DMV Massachusetts · Facts and practice test
Massachusetts DMV: age, fees, test facts
Sourced procedural facts for Massachusetts DMV, plus a free 81-question practice test with real sign images and audio.
Quick facts
Minimum permit age
16 years old (parent/guardian consent required if under 18)
Knowledge test fee
$30 combined permit application/testing fee, charged each time the test is taken, including retakes
Supervised driving before road test
40 hours of supervised behind-the-wheel driving (30 hours if a driver skills development program is completed), required for Junior Operator License applicants ages 16.5-18
Documents to bring
Proof of Massachusetts residency, proof of identity/date of birth, and proof of SSN or lawful status; originals only, no photocopies or laminates
Find an office / appointment
Book online via the RMV's appointment scheduling tool (Mass.Gov/myRMV Online Service Center); in-person appointments required for permit, license, or ID transactions.
REAL ID status
REAL ID available; requires in-person RMV appointment with 4 documents (lawful presence, SSN, residency); $50 upgrade fee. Federal enforcement began May 7, 2025.
Motorcycle license
No stated minimum age for the Class M learner's permit itself; under-18 applicants must complete the Massachusetts Rider Education Program (MREP) plus Junior Operator rules; 18+ can instead pass a Class M road test after holding the permit.
Commercial license (CDL)
18 for intrastate-only CDL (K restriction); 21 required for interstate commerce or hazmat. Requires a Commercial Learner's Permit before CDL road test.
Official source: Apply for a passenger (Class D) learner's permit | Mass.gov
Things like renewing registration, REAL ID, or a change of address are outside what this page covers -- go straight to the official Massachusetts Registry of Motor Vehicles (RMV) site.
Getting a license in Massachusetts
Getting your first permit
In Massachusetts, the minimum permit age is 16 years old (parent/guardian consent required if under 18). When you apply for a permit or license, bring: proof of Massachusetts residency, proof of identity/date of birth, and proof of SSN or lawful status; originals only, no photocopies or laminates. Book online via the RMV's appointment scheduling tool (Mass.Gov/myRMV Online Service Center); in-person appointments required for permit, license, or ID transactions.
Fees, retakes, and practice hours
$30 combined permit application/testing fee, charged each time the test is taken, including retakes. Before the road test, the state requires 40 hours of supervised behind-the-wheel driving (30 hours if a driver skills development program is completed), required for Junior Operator License applicants ages 16.5-18.
REAL ID, motorcycle, and CDL
REAL ID available; requires in-person RMV appointment with 4 documents (lawful presence, SSN, residency); $50 upgrade fee. Federal enforcement began May 7, 2025. For a motorcycle license: no stated minimum age for the Class M learner's permit itself; under-18 applicants must complete the Massachusetts Rider Education Program (MREP) plus Junior Operator rules; 18+ can instead pass a Class M road test after holding the permit. For a commercial license (CDL): 18 for intrastate-only CDL (K restriction); 21 required for interstate commerce or hazmat. Requires a Commercial Learner's Permit before CDL road test.
The Massachusetts bank has 81 questions across 9 topics
Passed? Don't forget insurance
New drivers in the household need to be added to the policy, and shopping several carriers is the best way to keep the cost down, wherever you live.