How to Get Your Driver's License in Maine
Last verified: 2026-03
Here is how to get your driver's license in Maine. Maine uses a Graduated Driver Licensing (GDL) system with 3 stages. You can get a full unrestricted license at age 16.75.
GDL Stages in Maine
Learner's Permit
Requirements
- Pass written knowledge test
- Pass vision screening
- Complete approved driver education course
- Parental consent if under 18
Restrictions
- Must be accompanied by a licensed driver age 20 or older with 2+ years experience
Intermediate License
Requirements
- Hold learner's permit for at least 6 months
- Complete 70 hours supervised driving including 10 at night
- Pass road skills test
Restrictions
- No driving between midnight and 5 a.m.
- No passengers at all for the first 9 months (except family)
Full Unrestricted License
Requirements
- Hold intermediate license for at least 9 months
- Clean driving record
Restricted License Rules
- No driving between midnight and 5 a.m. during the intermediate period.
- No non-family passengers are allowed at any time for the first 9 months. This is one of the strictest passenger bans among GDL states.
How restrictions lift: Restrictions lift after 9 months with no at-fault accidents or license suspensions.
Road Test Overview
What Is Tested
- Vehicle control
- Turning and lane changes
- Parking
- Obeying traffic signals and signs
- Speed management
- Yielding right of way
Adult Licensing Pathway
If you are 18 or older, you do not need to complete the full GDL process. Drivers 18 and older are not required to complete the GDL program and can apply for a full license directly.
Maine-Specific Information
Maine requires 70 hours of supervised driving, among the highest totals in New England. The state also imposes a complete ban on non-family passengers during the entire intermediate period, making it one of the most restrictive passenger rules in the country.
Frequently Asked Questions
You must be at least 16.75 years old to get an unrestricted full driver's license in Maine.
Maine uses a 3-stage Graduated Driver Licensing (GDL) system: Learner's Permit, Intermediate License, Full Unrestricted License.
- No driving between midnight and 5 a.m. during the intermediate period.
- No non-family passengers are allowed at any time for the first 9 months. This is one of the strictest passenger bans among GDL states.
Adults age 18 and older in Maine can apply for a license directly without going through the GDL stages. Drivers 18 and older are not required to complete the GDL program and can apply for a full license directly.
Need your permit first?
Start with the learner's permit before your full license.
Maine learner's permit guideCheck drivers ed requirements
Find out if drivers ed is required in Maine.
Maine drivers ed requirementsPrefer to learn online?
Complete a state-approved driving course from home on your own schedule. Same certifications, same insurance discounts.
View Online CoursesThis information is based on Maine Bureau of Motor Vehicles guidelines. Requirements can change. Visit the official Maine Bureau of Motor Vehicles website for the most current information.