Question 1

What is Massachusetts's official driver-licensing agency called?

Accepted Answer

The Registry of Motor Vehicles (RMV) — Massachusetts calls its licensing agency the Registry of Motor Vehicles, using "Registry" rather than the "Department" or "Division" naming most other states use.

Question 2

What is the passing score on the Massachusetts permit test?

Accepted Answer

72% — 18 of 25 questions correct — Massachusetts sets its permit test passing score at 72%, requiring 18 of 25 questions correct — an unusually specific, non-round percentage compared to the 80% used in most states.

Question 3

How much time is allowed to complete the Massachusetts permit test?

Accepted Answer

25 minutes — Massachusetts gives permit test applicants 25 minutes to complete the 25-question exam.

Question 4

What is the minimum age to apply for a Massachusetts learner's permit?

Accepted Answer

16 years old — Massachusetts sets the minimum learner's permit age at 16.

Question 5

What is the minimum age for a Massachusetts Junior Operator License (JOL)?

Accepted Answer

16 years and 6 months old — A Massachusetts Junior Operator License requires being at least 16 years 6 months old, after holding the learner's permit for at least 6 consecutive months.

Question 6

How long must a Massachusetts teen hold a learner's permit, and with what record, before the JOL road test?

Accepted Answer

At least 6 consecutive months, with a clean driving record — Massachusetts requires holding the learner's permit for at least 6 consecutive months with a clean driving record before taking the JOL road test.

Question 7

How many hours of driver education, and in what split, does Massachusetts require for Class D/M applicants under 18?

Accepted Answer

18 hours total: 12 hours behind-the-wheel, 6 hours of observation — Massachusetts requires 18 hours of driver-education instruction for Class D/M applicants under 18: 12 hours behind-the-wheel plus 6 hours observing another student's behind-the-wheel instruction.

Question 8

How many hours of supervised driving does a Massachusetts learner's permit holder need, and who can supervise?

Accepted Answer

40 hours, with a supervisor 21+ and licensed at least 1 year — Massachusetts requires 40 hours of supervised practice driving, with the supervisor being a licensed driver at least 21 years old who has held a license for at least one year.

Question 9

What passenger restriction applies during the first six months of a Massachusetts Junior Operator License?

Accepted Answer

No under-18 passengers outside family, unless a 21+ supervisor rides along — For the first six months of a Massachusetts JOL, a junior operator can't carry passengers under 18 (other than immediate family) unless accompanied by someone at least 21 with at least a year of licensed driving experience.

Question 10

What curfew applies to a Massachusetts Junior Operator License holder, and what's the one exception?

Accepted Answer

12:30 a.m.-5 a.m., lifted only for a parent or legal guardian — Massachusetts bars Junior Operator License holders from driving between 12:30 a.m. and 5 a.m., an exception that applies only if a parent or legal guardian is in the vehicle — not just any licensed adult.

Question 11

What penalty escalation applies to a Massachusetts Junior Operator who violates the curfew or passenger restriction?

Accepted Answer

60 days, then 180 days, then a full year for repeat offenses — Massachusetts escalates the suspension for repeated Junior Operator violations: 60 days for a first offense, 180 days for a second, and a full year for a third or subsequent offense.

Question 12

What BAC threshold triggers Massachusetts's zero-tolerance law for a driver under 21?

Accepted Answer

0.02% or higher — Massachusetts's zero-tolerance law for drivers under 21 uses a 0.02% BAC threshold, resulting in a 30-day license suspension.

Question 13

What happens if a Massachusetts driver under 21 refuses a breath test?

Accepted Answer

A 3-year license suspension — An underage Massachusetts driver who refuses a breath test faces a 3-year license suspension, far more severe than the 30-day suspension for testing at or above the 0.02% zero-tolerance threshold.

Question 14

What does Massachusetts law call the offense that other states call "DUI" or "DWI"?

Accepted Answer

OUI — Operating Under the Influence — Massachusetts law uses "OUI" — Operating Under the Influence — as its own term for what many other states call DUI or DWI.

Question 15

What does Massachusetts's hands-free law, effective February 23, 2020, require?

Accepted Answer

Any device, including phones, must be used hands-free while driving — Massachusetts's hands-free law, effective since February 23, 2020, requires any electronic device, including a phone, to be used in hands-free mode while driving.

Question 16

What is Massachusetts's official driver handbook called, and how many languages is it published in?

Accepted Answer

The Massachusetts Driver's Manual, published in 16 languages — Massachusetts's official handbook is the Massachusetts Driver's Manual, available in 16 languages and free to download, or $5 in print at an RMV Service Center.

Question 17

How long is a Massachusetts commercial learner's permit (CLP) valid, and can it be renewed for free?

Accepted Answer

180 days, renewable once for another 180 days at no cost — A Massachusetts CLP is valid for 180 days and can be renewed once for another 180 days at no additional cost.

Question 18

Without signs or signals, who has the right-of-way at a Massachusetts intersection?

Accepted Answer

The vehicle approaching from the right — At an uncontrolled intersection, Massachusetts drivers yield to the vehicle approaching from the right.

Question 19

What does a flashing yellow traffic signal mean in Massachusetts?

Accepted Answer

Slow down and proceed with caution; no full stop is required — A flashing yellow signal means proceed with caution, unlike a flashing red, which requires a full stop.

Question 20

When is a right turn on red generally allowed in Massachusetts?

Accepted Answer

After a complete stop and yielding, unless posted otherwise — A right turn on red is generally legal in Massachusetts after a complete stop and yielding to cross traffic and pedestrians, unless signage says otherwise.

Question 21

What does a double solid yellow line mean for passing in Massachusetts?

Accepted Answer

Passing is prohibited for traffic traveling in either direction — A double solid yellow line prohibits passing for vehicles traveling in either direction.

Question 22

What following distance should a Massachusetts driver keep in good conditions?

Accepted Answer

At least a 3-second gap — A 3-second following gap in good conditions gives a Massachusetts driver enough time to react if the vehicle ahead brakes suddenly.

Question 23

Does a Massachusetts crosswalk need to be painted to be legally recognized?

Accepted Answer

No — every intersection is a legal crosswalk whether marked or not — Every intersection is a legal crosswalk in Massachusetts, marked or not, and pedestrians there have the right-of-way.

Question 24

What should a Massachusetts driver do at a railroad crossing with no gates or lights?

Accepted Answer

Slow down, look both ways, and listen before crossing — Even without gates or warning lights, a driver should slow down, look both directions, and listen for an approaching train before crossing.

Question 25

What must Massachusetts drivers do when approaching a stopped school bus with flashing red lights?

Accepted Answer

Stop in both directions on an undivided road until the lights stop — Massachusetts requires traffic in both directions on an undivided road to stop for a school bus with flashing red lights, and to remain stopped until the lights stop flashing.

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