Maryland Permit Restrictions: Driving Alone, Night & Passenger Rules (2026)
State permit restrictions
Maryland permit rules at a glance
August 5, 2026
Maryland learner permit and provisional license restrictions were organized from official state licensing sources.
Maryland learner permit driving requires a qualified supervising driver in the car; MVA practice guidance uses licensed mentors/coaches. After the learner stage, new drivers should still check Maryland night, passenger, and phone restrictions before driving alone.
At a glance
Maryland learner and provisional restriction snapshot
State-specific notes
Maryland rules that are easy to miss
- 151-day passenger windowMaryland uses a specific first-151-days passenger restriction for under-18 provisional drivers, not a rounded 5- or 6-month phrase.
- 60 hours for under-25 driversMaryland's practice-hour requirement is higher than many states and includes at least 10 nighttime hours.
- Fee noteMaryland MVA lists a Non-CDL Type I GLS learner permit fee that includes conversion to a full license; verify current amount before visiting.
Try the tool
Check a Maryland permit driving situation
Use this quick checker when a learner or provisional driver wants to know whether a trip looks allowed. It checks age, permit stage, supervision, time of day, passengers, highway or freeway driving, phone use, and trip purpose against the Maryland data we have reviewed.
This tool is a planning aid, not a replacement for official Maryland DMV or licensing rules. If the result mentions an exception or says to check the state rule, open the official source before driving.
Interactive checker Use this tool for Maryland learner permit and provisional-license situations. It is designed for quick planning, then points you back to official sources for final wording. Answer a few questions about your permit stage, supervision, time of day, passengers, and trip purpose. The checker returns a practical result with a reason, next step, and official state source link. This checker is locked to Maryland so the page stays focused on one state instead of repeating every supported state summary. Some restrictions depend on region, exact age in months, passenger relationship, documentation, or official exceptions. For those cases, the checker points you back to the state source instead of guessing. Official-source check This page shows only the source snapshot for Maryland. To compare all supported states, use the permit restrictions hub.Check a Maryland driving situation
Maryland page mode
Why some results say Check state rule
Maryland source used by this tool
Can a learner permit driver drive alone in Maryland?
Maryland learner permit driving requires a qualified supervising driver in the car; MVA practice guidance uses licensed mentors/coaches. In Maryland, do not treat a learner permit as solo-driving permission; use the linked state source if an exception seems to apply.
Maryland learner night driving
Learner driving is supervised. The midnight-to-5 a.m. restriction is most visible at the provisional stage for drivers under 18.
Maryland provisional night restriction
Maryland provisional drivers under 18 generally may not drive from midnight to 5 a.m. unless an official exception applies.
Maryland passenger restriction
For the first 151 days, Maryland provisional drivers under 18 may not drive with passengers under 18 unless they are immediate family members or a qualified supervising driver is present.
Phone and device rules
Maryland learners under 18 should not use a wireless device, including hands-free devices, while driving except for emergency use; verify current MVA wording. Maryland provisional drivers under 18 should not use wireless devices while driving, including hands-free devices except emergency use; verify current MVA wording.
Before you drive
What to verify in Maryland
- Age path: Maryland: Maryland learner permit applicants must be at least 15 years and 9 months old.
- Holding period: Maryland: Maryland learner permit holders under 18 generally hold the permit for 9 months before provisional licensing eligibility.
- Supervisor rule: Maryland learner permit driving requires a qualified supervising driver in the car; MVA practice guidance uses licensed mentors/coaches.
- Night rule: Maryland provisional drivers under 18 generally may not drive from midnight to 5 a.m. unless an official exception applies.
- Passenger rule: For the first 151 days, Maryland provisional drivers under 18 may not drive with passengers under 18 unless they are immediate family members or a qualified supervising driver is present.
- Phone rule: Maryland provisional drivers under 18 should not use wireless devices while driving, including hands-free devices except emergency use; verify current MVA wording.
- Maryland documents and fees: bring accepted DMV documents, then confirm the current Maryland fee on the official payment page or your appointment confirmation.
Nearby comparison
Compare Maryland with nearby permit rules
Families who study, move, or practice near a state line should compare the issuing state’s permit rules with neighboring state guidance before driving across state lines.
| State | Learner age | Holding period | New-driver night rule |
|---|---|---|---|
| Delaware | Delaware Level One Learner's Permit eligibility begins at age 16. | Delaware's Level One Learner's Permit lasts 12 months; the first 6 months are supervised-only before limited unsupervised day driving may begin. | After the Level One permit period is completed and a Class D license is issued, verify whether any remaining age-based restrictions apply to your situation. |
| Pennsylvania | Initial learner permit path begins at age 16 or older. | Under-18 applicants have a 6-month waiting/skill-building period before the road test. | Pennsylvania junior drivers may not drive between 11 p.m. and 5 a.m. except for listed documented exceptions. |
| Virginia | Virginia learner permit applicants must be at least 15 years and 6 months old. | Virginia drivers under 18 generally hold the learner permit at least 9 months before licensure. | Virginia drivers under 18 may not drive between midnight and 4 a.m. except for listed exceptions. |
| West Virginia | West Virginia Level 1 instruction permit eligibility begins at age 15. | West Virginia Level 1 permit holders generally hold the permit for at least 6 months before Level II eligibility. | West Virginia Level II drivers may drive unsupervised from 5 a.m. to 10 p.m.; 10 p.m.-to-5 a.m. driving is restricted unless an official exception applies. |
Official resources
Maryland permit restriction source links
US Permit Prep is independent and not a government agency. Use these links to verify final rules before driving or scheduling.
- Maryland MVA – Learner's Permitpermit age, Rookie Driver program
- Maryland MVA – Provisional Driver's License60 hours, passenger restriction
- Maryland MVA – License & ID Feeslearner permit fee
Maryland permit restriction FAQs
Can you drive alone with a learner permit in Maryland?
Usually no. Maryland learner permit driving requires a qualified supervising driver in the car; MVA practice guidance uses licensed mentors/coaches. Open Maryland MVA – Learner's Permit before relying on any exception.
Can you drive at night with a permit in Maryland?
Learner driving is supervised. The midnight-to-5 a.m. restriction is most visible at the provisional stage for drivers under 18.
What are the provisional license night rules in Maryland?
Maryland provisional drivers under 18 generally may not drive from midnight to 5 a.m. unless an official exception applies.
What are the passenger restrictions for new drivers in Maryland?
For the first 151 days, Maryland provisional drivers under 18 may not drive with passengers under 18 unless they are immediate family members or a qualified supervising driver is present.
Are these Maryland permit restriction rules official?
US Permit Prep is independent and not a government agency. This Maryland page summarizes source research and links to Maryland MVA – Learner's Permit so you can verify final wording before driving.
How many supervised driving hours does Maryland require?
Maryland generally requires 60 supervised practice hours for under-25 Rookie Driver applicants, including at least 10 hours at night.
What is Maryland's provisional passenger restriction?
For the first 151 days, Maryland provisional drivers under 18 generally may not carry passengers under 18 unless they are immediate family or a qualified supervising driver is present.
