DMV Massachusetts · Fees, age, and practice test
Massachusetts Permit Test: Cost, Age, and DMV Facts
Start the free Massachusetts practice testSourced procedural facts for Massachusetts DMV, plus a free 209-question practice test with real sign images and audio.
How much does the Massachusetts permit test cost?
$30 combined permit application/testing fee, charged each time the test is taken, including retakes
- Learner permit / application fee: $30 (Learner's Permit Application Fee)
- Knowledge (written) test fee: $30 combined permit application/testing fee, charged each time the test is taken, including retakes
- Initial driver license fee: $50 (Class D driver's license, 5 years)
Source: Apply for a passenger (Class D) learner's permit | Mass.gov · Fee source checked 2026-10-05. Our 209-question Massachusetts practice test is free and separate from these DMV fees.
Your 3-stage Massachusetts study path
- Stage 1: Study the sheets. Read the Massachusetts cheat sheet for signs, numbers, and must-know rules.
- Stage 2: Drill topics. Run the free Massachusetts practice test with instant explanations until weak topics turn green.
- Stage 3: Simulate the exam. Take the timed exam simulator under real test conditions.
Massachusetts verified practice bank · 209 questions rev 2026-10-12-ca500
Before your Massachusetts knowledge test
Cost details
- The permit exam is $30 each attempt; the separate road test costs $35 and a five-year Class D license costs $50. Official cost source
Before you apply
These notes cover selected application steps. Check the linked official instructions for the full requirements for your situation.
- Start the permit application online and reserve a Service Center visit, or an eligible AAA appointment if you are a member. Official application instructions
- Bring the required identification documents for review before taking the exam; choose the standard or REAL ID document requirements for your application. Official application instructions
Cost and application notes checked .
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
Permit fee
$30 (Learner's Permit Application Fee)
Initial license fee
$50 (Class D driver's license, 5 years)
Questions on the knowledge test
25 questions (25 minutes allotted)
Passing score
18 questions correct (out of 25)
Retake fee
$30 (each learner's permit exam costs $30)
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 and date of birth, and proof of SSN (or an Affidavit of No SSN or SSN Denial Notice with passport, visa, or I-94); originals only, no photocopies or laminated documents
Find an office / appointment
You must make an appointment at an RMV Service Center for permit, license, or ID transactions.
REAL ID status
REAL ID available; requires an in-person RMV Service Center appointment with documents proving lawful presence, SSN, and Massachusetts residency.
Motorcycle license
The RMV's Class M pages cover the Massachusetts Rider Education Program (MREP), Junior Operator License rules, and Class M road tests.
Commercial license (CDL)
18 for an intrastate-only CLP; 21 required for interstate driving. A Commercial Learner's Permit is required before the 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.
How much is the Massachusetts permit test?
Massachusetts knowledge test fee: $30 combined permit application/testing fee, charged each time the test is taken, including retakes (official source). Permit fee: $30 (Learner's Permit Application Fee) (official source).
How many questions are on the Massachusetts permit test?
The official Massachusetts knowledge test: 25 questions (25 minutes allotted) (official source). Passing score: 18 questions correct (out of 25) (official source).
Massachusetts DMV fees at a glance
| Fee | Official figure | Source |
|---|---|---|
| Knowledge test fee | $30 combined permit application/testing fee, charged each time the test is taken, including retakes | source |
| Permit fee | $30 (Learner's Permit Application Fee) | source |
| Initial license fee | $50 (Class D driver's license, 5 years) | source |
| Retake fee | $30 (each learner's permit exam costs $30) | source |
Studying for it? Take the free Massachusetts DMV practice test (209 questions, instant explanations, no signup).
What a Massachusetts driver license covers
Initial license fee: $50 (Class D driver's license, 5 years) (official source)
REAL ID status: REAL ID available; requires an in-person RMV Service Center appointment with documents proving lawful presence, SSN, and Massachusetts residency. (official source)
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 Massachusetts DMV site for exact card timelines.
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 and date of birth, and proof of SSN (or an Affidavit of No SSN or SSN Denial Notice with passport, visa, or I-94); originals only, no photocopies or laminated documents. You must make an appointment at an RMV Service Center 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 an in-person RMV Service Center appointment with documents proving lawful presence, SSN, and Massachusetts residency. For a motorcycle license: the RMV's Class M pages cover the Massachusetts Rider Education Program (MREP), Junior Operator License rules, and Class M road tests. For a commercial license (CDL): 18 for an intrastate-only CLP; 21 required for interstate driving. A Commercial Learner's Permit is required before the CDL road test.
The Massachusetts bank has 209 questions across 9 topics
Test day: what to bring and where to go: a printable Massachusetts 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 Massachusetts driver manual down to the rules and exact numbers on the test, each quoted with its page.
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