What is the minimum age to apply for a Massachusetts Class D learner's permit?
Correct answer: 16 years old.
The RMV requires applicants to be at least 16 for a Class D or Class M learner's permit. Other requirements still apply.
Source: Massachusetts Driver's Manual, revised April 2026, printed page 15 (physical PDF page 23) — Getting a Learner’s Permit. ↗
An applicant is 17 and wants a Class D permit. What does the manual require for the application?
Correct answer: A parent or guardian signature.
Under-18 applicants need the required adult consent, as well as meeting identification, vision and testing requirements.
Source: Massachusetts Driver's Manual, revised April 2026, printed page 15 (physical PDF page 23) — Getting a Learner’s Permit. ↗
Which person meets the general Class D permit supervision requirements?
Correct answer: A validly licensed driver aged 21 or older, with one year of experience, seated beside you.
The supervisor must be at least 21, have at least one year of driving experience, hold a valid license and occupy the adjacent passenger seat.
Source: Massachusetts Driver's Manual, revised April 2026, printed page 18 (physical PDF page 26) — Driving With Your Permit. ↗
A 17-year-old Class D permit holder wants to practice at 12:15 a.m. Which additional condition applies?
Correct answer: A qualified, validly licensed parent or legal guardian must accompany them.
The under-18 permit restriction runs midnight to 5 a.m., with the licensed parent or legal guardian exception. Do not confuse it with the JOL time window.
Source: Massachusetts Driver's Manual, revised April 2026, printed page 18 (physical PDF page 26) — Driving With Your Permit. ↗
You passed the knowledge exam and are practicing with a supervisor. What must you carry while driving?
Correct answer: Your learner's permit.
The permit must be carried whenever you drive until you earn the applicable driver's license. Passing the exam alone is not the document.
Source: Massachusetts Driver's Manual, revised April 2026, printed page 18 (physical PDF page 26) — Driving With Your Permit. ↗
Before the road test, how long must a JOL applicant have held a valid permit?
Correct answer: At least six consecutive months.
A junior applicant needs at least six consecutive months with a valid permit. A suspension invalidates that run, which starts anew when lifted.
Source: Massachusetts Driver's Manual, revised April 2026, printed page 9 (physical PDF page 17) — Requirements to Obtain a JOL, continues on page 10. ↗
A junior applicant has held a permit for six months but lacks six consecutive months of a clean driving record. Are both requirements satisfied?
Correct answer: No; the clean-record requirement is separate.
A valid permit for six months and a clean driving record for six consecutive months are separate JOL requirements.
Source: Massachusetts Driver's Manual, revised April 2026, printed page 10 (physical PDF page 18) — Requirements to Obtain a JOL. ↗
A junior applicant has not completed a driver skills development program. How much additional supervised driving is required?
Correct answer: At least 40 hours.
The general additional supervised-driving requirement is 40 hours. The manual describes a 30-hour exception for a completed driver skills development program.
Source: Massachusetts Driver's Manual, revised April 2026, printed page 10 (physical PDF page 18) — Requirements to Obtain a JOL. ↗
Which training is included in the RMV-approved JOL driver education program?
Correct answer: 30 classroom hours, 12 behind-the-wheel hours and 6 observation hours.
The approved program includes the stated classroom, driving and observation components. Additional supervised practice is required separately.
Source: Massachusetts Driver's Manual, revised April 2026, printed page 10 (physical PDF page 18) — Requirements to Obtain a JOL. ↗
A 17-year-old has held a JOL for two months and wants to drive a 16-year-old friend without a qualified supervisor. Is that allowed?
Correct answer: No; the initial passenger restriction applies to that friend.
For the first six months while under 18, non-family passengers under 18 need the specified adult supervision. A friend is not an immediate-family exception.
Source: Massachusetts Driver's Manual, revised April 2026, printed page 10 (physical PDF page 18) — JOL License Restrictions. ↗
During the initial JOL passenger restriction, which passenger is excepted from the under-18 non-family rule?
Correct answer: An immediate family member.
The restriction expressly excepts immediate family members. Other restrictions, including nighttime rules, still apply.
Source: Massachusetts Driver's Manual, revised April 2026, printed page 10 (physical PDF page 18) — JOL License Restrictions. ↗
A driver turns 18 before completing the initial six-month JOL passenger restriction. When does that passenger restriction end?
Correct answer: At age 18, if that comes before the six-month period ends.
The initial passenger restriction ends after the applicable six-month period or at age 18, whichever occurs first. This does not erase a suspension.
Source: Massachusetts Driver's Manual, revised April 2026, printed page 10 (physical PDF page 18) — JOL License Restrictions. ↗
What nighttime period restricts an under-18 JOL holder unless accompanied by a parent or legal guardian?
Correct answer: 12:30 a.m. to 5:00 a.m.
The JOL nighttime rule differs from the learner-permit rule. Limited secondary enforcement during parts of this window does not make unsupervised driving lawful.
Source: Massachusetts Driver's Manual, revised April 2026, printed page 10 (physical PDF page 18) — JOL License Restrictions, continues on page 11. ↗
A 17-year-old driver wants to make a routine call using a hands-free phone. What does the rule require?
Correct answer: Do not make the call while driving; the exception is reporting an emergency.
Under-18 drivers cannot use mobile electronic devices for routine calls, even hands-free. The manual gives an emergency-reporting exception.
Source: Massachusetts Driver's Manual, revised April 2026, printed page 40 (physical PDF page 48) — Drivers Under 18. ↗
An adult driver is stopped at a red light in a travel lane. May they hold a phone to read a message?
Correct answer: No; stopping at a red light does not permit handheld use.
Handheld use requires being stationary outside a public travel lane. Red lights and stop signs are not exceptions.
Source: Massachusetts Driver's Manual, revised April 2026, printed page 39 (physical PDF page 47) — Drivers 18 and Older. ↗
Your license has a corrective-lenses restriction. What does it require while driving?
Correct answer: Wear your required glasses or contact lenses.
A corrective-lenses restriction follows the driver whenever driving, not only during poor light or another vision test.
Source: Massachusetts Driver's Manual, revised April 2026, printed page 9 (physical PDF page 17) — Medical Restrictions. ↗
