Category: Massachusetts

Photo: Kenneth C. Zirkel, CC BY-SA 4.0, via Wikimedia Commons

At 18 or older in Massachusetts, you skip driver’s education, the 40-hour practice log and the Junior Operator License. You still pass the learner’s permit exam, practice with a qualified supervisor and pass a Class D road test with a sponsor in the back seat. This checklist is for adults getting a first Massachusetts license, and for anyone helping them, using the Registry of Motor Vehicles (RMV) pages and the Massachusetts Driver’s Manual (revised April 2026).

Key facts

• Driver’s ed: not needed if you are over 18, according to the RMV.
• Permit hold and practice hours: the RMV lists the 6-month permit period and 40 supervised hours as requirements for applicants between 16 and a half and 18. Ask the RMV whether any minimum period applies to adults.
• Permit exam: 25 questions, 18 correct to pass, 25 minutes.
• Road test: you must bring a sponsor who is 21 or older, has at least 1 year of driving experience and holds a valid U.S. license.
• Fees (as of November 2026): $30 permit exam, $35 road test, $50 license.

Teen route vs adult route in Massachusetts

Requirement	16 and a half to 17	18 or older
Parent or guardian consent on the application	Yes	No
Driver’s education (30 hours classroom, 12 behind the wheel, 6 observing)	Yes	No
6 consecutive months on the permit with a clean record	Yes	Not listed for adults
40 supervised hours (30 with a skills program) and 2-hour parent class	Yes	Not listed for adults
Permit curfew, midnight to 5 a.m.	Yes, unless with a parent or guardian	No
License type after the road test	Junior Operator License until 18	Class D license

If you are close to 18, ask the RMV which rules apply on your test date. The teen rules are in Massachusetts junior operator license rules.

Checklist 1: getting your Massachusetts learner’s permit

• You are a Massachusetts resident and do not hold a license or permit from another state.
• You meet the Class D medical standards.
• You started the application online and booked a Service Center appointment (or a AAA branch if you are a member).
• You decided between a REAL ID and a Standard license. The RMV notes that people 18 and older need a REAL ID (or another TSA-accepted ID) to board domestic flights. See REAL ID and your first license.
• You have your identity documents and the $30 exam fee.
• You pass the vision screening and have your photo taken.
• You pass the 25-question exam at the Service Center or online. It covers rules of the road, drugs and alcohol, the Junior Operator Law, and sharing the road with visually impaired people, bicyclists and pedestrians.

The RMV lists the exam in 37 languages, including English and American Sign Language (ASL only at a Service Center). Study guide: Massachusetts RMV learner’s permit test. Practice questions: Massachusetts permit practice test.

The permit is valid for 2 years, or the length of your stay in the U.S.

Checklist 2: practicing on your permit

• Your supervisor is licensed, at least 21, has at least 1 year of driving experience and sits beside you.
• You carry your learner’s permit every time you drive.
• You don’t drive in another state if that state’s law would not allow it.
• You practice everything the road test covers (below), including a hill start and a three-point turn.

No hours log is required for adults, but the RMV’s supervised driving log is a handy way to track progress. A practice plan that suits adults too: the supervised practice plan.

Checklist 3: booking and passing the Massachusetts road test

Booking

• Book online through myRMV with your name, date of birth and permit number.
• Tests are released 60 days ahead, and new slots are added through each business day.
• You can pay the road test and license fees when you book or after the test, but no license is issued until both are paid.
• Cancel or reschedule more than 72 hours ahead, or the $35 fee is not refunded.

Your sponsor

• At least 21, with at least 1 year of driving experience.
• Holds a valid license from a U.S. state or territory (a foreign license does not qualify). Brings the physical card.
• Sits in the back seat behind you during the test.
• A certified driving school instructor can be your sponsor.

No sponsor means no test, even if you hold a valid foreign license.

The car

• Registered and inspected, with a parking brake the examiner can reach.
• No donut spare tire. A rental needs a letter from the company allowing the road test.

What the examiner asks you to do

The manual lists what you will do: hand signals, start and stop, parallel park, back up about 50 feet, left and right turns, a hill start and stop, a turnaround between curbs (three-point turn), and entering and leaving intersections while obeying signs and signals. Full detail, including the car rules that get tests rejected: Massachusetts road test and sponsor rules.

If you fail

Wait at least 14 days, pay the $35 fee again, and rebook. The manual allows no more than 6 Class D road tests in 12 months.

When you pass

If your fees are paid and you have proved lawful presence (if it applies to you), your permit serves as your temporary license until the card arrives by mail. If you did not prepay, apply at a Service Center within 60 calendar days of passing, or you must pass a new road test at your own expense.

Rules that still apply to new adult drivers

• Phones: Massachusetts is hands-free for all drivers. At 18 or older you may use one earplug for a cell phone; headphones are otherwise illegal. See Massachusetts phone laws for new drivers.
• Suspensions for 18 and older: three speeding violations within one year mean a 30-day suspension and a $100 reinstatement fee (manual chart).
• Insurance surcharges: at-fault crashes and violations raise your premium. See Massachusetts SDIP surcharges.

Common questions

Do I need driver’s ed at 18 in Massachusetts?

No. The RMV says applicants over 18 don’t need a driver’s education program for a Class D license.

How long do I have to hold my permit before the road test as an adult?

The RMV lists the 6-month period for applicants between 16 and a half and 18. Book when you are ready, and confirm with the RMV if you are unsure.

Can I take the road test without a sponsor if I drove for years abroad?

No. A sponsor is required for every Class D road test. If you already hold a license from another state or country, check whether you need the full test route at all in moving to Massachusetts.

Can I take the permit test online?

Yes. After your Service Center visit you can choose to take the exam online instead of at the Service Center.

I don’t have lawful status. Can I still get a license?

See Massachusetts Work and Family Mobility Act licenses.

What does it cost in total?

$30 exam, $35 road test and $50 license, so $115 if you pass both first time (as of November 2026). Each failed or missed road test adds $35. Lessons are extra.

Back to learning to drive in Massachusetts. Other states: learning to drive as an adult in the US.

Sources

• Massachusetts Registry of Motor Vehicles, “Junior Operator License (JOL) requirements” (mass.gov)
• Massachusetts Registry of Motor Vehicles, “Schedule your road test” (mass.gov)
• Massachusetts Registry of Motor Vehicles, “Apply for a passenger (Class D) learner’s permit” (mass.gov)
• Massachusetts Registry of Motor Vehicles, “Massachusetts Driver’s Manual (Class D), revised April 2026” (mass.gov)
• Massachusetts Registry of Motor Vehicles, “Class D and M Road Test Information Sheet” (mass.gov)

Photo: Ryser915, CC BY-SA 3.0, via Wikimedia Commons

In Massachusetts, a moving violation or an at-fault crash is a “surchargeable incident”. Each one can raise your car insurance under the Safe Driver Insurance Plan (SDIP), and each counts toward a license suspension at the RMV. Three in 2 years means a mandatory retraining course. Seven in 3 years means an automatic 60-day suspension. This guide explains both systems, which are easy to mix up, using RMV and Merit Rating Board pages.

Two systems, one driving record

	Insurance (SDIP)	License (RMV)
What it does	Sets credits and surcharges on your premium	Suspends your license or orders retraining
What counts	Surchargeable traffic offenses and at-fault crashes	The same events, counted over set periods
Who runs it	Merit Rating Board; applied by insurers that use SDIP	Registry of Motor Vehicles

What is a surchargeable incident in Massachusetts?

