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Maine Secretary of State · Bureau of Motor Vehicles

Maine permit test 30 questions, OUI-heavy

Maine's written exam has 30 questions, and you need 24 right. The BMV says it puts special emphasis on Maine's drinking-and-driving laws. After that comes one of the country's longest practice logs: 70 hours. Here's the whole path from permit to a full license, with a Maine BMV practice test.

Last reviewed October 30, 2026 · Maine Motorist Handbook and Study Guide (current BMV PDF; edition date not printed in our copy)

What the BMV tests you on

According to the BMV exam page, the 30 questions cover rules of the road, signs, pedestrian and bicycle safety, distracted driving, and Maine OUI law. Since OUI gets the most emphasis, study the alcohol rules first:

  • Under 21: zero. You may not drive after drinking any alcohol. An OUI conviction costs at least a year of your license.
  • 21+: .08 or a refusal brings mandatory suspensions.
  • A minor illegally transporting or possessing liquor in a vehicle faces at least 30 days' suspension. So does anyone convicted of Driving to Endanger.

Booking the exam

Written exams and vision screening run by appointment at Maine's BMV branches. Vision screening is free at the exam, or you can bring an eye doctor's form. Bring two forms of ID, such as a birth certificate and Social Security card. Your SSN is required, and young applicants need a birth certificate or passport. If bad weather closes an office, the BMV reschedules you for free.

Not published on the pages we opened: the exam fee, the wait after a failed exam, and any online option (none appears to exist).

Digital test languages

EnglishArabicCanadian FrenchFrenchLingalaPortugueseSomaliSpanishSwahili+ free interpreter (since Feb 1, 2026)

Permit to full license, as a timeline

  1. Age 15 — learner's permit

    Driver ed is required under 18. The permit is generally good for two years. Your supervisor must be 20+ and licensed at least 2 years.

  2. 6 months, 70 hours (10 at night)

    A parent, stepparent, guardian or spouse (or an employer) certifies the log. Under 21, the log replaces the road test request card.

  3. Road test

    Includes parallel parking and straight-line backing. Antique-registered cars aren't allowed.

  4. The next 270 days (under 18)

    No phone or handheld device. No driving midnight–5 a.m. No passengers except immediate family unless a qualified 20+ driver is with you. A violation means a suspension, and the 270 days start over.

  5. Two years provisional (under 21)

    Any moving violation brings a 30-day suspension.

Speed: Maine's low defaults

Unless a sign says otherwise, Maine's limits are lower than many test-takers expect:

Outside business, residential and built-up areas45 mph
Business, residential, built-up25 mph
Passing a school at recess, or when children are coming and going15 mph

From 50 mph on dry pavement, the handbook puts stopping distance near 158 feet, and perception and reaction time nearly double it. If you're being tailgated, move right if there's a lane. Otherwise, slow gradually.

School buses and phones

When a school bus shows red lights, you may not pass it on school property, on an undivided highway, or in a parking area. Traffic from both directions stops until the bus moves or the driver waves you on. Handheld phones are banned for all Maine drivers, not just teens.

A few other facts the handbook expects you to know: new residents have 30 days to get a Maine license, and a school bus license requires being 21+, a year of experience, and no OUI in the past 10 years.

Maine BMV practice test

Scored to Maine's 24-of-30 standard (80%). Our bank has 25 questions, so you'll see all of them.

Free quiz · no sign-up

Maine BMV permit practice test

Questions
25
To pass
80%
About
17 min

Instant feedback and an explanation after every answer.

Preview the 25 free questions

  1. What is the minimum learner's permit age in Maine?

    • 14
    • 15
    • 15½
    • 16

  2. How many questions are on Maine's written exam?

    • 20
    • 25
    • 30
    • 40

  3. How many correct answers do you need?

    • 20
    • 22
    • 24
    • 25

  4. Who may supervise a Maine permit driver?

    • Any licensed 18-year-old
    • A driver 20+ who has been licensed at least 2 years
    • A driver 21+ licensed 1 year
    • Only a 25+ driver

  5. How long must an applicant under 21 hold the permit?

    • 3 months
    • 6 months
    • 9 months
    • 12 months

  6. How many supervised driving hours must an under-21 applicant log?

    • 40
    • 50
    • 60
    • 70

  7. How many of the 70 hours must be at night?

    • 5
    • 10
    • 15
    • 20

  8. How long do the new-teen-driver restrictions last after the road test?

    • 90 days
    • 180 days
    • 270 days
    • 365 days

  9. What is the curfew for a newly licensed driver under 18?

    • 11 p.m.–5 a.m.
    • Midnight–5 a.m.
    • 1–5 a.m.
    • 10 p.m.–6 a.m.

