Photo: L'Mainerque, CC BY-SA 4.0, via Wikimedia Commons
The Maine learner’s permit test has 30 questions, and you need at least 24 correct to pass. This guide covers who can apply, what to send the Bureau of Motor Vehicles (BMV), how the test is booked and what it covers. It is for first-time drivers in Maine, including teens finishing driver education.
Key facts
- Minimum age: 15.
- Under 18: you must finish an approved driver education course before applying.
- Test: 30 questions, pass with 24 correct, plus a free vision screening.
- Fee: $35 for the Class C permit examination, as of November 2026.
- The permit lasts 2 years and cannot be renewed.
Who can get a Maine learner’s permit?
Under Maine law (Title 29-A, section 1304), anyone 15 or older may apply. If you are 15 to 17, you must complete a driver education course first. At 18 or older, driver education is not required.
What to send the BMV
- A completed Learner’s Permit application form (on the BMV Forms and Applications page).
- The $35 fee.
- Two forms of identification.
- Proof of Maine residency.
- Your driver education completion certificate, if you are under 18.
- A birth certificate, if you are under 23. A photocopy with the issuing agency’s embossed stamp is accepted. A notarized copy is not.
Bring the documents to a BMV branch office or mail them to: Bureau of Motor Vehicles, Driver License Services Division, Examination Section, 29 State House Station, Augusta, ME 04333-0029. You can mail copies of identity documents, but you must show the originals at the exam.
If you are under 18, a parent or legal guardian must sign your application.
Applying through your driver ed school
Maine law allows an approved driver education provider to collect your permit application and fee and to issue the permit. It also lets the Secretary of State waive the BMV-run exam when it receives a course completion certificate. Ask your school whether it handles any of this for you.
How the Maine permit test is booked
- Once your application is processed, the BMV schedules the written test at the location closest to your mailing address.
- The appointment notice arrives by mail within three weeks.
- You can reschedule with no penalty fee up to 48 hours before the test, using the contact details on your notice.
- If state offices close for severe weather, your exam is rescheduled automatically at no fee.
What is on the Maine written test?
The BMV says the questions cover:
- rules of the road
- the meaning of road signs
- pedestrian and bicycle safety
- Maine’s operating under the influence (OUI) laws
- the dangers of distracted driving
The manual adds that the test places special emphasis on Maine’s drinking and driving laws. Study Section 3 (Ready to Drive) closely.
How to study
- Read the Maine Driver’s License Manual (Rev 11/23). The BMV says the practice questions at the end of each section will help you prepare.
- Know the default speed limits: 45 mph outside built-up areas, 25 mph in business, residential and built-up areas, and 15 mph near schools at set times.
- Learn the OUI rules. Under 21 you may not drive after drinking any amount. The adult limit is 0.08. A first OUI conviction at 0.08 to 0.14 means a fine of at least $500 ($600 with a test refusal) and at least 150 days without a license. At 0.15 or more, or with a refusal, speeding 30 mph or more over the limit, eluding police or a passenger under 21, add at least 48 hours in jail (96 hours with a refusal). A passenger under 21 in the car also adds 275 days to the OUI or refusal suspension. An open alcohol container in the passenger area is also illegal.
- Learn sign shapes and colors. See US road signs by shape and color.
Sample questions from the manual’s practice sections
- How many days do you have to tell the BMV about a name or address change? (30)
- What are the two peak moose collision months in Maine? (May and June)
- On ice or snow, how much more distance does it take to stop than on dry pavement? (three to twelve times)
- What color are construction warning signs? (orange, with black symbols or lettering)
The vision screening
You get a free vision screening when you arrive for the written exam. It checks how clearly you see and your side vision. You can instead ask your own doctor to do the exam and fill in the BMV eye examination form. Give the completed form to the examiner.
Language help for the Maine permit test
The BMV’s digital test is offered in Arabic, Canadian French, English, French, Lingala, Portuguese, Somali, Spanish and Swahili. Since February 1, 2026, the BMV also gives free professional interpreters for the written exam in other languages. Ask for this on the exam application form. Scheduling with an interpreter may take 4 weeks or more.
Permit rules once you pass
- Drive only with a licensed driver who is at least 20, has held a license for at least 2 years, sits beside you and is licensed for the vehicle class.
- Carry your permit whenever you drive.
- No handheld phone or electronic device, even when stopped in traffic, at a light or at a stop sign. You may use one only after pulling off the road and stopping safely.
- Driving alone on a permit can lead to a suspension of up to 30 days.
- If your permit expires, you reapply and retake the vision and written tests. Logged hours carry over.
Next steps: log your hours with the Maine 70 hour driving log, then prepare for the Maine road test.
Common questions
How many questions are on the Maine permit test?
30. You must answer at least 24 correctly.
How much does the Maine permit test cost?
$35 for the Class C permit examination, as of November 2026.
Can I take the Maine permit test online?
The BMV pages do not offer an online test. The BMV schedules you at a branch and mails you the appointment.
Can I get my permit at 15 without driver’s ed?
No. Under 18 you must finish an approved driver education course before applying.
What if I fail the written test?
Ask the Examination Section about any waiting period or retest fee at 207-624-9000, ext. 52119, or [email protected].
Do I need a parent with me?
If you are under 18, a parent or legal guardian must sign your application. A parent or guardian must also come with you when you sign for your license.
How does Maine’s test compare with other states?
See permit test questions by state.
Main guide: learning to drive in Maine. Also see Maine intermediate license rules.
Sources
- Maine Bureau of Motor Vehicles, “How to Obtain a License” (maine.gov)
- Maine Bureau of Motor Vehicles, “Drivers License Exam” (maine.gov)
- Maine Bureau of Motor Vehicles, “Drivers License and Examination Fees” (maine.gov)
- Maine Bureau of Motor Vehicles, “License Age Restrictions” (maine.gov)
- Maine Department of the Secretary of State, Bureau of Motor Vehicles, “Maine Driver’s License Manual” Rev 11/23 (www1.maine.gov)
- Maine Legislature, “Title 29-A, section 1304: Learner’s permits” (legislature.maine.gov)