Traffic law offenses

A citation counts if the offense is on the SDIP list (Appendix A) and you pay the fine, fail to pay it, are found responsible or guilty, or are sent to an alcohol or drug program by the court. Paying a ticket means accepting responsibility.

• Minor traffic violation: civil violations such as speeding or running a light, and minor criminal ones such as driving unlicensed.
• Major traffic violation: criminal offenses such as OUI, leaving the scene of an accident or refusing to stop for police.

At-fault crashes

A crash counts if you are found more than 50 percent at fault and the insurer pays more than $1,000 (above any deductible). The payment must be for someone else’s property, collision or limited collision. A bodily injury claim can count instead if there is no qualifying property or collision claim from the same crash.

• Minor at-fault accident: claim payment over $1,000 and up to $5,000.
• Major at-fault accident: claim payment over $5,000.

Insurers must use the Massachusetts standards of fault to decide whether you were more than 50 percent at fault. The 19 standards cover:

• Hitting a parked vehicle, lawfully parked or not
• Rear-ending another vehicle
• An out-of-lane collision
• Failing to signal
• Failing to proceed with due caution from a signal or sign
• A collision on the wrong side of the road
• Driving in the wrong direction
• A collision at an uncontrolled intersection
• Backing into something
• Turning left or making a U-turn across another vehicle’s path
• Pulling out of a parked position, parking lot, alley or driveway
• Opening a car door into traffic
• A single-vehicle collision
• Failing to obey the rules and regulations for driving
• A collision with an unattended vehicle
• A collision while merging onto a highway or into a rotary
• Causing a crash without contact
• Failing to yield to emergency vehicles
• A collision at a “T” intersection after entering from the side road

Out-of-state crashes and convictions can count too.

SDIP surcharge points

Incident	Points
Minor traffic law violation	2
Minor at-fault accident	3
Major at-fault accident	4
Major traffic law violation	5

If one incident produces more than one surcharge, it counts as one incident. Points affect four coverages: bodily injury to others (Part 1), personal injury protection (Part 2), damage to someone else’s property (Part 4) and collision (Part 7).

Important: insurers do not have to use SDIP. They may use their own merit rating plan instead. SDIP applies if your insurer has chosen it, or if your policy is written through the Massachusetts Automobile Insurance Plan (MAIP). Ask your insurer which plan it uses.

Ways points shrink or disappear under SDIP

• First minor violation: no points if it is your first traffic violation in the 5 years before your policy date.
• Oldest year: no points for incidents in the sixth (oldest) year of your experience period.
• “Clean in 3”: each incident is worth 1 point less if you have 3 or fewer incidents in 5 years, the latest is at least 3 years old, and you have at least 3 years of driving experience.
• Excellent driver discounts: credits for drivers with 5 or 6 years of experience and a clean record. New drivers cannot qualify yet.

When the RMV suspends your license

Trigger	Result	Reinstatement fee
3 speeding violations in 12 months	Automatic 30-day suspension	$100
3 surchargeable events in 2 years	Driver Retraining course within 90 days, or suspension until you complete it	$100
7 surchargeable events in 3 years	Automatic 60-day suspension	$100
3 major violations, or 12 major or minor violations, in 5 years (habitual traffic offender)	4-year suspension	$500
Suspension in another state	Suspended until it is resolved	$100

This is the RMV’s chart for drivers 18 and older. The 12-month speeding period starts when you pay or are found responsible for the first ticket. Junior operators (16 and a half to 18) face far stricter rules: a first speeding offense alone means 90 days. See Massachusetts Junior Operator License rules.

The Driver Retraining course

It runs for 8 hours, usually as two 4-hour sessions, and sometimes as one Saturday session. It focuses on driving behavior, not skills. The RMV mails you an information packet. Finishing it does not remove offenses or surcharges from your record.

What a speeding ticket costs in Massachusetts

• The minimum fine is $100, and a $5 public safety surcharge is added to every civil motor vehicle fine.
• Above 10 mph over the limit, add $10 for each extra mph.
• Worked example from the manual: 73 mph in a 55 zone is 18 mph over. That is $105 for the first 10 mph plus $80 for the next 8, so $185.
• Fines double in a posted work zone.

Got a ticket? Your options

1. Within 20 days, either pay or request a hearing.
2. A hearing request costs a $25 filing fee. It is refunded if you are found not responsible for all violations on the citation.
3. Ignoring it means you are found responsible, charged a large late fee, and eventually suspended if you do not pay.

You can also appeal an at-fault accident finding through the Merit Rating Board’s appeal process.

Common questions

Does one speeding ticket raise my insurance in Massachusetts?

Under SDIP, your first minor violation in 5 years carries no points. Your insurer may use its own plan, though, so ask it.

Is SDIP the same as a points system for my license?

No. SDIP points set insurance pricing. The RMV counts surchargeable events over 12 months, 2 years, 3 years and 5 years to decide on suspensions.

Do out-of-state tickets count in Massachusetts?

Yes. The RMV treats most out-of-state convictions as if they happened in Massachusetts, and insurers can surcharge them.

If I take the retraining course, are my events removed?

No. It only stops the suspension.

Is a crash under $1,000 surchargeable?

Not as an at-fault accident. The insurer must pay more than $1,000 above any deductible.

Where can I check my driving record?

Order it from the RMV: an attested copy costs $20 and an unattested online copy costs $8 (as of November 2026).

Related guides

• Learning to drive in Massachusetts
• How to drive through a Massachusetts rotary
• Points systems and license suspensions in the US
• Car insurance for new drivers

Sources

• Massachusetts Registry of Motor Vehicles, Merit Rating Board, “Safe Driver Insurance Plan (SDIP)” (mass.gov)
• Massachusetts Registry of Motor Vehicles, Merit Rating Board, “Surchargeable incidents” (mass.gov)
• Massachusetts Registry of Motor Vehicles, “Massachusetts Driver’s Manual (Class D), revised April 2026” (mass.gov)

Photo: Arjun Gheewala, Pexels

To drive through a Massachusetts rotary, yield to traffic already in the rotary and to pedestrians, then travel counter-clockwise and signal right before your exit. Never stop inside the rotary. The RMV Driver’s Manual says rotaries are much more common in Massachusetts than in other parts of the country, so you will meet them in practice, on the permit exam and possibly on your road test. Below are the manual’s rules, including which lane to use.

Rotary basics

• A rotary joins roads from several directions around a central island. You do not stop at a STOP sign or signal inside it.
• There are yield signs at each entrance.
• Traffic always travels counter-clockwise.
• Big rotaries are designed for traffic at up to 40 mph, so gaps close fast.

Who has the right of way in a Massachusetts rotary?

Vehicles already in the rotary. You yield to them, and to pedestrians, when you enter, unless signs or a police officer tell you otherwise. Pulling in and causing a crash can cost you: If you pull in and hit someone, note that “collision whileldquo;collision while merging onto a highway or into a rotary” is one of the Massachusetts standards of fault, so a crash like this can count as an at-fault surchargeable event. See SDIP surcharges explained.

Step by step: a single-lane rotary

1. Slow down and read the signs as you approach.
2. Get in the right lane of the road you are on.
3. Yield to vehicles already circulating and to people in the crosswalk.
4. Enter when there is a safe gap and travel counter-clockwise.
5. Signal right once you are ready to exit.
6. Exit into the right lane of the road you want.

Which lane to use in a multi-lane rotary

Follow lane signs first. If there are none, the manual says:

Where you are going	Enter from	Travel in	Exit onto
Quarter-turn (first right) or straight ahead	Right lane	Stay in the right lane	Right lane
Three-quarter turn or U-turn	Left lane	Middle or inner lane	Right lane
Any exit, coming from a single-lane road	Right lane	Right lane for the whole turn	Right lane

In a multi-lane rotary there can be traffic on both sides of you. Check mirrors and blind spots, and do not leave your lane until it is safe.

