Maine Learner's Permit

By Javier Marín, Editor·Last reviewed September 2026·How we check this

Maine's learner's permit is the first step into licensed driving for teens. Available at age 15 with parental consent and enrollment in a state-approved driver education course, the permit unlocks supervised driving with a parent, guardian, or other licensed adult age 20 or older. The permit period is also when teens log Maine's signature requirement: 70 hours of supervised driving — the highest in the country.

Eligibility

To apply for a Maine learner's permit, the applicant must:

Be at least 15 years old.
Be enrolled in a Maine-approved driver education program.
Have written parental or guardian consent on the application.
Pass a vision screening at the BMV branch.
Pass the Maine knowledge test.

The parent or guardian who signs the consent assumes financial responsibility for the teen's driving and may withdraw consent at any time, which immediately cancels the permit.

Documents to bring

Walk into a BMV branch with:

Proof of identity — certified U.S. birth certificate or valid U.S. passport.
Proof of Social Security number — SSN card or W-2.
Proof of Maine residency — school enrollment letter, parent's utility bill at the same address, or recent correspondence.
Driver education enrollment certificate from a Maine-approved provider.
Parent or guardian to co-sign the Form M-301 permit application.

Vision and knowledge tests

The applicant takes a vision screening at the branch and the standard Maine knowledge test. The same scoring rule used for the regular Class C license applies. Test prep typically comes from the Maine Driver's Manual, included as the textbook in most state-approved driver-education programs.

Driver education

Maine requires state-approved driver education for everyone under 21 who is applying for any driving credential. The course consists of at least 30 hours of classroom instruction and 10 hours of behind-the-wheel training with a certified instructor. Public school programs and BMV-approved commercial schools both satisfy the requirement. The instructor's signed completion certificate unlocks the next stage of the GDL track.

The 70-hour supervised driving log

Once the permit is in hand, the teen must complete 70 hours of supervised driving before stepping up to the intermediate license. The 70 hours must include:

At least 10 hours after dark.
At least 5 hours in inclement weather — rain, snow, fog, or other low-visibility conditions.
The remainder spread across a variety of driving environments — highway, urban traffic, rural two-lane roads.

The supervising driver must be a licensed adult age 20 or older, seated in the front passenger seat. The hours are tracked on a paper or app-based driving log signed by the parent or guardian and submitted to the BMV branch when the teen applies for the next stage. Maine's 70-hour requirement is the highest in the country — for context, most states require 30, 40, or 50 hours.

Permit duration and stepping up

The learner's permit must be held for at least 6 months before the holder can move to an intermediate license at age 16. Any traffic conviction during the permit period can extend that 6-month clock or restart the supervised log. The 6-month rule and the 70-hour rule run in parallel; both must be satisfied before the teen can take the road test for the intermediate stage.

What the permit does not allow

The Maine learner's permit is a supervised-only credential. The teen may not drive solo, may not transport non-family passengers without the supervising driver present, and may not use a cell phone or any handheld device while driving (Maine prohibits all handheld phone use under 18, even hands-free). Permit holders also cannot drive between midnight and 5:00 a.m. unless accompanied by a parent or guardian. Violating any of these conditions typically extends the GDL track or restarts the permit period.

Adult learner's permits

Maine also issues an adult learner's permit for applicants 18 and older who are working toward their first license. The adult permit follows the same supervised-driving requirements but does not require the 70-hour log. The adult applicant must hold the permit at least 30 days before taking the BMV road test.