A Massachusetts learners permit is required for minors who want to get their drivers license. To get this drivers permit in Massachusetts, you need to be at least 16 years of age.

As well, you will need to successfully pass two tests and get the consent of a parent or other eligible adult. Once you are eligible, you will then need to submit an application and present a minimum of three documents to the DMV.

Whether you choose to submit three or four documents will depend on whether or not you want to use your permit as a form of federal identification. You can only get the DMV learners permit in Massachusetts when you have successfully completed both a written test and a skills test. In this article, you will learn all that you want to know about getting your permit: how much it costs, what the restrictions are and how you can pass the tests.

Did you know? Many driving applicants fail the DMV written exam on their first try. Increase your chances of passing by taking one of our DMV practice tests.

Massachusetts Learners Permit Eligibility Guidelines

Drivers permit requirements in Massachusetts state that you must be at least 16 years old in order to get your permit. To get a learning license, you also need to complete a 48-hour driving course. This includes 18 hours of road experience.

You also need to be a resident of Massachusetts who is legally allowed to be in the US, and you need to get the consent of an adult. This adult will usually be your parent or guardian, but The Department of Children and Families is also allowed to issue this consent.

If you are attending a boarding school, your headmaster has the ability to sign consent. Guardians, headmasters and representatives from the Department of Children and Families need to provide documentation proving their relationship with the minor.

How to Apply for a Learners Permit in Massachusetts

If you are wondering how to get your driving permit online in Massachusetts, the answer is simple: you cannot. Though you are able to renew licenses online, you must apply for a learner permit in person, because the DMV needs to review your documents and administer several tests.

This is the same reason why, when determining where to get a learners permit, you must go to a DMV office. Though AAA locations offer many drivers learners permit and license services, they are not allowed to accept applications from a resident getting their first permit or license.

Before getting a learners permit in Massachusetts at a DMV office, though, you may complete the application online. This application will require you to provide basic information about yourself, such as your name and Social Security Number.

You will then need to bring a minimum of three documents to the DMV. These documents will need to prove:

• Your legal authorization to be in the US. This is most commonly done with a valid U.S. passport or birth certificate, though you may also use a Permanent Resident card or a document proving temporary residency privileges.
• Your Social Security Number. This is most commonly done with a Social Security Card, 1099, W-2 or an SSN Denial Notice, but you may also use a pay stub if it shows both your legal name and your Social Security Number.
• Your Massachusetts residency. This is most commonly done with insurance policies, bills, school correspondence or financial correspondence, though government-issued documentation may also be used if it shows your name and address.

The above steps are for applying for a permit card that is not REAL ID compliant. This means you will be able to use it to drive. However, it will not be suitable for federal identification. If you want to use your learners permit for federal identification purposes, like if you are boarding a domestic flight, you will need to provide three of the documents listed above, plus a second document proving your residency.

The Massachusetts Drivers Permit Test

The Massachusetts DMV permit test requires you to answer 25 questions. You only pass the test if you get 72% of the questions right, meaning you must get at least 18 of the questions correct.

The questions will cover road rules, road signs and the restrictions placed on minors while driving with a permit. This learners permit test may be retaken if you do not pass it, but you will need to pay $30 for each retake.

You cannot take an online drivers permit test in Massachusetts, because the Department needs to ensure that you are completing the test by yourself. This means it must be taken at a DMV location.

When determining what to bring to a permit test in Massachusetts, you may want to bring a Driver’s Manual so that you may study the material before taking the exam. The only requirement is that you must bring a form of identification.

There is not a Massachusetts DMV practice permit test provided by the state, though the Driver’s Manual covers all of the information. You can also find a practice test online from a third part provider.

Massachusetts Driving Permit Rules and Restrictions

Driving permit rules in Massachusetts are designed to ensure that minors learn how to drive in a safe environment. For this reason, permit driving hours are from 5 a.m. to midnight. There are no exceptions. Below you will find some questions that are frequently asked about rules:

• Can you drive with a permit in Massachusetts if your passenger is between the ages of 18 and 20? No, your passenger must be at least 21 years of age, and they must have held their license for at least a year.
• Can you drive with a passenger who has lost his or her privileges? Your passenger must currently have driving privileges in order to supervise your driving.
• How long does a learner’s permit last in Massachusetts? The permit is valid for two years, though you only need it for a minimum of six months; you will be able to convert it to a license once you have driven with your permit for 40 hours and you have successfully passed the skills test.

Massachusetts Learner Permit Fees

The learner permit fee is the same for all applicants, though this cost does not include the cost of the skills test.

• The permit price in Massachusetts is $30. This includes the cost of the written test, but retakes cost an additional $30.
• The skills test exam costs $35. Discounts are not provided if you need to take the exam again.

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