In order to get the learners permit and eventually the Maryland drivers license, everyone regardless of age must pass a written test on traffic laws and signs. Most people fail this test on their first try.

Apply for the learners permit at an MVA office near you.
In order to be eligible for the learners permit, you must:

1. Be at least 15 years and 9 months.
2. Provide a completed Learners Permit School Attendance Certification form if under 16.
3. Have a parent or guardian must co-sign the learner's permit application if you are under 18.
4. Present your original government-issued birth certificate or certified true copy (U.S. or State) and other supporting documents such as:

• Actual Social Security card.
• Valid U.S. passport.
• Valid U.S military ID card or original discharge record (DD214).
• Valid state-issued identification card or Drivers License.
• If you are a foreign-born national, you must submit a valid passport with a visa or a valid immigration document.

5. All applicants are required by law to furnish proof of age and identity satisfactory to the MVA.
6. Pass a vision test or submit a MVA vision screening certificate (DL-043A) from your medical practitioner.
7. Pass a written knowledge test.
8. Pay any applicable fee.

Once you pass the written test you will be issued a learners permit with the following restrictions:

All first time drivers, regardless of age, must take an MVA-approved Maryland drivers education course which consists of 30 hours of classroom instruction and 6 hours of behind-the-wheel training. Online course do not satisfy this requirement.

You must also hold your learners permit for at least 6 months and log at least 60 hours of supervised driving practice regardless of age. At least 10 of the practice hours must occur during the period beginning 30 minutes before sunset and ending 30 minutes after sunrise.

Schedule an appointment for the driving test at an MVA office near you.
In order to be eligible for the Maryland drivers license, you must:

1. Be at least 16 years and 3 months old.
2. Have held your learners permit for at least 6 months conviction-free.
3. Have successfully completed a drivers education program (30 hours of classroom and 6 hours behind-the wheel instruction) and present the MVA with the drivers education certificate.
4. Submit a completed and signed practice and skills log to document a minimum of 60 hours additional driving practice with a qualified supervising driver separate from drivers education. The practice and skills log signature for applicants under age 18 must be a parent/guardian.
5. Pass the driving test.

Once you pass the road skills driving test, you will be issued a Provisional License with the following restrictions:

• Provisional license holders under 18 are only authorized to drive without supervision between the hours of 5 am to midnight. From midnight to 5 am they must be accompanied by a supervising driver who is 21 or older, and has held a license for a minimum of 3 years.
• Provisional license holders under the age of 18, during the first 5 months (151 days) of the provisional period, are not allowed to have passengers under the age of 18, unless accompanied by a qualified supervising driver or the passengers are direct family members. Direct family members can be a spouse, daughter, son, stepdaughter, stepson, sister, brother, stepsister, or stepbrother of the provisional license holder, or a relative of the license holder who lives at the same address.
• Convictions or "Probation Before Judgment" (PBJ) for moving violations while holding a provisional license will require the completion of adriver improvement program and/or the suspension/revocation ofyourdriverslicense. Convictions also restart the 18-month minimum waiting period.
  
  In addition to other sanctions applied by the courts, these Administrative sanctions listed below are also imposed:

  • 1st Conviction = driver improvement classes
  • 2nd Conviction = 30-day suspension of license
  • 3rd Conviction = 180-day suspension or revocation of license

• Provisional license holders under 18 and all the passengers in the vehicle they are driving must use proper restraints.

Restrictions on Time
Provisional license holders under the age of 18 are restricted from driving between 12 midnight and 5 a.m. unless:

• The driver is accompanied or supervised by a licensed driver, 21 years of age or older, with at least 3 years of driving experience.
• The driver is driving to, from, or during employment.
• The driver is driving to or from an official school activity.
• The driver is driving to or from an organized volunteer program.
• The driving is driving to or from participation in an athletic event or related training session.

Upon becoming 18, a provisional license holder is no longer bound by this restriction and may drive at any hour.

Basic Requirements for Provisional Licenses Issued to Persons Who Previously Held a Drivers License from Another State, Country or the Armed Forces:

Maryland's provisional license is a probationary-type license. It requires conviction-free driving prior to obtaining a full drivers license. It is issued to drivers after they gain experience driving with a learners permit and to previously licensed drivers with less than 18 months of driving experience.

• Issued to persons who previously held a drivers license from another state, country or the armed forces who have less than 18 months of driving experience, regardless of their age.
• If under 18, it prohibits driving between 12 midnight to 5 a.m. unless supervised or certain conditions are met.
• Must be held the minimum time periods specified below with the driver free of moving violation convictions:
• Previously licensed 0 to less than 6 months
  Driver must hold Maryland provisional license for 18 months minimum and be conviction-free.
• Previously licensed 6 to less than 12 months
  Driver must hold Maryland provisional license for 12 months minimum and be conviction-free.
• Previously licensed 12 to less than 18 months
  Driver must hold Maryland provisional license for 6 months minimum and be conviction-free.
• If convicted of a moving violation,the driver must restartan18-month waiting period with no additional moving violations. Only then can a driver become eligible to convert to a full driver's license.
  
  If suspended or revoked the driver must restart an 18-month waiting period from the date the drivers license is reinstated. The driver must complete the 18-month period with no additional moving violations.

Converting to a Full Drivers License

If your provisional license was issued on July 1, 2004 or after and you successfully meet all requirements, the MVA automatically converts the license to a full drivers license status. An attachment card showing the conversion to a full license is mailed to the driver. The card is carried with the provisional license to show the change in licensing status. The attachment card is no longer needed when the provisional license expires. The driver comes in for a license renewal, pays the renewal fee and then is issued a full license. The minimum age for conversion is 17 years, 9 months. Provisional license holders under 18 must have the application co-signed by a parent.

If your provisional license was issued prior to July 1, 2004, you must appear in person at a MVA office to convert from the provisional to a full license.

Parents Please Note:

• If a new driver under 18 is cited for speeding in excess of 20 mph, the MVA will notify the parent, guardian, or cosigner.
• Drivers under 18 may have their license suspended if the parent, guardian, or cosigner withdraws their consent. Contact the MVA for details.