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If you are under 21 in Maine, you must log at least 70 hours of supervised driving, including 10 after dark, before you can take the road test. The hours go on the BMV’s Permittee Driving Log, form MVE-21. This checklist covers who can supervise, who signs the log, what each entry needs and where to send it.
Key facts
- 70 hours total, at least 10 after dark.
- Hours count only after your learner’s permit is issued.
- You must also hold the permit for 6 months before applying for the road test.
- Required for everyone under 21. Drivers 21 and older do not submit a log.
- Falsifying the log is a Class E crime.
Who can supervise your practice in Maine?
Under Title 29-A, section 1304, the person beside you must:
- hold a valid license and have held one for at least 2 years
- be at least 20 years old
- sit in the seat beside you
- be licensed for the class of vehicle you are driving
The supervisor must follow any restrictions on their own license. It is a Class E crime to supervise a permit driver while impaired by alcohol or drugs.
Who signs the Maine driving log?
| Your situation | Who certifies |
|---|---|
| You have a parent, stepparent, guardian or spouse | One of them |
| You have none of those | Your employer |
| You are 18 or older and have none of the above, including no employer | The Secretary of State may complete the certification if you give the name and address of the driver who supervised most of your 70 hours |
If the person certifying was not your main supervisor, they must give the name and address of the licensed driver who rode with you for most of the 70 hours.
What goes on the MVE-21 form
Your details
- Name and date of birth
- Mailing address and phone number
- History number, found at the top left of your learner’s permit, above your date of birth
Each drive
- Date and time
- Number of driving hours
- Number of after-dark hours
- Supervising driver’s name and age
- Supervising driver’s license number
The final page
- Total hours of practice and total hours of night driving
- The certifier’s printed name, relationship, signature and date, confirming 70 hours including 10 after dark
The form has two pages of entry rows. The BMV says to duplicate pages as needed and keep a copy for your records.
How to submit your log
- Check that you have held your permit for 6 months.
- Check that the totals reach 70 hours and 10 night hours.
- Have the certifier sign and date the log.
- Keep a copy.
- Mail it to: Secretary of State, Bureau of Motor Vehicles, Examination Section, 29 State House Station, Augusta, ME 04333-0029. Do not mail money or your permit with it.
For drivers under 21, the log replaces the road test request card. Mailing it is how you get booked for the road test. Then read the Maine road test guide.
Making your 70 hours count
Use the practice to cover what the road test checks and what Maine drivers face:
- Road test skills: parallel parking, straight-line backing, lane position, left and right turns.
- Turnarounds: two-point and three-point turnarounds from Section 7 of the manual.
- Night hours: high and low beams, and watching for moose and deer between dusk and dawn. See avoiding moose and deer collisions in Maine.
- Winter: gentle braking and steering, longer following distances. See driving in snow, fog and rain.
- Rural roads: gravel, narrow roads, single-lane bridges and uncontrolled intersections.
Common questions
How many hours do I need for a Maine license?
70 hours, including 10 after dark, if you are under 21.
Do driver ed hours count toward the 70?
The BMV says the 70 hours must begin after your permit is issued. It does not say whether hours with a driver ed instructor count. Ask your driver education school or the BMV Examination Section.
Can my older sibling supervise me?
Yes, if they are at least 20, have held a license for 2 years and are licensed for the vehicle. A parent, stepparent, guardian or spouse still certifies the log.
What if my permit expires before I finish?
Your logged hours carry over to your next permit, and there is no extra wait before the road test.
Is there an app for the Maine log?
The BMV mentions that some parents track hours with the Road Ready app. The required form is still the MVE-21 log, so check with the BMV that what you submit meets the requirement.
Do I need a log at 21 or older?
No. Drivers 21 and older do not submit driving time and can take the road test without the 6-month wait.
How do other states compare?
See supervised driving hours by state.
Main guide: learning to drive in Maine. Related: Maine permit test and Maine intermediate license rules.
Sources
- Maine Bureau of Motor Vehicles, “Driving Log” form MVE-21 Rev 5/22 (www1.maine.gov)
- Maine Legislature, “Title 29-A, section 1304: Learner’s permits” (legislature.maine.gov)
- Maine Bureau of Motor Vehicles, “License Age Restrictions” (maine.gov)
- Maine Bureau of Motor Vehicles, “How to Obtain a License” (maine.gov)
- Maine Bureau of Motor Vehicles, “Drivers License Exam” (maine.gov)
- Maine Department of the Secretary of State, Bureau of Motor Vehicles, “Maine Driver’s License Manual” Rev 11/23 (www1.maine.gov)