The Maine road test
A plain-language guide, checked against the Maine Bureau of Motor Vehicles (ME BMV): 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 Maine road test, also called the behind-the-wheel or driving skills test, is the final exam the ME BMV gives before it issues a driver's license. New drivers can take the Maine driving test at 16, after logging 70 hours of supervised driving. The drive includes parallel parking.
In Maine, driver's education is required before anyone under 18 can be licensed. Practice with a licensed driver 20 or older who has held a license for 2 years. Drivers under 21 hold a provisional license for 2 years, and under-18 drivers face intermediate restrictions for 270 days.
Below you'll find the full Maine 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, Maine's written knowledge test ranks 6th-hardest of 51.
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Supervised hours before the Maine 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 Maine road test
Tap each item to check it off. Your progress is saved on this device.
Documents
Your vehicle must have
Who comes with you. You must be accompanied by a licensed operator with a valid license.
If you fail the Maine road test
Maine doesn't set a fixed wait before you can try again, but you'll need to book another appointment.
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 $30 for a Class C license under age 65, valid 6 years.
How the Maine road test is scored
Pass or fail. The examiner covers all phases of driving, with no published numeric score.
Maine 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 Maine 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 ME BMV (www.maine.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 (3 official ME BMV pages)
- Eligibility: https://www.maine.gov/sos/sites/maine.gov.sos/files/inline-files/motoristhandbook.pdf
- What to bring: https://www.maine.gov/sos/sites/maine.gov.sos/files/inline-files/motoristhandbook.pdf
- Test format: https://www.maine.gov/sos/bmv/driver-licenses-and-ids/car-license/drivers-license-exam
- Scoring: https://www.maine.gov/sos/sites/maine.gov.sos/files/inline-files/motoristhandbook.pdf
- Retakes: https://www.maine.gov/sos/bmv/driver-licenses-and-ids/car-license/drivers-license-exam
- Fees: https://www.maine.gov/sos/bmv/driver-licenses-and-ids/drivers-license-and-examination-fees
- Handbook (NOT_PUBLISHED (no printed date)): https://www.maine.gov/sos/sites/maine.gov.sos/files/inline-files/motoristhandbook.pdf
Current as of 2026-07-16. Official Maine sources only; anything the state does not publish is left out rather than guessed.