  10. Breaking a teen restriction brings a suspension plus an extension of:

    • 30 days
    • 90 days
    • 180 days
    • 270 days

  11. How long is a first license provisional for a driver under 21?

    • 6 months
    • 1 year
    • 2 years
    • 3 years

  12. What happens after a moving violation on a provisional license?

    • A warning
    • A 30-day suspension
    • A 90-day suspension
    • A 1-year suspension

  13. Handheld phone use while driving in Maine is:

    • Legal for adults
    • Prohibited for all drivers
    • Legal at red lights
    • Legal under 25 mph

  14. What is the maximum speed outside business, residential and built-up areas, unless posted?

    • 35 mph
    • 45 mph
    • 55 mph
    • 65 mph

  15. What is the unposted limit in business, residential or built-up areas?

    • 20 mph
    • 25 mph
    • 30 mph
    • 35 mph

  16. What is the limit when passing a school during recess?

    • 10 mph
    • 15 mph
    • 20 mph
    • 25 mph

  17. What is Maine's alcohol rule for drivers under 21?

    • Up to .02 is allowed
    • Any amount is prohibited
    • .05
    • .08

  18. An OUI conviction under 21 means losing your license for at least:

    • 30 days
    • 90 days
    • 6 months
    • 1 year

  19. What is the minimum suspension for Driving to Endanger?

    • 7 days
    • 30 days
    • 60 days
    • 90 days

  20. How long do new residents have to get a Maine license?

    • 10 days
    • 30 days
    • 60 days
    • 90 days

  21. Can you pass a school bus with red lights flashing in a parking area?

    • Yes, slowly
    • No, it's illegal
    • Yes, if no children are visible
    • Yes, at night

  22. About how long is the stopping distance from 50 mph on dry pavement?

    • 58 feet
    • 108 feet
    • 158 feet
    • 258 feet

  23. When did Maine start offering free professional interpreters for written exams?

    • January 2025
    • February 1, 2026
    • July 2026
    • It doesn't

  24. To schedule a road test, an under-21 applicant submits:

    • A request card only
    • A completed driving log
    • A phone call
    • An online form

  25. What does the Maine road test include?

    • Highway merging only
    • Parallel parking and straight-line backing
    • A three-point turn only
    • Night driving

Maine's only neighbor is New Hampshire, which has no learner's permit at all. You might also compare Vermont and Massachusetts.

Maine permit test FAQ

How many questions are on the Maine permit test?

30, according to the BMV exam page. You need at least 24 correct (80%).

What does the Maine written exam focus on?

Rules of the road, signs, pedestrian and bicycle safety, distracted driving and Maine's OUI laws. The BMV puts special emphasis on drinking-and-driving law.

Do I need an appointment?

Yes. Written exams and vision screenings are given on a schedule at BMV branches. If weather closes an office, you're rescheduled for free.

What languages is the Maine test in?

The digital test comes in English, Arabic, Canadian French, French, Lingala, Portuguese, Somali, Spanish and Swahili. Since February 1, 2026, a free professional interpreter is available for other languages, but scheduling can take four weeks or more.

How many driving hours do Maine teens need?

70, including 10 at night, logged after the permit is issued. Applicants under 21 submit the log instead of a road test request card.

Who can supervise a Maine learner?

A licensed driver 20 or older who has held a license at least two years and is licensed for that type of vehicle, in the next seat.

Keep studying

Sources: Maine BMV driver's license exam page; Maine Motorist Handbook (PDF). Not affiliated with the Maine BMV.