Maryland Driver's Permit Requirements
Everything you need to get your Maryland learner's permit — age, fees, documents for the written test, supervised-hours rules, and what the road test itself checks — summarized from the official MVA pages and linked to the source.
MarylandMVAMDOT MVA — Learner's PermitChecked 2026-07-13Official source
MarylandMVAMDOT MVA — Learner's PermitChecked 2026-07-13Official source
MarylandMVAMDOT MVA — Learner's PermitChecked 2026-07-13Official source
Last verified 2026-07-13 · Source: MDOT MVA — Learner's Permit ↗
Fees and rules change — always confirm current requirements on the official page above before you go.
The Maryland licensing timeline
Each stage below carries what MVA itself publishes, the people it applies to, the page it came from, and the date we last checked it. Where MVA publishes no figure, the card says so instead of guessing one.
1Eligibility
Minimum permit age15 years 9 monthsMarylandMVAMDOT MVA — Learner's PermitChecked 2026-07-13Official source
Maryland learner's permit minimum age under the Rookie Driver program
2Documents
MVA lists these for the knowledge-test visit:
- Proof of identity
- Proof of Social Security number
- School attendance/identity form if under 16
- Parent or guardian co-signature if under 18
The knowledge test and the permit itself are handled in the same visit.
MarylandMVAMDOT MVA — Learner's PermitChecked 2026-07-13Official source
3Required education
Maryland's own published steps name a training requirement:
- Complete driver education, hold the permit 9 months, log 60 supervised hours with 10 at night, and qualify for the provisional license
MarylandMVAMDOT MVA — Learner's PermitChecked 2026-07-13Official source
4Application
Permit feeMVA does not publish a verified feeMarylandMVAMDOT MVA — Learner's PermitChecked 2026-07-13Official source
5Knowledge test
State site states 25 questions and a 88% (or equivalent) passing score.
6Permit restrictions
Permit validityMVA does not publish a verified validity periodMarylandMVAMDOT MVA — Learner's PermitChecked 2026-07-13Official source
Restrictions Maryland puts on a new driver:
- Permit supervision: Learner's permit holders must be accompanied by a qualified supervising driver age 21+ who has held a license at least 3 years, seated in the front passenger seat
- Permit device rule: Learner's permit holders may not use a cell phone while driving, including Bluetooth or hands-free devices, except to call 911
- Provisional passenger rule: For the first 151 days, under-18 provisional drivers may not drive with passengers under 18 unless they are immediate family members or a qualified supervising driver is in the car
- Provisional night rule: Under-18 provisional drivers may not drive midnight to 5 a.m. unless a qualified supervising driver is present or an allowed work, school, volunteer, or athletic exception applies
MarylandMVAMDOT MVA — Learner's PermitChecked 2026-07-13Official source
7Supervised driving
Supervised driving60 hours (10 at night)MarylandMVAMDOT MVA — Learner's PermitChecked 2026-07-13Official source
These hours apply at every applicant age.
8Road test
9Full licence
Unrestricted driving age16 years 6 monthsMarylandMVAMDOT MVA — Learner's PermitChecked 2026-07-13Official source
Provisional license follows a 9-month learner's permit holding period for drivers under 25
How to get your permit in Maryland
- At 15 years 9 months or older, study the Maryland Driver's Manual and schedule a learner's permit appointment
- Bring required identity and Social Security documents, plus school forms if under 16
- Pass the vision screening and knowledge test
- Drive only with a qualified supervising driver while keeping the supervised driving log
- Complete driver education, hold the permit 9 months, log 60 supervised hours with 10 at night, and qualify for the provisional license
What is different about Maryland
Rules that are set by Maryland rather than nationally, and where they depart from what most states do. Compared against DMV Prep's verified rules for all 51 jurisdictions — unverified figures are left out of both sides of every comparison.
- Minimum permit hold: 9 months here. The most common minimum permit hold is 6 months (33 of 46 states we have verified).
- Supervised-driving requirement: 60 hours here. The most common supervised-driving requirement is 50 hours (29 of 49 states we have verified).
- Passing score: 88% here. The most common passing score is 80% (15 of 26 states we have verified).
Frequently asked questions
How old do you have to be to get a permit in Maryland?
You can get a learner's permit in Maryland at 15 years 9 months. Maryland learner's permit minimum age under the Rookie Driver program.
How long do you have to hold your permit in Maryland?
You must hold your Maryland permit for at least 9 months before the driving test.
How many practice driving hours does Maryland require?
Maryland requires 60 hours of supervised practice driving, including 10 at night. These hours apply at every applicant age.
Where can I practice for the Maryland permit test?
Right here — take a free Maryland practice test, review every answer, and build readiness in your browser. The free DMV Prep app adds offline study and native reminders.
