Bureau of Motor Vehicles (BMV)
Maine Permit Test (2026)
Study for the official BMV Knowledge Test with free practice tests written from the state's own rules — plus the verified facts below: how many questions, the passing score, and what it costs.
Maine permit test: quick facts
- Questions on the exam
- 30
- Passing score
- 24 of 30 correct (80%)
- Minimum permit age
- 15
- Fee
- Learner's permit (Class C written examination) application fee: $35. Original or renewal Class C license: $30 for drivers under 65 (6-year license), or $55 for the REAL ID version.
- If you fail
- The BMV does not publish a mandatory waiting period for retaking the knowledge test. If you do not qualify on an exam, staff explain what you need to practice and give you a receipt to send in to request your next test. Permits last two years and are not renewable; after expiration you must reapply and retake the vision screening and written exam, though logged practice hours carry over.
- Online testing
- In person only
- Languages
- The knowledge test is offered on the BMV digital testing system in Arabic, Canadian French, English, French, Lingala, Portuguese, Somali, Spanish, and Swahili; effective February 1, 2026, free professional interpreter services are provided for languages the system does not cover.
How it works
Step 1
Take Practice Test 1 like the real thing — no notes, one question at a time.
Step 2
Read every explanation, especially for questions you missed. That's where the learning happens.
Step 3
Repeat with Test 2 and the road signs test until you pass comfortably every time.
Free Maine practice tests
Maine Practice Test 1
30 questions — signs, rules, and state law
Maine Practice Test 2
30 fresh questions, no repeats from Test 1
Maine Road Signs Test
25 questions on signs, shapes, and signals
New-driver rules in Maine
Maine licenses teens in stages: applicants aged 15-17 must complete an approved driver education course, and all drivers under 21 must hold a learner's permit for six months and log 70 supervised practice hours, 10 of them after dark, before the road test. A license issued before age 18 is an intermediate license that for 270 days prohibits carrying passengers outside the immediate family, driving between midnight and 5 a.m., and using a cell phone.
Verified 2026-08-18 · Source: BMV
Maine permit test FAQ
How many questions are on the Maine permit test?
The official Maine Knowledge Test has 30 questions, according to the BMV (verified 2026-08-18).
What score do you need to pass the Maine permit test?
You must answer 24 of 30 questions correctly (80%) to pass the Maine Knowledge Test.
How old do you have to be to get a learner's permit in Maine?
You can apply for a learner's permit in Maine at 15, according to the BMV (verified 2026-08-18).
How much does the Maine permit cost?
Learner's permit (Class C written examination) application fee: $35. Original or renewal Class C license: $30 for drivers under 65 (6-year license), or $55 for the REAL ID version. — as listed by the Bureau of Motor Vehicles (BMV), verified 2026-08-18. Always confirm current fees on the official site.
What happens if you fail the Maine permit test?
The BMV does not publish a mandatory waiting period for retaking the knowledge test. If you do not qualify on an exam, staff explain what you need to practice and give you a receipt to send in to request your next test. Permits last two years and are not renewable; after expiration you must reapply and retake the vision screening and written exam, though logged practice hours carry over. (per the BMV, verified 2026-08-18).
Can you take the Maine permit test online?
No. The Maine Knowledge Test is administered in person through the Bureau of Motor Vehicles (BMV), not online.
What languages is the Maine permit test offered in?
The knowledge test is offered on the BMV digital testing system in Arabic, Canadian French, English, French, Lingala, Portuguese, Somali, Spanish, and Swahili; effective February 1, 2026, free professional interpreter services are provided for languages the system does not cover. (per the BMV, verified 2026-08-18).
Who runs the permit test in Maine?
Driver licensing in Maine is handled by the Bureau of Motor Vehicles (BMV). The official site is https://www.maine.gov/sos/bmv/.