Massachusetts’s Teen Driver’s License and Insurance Requirements

Massachusetts uses a graduated license system to advance unlicensed drivers from a learner's permit to a junior license and finally to an unrestricted license. This article explains how this process works, including the basic requirements and various restrictions for newer drivers.

How Do I Get a Learner's Permit to Start Driving in Massachusetts?

At age 16, teens can apply for a learner's permit. Below, we explain the requirements to obtain a permit, the restrictions on permit holders, and the penalties for violating permit restrictions. (Mass. Gen. Laws Ann. ch. 90, § 8b (2024).)

Requirements for Getting a Driving Permit

Permit applications must be signed by the teen and a parent or guardian and include proof of identity. The applicant must also pass the vision examination and a written test covering traffic signs and traffic laws.

What You Can Do With a Learner's Permit

The learner's permit will be valid for two years and authorizes the holder to operate a vehicle while under the supervision of an adult who is 21 years or older and has held a driver's license for at least one year. Permit holders are prohibited from driving between midnight and 5 a.m. unless supervised by a parent or guardian.

Penalties for Learner's Permit Restriction Violations

Driving outside of the curfew or driving without a proper supervisor is considered a driving-without-a-license violation. In addition to the criminal penalties, the learner's permit will be suspended for 60 days for a first offense, 180 days for a second offense, and one year for a third offense. After the suspension, the driver must reapply and re-test to have his or her permit reinstated. Also, after a second offense violation, the learner's permit cannot be reinstated until the teen completes an educational course designed to encourage "attitudinal changes."

Who Qualifies for a Massachusetts Junior Driver's License?

A teen (minimum 16-and-a-half years old) who has held a learner's permit for six months without any moving violations or substance-related convictions, can apply for a junior license. (Mass. Gen. Laws Ann. ch. 90, § 8 (2024).)

Prerequisites for a Junior Driver's License

Before taking the driving test, the applicant and parent or guardian must sign the application and show completion of a certified driver's education course. This course must include 18 hours of driving instruction, six hours observing other students driving, 12 hours of actual driving, and substance abuse education. The parent must also attend at least two hours of the class, including substance abuse education. The applicant must additionally provide a driving log (signed by a parent or guardian) certifying that the teen has completed at least 40 hours of supervised driving time. This requirement is reduced to 30 hours if the applicant has completed a driver skills development program.

Restrictions on Junior License Holders

The junior license authorizes the teen to drive unsupervised but with some restrictions. For the first six months, the driver cannot transport any non-family member passengers under the age of 18. This restriction is waived if the teen is supervised by an adult who's at least 21 years old and has held a driver's license for at least one year.

Junior licensees are also prohibited from driving between 12:30 a.m. and 5:00 a.m. unless accompanied by his or her parent or guardian.

Penalties for Violations of Junior License Restrictions

Violations of junior license restrictions will result in a 60-day suspension for a first offense, a 180-day suspension for a second offense, and a one-year suspension for a third offense.

A person convicted of a second or subsequent offense must take a program that encourages attitudinal changes before they'll be eligible for license reinstatement.

What Are Massachusett's Cell Phone Rules for Underage Drivers?

All drivers under the age of 18 are prohibited from using a cellular phone while operating a vehicle. Violators face the following penalties:

• A first offense results in a $100 fine and a 60-day license suspension.
• A second offense results in a $250 fine and a 180-day license suspension.
• A third offense results in a $500 fine and a one-year license suspension.

Exceptions exist if the driver was using a phone to report an emergency or vehicle accident. (Mass. Gen. Laws Ann. ch. 90, § 8m (2024).)

When Can I Get an Unrestricted Driver's License in Massachusetts?

After turning 18, a junior license holder can generally surrender his or her license to the Registry of Motor Vehicles (RMV) to receive a valid driver's license. (Mass. Gen. Laws Ann. ch. 90, § 8 (2024).)

What Are Massachusetts's Minimum Car Insurance Requirements?

In Massachusetts, vehicles must be properly insured. Here are the minimum insurance requirements and the penalties for driving without insurance.

Minimum Car Insurance Coverage

Massachusetts requires a mandatory minimum policy of:

• bodily injury protection of $20,000 per person and $40,000 per accident
• personal injury protection of at least $8,000 per person, and
• property damage liability coverage of at least $5,000.

(Mass. Gen. Laws Ann. ch. 90, § 34a (2024).)

Penalties for Uninsured Driving

Driving without the required insurance is a criminal offense punishable by a fine of $500 to $5,000 and/or up to one year in jail. (However, for a first offense, the driver may be eligible for a "Continuance Without a Finding," which entails a fine of up to $500 but no jail time.) A first violation will result in a 60-day license suspension. A second offense within a six-year period will result in a one-year license suspension. (Mass. Gen. Laws Ann. ch. 90, § 34j (2024).)

The court will also require the violator to pay either $500 or the entirety of a one-year insurance premium. The Massachusetts Registry of Motor Vehicles (RMV) is also authorized to seize and revoke the vehicle's license plate and registration until proof of insurance is obtained. Obtaining valid insurance within two days can prevent license plate and registration revocation. (Mass. Gen. Laws Ann. ch. 90, § 34h (2024).)