Massachusetts DMV Permit Practice Test 2026
This page covers what you need to know for the Massachusetts driver's license knowledge exam: how the test works, the Massachusetts-specific rules that often show up on it, and sample questions with explained answers. Everything here is based on the official Massachusetts driver's manual and state traffic code (sources are listed at the bottom). The real Massachusetts test has 25 questions and you need 18 correct (72%) to pass.
When you're ready, take a free 25-question practice test that mixes Massachusetts-specific questions with general driving questions, with an explanation after every answer. Each attempt draws a new set. No signup needed.
Massachusetts Permit Test and Licensing Facts
| Knowledge Test | 25 questions, must score 18/25 (72%) to pass |
| Minimum Permit Age | 16 |
| Minimum License Age | 16 years 6 months |
| Speed Limits | Highway: up to 65 mph | Residential: 30 mph | School Zone: 20 mph |
| OUI Law | BAC limit: 0.08% (Under 21: 0.02%) |
| Point System | No traditional point system. Massachusetts uses a Safe Driver Insurance Plan (SDIP) that affects insurance rates. |
Rules Specific to Massachusetts
- Massachusetts uses the term OUI (Operating Under the Influence)
- Massachusetts uses SDIP surcharge points that affect insurance rates rather than a traditional license point system
- All passengers must wear seat belts, and drivers under 18 may not have passengers under 18 for the first 6 months
Sample Massachusetts Permit Test Questions
These questions cover rules that are specific to Massachusetts. They're the ones people most often miss, because the answer differs from state to state.
Unless a different limit is posted, what is the speed limit in a thickly settled or business district?
- A. 25 mph
- B. 30 mph
- C. 35 mph
- D. 40 mph
Answer: 30 mph. Default limits are lower in dense areas to reduce risk where pedestrians and intersections are common.
A child is 7 years old and 56 inches tall. What restraint is required?
- A. A child passenger restraint/booster is required
- B. A seat belt alone is always sufficient at age 7
- C. No restraint is required in the back seat
- D. A rear-facing seat is required until age 8
Answer: A child passenger restraint/booster is required. Children must meet age and height thresholds before using an adult seat belt alone.
How far in advance must you signal before turning under normal driving conditions?
- A. At least 50 feet
- B. At least 75 feet
- C. At least 100 feet
- D. At least 200 feet
Answer: At least 100 feet. Signaling early helps prevent sudden conflicts and gives others time to react.
How close may you legally park to a fire hydrant?
- A. No closer than 5 feet
- B. No closer than 10 feet
- C. No closer than 15 feet
- D. No closer than 20 feet
Answer: No closer than 10 feet. Hydrants must be kept clear so firefighters can access them immediately in an emergency.
In a posted work zone, what commonly happens to the penalty for speeding compared with normal conditions?
- A. It is waived if you slow down after being stopped
- B. It stays the same as normal
- C. It is doubled
- D. It is reduced by half
Answer: It is doubled. Work zones are high-risk areas, and speeding penalties are increased to promote safer driving.
What is the minimum age for a Massachusetts Class D learner's permit?
- A. 15
- B. 15½
- C. 16
- D. 16½
Answer: 16. You must be at least 16 to apply for a Class D or M learner's permit.
How many questions must you answer correctly on the Massachusetts learner's permit exam?
- A. 15 of 20
- B. 18 of 25
- C. 20 of 25
- D. 24 of 30
Answer: 18 of 25. You must answer 18 questions correctly within 25 minutes.
What does RMV-approved driver education include in Massachusetts?
- A. 10 hours classroom and 6 hours driving
- B. 30 hours classroom, 12 hours behind the wheel, and 6 hours observing
- C. 24 hours classroom and 8 hours driving
- D. No classroom, 40 hours driving
Answer: 30 hours classroom, 12 hours behind the wheel, and 6 hours observing. Driver education includes 30 hours of classroom instruction, 12 hours behind the wheel, and 6 hours observing other student drivers.
How many additional supervised driving hours must a Massachusetts JOL applicant complete?
- A. 20 hours
- B. 30 hours
- C. 40 hours (30 with a skills development program)
- D. 60 hours
Answer: 40 hours (30 with a skills development program). You need 40 hours of supervised driving, or 30 if you completed a driver skills development program, and a parent must attend a 2-hour class.
Who may supervise a Massachusetts learner's permit holder?