Missed your exit?

Do not stop and do not cut across. Check the traffic around you and, when it is safe, go around again. Then position your car to exit properly.

Signals in a rotary

Use your turn signals as you would at any other intersection, and always use your right signal before you exit. Signaling tells drivers waiting to enter that you are leaving, so they can go.

Rotary or roundabout: what is the difference?

	Rotary	Roundabout
Size	Large, with a big central island	Much smaller, smaller central island
Speed	Big rotaries designed for up to 40 mph	25 mph or less
Markings	Yield signs at entrances	Most have yield lines on the pavement and crosswalks
Lane rules	As above	Same rules as a rotary; check signs for your lane on approach

The slow speeds in roundabouts make them safer for bicyclists. Give cyclists room. For roundabouts in other states, see how to drive a roundabout in the US.

Common mistakes

• Stopping inside the rotary to let someone in.
• Entering from the left lane to go right, then cutting across traffic.
• Forgetting the right signal before the exit.
• Watching cars and missing pedestrians at the crosswalk.
• Waving another driver in. The manual warns that “courtesy” waves cause crashes.

Common questions

Do you yield to traffic on the left when entering a rotary?

You yield to all traffic already in the rotary. Because traffic goes counter-clockwise, it reaches you from the left.

Can I change lanes inside a rotary?

Only when it is safe. The manual warns there may be traffic on both sides of you.

Is it legal to go around a rotary twice?

Yes. The manual tells you to go around again if you miss your exit.

What lane do I use to make a U-turn at a rotary?

Enter from the left lane, travel in the middle or inner lane, and exit onto the right lane, unless signs say otherwise.

Are rotaries on the Massachusetts permit test?

The exam covers rules of the road from the manual, and rotary rules are part of its right-of-way section. Learn them. See the Massachusetts permit test guide.

Related guides

• Learning to drive in Massachusetts
• Massachusetts road test and sponsor rules
• Pedestrians and crosswalks in the US

Sources

• Massachusetts Registry of Motor Vehicles, “Massachusetts Driver’s Manual (Class D), revised April 2026” (mass.gov)
• Massachusetts Registry of Motor Vehicles, “Surchargeable incidents” (mass.gov)

Photo: Guohua Song, Pexels

If you are under 18 in Massachusetts, you need four things before the RMV will let you take the road test. You must finish driver’s education (30 hours of classroom, 12 hours behind the wheel, 6 hours observing). You must log 40 hours of supervised driving, or 30 with a driver skills development program. A parent or guardian must attend a 2-hour class. And you need 6 clean months on your permit. This checklist covers each requirement and how to prove it.

Massachusetts under-18 checklist

Requirement	Minimum	How it reaches the RMV
Classroom instruction	30 hours	Driver’s education certificate, filed electronically by the school after you pass the final exam
Behind-the-wheel training	12 hours	Same certificate
Observing another student drive	6 hours	Same certificate
Supervised practice	40 hours (30 with a driver skills development program)	Certified statement by a parent or guardian
Parent or guardian class	2 hours (not needed if they attended in the past 5 years)	Part of the driver’s education program
Time on permit	6 consecutive months, clean record	RMV record

Driver’s education: 30 + 12 + 6

• 30 hours in class on Massachusetts motor vehicle law and safe vehicle operation.
• 18 hours in a training vehicle: at least 12 behind the wheel and 6 observing another student.
• Pass the final exam. The school then files your certificate electronically. The RMV checks it is on your record at the road test.

Driver’s education is required for every Class D and M applicant under 18. Courses are run by RMV-licensed driving schools and approved high school programs. If you doubt a school, ask to see its RMV license certificate. A bonus of a licensed school: you can use its car for the road test and its instructor as your sponsor.

At 18 or older you do not need driver’s education.

The 40 supervised hours

These hours are on top of the 12 hours with your driving school. A parent or guardian certifies them. The RMV publishes a Supervised Driving Log you can use to track them.

During practice, your supervisor must:

• be at least 21
• have at least 1 year of driving experience
• hold a valid license from Massachusetts or another state
• sit in the seat beside you

Under 18, you may not practice between midnight and 5 a.m. unless your parent or legal guardian (licensed, with at least 1 year of experience) is the one with you.

The requirement drops to 30 hours if you complete a driver skills development program. Ask your driving school whether it offers one the RMV accepts.

A simple way to plan 40 hours

This is a planning suggestion only, not an RMV rule. Over 6 months (about 26 weeks), 40 hours is roughly 1.5 hours a week. Spread it across:

• quiet streets and parking lots for car control
• busy town centers and thickly settled districts
• highways, merging and exits (see freeway driving for new drivers)
• rotaries (see how to drive through a Massachusetts rotary)
• night, rain and winter conditions (see driving in snow, fog and rain)
• every road test task: parallel parking, backing about 50 feet, three-point turns and hill starts

The 2-hour parent class

One parent or guardian must take part in 2 hours of instruction on the driver’s education curriculum. They do not have to repeat it if they took part in the past 5 years, for example with an older child. The RMV also offers a Parent’s Supervised Driving Program and a Driver Parent/Guardian Contract as optional resources.

Moved from another state?

• Driver’s ed certificate: complete the RMV’s Application to Convert Out-of-State Driver Education Certificate. Your course must meet or exceed the Massachusetts classroom and in-car minimums. Once a Massachusetts certificate is filed, you can book your road test.
• Out-of-state JOL holders: you also need a Massachusetts driver’s education certificate on file and an additional 40 logged hours (30 with a skills program).
• Out-of-state permit: it can be converted, and the Massachusetts permit is backdated to the original issue date so it counts toward your 6 months.

Common questions

Do driving school hours count toward the 40 hours?

No. The RMV says the 40 hours are “additional” to the driver’s education program.

Can a grandparent supervise my practice?

Any driver who meets the supervisor rules (21 or older, 1 year of experience, valid license) can ride with you outside the midnight to 5 a.m. window. The RMV describes the 40 hours as shown by a parent or guardian’s certified statement, and the 30-hour option as driving “supervised by a parent or guardian”. Ask the RMV whether hours with other adults count toward the total.

Can I take driver’s ed before I get my permit?

Ask your driving school when the classroom part must start.

My parent did the 2-hour class for my sister 3 years ago. Do they need to do it again?

No. It counts if they took part in the past 5 years.

I am 18. Do I still need 40 hours?

The 40-hour rule is part of the JOL requirements for applicants aged 16 and a half to 18. The RMV says you do not need driver’s education at 18 or older.

Related guides

• Learning to drive in Massachusetts
• Massachusetts road test and sponsor rules
• Massachusetts Junior Operator License rules
• Supervised driving hours by state

Sources

• Massachusetts Registry of Motor Vehicles, “Junior Operator License (JOL) requirements” (mass.gov)
• Massachusetts Registry of Motor Vehicles, “Massachusetts Driver’s Manual (Class D), revised April 2026” (mass.gov)
• Massachusetts Registry of Motor Vehicles, “Schedule your road test” (mass.gov)

Photo: Msp89 at English Wikipedia, Public domain, via Wikimedia Commons

Any Massachusetts driver aged 16 and a half to 18 is a junior operator and drives on a Junior Operator License (JOL). The JOL has three main limits. For the first 6 months, no passengers under 18 except immediate family. No driving from 12:30 a.m. to 5 a.m. without a parent or guardian. No mobile electronic devices at all. Breaking them brings suspensions that are much longer than adult penalties. This page sets out each rule and penalty from the RMV Driver’s Manual (revised April 2026).

