How licensing works in Maine
The Maine Secretary of State's Bureau of Motor Vehicles (BMV) licenses drivers. All new drivers under 21 get a provisional license, and drivers under 18 have extra limits for their first 270 days.
| Stage | Minimum age | Main rules |
|---|---|---|
| Learner's permit | 15 | Pass the written exam. Driver education if under 18. Drive with a licensed driver 20 or older (licensed 2 years) beside you. Usually valid 2 years. |
| Provisional license | 16 with driver education (18 without) | Hold the permit 6 months and log 70 hours (10 at night). Under 18: for 270 days, no driving midnight to 5 a.m. and only family passengers unless a qualifying adult is beside you. |
| Provisional period ends | After 2 years (under 21) | Drivers 21 and older have a 1-year provisional period. |
New drivers are most likely to crash in their first months of driving alone, and night driving and carrying friends make that risk higher. Graduated licensing rules give you time to build skill in safer conditions, so you gain experience before the limits come off.
Penalties during the provisional period
- Breaking the 270-day limits brings a suspension and adds another 270 days.
- A first moving violation brings a 30-day suspension. Later offenses are stricter.
Practice hours
Maine requires 70 hours of supervised driving, including 10 at night, more than many states. Practice must start after your permit is issued. A parent, stepparent, guardian or spouse certifies the hours.
The Maine written exam
The written exam covers traffic laws, driving skills, road signs, and Maine's drinking and driving laws. It is based on the Maine Driver's License Manual, which the BMV publishes online as a study guide.
- Study every chapter, including the alcohol and drug chapter.
- Learn the road signs by shape and color.
- Check the BMV website for the documents and fees you need on test day.
Rules specific to Maine
Alcohol
If you are under 21, you may not drive after drinking any alcohol. Any amount means at least a 1-year license loss. Drivers 21 and older commit OUI at 0.08. Refusing a test brings an immediate suspension from the state, without court action.
Phones
Using a mobile phone or handheld electronic device while driving is prohibited in Maine. For drivers under 18, it is specifically banned.
Seat belts and child seats
Everyone must wear a seat belt. Children under 55 pounds ride in a child safety seat. Children under 8 who weigh 55 to 80 pounds use an approved child restraint. Children under 12 and under 100 pounds ride in the back seat if possible.
Automatic 30-day suspensions
- Passing a stopped school bus with red lights flashing.
- Speeding 30 mph or more over the limit.
- A first moving violation during the provisional period.
Stop for a school bus with red lights flashing. Passing it costs you your license for 30 days.
- The stopped school bus.
- A car behind the bus stops.
- An oncoming car stops too.
Demerit points
Maine sends a warning at 6 points and suspends at 12 or more. An approved Driving Dynamics course removes 3 points, once in any 12-month period.
Noise
A car sound system may not be heard more than 25 feet away or be louder than 85 decibels.
Key numbers to remember
Many test questions ask for an exact age, time or number. Use this table as a quick review before you practice.
| Rule | Number |
|---|---|
| Permit age | 15 |
| Supervisor | 20 or older, licensed 2 years |
| Permit holding period | 6 months |
| Practice hours | 70, including 10 at night |
| Night limit (under 18) | Midnight to 5 a.m. |
| Restricted period | 270 days |
| Provisional period (under 21) | 2 years |
| Points for suspension | 12 |
Test tips
- Read the Maine Driver's License Manual from start to finish.
- Make flash cards for the numbers in this guide.
- Practice with these questions until you score 90% or more.
- Review road signs the night before.
On test day
Give yourself plenty of time on the day of your test. Get a good night's sleep, eat something before you go, and arrive early so you do not feel rushed.
- Bring every document on the official checklist, plus your glasses or contact lenses if you need them to see.
- Turn off your phone and put it away before the test starts.
- Read each question all the way through, then read every answer before you choose.
- If you are not sure, first rule out the answers you know are wrong.
- Change an answer only if you are sure you misread the question.
If you do not pass, do not give up. Look at the topics you missed, study those parts of the handbook again, and take more practice tests before you try again.
Keep studying
This guide covers rules that are special to Maine. The general rules of the road, such as right-of-way, turns, lane markings, parking and sharing the road, are in the national US driving study guide. Study both before your exam.