The Massachusetts road test
A plain-language guide, checked against the Massachusetts Registry of Motor Vehicles (MA RMV): who the test is for, what to bring, how it is scored, and what a retake really costs.
The rule that decides your path
The Massachusetts road test, also called the behind-the-wheel or driving skills test, is the final exam the MA RMV gives before it issues a driver's license. New drivers can take the Massachusetts driving test at 16, after logging 40 hours of supervised driving. The drive includes parallel parking.
Massachusetts sets a specific pre-license education step every new driver has to clear. Junior Operators need a clean record for 6 consecutive months before the road test.
Below you'll find the full Massachusetts road test requirements: who qualifies, what to bring, how examiners score the drive, and the retake rules if you don't pass the first time. On our Driving Index, Massachusetts's written knowledge test ranks 46th-hardest of 51.
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Supervised hours before the Massachusetts road test
These are hours you spend driving with a licensed adult, usually a parent, before you can take the test. Keep a log as you go, on paper or in an app, because the state can ask to see it. Practice in a mix of conditions, day and night, highways and quiet streets, rain and clear weather, and get the night hours in early, since those are the ones most people leave to the last minute.
What to bring to the Massachusetts road test
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Documents
Your vehicle must have
Who comes with you. Your sponsor must be 21 or older, have 1 year of experience, and carry a valid physical U.S. license. A sponsor may bring up to 3 applicants in 12 months without RMV approval. No sponsor is needed for Class M.
If you fail the Massachusetts road test
Here's how a retake works in Massachusetts: 2 weeks. The retest fee is $35 per attempt, including each retake..
Beyond any fee, a retry usually means another day off work or school, another ride to the office, and another car to borrow, so failing costs far more than it looks on paper.
Passing on the first try is the cheapest way through. A first license runs $50 for a 5-year Class D license.
How the Massachusetts road test is scored
Massachusetts doesn't publish a point system or a set passing score, so the examiner simply judges whether you drive safely and follow the rules. In general, you fail for dangerous driving, breaking a traffic law, causing a crash, or not following the examiner's directions. Small mistakes add up too, so drive smoothly and predictably.
Before the road test
Pass the Massachusetts written test on your first try
Nearby road-test guides.
Six more states, neighbours first, then the closest matches on test difficulty.
Test specifications, fees and laws change. This guide was last verified July 2026; always confirm current requirements with the MA RMV (www.mass.gov) before booking a test. DMV IQ is not affiliated with, endorsed by, or associated with any state DMV, DPS, MVD, or BMV.
Spot an error? Email [email protected] and we'll get it corrected.
Sources for this guide (5 official MA RMV pages)
- Eligibility: https://www.mass.gov/info-details/junior-operator-license-jol-requirements
- What to bring: https://www.mass.gov/info-details/passenger-class-d-road-tests
- Test format: https://www.mass.gov/doc/english-drivers-manual/download
- Scoring: https://www.mass.gov/doc/english-drivers-manual/download
- Retakes: https://www.mass.gov/guides/road-test-information
- Fees: https://www.mass.gov/doc/rmv-schedule-of-fees/download
- Handbook (Revised April 2026): https://www.mass.gov/doc/english-drivers-manual/download
Current as of 2026-07-16. Official Massachusetts sources only; anything the state does not publish is left out rather than guessed.