Key facts

• Applies to: all license holders aged 16 and a half to 18. Your license carries restriction code I.
• Passengers: first 6 months, no one under 18 except immediate family unless a qualified adult sits beside you.
• Night: no driving 12:30 a.m. to 5 a.m. unless a parent or legal guardian is with you.
• Phones: no mobile electronic device for any reason, even hands-free, except to report an emergency.
• First speeding offense: 90-day suspension, new permit exam, new road test and a retraining course.

The JOL passenger rule

During your first 6 months on a JOL, you may not drive with any passenger under 18 who is not an immediate family member. The exception is when a licensed driver sits in the seat beside you who is:

• at least 21 years old
• a driver with at least 1 year of experience
• the holder of a valid license from Massachusetts or another state

The passenger rule ends when the 6 months are up or when you turn 18, whichever comes first. A suspension pauses the 6-month clock. After reinstatement you must finish the rest of the period unless you have turned 18.

Moving to Massachusetts with an out-of-state license? If your record shows you held a valid license for a full 6 months without suspension or revocation, the passenger rule does not apply to you. The other JOL rules still do.

The JOL night rule: 12:30 a.m. to 5 a.m.

You may not drive between 12:30 a.m. and 5 a.m. unless one of your parents or your legal guardian is in the car. There is no exception for work or school in the manual. Driving in these hours can be charged as operating without a license, which is a criminal violation.

Between 12:30 and 1 a.m. and between 4 and 5 a.m., police enforce the rule only if they have already stopped you for another offense. This is called secondary enforcement. Driving in those windows is still illegal.

Do not confuse this with the permit curfew. Permit holders under 18 may not drive from midnight to 5 a.m. unless a licensed parent or guardian is with them.

The JOL phone rule

Drivers under 18 may not use any mobile electronic device while driving, for any reason, including in hands-free mode. The only exception is reporting an emergency. Adults 18 and over may use hands-free mode. See hands-free and texting laws for US drivers.

JOL penalties in Massachusetts

Violation	Suspension	Also required	Reinstatement fee
Passenger or night restriction	60 days (1st), 180 days (2nd), 1 year (later)	Driver Attitudinal Retraining from the 2nd offense; new permit exam and road test from the 3rd	$100
Speeding	90 days (1st), 1 year (2nd or later)	New permit exam, Driver Attitudinal Retraining, new road test; possibly a State Courts Against Road Rage (SCARR) course	$500
Drag racing	1 year (1st), 3 years (2nd or later)	New permit exam, Driver Attitudinal Retraining, new road test; possibly SCARR	$500 (1st)
Negligent or reckless driving, operating to endanger	180 days (1st), 1 year (2nd or later within 3 years)	New permit exam and road test from the 2nd offense	$500
Using a mobile device	60 days (1st), 180 days (2nd), 1 year (later)	1st offense: $100 fine, new permit exam, Driver Attitudinal Retraining, new road test. Fines rise to $250 and $500.	$100
Negligent driving causing injury through phone use	180 days (1st), 1 year (2nd or later)	New permit exam and road test from the 2nd offense	$500

Source: the “Mandatory License Suspensions, Junior Operators” chart in Chapter 3 of the Driver’s Manual. These suspensions are added on top of any fine or court penalty, and your parent or guardian is notified.

Extra suspensions for serious offenses

• A junior operator convicted of offenses such as OUI, operating to endanger, leaving the scene of a crash, drinking from an open container, unauthorized use of a vehicle, reckless or negligent operation, or lending a license or permit faces an extra 180-day suspension for a first offense and 1 year for later offenses.
• Under 18, certain driving offenses involving alcohol or drugs bring a 1-year suspension (180 days at 18 to 21), on top of other penalties.
• Under 21, you lose your license at a blood alcohol level as low as 0.02. See zero tolerance laws.
• You cannot get a full license until any JOL suspension is finished and you are 18.

Example: one speeding ticket at 17

A 17-year-old JOL holder is found responsible for a first speeding ticket. The manual sets out what follows:

1. A 90-day license suspension.
2. A new learner’s permit exam, a Driver Attitudinal Retraining course and a new road test before reinstatement. A SCARR course may also be required.
3. A $500 reinstatement fee, on top of the speeding fine.
4. A surchargeable event on the record, which can raise insurance. See SDIP surcharges and suspensions explained.

Other JOL limits

• You may not drive any vehicle that requires a commercial driver’s license.
• Your license is a vertical “Under 21” card.

Common questions

Can I drive my younger brother to school on a JOL?

Yes. Immediate family members are exempt from the passenger rule.

Can I drive friends after my first 6 months?

Yes. The passenger rule lifts after 6 months, or at 18 if that comes first. The night and phone rules still apply until 18.

Can I drive home from a late shift at 1 a.m.?

Not unless a parent or legal guardian is in the car. The manual lists no work exception.

Can I use GPS on my phone with a JOL?

Under 18 you may not use any mobile electronic device while driving. Equipment installed in the car for navigation is not counted as a mobile electronic device. Set any route before you start driving, and ask the RMV before relying on a mounted phone.

What happens on a learner’s permit if I break the rules?

Permit holders face their own suspension chart. For example, driving without a qualifying licensed supervisor brings 60 days for a first offense and a new permit exam.

When does a JOL stop being a JOL?

The junior operator rules cover drivers aged 16 and a half to 18. Check with the RMV if you are unsure whether you need a new card at 18.

Related Massachusetts guides

• Learning to drive in Massachusetts
• Massachusetts road test and sponsor rules
• Massachusetts SDIP surcharges and license suspensions
• US graduated driver licensing compared

Sources

• Massachusetts Registry of Motor Vehicles, “Massachusetts Driver’s Manual (Class D), revised April 2026” (mass.gov)
• Massachusetts Registry of Motor Vehicles, “Junior Operator License (JOL) requirements” (mass.gov)

Photo: Mr. Matté, CC BY-SA 4.0, via Wikimedia Commons

For a Massachusetts Class D road test, you must bring a sponsor. That is a licensed driver aged 21 or older with at least 1 year of experience and a valid U.S. license. You also need your printed permit, a completed road test application and a registered, inspected car with a parking brake the examiner can reach. This guide covers who can sponsor, which cars get rejected, what the examiner asks you to do and the fee rules.

Before you can book (under 18)

• At least 16 and a half years old.
• Learner’s permit held for 6 consecutive months. A suspension restarts the clock.
• Clean record for the 6 months before the test: no surchargeable incidents such as at-fault crashes or moving violations, and no drug or alcohol offenses.
• Driver’s education certificate on file, 40 supervised hours (or 30), and the 2-hour parent class. See the driver education checklist.

If the RMV hears of an incident between booking and test day, your test will not go ahead. You then need a new 6-month clean period, unless you turn 18 first.

How to schedule the Massachusetts road test

• Class D road tests must be booked online through myRMV. You need your name, date of birth and permit number.
• Tests are released 60 days ahead and new slots are added through each business day.
• To look for an earlier date you must cancel your current booking first. The old slot is not held for you.
• Cancel or reschedule with more than 72 hours’ notice to avoid paying again.
• Booking through a driving school? Check the school is RMV-certified. Only instructors from certified schools can sponsor.

Sponsor requirements

Sponsor must	Notes
Be at least 21	Required
Have at least 1 year of driving experience	Required
Hold a valid license from their home U.S. state or territory	A foreign license does not qualify. Bring the physical card, not a photo of it.
Sit in the rear seat behind you	The examiner sits beside you
Not sponsor more than 3 different applicants in a year	Unless the RMV Road Test Program approves it

No sponsor means no Class D road test, even if you hold a valid foreign license, and you still pay the fee. A driving school instructor can be your sponsor. One person may not sponsor more than three different applicants in a year without approval from the RMV Road Test Program.

