Maryland · Permit testWhen can you get a Maryland learner’s permit?
From 15 years and 9 months old. That’s the youngest age for a Type 1 permit, which is for anyone who has never held a driver’s license, whatever their age. Under 18, a parent or legal guardian co-signs your application. The Driver’s Manual adds that a spouse 18 or older can co-sign for a married minor, and a responsible adult, such as an employer, if you have no parent, guardian or spouse. Under 16, you also bring a school form, DL-300 or the parent version, DL-300A.
How to get a learner’s permit in Maryland
The MVA’s steps, in order:
- Study the Maryland Driver’s Manual, and practice with the MVA’s Online Driver Test Tutorial.
- Do the pre-application in your myMVA account and make an appointment at any full-service MVA office.
- Gather your documents: proof of identity, your Social Security number and your Maryland address, plus the school form if you’re under 16.
- At the appointment, pass the vision screening and the knowledge test.
- Wait for your permit in the mail. The MVA’s product tracking tool shows where it is.
The Rookie Driver Manual says you can start driving on your MVA receipt, as long as you keep it with you.
Maryland learner’s permit rules
While you drive on the permit, you must:
- Have a supervising driver with you at all times who is at least 21 and has been licensed for at least three years to drive the same class of vehicle
- Keep that driver in the front passenger seat, with no other front-seat passenger
- Leave your phone alone, hands-free and Bluetooth included. The only exception is calling 911 in an emergency
- Carry the permit every time you drive, even in an empty parking lot
- Make sure everyone in the car wears a seat belt or rides in the right car seat or booster
A phone violation may get your driving privilege suspended. Before you drive in another state, check its rules: the Rookie Driver Manual says that if a state doesn’t accept a Maryland permit, you can’t drive there even with a supervisor. A moving violation also delays your provisional license.
Type 1 and Type 2 permits, fees and renewal
A Type 2 permit is for people who already have a driver’s license and want a different class. You must be at least 16 years and 6 months old, and you can take the driving test once you’ve held it for 14 days.
The MVA lists these fees as effective September 1, 2025, and the Type 1 fee includes the later switch to a full license. A limited-term permit, for someone whose stay in the US is limited, lasts only as long as that stay, and its fee is adjusted to match, except for applicants under 21, whose fee stays the same.
| Item | Fee |
|---|---|
| Type 1 permit | $65 |
| Type 2 permit | $45 |
| Corrected permit | $30 |
Can you renew a learner’s permit? No: the Rookie Driver Manual says it can’t be renewed. If it runs out before your provisional license, you apply again and retake the knowledge test, and the driver education and practice hours you’ve done count.
Sources: Maryland Motor Vehicle Administration and 4 more. Checked November 2026.
- Maryland Motor Vehicle Administration: Learner’s Permit ↗
- Maryland Motor Vehicle Administration: Teens & New Drivers ↗
- Maryland Motor Vehicle Administration: Maryland Driver’s Manual, October 2026 edition (DL-002, PDF) ↗
- Maryland Motor Vehicle Administration: Maryland Rookie Driver Manual, October 2026 edition (RD-006, PDF) ↗
- Maryland Motor Vehicle Administration: License & ID Fees (effective September 1, 2025) ↗
Rules and fees can change, so check the official site before your test.
Explore
Everything else, in one place
Other licenses