MA DMV Practice Test

This page is for people in Massachusetts preparing for the Class D learner's permit knowledge exam from the Registry of Motor Vehicles. It collects our free practice sets by topic, explains the exam format, fee, time limit and retake rules from official sources, and walks through sample questions. Our questions are written by us with AI tools and are not real exam questions.

MA DMV Exam at a Glance

What changed for MA DMV in 2026

• Oct 28, 2026: Validity (Class D learner’s permit) changed to 2 years (previously Up to two years).^[1]
• Oct 28, 2026: Renewal (Class D learner’s permit) changed to Reapply and retake exam after expiration (previously Reapply and retake the knowledge exam after expiration).^[1]

What the MA DMV is and how it works

According to Massachusetts Registry of Motor Vehicles, “You must be at least 16 years old to apply for a learner's permit.”^[1]

The Class D learner's permit knowledge exam is part of applying for a passenger-vehicle learner's permit from the Massachusetts Registry of Motor Vehicles (RMV). You must be at least 16 years old to apply. The exam consists of 25 questions, and you are given 25 minutes to complete it.

You can take the exam at the Service Center during your learner's permit appointment or online. If you choose to take it online, the RMV says you can do so within 60 days of visiting the Service Center.

Each attempt costs $30. If you do not pass, you can take the exam again, but you must visit your profile on myRMV and pay another $30 fee first. Permits are valid for 2 years or the length of your stay in the U.S. If your permit expires, you need to reapply and retake the exam.

This page does not list a passing score, and other requirements can vary with your age and situation, so we leave them out rather than guess. Before you book, read the official Class D learner's permit instructions on mass.gov and check your myRMV profile for the current steps.

MA DMV content outline and where to practise each area

The content areas below are copied from the official MA DMV content outline published by Massachusetts Registry of Motor Vehicles. The right-hand column shows which of our practice sets covers it.

Worked examples: how to reason through MA DMV questions

These are practice questions written for this site, not questions from the real exam. Each explanation shows why the right answer is right and why the others are wrong.

Example 1

Question: At an uncontrolled intersection in Massachusetts, who has the right of way?

1. The vehicle traveling faster
2. The vehicle on the right when two vehicles arrive at the same time
3. The heavier vehicle
4. The vehicle traveling on the wider road

Answer: B. The vehicle on the right when two vehicles arrive at the same time

Explanation:

The correct answer is the vehicle on the right when vehicles arrive at the same time. At an uncontrolled intersection there is no sign or signal to decide who goes, so the law uses a simple tiebreaker: yield to the driver on your right.

Speed does not create a right of way, so the faster vehicle gets no priority, and a driver who speeds up to claim the intersection is breaking the rule. Weight is irrelevant too, because the law does not favor larger or heavier vehicles. The wider road is not a factor either, since road width does not change who must yield when there is no control device.

The rule to remember: with no signs or signals and simultaneous arrival, yield to the vehicle on your right. If you arrive clearly earlier, you generally go first, and if anything is unclear, slow down and let the other driver proceed.

Example 2

Question: How often must Massachusetts passenger vehicles be inspected for safety?

1. Every 6 months
2. Annually (once per year)
3. Every 2 years
4. Only when transferring ownership

Answer: B. Annually (once per year)

Explanation:

The correct answer is annually. Massachusetts requires most passenger vehicles to be inspected for safety and emissions on a yearly cycle, usually at a licensed inspection station.

A shorter interval is wrong because the requirement is not that frequent. A longer interval is wrong because it would leave vehicles unchecked for too much of their use. Inspecting only when ownership changes is wrong because the requirement follows the vehicle on a recurring schedule, not the sale.

The rule to remember: inspection is a recurring yearly duty for the registered vehicle, so treat the sticker date as a deadline. Our emissions inspections and vehicle registration sets cover related questions, and the RMV and the inspection program pages are the place to confirm current details.

Example 3

Question: What does the 'basic speed law' in Massachusetts require of all drivers?

1. Always drive at exactly the posted speed limit
2. Drive at a speed that is safe for current road, traffic, and weather conditions
3. Drive at least 10 mph below the posted limit in bad weather
4. Match the speed of surrounding traffic at all times

Answer: B. Drive at a speed that is safe for current road, traffic, and weather conditions

Explanation:

The correct answer is to drive at a speed that is safe for current road, traffic and weather conditions. The basic speed law means the posted limit is a maximum under good conditions, not a target.

Driving at exactly the posted limit at all times is wrong because rain, fog, heavy traffic or poor visibility can make that speed unsafe. The option about staying a fixed amount below the limit in bad weather is wrong because the law gives no set number; it asks for judgment about what is reasonable. Matching surrounding traffic is wrong because other drivers may be going too fast for the conditions, and following them does not make it safe.

The rule to remember: choose the speed the conditions allow, even if that is well below the posted limit.

How to use these practice tests

Start with the official Massachusetts driver's manual and the RMV learner's permit page, so you know what the exam is built from. Then use the practice sets to find weak spots.

• Take the MA DMV Basic set cold, without notes, and write down every question you missed or guessed.
• Work through one topic set at a time, such as Road Signs and Signals and Traffic Laws and Right of Way. After each answer, read the explanation and say the rule in your own words.
• Add Alcohol, Drugs, and Impaired Driving and Speed Limits and Speeding Violations for the areas that carry legal consequences.
• Return to the MA DMV Permit set near test day, and compare your results with your first attempt.

For every question you miss, find the matching passage in the official manual. Our questions are written by us and are not real exam questions, so use them to check understanding, not to memorize answers. Practise within the time limit once or twice so the pace feels familiar.

Sources & last verified

1. Massachusetts Registry of Motor Vehicles — number of questions, time limit, validity, renewal (official source). “The exam consists of 25 questions.” Verified Oct 28, 2026 · source checked Oct 19, 2026.
2. Massachusetts Registry of Motor Vehicles — exam fee (official source). “Each learner’s permit exam costs $30.” Verified Oct 28, 2026 · source checked Oct 19, 2026.
3. Massachusetts Registry of Motor Vehicles — retake fee, retake policy, testing window (official source). “You can take the exam again, but you must visit your profile on myRMV to pay another $30 fee first.” Verified Oct 28, 2026.

How we verify: editorial & fact-checking policy. Report an error: contact us.