Test-day checklist

• Arrive about 15 minutes early with your sponsor.
• Printed learner’s permit, legible. Otherwise you need a duplicate.
• Completed road test application. Under 18, a parent or guardian completes the consent section.
• If you answered yes to the medical questions, an RMV employee must approve the application before the test.
• Vehicle registration, plus proof of insurance if the car is registered out of state.
• Know your three hand signals. You demonstrate them at the start.

Car rules: what gets a Massachusetts road test rejected

• Parking brake: the examiner must be able to reach it for an emergency stop. A car with a center console that does not contain the parking brake cannot be used. Some minivans are rejected for this. If the brake is the only problem, you are not charged.
• Parking brake test: the examiner tests it before the drive. If it does not work as the law requires, the test does not go ahead.
• Seating: a seat beside you for the examiner and a rear seat behind you for the sponsor. A sponsor cannot ride in a pickup truck bed.
• Paperwork: valid registration and a current inspection sticker.
• Tires: no “donut” spare.
• Out-of-state car: insurance at least $25,000/$50,000 bodily injury and $30,000 property damage.
• Rental car: rental agreement plus a signed letter on company letterhead allowing the road test. Leased cars do not need this.
• Plates: no repair plates. Dealer and farm plates only in narrow cases.

Not sure about your car? The manual suggests taking it to the test site the business day before.

Backup cameras, parking sensors and self-parking features do not have to be switched off. The examiner still tests your own skills, and if you need such features, a restriction may be added to your license.

What the examiner asks you to do

• Use hand signals
• Start the engine, start and stop the car
• Parallel park
• Back up about 50 feet
• Make left and right turns
• Start, stop and turn on a hill
• Turn around between curbs (three-point turn)
• Enter and leave intersections
• Obey signs, lights, signals and other rules of the road

The examiner also watches your posture and hand position, lane choice, mirror and signal use before lane changes, following distance, speed, and yielding right of way. You and your sponsor may not talk unless the examiner allows it.

Why people fail the Massachusetts road test

• Driving in a way that could cause a crash, or that the examiner sees as dangerous
• Breaking a motor vehicle law or rule
• Showing a lack of experience
• Ignoring or going against the examiner’s instructions
• Not knowing the hand signals
• Being at fault in a crash with a vehicle, pedestrian or object

The test can also be rejected before it starts if you or your sponsor show signs of impairment or smell of alcohol or cannabis. It is also rejected if children, babies or animals (other than trained service animals) are with you and cannot be left at the Service Center. More general tips: common reasons people fail the US driving test.

Fees and retakes

Situation	Rule (as of November 2026)
Road test fee	$35, charged again for a fail, a rejection, being unprepared, a missing sponsor, a failed vehicle inspection, a no-show, arriving late, or cancelling with less than 72 hours’ notice
Wait after a fail or no-show	At least 14 days
Attempt limit	No more than 6 Class D road tests in 12 months
Cancelled for weather or a state of emergency	Rebook at no extra fee

All fees must be paid before you can book a new test.

After you pass

If you prepaid the $50 license fee and have no outstanding obligations, the examiner validates your permit as a temporary license, valid for up to 60 days. Your card comes by mail. If you did not prepay, pay within 60 days of passing, or you may have to retake the test at your own expense. If you are under 18, you now hold a Junior Operator License. Read the JOL rules before you drive with friends. The overall steps are in learning to drive in Massachusetts, and other states are compared in US road tests by state.

Common questions

Can my older brother or sister be my sponsor?

Yes, if they are 21 or older, have at least 1 year of driving experience and hold a valid U.S. license.

Can I use a car with an electronic parking brake?

The manual allows manual or electric brakes. The examiner must be able to reach it, and a center console without the parking brake disqualifies the car.

Does the sponsor ride along during the test?

Yes, in the seat behind you. Only you, the examiner and your sponsor are allowed, plus an approved interpreter or trained service animal.

How soon can I retake the Massachusetts road test?

After at least 14 days, and after paying the $35 fee again.

Do I need a sponsor if I already have a foreign license?

Yes. A sponsor is required for every Class D road test.

Can I bring my dog or a younger sibling?

No. If they cannot be left supervised at the Service Center, the examiner can reject the test.

Sources

• Massachusetts Registry of Motor Vehicles, “Massachusetts Driver’s Manual (Class D), revised April 2026” (mass.gov)
• Massachusetts Registry of Motor Vehicles, “Schedule your road test” (mass.gov)
• Massachusetts Registry of Motor Vehicles, “Class D and M Road Test Information Sheet” (mass.gov)
• Massachusetts Registry of Motor Vehicles, “Junior Operator License (JOL) requirements” (mass.gov)

Photo: Dominik Gryzbon, Pexels

The Massachusetts learner’s permit exam has 25 multiple-choice questions. You need 18 correct to pass, and you get 25 minutes. You can take it at an RMV Service Center or online at home within 60 days of your Service Center visit. This guide covers what is on the exam, the rules that cause an automatic fail online, the $30 fee and what happens if you fail.

Massachusetts permit test at a glance

Item	Rule
Questions	25 multiple choice
Pass mark	18 correct
Time limit	25 minutes (about 1 minute per question)
Minimum age	16
Fee	$30, charged again for each new attempt (as of November 2026)
Where	Service Center, or online within 60 days of your Service Center visit
Languages	English and more than 30 others, plus an audio option
Also required	Vision screening at the Service Center, or an RMV Vision Screening Certificate from your eye doctor

What is on the Massachusetts permit exam?

Questions come from the Class D Driver’s Manual. The RMV lists these topics:

• Rules of the road and identifying road signs
• Alcohol and drugs: what happens if you drive under the influence
• License suspensions
• The Junior Operator Law and JOL violations
• Sharing the road with people who are visually impaired, bicyclists and pedestrians

Study the Massachusetts-specific rules closely: the JOL passenger, night and phone limits (see Massachusetts Junior Operator License rules), the under-21 0.02 alcohol limit, the rotary rules (see how to drive through a Massachusetts rotary) and the suspension periods in Chapter 3 of the manual (see SDIP surcharges and suspensions). The RMV also recommends its practice exam on mass.gov.

How to book the permit exam

1. Start your learner’s permit application online.
2. Book a Service Center appointment (or a AAA branch if you are a member).
3. Bring your identification documents. Under 18, a parent or guardian signs the application.
4. Pay the $30 fee, pass the vision screening and have your photo taken.
5. Tell the clerk whether you will test at the Service Center or online.

Vision standard

You need at least 20/40 in your better eye (with glasses or contacts if you wear them) and at least 120 degrees of horizontal peripheral vision. If your corrected vision is between 20/50 and 20/70 in the better eye, you may qualify for a daylight-only license. The screening also checks color vision.

Taking the Massachusetts permit test online

After your documents are verified, the RMV sends login details. Online exam requirements:

• A computer with a working camera, switched on for the whole exam. No smartphones or tablets.
• Google Chrome 97, Microsoft Edge 94 or Internet Explorer 11 or newer.
• You consent to photos before, during and at the end of the exam. Only you may appear in them.
• A quiet room with no other adults, children or pets. Phone and smartwatch in another room.
• Close all other browser windows and turn off pop-ups. No hat, mask or sunglasses.

The American Sign Language exam can only be taken at a Service Center.

Automatic fails online

Trigger	What counts
Inactivity	No click on a question for more than 2 minutes
Time out	Taking longer than 25 minutes
Lost focus	Leaving the browser during the exam

To try again you pay another $30 fee through your myRMV profile.

