minimum permit age is 15 years and 9 months old. When you apply for a permit or license, bring: proof of identity, required identification, and learner permit application materials for test day. Use the Locations tool on mva.maryland.gov to find nearest branch/kiosk; appointments recommended and can be booked via Appointments & Online Services page.
Fees, retakes, and practice hours
If you fail the knowledge test: next business day after the first failure if an appointment is available; seven calendar days after two or more failures. Before the road test, the state requires 60 supervised practice hours, including at least 10 nighttime hours, for most drivers under 25; 14 hours including 3 nighttime hours if age 25 or older.
REAL ID, motorcycle, and CDL
Maryland is over 99% REAL ID compliant; use the MVA's Real ID Check tool to confirm whether your license still needs documents. For a motorcycle license: at least 16 years old for Class M motorcycle license; under 18 must complete Maryland Motorcycle Safety Program Basic Rider Course; knowledge test plus skills test or Fast Track course. For a commercial license (CDL): 18 for intrastate only (K restriction, no interstate/hazmat/passengers); 21 for interstate/hazmat/passenger. Requires 14-day CLP hold, knowledge+skills tests, DOT medical cert, ELDT for Class A/B.
The Maryland bank has 500 questions across 9 topics
Test day: what to bring and where to go: a printable Maryland checklist of the documents for the permit test, plus the official office finder and appointment links.
Study the handbook, chapter by chapter: 21 free lessons that boil the Maryland driver manual down to the rules and exact numbers on the test, each quoted with its page.
The Maryland questions learners miss most: ranked from anonymous first-attempt answers on this site, each with the correct answer and its handbook lesson.
One Maryland permit test question a day
A free email each morning with one real practice question, the answer at the bottom, and the manual page it comes from. Confirm by email first; unsubscribe in one click.