Maryland learner's permit and knowledge test

Maryland knowledge-test format and passing score

The Maryland Class C knowledge test has 25 questions, is normally computer-based and must be completed within 20 minutes. You need at least 88% to pass. The questions come from the Maryland Driver's Manual and cover traffic laws, road signs and safe-driving rules.

You need 88% or higher

For a 25-question Class C test, 88% corresponds to 22 correct answers. The MVA states the score as a percentage and gives 20 minutes to complete the test.

Maryland offers the Class C test in many languages

The MVA currently lists English, Spanish, American Sign Language, Amharic, Arabic, Traditional Chinese, Farsi, French, Hindi, Korean, Nepali, Portuguese, Russian, Tagalog, Urdu, Vietnamese and Yoruba for the noncommercial Class C test.

The steps to a Maryland driver license

Maryland's learner's permit is the first step in the Rookie Driver program. You must be at least 15 years and 9 months old, bring the required documents, make an appointment, and pass the vision screening and Class C knowledge test.

1. Step 1. Study the current Maryland Driver's Manual and official MVA tutorial.
2. Step 2. Complete the pre-application and schedule a full-service MVA appointment.
3. Step 3. Bring the required identity, Social Security and Maryland-residency documents.
4. Step 4. Pass the vision screening and Class C knowledge test.
5. Step 5. Complete the driver-education and supervised-practice requirements for your age.
6. Step 6. Pass the behind-the-wheel skills test and receive the provisional license.

Before you go: requirements and documents

Learner's-permit documents

The learner's-permit page lists proof of identity and proof of Social Security number among the documents everyone must bring. Dependents may need additional proof of the parental relationship when the identity document does not show it.

Maryland residency

For a first Maryland driver's license or ID, MVA requires two documents proving Maryland residency. Bring originals or certified copies where required; the MVA says copies, scans and photocopies are not accepted for the first-license document process.

Fees

Maryland currently lists a non-CDL Type I (GLS) learner's permit at $65 for applicants with no previous license. The fee includes conversion to the full license. A Type II permit for currently or previously licensed drivers is $45.

See the full Maryland fee guide →

Maryland learner's permit for drivers under 18

Maryland's Rookie Driver program starts with a learner's permit at age 15 years and 9 months. Drivers under 18 need a parent, guardian or co-signer and must follow the age-specific provisional-license requirements.

Permit from age 15 years and 9 months

A minor follows the same core permit steps: study, appointment, documents, vision screening and knowledge test. Applicants under 16 also need the applicable school-attendance/identity form.

Driver education and supervised practice

For the common 16–18 provisional-license path without a high-school diploma or equivalent, Maryland requires an approved driver education course with 30 classroom hours and 6 behind-the-wheel hours, plus 60 supervised practice hours including at least 10 at night.

A nine-month permit period commonly applies to younger drivers

Drivers age 16–18 without a high-school diploma or equivalent generally must hold the permit for at least nine months and have no recent moving violations before applying for the provisional license.

• Maryland provisional license
• Maryland road test

First Maryland driver license for adults

Adults who have never been licensed begin with a Maryland learner's permit and still follow the Rookie Driver process. Driver education and supervised-practice requirements continue to apply, with shorter permit and practice requirements for older applicants.

Adults still start with the learner's permit

If you have never been licensed, Maryland directs you to apply for a learner's permit. The permit process includes documents, vision screening and the Class C knowledge test.

Ages 18–24

Maryland's provisional-license requirements vary by age and education status. Age 18 with a high-school diploma or equivalent, and ages 19–24, generally use a three-month permit holding period while completing the required driver education and 60 supervised hours including 10 at night.

Age 25 or older

At age 25 or older, Maryland currently requires the permit for at least 45 days, certified driver education, and 14 supervised practice hours including at least three nighttime hours before the behind-the-wheel test.

• Maryland road test
• Maryland documents

Appointments and office visits

Maryland learner's-permit applicants make an appointment at a full-service MVA office. Behind-the-wheel driving tests also require an appointment through myMVA.

Open the appointment guide →

Maryland MVA locations

Maryland MVA's official locations tool lets you find branches and emissions locations by service. Many branches also offer self-service kiosks, and MVA publishes appointment and wait-time tools.

After the permit: prepare for the road test

Maryland's Class C behind-the-wheel test has two parts: a closed-course section for basic vehicle control and a public-road section for safe driving in real traffic.

Be eligible before you schedule

Before the test, you need a valid unexpired learner's permit, the required supervised-practice hours and signed practice log when applicable, and completed driver education when required.

Bring a safe, legal vehicle

Your test vehicle needs valid registration and insurance, safe tires, working lights, brakes, horn, mirrors and doors, an examiner-accessible parking brake, at least half a tank of gas and no serious safety warning lights.

Closed course first, then public roads

You must pass the closed-course portion before moving to the public-road section. The closed course includes basic control exercises such as the reverse two-point turnabout; the public-road portion evaluates signs, signals, lane position, turns, speed control and traffic awareness.

Open the full road-test guide →

Practice for the Maryland knowledge test

Maryland missions are not live in Road to Permit yet. For now, use the current Maryland Driver's Manual, the official MVA practice tutorial and the free Maryland guides on this site.

Open Maryland study guide →

What to study

Use the official handbook as the source of truth, then practice the same subjects in short sessions. These are the major study areas covered across the official guide and Road to Permit resources.

1. 1Use the current MVA manual as the source of truth
2. 2What to study first
3. 3Use the official Maryland Online Driver Test Tutorial
4. 4Recognize signs by shape and color
5. 5Review signals and lane markings too
6. 6Practice in context
7. 7You need 88% or higher
8. 8Maryland offers the Class C test in many languages
9. 9Retest timing after a failure

Maryland permit test: questions and answers

Complete Maryland driver guide

Open the exact part of the licensing process you need. Every page below is backed by official state sources.