Cheating rules

Using the manual, any reference material or any electronic device counts as cheating. So does having someone else take the exam for you. If you are found responsible, you fail and cannot hold any license or permit for 60 days. You may also be investigated further. At a Service Center, hats are not allowed unless worn for medical or religious reasons.

Languages, audio and accommodations

• Languages: Class D exams are offered in more than 30 languages, including Spanish, Portuguese, Haitian Creole, Cape Verdean Creole, Chinese (simplified and traditional), Vietnamese, Arabic, Russian and American Sign Language.
• Audio: anyone can choose an audio exam, at a Service Center kiosk or online, with no appointment or paperwork. Bring headphones to a Service Center.
• Disability: you can ask for extended time, a paper exam or a person-to-person oral exam. Oral exams must be booked in advance by phone and need written documentation, for example a doctor’s letter or an IEP.

After you pass

You get your permit document, which you must carry whenever you practice. It is valid for 2 years (or the length of your stay in the U.S.). If it expires, you reapply and retake the exam. Next, read the driver education and 40-hour practice requirement and the full guide to learning to drive in Massachusetts. For how other states compare, see US permit tests by state.

Common questions

How many questions can I miss on the Massachusetts permit test?

Seven. You need 18 correct out of 25.

Can I take the Massachusetts permit test online?

Yes. You visit a Service Center first, then you have 60 days to take it on a computer with a camera.

How much does the Massachusetts permit test cost?

$30 as of November 2026. You pay it again for each retake.

What happens if I fail?

You can try again after paying another $30. The RMV sources used here give no fixed waiting period for an ordinary fail. A cheating finding means a 60-day ban.

Can I use my phone as a calculator or translator?

No. No electronic device may be worn or used during the exam, whatever its purpose.

Do I need to bring my parent?

If you are under 18, a parent or guardian must sign your application. If the person signing is not a parent, they must show proof of guardianship.

Sources

• Massachusetts Registry of Motor Vehicles, “Learner’s Permit Exam Overview” (mass.gov)
• Massachusetts Registry of Motor Vehicles, “Apply for a passenger (Class D) learner’s permit” (mass.gov)
• Massachusetts Registry of Motor Vehicles, “Massachusetts Driver’s Manual (Class D), revised April 2026” (mass.gov)

Photo: Ren Aukeman, Pexels

This guide is for teens, parents and adults getting a first driver’s license in Massachusetts. In Massachusetts you can get a learner’s permit at 16 by passing a 25-question exam. If you are under 18, you then hold the permit for 6 months, finish driver’s education and 40 hours of supervised driving, and pass a road test at 16 and a half or older to get a Junior Operator License (JOL). Everything below comes from the Registry of Motor Vehicles (RMV) and the Massachusetts Driver’s Manual, revised April 2026.

Key facts

• Permit age: 16. Under 18 you need written consent from a parent or guardian.
• Permit exam: 25 multiple-choice questions, 18 correct to pass, 25 minutes. You can take it at a Service Center or online after your Service Center visit.
• Permit lasts: up to 2 years (or the length of your stay in the U.S.).
• Supervisor: licensed driver aged 21 or older with at least 1 year of experience, in the seat beside you.
• Under 18 before the road test: 6 consecutive months on the permit with a clean record, driver’s education, 40 supervised hours (30 with a driver skills development program), and a 2-hour parent class.
• First license under 18: a Junior Operator License with passenger, night and phone limits until you turn 18.
• Fees (as of November 2026): $30 permit exam, $35 road test, $50 license.

Massachusetts licensing rules by age

	16 to 17	18 and older
Permit	From 16, parent or guardian signs	Yes
Night driving on a permit	Not from midnight to 5 a.m. unless with a parent or guardian	No permit curfew
Driver’s education	Required	Not required
6 months on the permit and 40 supervised hours	Required before the road test	Listed only as JOL (under 18) requirements
Earliest license	16 and a half	After passing the road test
License type	Junior Operator License until 18	Full Class D license

The JOL requirements on the RMV page apply to applicants between 16 and a half and 18. Ask the RMV if you are unsure which rules apply to you.

Step 1: get your learner’s permit

1. Study the Massachusetts Driver’s Manual.
2. Start the permit application online, then book a Service Center appointment (AAA members can use a AAA branch).
3. Bring your identification documents. You choose between a REAL ID and a Standard license at this point.
4. Pay the $30 learner’s permit exam fee.
5. Pass a vision screening and have your photo taken.
6. Pass the permit exam, at the Service Center or online.

Exam format, the online exam rules and the automatic-fail traps are in the Massachusetts RMV learner’s permit test guide. For documents, see REAL ID and your first US driver’s license.

Step 2: driving on your permit

• Carry the permit every time you drive.
• Your supervisor sits in the front passenger seat. They must be 21 or older, hold a valid license from Massachusetts or another state, and have at least 1 year of driving experience.
• Under 18: no driving from midnight to 5 a.m. unless a licensed parent or legal guardian with at least 1 year of experience is with you.
• You may drive in another state only if that state’s law allows it. See driving with a learner’s permit in another state.
• Under 18, you may not use any mobile electronic device while driving, even hands-free, except to report an emergency.

Step 3: driver’s education and practice hours (under 18)

Driver’s education in Massachusetts means 30 hours of classroom, 12 hours behind the wheel and 6 hours observing another student. On top of that you need 40 hours of supervised driving signed off by a parent or guardian, or 30 hours if you complete a driver skills development program. One parent or guardian must attend 2 hours of the course unless they did so in the last 5 years. Full checklist: Massachusetts driver education and the 40-hour practice requirement.

Step 4: pass the road test

Book online once you meet the requirements. Slots open 60 days ahead. You must bring a sponsor (21 or older, licensed in the U.S. for at least 1 year), your printed permit, a completed road test application and a registered, inspected car with a parking brake the examiner can reach. The examiner will ask you to parallel park, back up about 50 feet, do a three-point turn, start and stop on a hill and show hand signals. Details: Massachusetts road test and sponsor rules.

Step 5: your Junior Operator License

If you are under 18, you start on a JOL:

• First 6 months: no passengers under 18 other than immediate family, unless a licensed driver aged 21 or older with 1 year of experience sits beside you.
• No driving from 12:30 a.m. to 5 a.m. unless a parent or legal guardian is with you.
• No mobile electronic devices at all, except to report an emergency.
• A first speeding offense means a 90-day suspension.

Every rule and penalty is in Massachusetts Junior Operator License rules.

Massachusetts license fees

Item	Fee (as of November 2026)
Learner’s permit exam (charged again if you fail or your permit expires)	$30
Road test (charged again for a fail, no-show, rejection or cancellation with less than 72 hours’ notice)	$35
Class D license issue or renewal	$50
Duplicate or amended license	$25
Out-of-state Class D license conversion	$115
Class D or M permit conversion	$30

The RMV says fees can change at any time and are non-refundable. Check the current figure on the RMV site before you pay.

Keeping your Massachusetts license

Moving violations and at-fault crashes are “surchargeable events”. They raise your insurance and count toward suspension. Three speeding violations in 12 months mean an automatic 30-day suspension. Three surchargeable events in 2 years mean a Driver Retraining course. Seven in 3 years mean an automatic 60-day suspension. Junior operators face much tougher rules. See Massachusetts SDIP surcharges and license suspensions explained and the national overview of points systems and suspensions.