- A. Any adult
- B. A licensed driver 21 or older with at least 1 year of driving experience, seated beside you
- C. A licensed driver 18 or older
- D. A parent only
Answer: A licensed driver 21 or older with at least 1 year of driving experience, seated beside you. The supervising driver must be at least 21, have at least one year of experience, hold a valid license, and sit beside you.
Unless posted otherwise, what speed is not reasonable in a Massachusetts school zone?
- A. Over 15 mph
- B. Over 20 mph
- C. Over 25 mph
- D. Over 30 mph
Answer: Over 20 mph. The school zone speed limit is 20 mph.
What is the Massachusetts default speed limit on a highway outside a thickly settled or business district?
- A. 40 mph
- B. 45 mph
- C. 50 mph
- D. 55 mph
Answer: 50 mph. Defaults: 20 mph in school zones, 30 mph in thickly settled or business districts, 40 mph outside them, and 50 mph on highways outside them.
What is the lowest penalty for speeding in Massachusetts?
- A. $50
- B. $100 plus a $5 surcharge
- C. $150
- D. $200
Answer: $100 plus a $5 surcharge. The minimum speeding fine is $100 plus a $5 public safety surcharge, and $10 more for each mph above the first 10 over.
About how far ahead do low beams let you see, according to the Massachusetts manual?
- A. 50 feet
- B. 100 feet
- C. 250 feet
- D. 350 feet
Answer: 100 feet. High beams normally show about 350 feet ahead and low beams about 100 feet.
Can Massachusetts drivers hold a phone while driving?
- A. Yes, for calls
- B. No, you may not hold a mobile device for any reason except to report an emergency
- C. Only at red lights
- D. Only if over 18
Answer: No, you may not hold a mobile device for any reason except to report an emergency. The Hands-Free law prohibits holding a mobile electronic device for any reason while driving; the only exception is reporting an emergency.
What following distance does Massachusetts recommend behind a motorcycle?
- A. 2 seconds
- B. 3 seconds
- C. 4 seconds
- D. 6 seconds
Answer: 4 seconds. Use a four-second following distance behind motorcycles, compared with three seconds for other vehicles.
What is the minimum safe following distance in good conditions in Massachusetts?
- A. Two seconds
- B. Three seconds
- C. Four seconds
- D. One car length
Answer: Three seconds. The three-second rule is the minimum safe distance for good road conditions and moderate traffic.
What is the fine for tailgating in Massachusetts?
- A. Up to $25
- B. Up to $50
- C. Up to $100
- D. Up to $500
Answer: Up to $100. Tailgating is illegal, and the fine can be as high as $100.
What administrative BAC level brings penalties for Massachusetts drivers under 21?
- A. 0.00
- B. 0.02
- C. 0.05
- D. 0.08
Answer: 0.02. Massachusetts has a zero-tolerance law: drivers under 21 face penalties at a BAC of 0.02 or higher.
What are Massachusetts minimum insurance limits for bodily injury and property damage?
- A. $20,000 / $40,000 and $5,000
- B. $25,000 / $50,000 and $30,000
- C. $50,000 / $100,000 and $50,000
- D. $15,000 / $30,000 and $10,000
Answer: $25,000 / $50,000 and $30,000. Massachusetts minimums are $25,000/$50,000 for bodily injury and $30,000 for property damage.
Massachusetts Permit Test FAQ
How many questions are on the Massachusetts permit test?
The Massachusetts knowledge test has 25 multiple-choice questions. You need at least 18 correct answers (72%) to pass.
How old do you have to be to get a learner's permit in Massachusetts?
The minimum age for a learner's permit in Massachusetts is 16. The minimum age for a driver's license is 16 years 6 months.
What is the legal blood alcohol limit in Massachusetts?
Massachusetts calls impaired driving OUI. The limit is 0.08% BAC for drivers 21 and over, and 0.02% for drivers under 21.
How does the Massachusetts driver point system work?
No traditional point system. Massachusetts uses a Safe Driver Insurance Plan (SDIP) that affects insurance rates.
What are the default speed limits in Massachusetts?
Typical limits in Massachusetts are up to 65 mph on highways, 30 mph in residential areas and 20 mph in school zones. Posted signs always take priority.
Sources
The facts and questions on this page are based on the following official Massachusetts government sources:
Facts and questions last checked against the Massachusetts Driver's Manual on September 26, 2026.
Laws change. Always check the current Massachusetts driver's manual before your test. This site is unofficial and not affiliated with any Massachusetts government agency.