Apply for a passenger (Class D) learner's permit

If you are applying for a learner's permit in Massachusetts, you have the option of choosing a REAL ID.

Individuals 18 and older now need a REAL ID driver’s license or ID card (or another ID accepted by the TSA) to board domestic flights or enter certain federal facilities.

A Massachusetts REAL ID has a star in the top right corner. A standard driver's license does not.

Visit REAL ID in Massachusetts for more information.

To apply for a motorcycle learner's permit, you must start your application online and make an appointment to visit a Service Center or AAA location (if you're a member). Review Learner's Permit Frequently Asked Questions for more information.

To get a learner's permit, you must:

• Be at least 16 years of age
• Be a resident of Massachusetts
• Not hold a driver's license or learner's permit in any other state
• Clear of outstanding obligations to any state
• Meet minimum Class D or Class M driver's license medical standards

Parental consent

You must be at least 16 years old to apply for a learner's permit. If you are under 18, you must get written consent from a parent, legal guardian, Department of Children and Families, or boarding school headmaster. Written consent must be given by signing the Class D, M, or D/M license and ID card application. If the person giving consent is NOT a parent, proper documentation of authority must be shown at the time of the written test. You will also be subject to certain driving restrictions until you turn 18.

Learner's permit exam

You will be given 25 minutes to complete the exam. The exam consists of 25 questions. You must answer 18 questions correctly to pass. The exam will consist of questions on rules of the road, consequences of driving under the influence of drugs/alcohol, the Junior Operator Law, sharing the road with the visually impaired, and sharing the road with bicyclists and pedestrians. Study the Class D driver's manual to prepare for the exam.

The exam is available in the following languages: Albanian, American Sign Language, Arabic, Armenian, Burmese, Cape Verdean Creole, English, Farsi, French, German, Greek, Gujarati, Haitian Creole, Hindi, Hungarian, Italian, Japanese, Khmer/Cambodian, Kiswahili, Korean, Laotian, Mandarin (Simplified), Mandarin (Traditional), Nepali, Pashto, Polish, Portuguese, Russian, Serbo-Croatian, Somali, Spanish, Tagalog, Thai, Turkish, Ukrainian, Urdu, and Vietnamese.

Due to the exam format, the American Sign Language Class D/M exams can only be taken at an RMV Service Center. Applicants planning to take the ASL version of the exam should self-schedule a permit appointment no later than 2:30 p.m. at any RMV Service Center offering testing services.

As part of your application, you need to tell the Service Center employee where you plan to take your Class D permit exam.

You can take the exam at the Service Center during your learner’s permit appointment or online.

If you choose to take the exam online:

• The computer must have a working camera, which must be enabled during the session
• Your web browser must be at least Google Chrome 97, Microsoft Edge 94, or Internet Explorer 11
• You must consent to your photo being taken before, during, and at the end of the exam
• The RMV must see the same person who applied for the learner's permit is the only person present in all photos, which are taken randomly throughout the exam
• You must have a quiet location to take the exam
  • You can not take the exam on a smartphone or tablet
  • Speakers are optional

If your computer does not meet the requirements or you do not want your picture taken, take the exam at the RMV Service Center.

Online testing location requirements

• Close all other browser windows and disable pop-ups to limit distractions
• Give the permit exam your constant attention.
• Make sure your face is not obscured during the exam (no baseball hats, masks, or sunglasses)
• Do not allow other adults, children (including babies), or pets in the room
• Leave all other electronics like your cellphone or smartwatch in another room
• Do not access reference materials like the driver’s manual; do not plan to search the internet for answers

Alternative exam options

If you have a cognitive or physical disability that would prevent you from taking a standard learner’s permit exam, you may request an alternative extended time, paper, or person-to-person oral exam. To request an extended time or paper exam, you must speak to the RMV Service Center Manager when you visit the service center.

To request a person-to-person oral exam, please call 857-368-8105 and leave a message that includes your name, your telephone number, the specifics of your request, and the service center where you would like to take your exam. You will then be contacted by a Registry employee who will help you schedule an exam.

For person-to-person oral exams, you must provide the manager with written documentation that confirms the nature of your disability. This documentation may be a Doctor's or Social Worker's letter, an Individualized Education Plan (IEP), or a letter from a school on official letterhead. You will also need to provide all of the required identification documents (visit Mass.Gov/ID for more information).

A person-to-person oral exam will only be provided if it has been scheduled in advance by calling the number above. Extended time and paper exams do not need to be scheduled in advance and do not require additional documentation.

Interpreter Requests

Foreign Language Oral Exams

Class D/M exams are available in 37 languages; to request an oral exam to be delivered in a foreign language, please email RMV Interpreter Services at rtinterpreters@dot.state.ma.us to begin the process. In the email, please include the applicant’s full name, contact phone number, contact email, the language/dialect requested, and the preferred RMV location for service.

ASL or ASL/CDI Requests

For in-person ASL or ASL/CDI interpreter service requests to support permit testing, road testing, or other RMV transactions, email RMV Interpreter Services at rtinterpreters@dot.state.ma.us to begin the process. In the email, please include the applicant’s full name, contact phone number, contact email, the transaction or service that is needed, and the preferred RMV location for service.

Due to the exam format, the American Sign Language Class D/M exams can only be taken at an RMV Service Center. Applicants planning to take the ASL version of the exam should self-schedule a permit appointment no later than 2:30 p.m. at any RMV Service Center offering testing services.