Massachusetts traffic laws new drivers get tested on

• Hands-free law: drivers 18 and older may use a phone only in hands-free mode, mounted, and touched only to activate hands-free. No holding a phone at red lights or stop signs. Fines are $100, then $250, then $500. Under 18: no devices at all. More in hands-free and texting laws.
• Seat belts: everyone in a passenger vehicle must be belted or in a child restraint. The fine is $25 for an unbelted driver or passenger 16 or older. A driver can also be fined $25 for each unbelted passenger aged 12 to 15. See seat belt and child car seat laws.
• Alcohol: the limit is 0.08 BAC, but under 21 you lose your license at 0.02. See zero tolerance laws for drivers under 21 and implied consent.
• Speed: unless signs say otherwise, the manual treats these as the top reasonable speeds: 20 mph in a school zone, 30 mph in a thickly settled or business district, 40 mph outside one, and 50 mph on a highway outside one. Some towns set a 25 mph thickly settled limit. Background: speed limits and the basic speed law.

Massachusetts figures from the Driver’s Manual

Massachusetts-specific numbers from the RMV Driver’s Manual (revised April 2026) that the permit exam and new drivers often need:

Topic	Massachusetts rule
Child restraints	A federally approved child restraint until the child is at least 8 years old or at least 57 inches tall; after that, a seat belt. $25 fine.
Headlights	On from half an hour after sunset to half an hour before sunrise, when you cannot see 500 feet ahead, and whenever your wipers are on (daytime running lights do not count).
Dimming	Low beams within 500 feet of an oncoming vehicle and within 200 feet of a vehicle ahead.
Signals	At least 100 feet before a turn; on a highway, at least 500 feet before a turn or exit.
Passing	To cross a broken yellow line you must see at least 400 feet ahead, and be back in your lane before an oncoming vehicle is within 200 feet.
U-turns	Not at a hill crest, near a curve, or anywhere you or others cannot see 500 feet.
Minimum speeds	40 mph on the Massachusetts Turnpike; 20 mph in the Boston Harbor tunnels.
Railroad crossings	When the lights flash, stop at least 15 feet before the light post or gate and stay stopped until the gate rises and the lights stop.
School buses	Stop for a school bus or pupil transport vehicle with lights flashing and stop sign out, from either side of the road. First violation: $250 fine and possible suspension.
Vulnerable road users	Leave at least 4 feet when passing pedestrians, roadside workers, cyclists, horse riders, wheelchair and scooter users and similar road users. You may cross the center line to do it if safe.
Opening doors	Check mirrors and open the door with your far hand (the Dutch Reach) so you turn and see cyclists.
Emergency vehicles	Do not follow closer than 300 feet behind one answering an alarm, and do not drive by or park within 800 feet of a fire.
Crash reports	Report any crash with an injury, a death or $1,000 or more of property damage to the RMV in writing within 5 days. Telling your insurer is not enough.
Leaving the scene	Always stop, identify yourself, give aid if you can and call for help, even after a small crash.
Chemical tests	Under 21, a BAC of 0.02 brings an administrative suspension. Ages 18 to 21 who fail a test: 30 days plus 180 days. Refusing a test at 18 to 21 with no prior OUI: 3 years plus 180 days.

Rules of the road: rotaries and right of way

Massachusetts has far more rotaries than most states. Traffic goes counter-clockwise, and you yield to vehicles already in the rotary and to pedestrians. Lane choice and exits are covered in how to drive through a Massachusetts rotary. For signs, signals and markings, see US road signs, traffic signals, pavement markings and four-way stops.

Special driving situations

• Move-over law: slow to a safe speed for a stopped emergency, highway maintenance or recovery vehicle with flashing lights. On a highway with at least 4 lanes (2 or more in your direction), leave an open lane next to it if you safely can. See move over laws.
• Police stops: you must have your license and registration handy. Failing to produce either is a $35 fine for a first offense.
• Crashes: see what to do after a car crash. Also useful: school bus laws and driving in snow, fog and rain.

Registration, insurance and inspection

• Every passenger vehicle must pass a safety and emissions inspection every year.
• For an out-of-state car used on the road test, the RMV asks for insurance at least equal to the Massachusetts minimums: $25,000/$50,000 bodily injury and $30,000 property damage.
• Massachusetts does not issue an insurance card. Your registration names your insurer.
• Moving to Massachusetts? You must get a Massachusetts license, with no grace period. See moving to a new state and car insurance for new drivers.

Common questions

Can I get my license at 16 in Massachusetts?

No. You can get a learner’s permit at 16, but the earliest you can get a license is 16 and a half, after 6 consecutive months on the permit and driver’s education.

Can I take the Massachusetts permit test online?

Yes, after your Service Center visit, on a computer with a working camera. Phones and tablets are not allowed.

Do adults need driver’s ed in Massachusetts?

No. The RMV says you do not need driver’s education if you are over 18. You still need a permit and a road test.

Can a parent with a foreign license sponsor my road test?

No. A sponsor must hold a valid U.S. license from their home state or territory.

When do JOL restrictions end?

The passenger limit ends after 6 months or at 18, whichever comes first. The night and phone limits apply while you are under 18.

How long is a Massachusetts license valid?

Up to 5 years. It usually expires on your birthday.

Massachusetts guides in this series

• Massachusetts RMV learner’s permit test
• Massachusetts driver education and 40-hour practice requirement
• Massachusetts road test and sponsor rules
• Massachusetts Junior Operator License rules
• How to drive through a Massachusetts rotary
• Massachusetts SDIP surcharges and license suspensions
• Learning to drive in the USA

Sources

• Massachusetts Registry of Motor Vehicles, “Massachusetts Driver’s Manual (Class D), revised April 2026” (mass.gov)
• Massachusetts Registry of Motor Vehicles, “Junior Operator License (JOL) requirements” (mass.gov)
• Massachusetts Registry of Motor Vehicles, “Apply for a passenger (Class D) learner’s permit” (mass.gov)
• Massachusetts Registry of Motor Vehicles, “Learner’s Permit Exam Overview” (mass.gov)
• Massachusetts Registry of Motor Vehicles, “Schedule your road test” (mass.gov)
• Massachusetts Registry of Motor Vehicles, “Class D and M Road Test Information Sheet” (mass.gov)

Photo: Phil Evenden, Pexels

Yes, you can get a Massachusetts driver’s license with a bioptic telescope. Under the RMV’s medical rules (540 CMR 24.00), you need 20/40 or better through the telescope, 20/100 or better through the carrier lens and through the other eye’s lens, and at least 120 degrees of combined horizontal peripheral vision. The telescope must be fixed focus, monocular (one eye only), no stronger than 3x, built into the glasses, and must not block your line of sight through either lens. You must also pass a road test using the bioptic. Your license carries restriction R (Bioptic Telescoping Lens).

This page explains the RMV licensing rules. Your eye doctor or low-vision specialist can advise on your own vision.

Massachusetts bioptic requirements at a glance

Requirement	Rule
Acuity through the telescope	20/40 or better
Acuity through the carrier lens	20/100 or better
Acuity through the other lens	20/100 or better
Peripheral vision	At least 120 degrees combined horizontal field
Telescope type	Fixed focus, monocular, 3x magnification or less, spectacle-mounted as part of the lens, not blocking the line of sight through either lens
Road test	Pass a road test using the bioptic when you first apply, or at your first renewal after being fitted
License restriction	R: Bioptic Telescoping Lens (plus B: Corrective lenses where it applies)

How Massachusetts compares with the standard vision rule

For a Class D or M license without a bioptic, the RMV needs at least 20/40 in your better eye (with correction) and 120 degrees of horizontal peripheral vision with both eyes. If your corrected vision is between 20/50 and 20/70 in the better eye, you may get a daylight only license (restriction G). Bioptic users follow the separate rules above instead of the standard acuity test.

