To get a Maine learner’s permit, you must be at least 15 years old, submit Form MVE-64 to the Bureau of Motor Vehicles with proof of identity and Maine residency, pass a vision screening and a 30-question written knowledge test, and pay a $35 fee.1Maine State Legislature. Maine Code 29-A 1304 – Learner’s Permits2Maine Secretary of State. Drivers License and Examination Fees Applicants under 18 also have to finish an approved driver education course and have a parent or guardian sign the application. The permit is valid for two years.
Who Can Apply
Fifteen is the minimum age. If you’re under 18, you can’t apply until you’ve completed a state-approved driver education course, which runs 30 hours of classroom instruction plus 10 hours of behind-the-wheel training with a certified instructor.1Maine State Legislature. Maine Code 29-A 1304 – Learner’s Permits Adults 18 and over skip driver education entirely, but everyone takes the same tests.
Minors need a signature on the application from a parent, legal guardian, or a spouse who is at least 18. If none of those are available, an employer who is 18 or older can sign, or you can submit a court-issued emancipation order in place of a signature.3Maine Legislature. Maine Code 29-A 1302 – Minors
Documents You’ll Need
What you bring depends on whether you want a Real ID-compliant permit or the standard version. A Real ID has been required since May 7, 2025, to board domestic flights and enter certain federal buildings. For a Real ID permit, gather:
- Proof of identity and legal presence, such as a certified birth certificate or U.S. passport.
- Your Social Security number. You don’t need the physical card, but the BMV will verify the number. If you’re not eligible for one, bring a formal denial letter from the Social Security Administration.
- Two proofs of Maine residency showing your name and physical Maine address, like a utility bill, bank statement, or mortgage statement. A P.O. Box doesn’t count.
A standard (non-Real ID) permit uses the same list, except you only need one proof of residency instead of two.4Maine Secretary of State. How to Prove Maine Residency5Maine Secretary of State. Real ID
The application itself is Form MVE-64, downloadable from the BMV website.6State of Maine. Non-Commercial Class C Application It asks for your legal name, physical address, and physical descriptors, and it includes a medical questionnaire about conditions that could affect driving, such as seizure disorders, vision problems, or episodes of loss of consciousness. Answer honestly. The BMV uses those answers to decide whether you need additional medical clearance before you can drive.
The Vision Screening and Knowledge Test
Two evaluations stand between you and the permit.
The vision screening checks your visual acuity and peripheral vision. If your vision falls below the unrestricted standard, the BMV can still issue a permit with restrictions, such as requiring corrective lenses or limiting you to daylight driving.7Maine Secretary of State. Vision Screening
The written knowledge test has 30 questions drawn from the Maine Motorist Handbook and Study Guide, covering right-of-way rules, traffic signs, and safe following distances. You need 24 correct answers, which is 80%. The handbook is free on the Secretary of State’s website. If you fail, the examiner will tell you when you can retake the test.
How to Apply and What It Costs
You can submit Form MVE-64 and your supporting documents in person at any BMV branch, or by mail to the main office in Augusta. The examination fee is $35, and it covers both the written test and the permit.8Maine Secretary of State. How to Obtain a License2Maine Secretary of State. Drivers License and Examination Fees
Branches take walk-ins, but wait times can run past three hours in busy periods. Booking an appointment online first will save you significant time; slots are released daily.9Maine Secretary of State. Bureau of Motor Vehicles If you apply by mail, the BMV will send you a notice with your assigned testing date and location. Once you pass both tests, the permit is either issued on the spot at a branch or mailed within roughly two weeks.
Rules Once You Have the Permit
A learner’s permit does not let you drive alone. Every time you’re behind the wheel, a supervising driver has to be in the seat next to you. That person must be at least 20 years old, have held a valid license for at least two consecutive years, and be licensed for the same class of vehicle you’re driving.1Maine State Legislature. Maine Code 29-A 1304 – Learner’s Permits
Maine bans permit holders from using a handheld phone or electronic device while driving, and unlike fully licensed adult drivers, permit holders can’t use those devices even in hands-free mode.10Maine State Legislature. Maine Code 29-A 2121 – Use of Mobile Telephones and Handheld Electronic Devices While Operating Motor Vehicles Prohibited It’s one of the easier ways for a new driver to pick up a violation without realizing it.
There is no statewide nighttime curfew for permit holders, and no cap on how many passengers can ride along. You will, however, need to log nighttime driving practice before you can take the road test, so avoiding the dark entirely only delays you.
Practice Hours and the Road Test
If you’re under 21, you must log at least 70 hours of supervised driving practice before the road test, with at least 10 of those hours after dark. You track the hours on Form MVE-21, and your supervising driver signs it to certify completion.11State of Maine. Permittee Driving Log Seventy hours is a floor, not a goal.
Applicants under 18 must also hold the permit for at least six months and be at least 16 before taking the road test.12Maine Secretary of State. License Age Restrictions Passing the road test automatically ends the permit, and you surrender it at that point. Teens then receive an intermediate license with its own restrictions before graduating to an unrestricted one; adults 18 and over receive a standard Class C license. Adults 21 and older aren’t bound by the 70-hour requirement and can schedule the road test whenever they feel ready.
Replacing or Renewing the Permit
Lost or damaged permits can be replaced by submitting Form MV-10 to the BMV’s Augusta office. The duplicate fee is $5.13State of Maine. Request for Duplicate Driver’s License, Identification Card, or Learner’s Permit The duplicate form cannot be used for an expired permit.
The permit is valid for two years from the date of issue. If it expires before you pass the road test, you have to reapply from scratch and pay the $35 fee again.1Maine State Legislature. Maine Code 29-A 1304 – Learner’s Permits Two years is plenty of time if you practice regularly; putting off the hours is the most common reason people end up paying the fee twice.
Insurance for Practice Driving
Maine’s minimum auto insurance requirements apply to every driver, including permit holders, so you need coverage in place before you start practicing. Most teen permit holders are covered under a parent or guardian’s existing policy, which is usually the cheapest route. Call your insurer before the first practice session: some automatically cover household members with permits, and others require you to formally add the new driver. Adult permit holders who don’t live with an insured relative, or who own their own vehicle, will generally need a separate policy and should expect higher premiums as a new driver.