Massachusetts (MA)

How many practice hours do you need in Massachusetts?

In Massachusetts, a learner driver must log 40 hours of supervised driving practice—including 0 at night—before applying for a license.

40
Total practice hours
None set
Night hours
16
Permit age
16½
License age

Massachusetts learner permit requirements

  • Minimum permit age: 16
  • Supervised practice required: 40 hours total, 0 at night
  • Permit hold period: 6 months
  • License eligibility age: 16½
  • How hours are certified: 40-hour supervised driving certification signed by a parent or guardian.

Massachusetts requires 40 hours of supervised driving. Parents must also complete a 2-hour parent class as part of the state's driver-education requirement. Massachusetts does not set a separate night-hours minimum.

Requirements change and have exceptions. Always confirm the current rules with the Massachusetts RMV before applying.

Massachusetts's graduated licensing stages

1
Learner's permit · age 16

Drive with a licensed adult 21+ who has 1+ year of experience; log 40 hours of practice.

2
Junior operator license · age 16½

Issued after 6 months with the permit; night and passenger limits apply.

3
Full license · age 18

Junior operator restrictions are removed.

Driving restrictions for new Massachusetts drivers

Night driving

Junior operators can't drive between 12:30 a.m. and 5 a.m. unless accompanied by a parent or guardian.

Passengers

For the first 6 months, junior operators may not carry passengers under 18 other than siblings unless a licensed adult 21+ is present.

Phone use

Junior operators may not use any mobile device while driving — Massachusetts enforces this strictly with license suspension.

Log every Massachusetts practice hour automatically

DriveMint tracks each supervised drive with GPS, separates day and night hours, and generates a DMV-ready report—so you can prove all 40 hours without a paper logbook.

Massachusetts driving practice FAQs

How many driving hours do you need in Massachusetts?+

Massachusetts requires 40 hours of supervised driving practice, including 0 hours at night, before a teen can apply for a license.

Does Massachusetts require night driving hours?+

Massachusetts does not break out a night-hours minimum within its 40-hour requirement, but practicing at night is important before the 12:30 a.m. junior-operator curfew applies.

Do parents have to take a class in Massachusetts?+

Yes — a parent or guardian must complete a 2-hour class as part of the driver-education requirement for applicants under 18.

Requirements in other states

Compare practice hours in all 50 states side by side, or read what actually counts as a night driving hour.