Step by step: getting a learner’s permit with a bioptic

1. See a Massachusetts-licensed ophthalmologist or optometrist. They complete the RMV’s Class D and M Vision Screening Certificate, which records your acuity through the telescope, the carrier lens and the other lens, and asks yes/no questions on each telescope requirement.
2. Use the certificate within 12 months. The RMV will not accept it more than 12 months after the screening date, and only an original (not a photocopy) is accepted.
3. Apply for your learner’s permit. The certificate can be accepted in place of the RMV’s own vision screening. The usual permit steps still apply: see the Massachusetts RMV learner’s permit test.
4. Train with the bioptic. Complete driver education and supervised practice as any learner would: Massachusetts driver education and the 40-hour requirement.
5. Pass the road test using the bioptic.

Daylight and other restrictions

Older text of the regulation says bioptic users receive a permit or license restricted to daylight hours, with a corrective lens restriction, and that the daylight restriction can be removed by passing a night-time road test. Check the current position with RMV Medical Affairs before you rely on it. Medical Affairs reviews each application case by case and can ask for a physician’s letter.

Ask Medical Affairs about motorcycle (Class M) eligibility with a bioptic.

Massachusetts is a self-reporting state

If you have a medical condition that affects your driving, including a change in your vision, you must report it to the RMV when it appears, not just at renewal. For questions, call RMV Medical Affairs on 857-368-8020.

Common questions

Can I use the bioptic to pass the RMV clerk’s vision screening?

Bioptic users qualify through the eye doctor’s Vision Screening Certificate and the bioptic criteria, not the standard acuity test.

Can I drive a school bus or 7D vehicle with a bioptic?

No. A person who uses bioptic telescopic lenses is not eligible for a school bus, 7D or 7D½ certificate.

Is a 4x telescope allowed?

No. Massachusetts caps magnification at 3x.

Related guides

• Bioptic driving laws by state
• Driver’s license vision rules in the Northeast
• Learning to drive in Massachusetts
• New York bioptic driving
• Driver’s license restriction codes

Want to practise the eyesight check? Our sister site Driving Eyesight Test has a free US letter chart on drivingeyesighttest.com. It is a practice screen, not an eye test.

Sources

• Massachusetts Registry of Motor Vehicles, “Massachusetts Driver’s Manual” (revised April 2026), Vision Screening Requirements and List of Restrictions (mass.gov)
• Massachusetts Registry of Motor Vehicles, 540 CMR 24.00: Medical qualifications for operators of motor vehicles (mass.gov)
• Massachusetts Registry of Motor Vehicles, “Class D and M Vision Screening Certificate” (mass.gov)
• Massachusetts Registry of Motor Vehicles, “Medical standards for passenger (Class D) and motorcycle (Class M) driver’s licenses” (mass.gov)
• Massachusetts Registry of Motor Vehicles, “Medical standards for school bus and school pupil (7D) driver’s licenses” (mass.gov)

Photo: Dominik Gryzbon, Pexels

Massachusetts drivers 18 and older may use a phone only in hands-free mode, mounted, and touched only to switch hands-free on. Drivers under 18, on a learner’s permit or Junior Operator License (JOL), may not use any mobile electronic device for any reason, hands-free included, except to report an emergency. This page sets out both rules from the RMV Driver’s Manual, what counts as a device, and the penalties, which are much heavier for junior operators.

Key facts (RMV Driver’s Manual, 2026)

• Law: Chapter 90, Section 13B and Chapter 122 of the Acts of 2019 (the hands-free law).
• 18 and older: hands-free only; the device must be mounted on the windshield, dashboard or center console.
• Under 18: no mobile electronic device use at all while driving, except to report an emergency.
• No one may write, send or read texts, emails or instant messages, or use the internet, while driving.
• Adult fines: $100, then $250, then $500. Under 18, a phone conviction also suspends your license for 60 days on a first offense.

Drivers 18 and older: what hands-free means in Massachusetts

• Don’t hold it. The device cannot be held or supported in your hand.
• Don’t touch it, except once to activate hands-free mode.
• Mount it on the windshield, dashboard or center console, where it does not interfere with driving.
• No messages or browsing. Writing, sending or reading any electronic message, or accessing the internet, is banned.
• GPS is allowed if the phone is fixed in the car for navigation.
• Stopped means parked. Hand-held use is allowed only when the vehicle is stationary and not in a public travel lane. Red lights and stop signs do not count.

The RMV also warns against stopping on the side of a busy road or highway to use a phone. Find a safe place off the road.

Drivers under 18: no device use at all

The JOL phone rule is simple: no mobile electronic device, for any reason, while driving. Hands-free calls, voice-to-text and Bluetooth are all covered. The one exception is reporting an emergency. The same rule applies to learner’s permit holders under 18.

What counts as a mobile electronic device?

The law’s definition is broad: any hand-held or portable equipment that lets two or more people communicate, including:

• phones and text messaging devices
• pagers and personal digital assistants
• laptops
• video game and DVD equipment
• cameras that take or send digital photos
• equipment that can receive a TV broadcast

It does not include audio equipment, or equipment installed or fixed in the car to provide navigation or emergency help to the driver, or video for rear-seat passengers. So a car’s built-in navigation screen is not a mobile electronic device. A phone running a map app is a device. If you are under 18, set it before you start and do not touch it.

Penalties: adults vs junior operators

Offense	Driver 18 or older	Junior operator (under 18)
First	$100 fine	$100 fine, 60-day license suspension, new learner’s permit exam, Driver Attitudinal Retraining course
Second	$250 fine and a distracted driving educational program	$250 fine, 180-day suspension
Third and later	$500 fine, insurance surcharge and a distracted driving program	$500 fine, 1-year suspension

The reinstatement fee after a junior operator phone suspension is $100. A phone violation that leads to negligent driving and injury brings a further suspension of 180 days for a first offense and 1 year for later ones, with a $500 reinstatement fee. A crash caused by device use can also bring criminal charges.

Insurance surcharges work through the Safe Driver Insurance Plan. See Massachusetts SDIP surcharges and license suspensions.

Headphones

Wearing headphones or any device that restricts your attention to your surroundings while driving is illegal in Massachusetts. Drivers 18 and older may use one earplug for a phone.

Common questions

Can I use my phone at a red light in Massachusetts?

No. Hand-held use is allowed only when the vehicle is stationary and outside a public travel lane. Red lights and stop signs are specifically excluded.

Can a 17-year-old with a JOL use Bluetooth?

No. Drivers under 18 may not use any mobile electronic device for any reason, hands-free included, except to report an emergency.

Can I use Google Maps on a mounted phone at 18?

Yes. GPS devices, including phones, can be used if fixed in the car for navigation. Don’t type addresses while moving.

Does the phone suspension delay my full license?

It can. You cannot get a full license until you have served any suspension imposed while you held a JOL and you have reached 18. See Massachusetts junior operator license rules.

Can my passenger use a phone?

Yes. The law covers the driver. A passenger handling navigation or replying to messages for you is the best way to keep your hands free.

Is the phone law on the permit test?

It can be, since it is in the Driver’s Manual. Review it with the Massachusetts learner’s permit test guide.

Back to the complete Massachusetts learner guide. Other states: hands-free and texting laws.

Sources

• Massachusetts RMV, “Driver’s Manual”, Chapter 2 (Distracted Driving Law / Hands-Free Mobile Phone Use) and Chapter 3 (License Suspension or Revocation) (mass.gov)
• Massachusetts General Court, “General Laws Chapter 90, Sections 8M and 13B” (malegislature.gov)