How to Pass the Maryland MVA Permit Test

The Maryland permit test has 25 questions, and you need a score of 88% or better to pass, which means at least 22 correct. The Maryland Motor Vehicle Administration (MVA) gives it in person at its offices, with a 20-minute time limit.

Maryland permit test at a glance

How many questions are on the Maryland permit test?

The MVA says the test has 25 random questions, you get 20 minutes, and you need a score of 88% or better. That means you can get only three wrong. Miss four and you fail.

That 88% mark is one of the strictest in the country. Many states pass you at 80% or lower. In Maryland, every question matters, so do not walk in after one lucky practice score.

What's on the Maryland permit test

The test is multiple choice and comes from the Maryland Driver's Manual: traffic laws, safe driving practices and road signs. These rules show up often:

• School buses: when red lights flash, stop at least 20 feet from the front or back of the bus. The exception is a road divided by a physical barrier when the bus is on the other side.
• Following distance: the MVA recommends 3 to 4 seconds in good conditions.
• Alcohol: 0.08 or higher is driving under the influence, and drivers under 21 may not drink any alcohol.
• Headlights: turn them on when you cannot see 1,000 feet ahead and whenever you use your wipers.
• Bicycles: leave at least 3 feet when passing.
• Under 18, you may not use a cell phone while driving, even hands-free, except to call 911.
• Move over: the law covers any vehicle stopped with flashing lights, not only police cars.

How to study for the Maryland permit test

1. Download the Maryland Driver's Manual, the official Maryland permit test book, from mva.maryland.gov and read one chapter a day.
2. Use the MVA's Online Driver Test Tutorial for official practice questions.
3. Learn road signs by shape and color, then by meaning.
4. Take Maryland permit test practice quizzes on a 20-minute timer, and write down every miss.
5. Retest your weak topics until you are well above 22 correct, then sleep well the night before.

What to bring and how to book

For an mva permit test appointment, book at any full-service MVA office. You can fill in the pre-application and schedule through your myMVA account. The vision and knowledge tests are both done at the appointment, and the permit is mailed to you afterward.

• Proof of identity, such as a birth certificate, U.S. passport or Permanent Resident card.
• Proof of your Social Security number: your card, a pay stub, or a W-2 or 1099 that shows it.
• If your ID does not show your parent's or guardian's name, proof of the relationship, such as a tax return.
• Under 16: a DL-300 from your school, sealed in an unopened envelope, or a DL-300A co-signed by a parent or guardian.
• Your learner's permit application.

The full list is in the MVA's Online Document Guide. Check it before you go, because a missing document means a second trip.

Can you take the Maryland permit test online?

No. You can pre-apply, book and practice online, but the MVA gives the knowledge test in person at its offices.

What happens if you fail the Maryland permit test?

The MVA says you may retake the knowledge test the next day after failing. It does not publish a limit on attempts. Use the night in between to review the questions you missed, especially road signs and numbers.

After you pass

• Your supervising driver must be at least 21, licensed for at least 3 years, and sit in the front passenger seat. No one else may ride in the front.
• Applicants under 25 need at least 60 hours of supervised practice, 10 of them at night.
• Teens under 18 hold the permit at least 9 months without a violation.
• No cell phone use while driving, even hands-free, except to call 911.

Maryland permit test FAQ