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.
Numbers in brackets link to the official sources listed under Sources & last verified. Dates that have passed are removed automatically.
| Item | Detail | Source · Verified |
|---|---|---|
| Number of questions (Class D learner’s permit knowledge exam) | 25 questions[1] | Massachusetts Registry of Motor Vehicles · Oct 28, 2026 |
| Time limit (Class D learner’s permit knowledge exam) | 25 minutes[1] | Massachusetts Registry of Motor Vehicles · Oct 28, 2026 |
| Exam fee (Class D learner’s permit knowledge exam) | $30 per attempt[2] | Massachusetts Registry of Motor Vehicles · Oct 28, 2026 |
| Retake fee (Class D learner’s permit knowledge exam) | $30 per retake[3] | Massachusetts Registry of Motor Vehicles · Oct 28, 2026 |
| Retake policy (Class D learner’s permit knowledge exam) | Pay another $30 through myRMV before retrying[3] | Massachusetts Registry of Motor Vehicles · Oct 28, 2026 |
| Validity (Class D learner’s permit) | 2 years[1] | Massachusetts Registry of Motor Vehicles · Oct 28, 2026 |
| Renewal (Class D learner’s permit) | Reapply and retake exam after expiration[1] | Massachusetts Registry of Motor Vehicles · Oct 28, 2026 |
| Delivery (Class D learner’s permit knowledge exam) | Online or in-person at an RMV Service Center[1] | Massachusetts Registry of Motor Vehicles · Oct 28, 2026 |
| Eligibility (Class D learner’s permit) | At least 16 years of age[1] | Massachusetts Registry of Motor Vehicles · Oct 28, 2026 |
| Testing window (Class D learner’s permit knowledge exam) | Within 60 days of visiting the Service Center[3] | Massachusetts Registry of Motor Vehicles · Oct 28, 2026 |
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.
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.
| Official content area | Practice on this site |
|---|---|
| Consequences of driving under the influence of drugs/alcohol[1] | MA DMV Alcohol, Drugs, and Impaired Driving Practise how impairment affects driving and what legal consequences follow for a driver who is caught. |
| Rules of the road[1] | MA DMV Traffic Laws and Right of Way Practise right of way, signals and lane rules until you can explain the reason behind each answer, not just recall it. |
| Sharing the road with bicyclists and pedestrians[1] | MA DMV Safe Driving Practices and Defensiv... Practise how to give space, yield and watch for people outside vehicles, especially at crossings and turns. |
| Sharing the road with the visually impaired[1] | MA DMV Safe Driving Practices and Defensiv... Practise how drivers should behave around pedestrians who cannot see traffic, and read the official handbook section on this topic. |
| The Junior Operator Law[1] | MA DMV Permit Practise the restrictions that apply to younger drivers, then check the current wording on the official RMV pages. |
Prepare for the MA DMV - Massachusetts Department of Motor Vehicle exam with our free practice test modules. Each quiz covers key topics to help you pass on your first try.
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.
Question: At an uncontrolled intersection in Massachusetts, who has the right of way?
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.
Question: How often must Massachusetts passenger vehicles be inspected for safety?
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.
Question: What does the 'basic speed law' in Massachusetts require of all drivers?
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.
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.
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.
How we verify: editorial & fact-checking policy. Report an error: contact us.
The Class D learner's permit exam consists of 25 questions, and you are given 25 minutes to complete it. This page does not list a passing score, so check the official RMV learner's permit instructions on mass.gov for the current requirement before you book.
Yes. The RMV says you can take the exam at the Service Center during your learner's permit appointment or online. If you choose the online option, the exam must be taken within 60 days of visiting the Service Center. Confirm the current steps in your myRMV profile.
Each learner's permit exam costs $30. That fee applies per attempt, so you pay it again if you need to retake the exam. Check mass.gov or your myRMV profile for current fee details, since the RMV controls the amounts and payment steps.
You can take the exam again, but you must visit your profile on myRMV and pay another $30 fee first. Use the practice sets to find the topics you missed, review the matching sections of the official manual, then retake the exam when you feel ready.
You must be at least 16 years old to apply for a Class D learner's permit. Other requirements can vary by applicant, so read the official RMV page on applying for a passenger Class D learner's permit and check your myRMV profile before your appointment.
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, so plan your road practice and your road test around the expiration date shown on your permit.