DMV Massachusetts · Fees, age, and practice test
Massachusetts Permit Test: Cost, Age, and DMV Facts
Sourced procedural facts for Massachusetts DMV, plus a free 180-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 · Last verified 2026-07-06. Our 180-question Massachusetts practice test is free and separate from these DMV fees.
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 (180 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 180 questions across 9 topics
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