How Long Does It Take To Get To Maryland

Maryland uses the GLS (Graduated Licensing System), a program which requires new drivers to gain driving experience with a supervising driver. It encourages the development of safe driving skills by imposing certain limitations during each step of the licensing process. This decreases your chances of being involved in an automobile accident as a new driver.

You can download MVA's

Graduated Licensing System brochure which summarizes each stage of the Graduated Licensing System, including the requirements and regulations for each stage.

Here is an overview of the licensing process step-by-step:

Step 1: Sign Up for an MVA-Certified Driver's Education course

You can take Driver's Ed at the age of 15. In Maryland, the law requires all new drivers to complete this course in order to obtain a driver's license. This rule applies to all Maryland residents, regardless of age.

You do not need to take Driver's Ed before getting your learner's permit. However, many students find that taking the class first helps them to pass the MVA learner's permit test later when they apply for a permit.

For complete information about the course, see Driver's Education Information.

To sign up for a class, click here to Register Online.

Step 2: Obtain a Learner's Permit

You can apply for a learner's permit at the age of 15 and 9 months. In order to obtain your learner's permit, you will need to pass a written exam which will be administered at the MVA. You can get the study guide for this test in our Testing Resources section.

If you are under 16, you will need to bring an additional document to MVA to obtain your permit: the

Form DL-300A which verifies acceptable attendance at your high school or home school.

For more information on learner's permits, you can visit the MVA Learner's Permit information section of the MVA web site.

Step 3: Fulfill All Practice Requirements

Maryland law requires that you practice driving with your learner's permit for a specific period of time before you can apply for a provisional driver's license.

During the practice period, you are required to:

Complete the classroom and in-car portions of the Driver's Education course, if not already completed.
Keep your learner's permit for the minimum required practice period with no traffic violations. The required practice period is:
- Age 15 - 17: 9 months
- Age 18: 3 months if graduated high school; otherwise 9 months
- Age 19 - 24: 3 months
- Age 25 & up: 45 days
If you receive a speeding ticket or other violation while driving with your learner's permit, then the practice period will start over, and you will need to wait 9 months from that point.
Complete the required home driving practice. The number of home practice hours required is:
- Age 15 - 24: 60 hours (at least 10 of which must be at night)
- Age 25 & up: 14 hours (at least 3 of which must be at night)
Write down your practice hours in the MVA Skills Log book, or use the RoadReady smartphone app which is approved by MVA to track your practice hours.

Step 4: Take the Driving Test for your Provisional Driver's License

You can apply for a provisional driver's license after you have fulfilled the practice requirements above.

In order to obtain your provisional license, you will need to pass a driving skills test at the MVA. The test will be conducted in the car that you bring to MVA.

An MVA examiner will sit in the passenger seat and ask you to perform various driving maneuvers.

The driving skills test consists of two parts. The first part of the test is conducted on a test course at the MVA, where the examiner will instruct you to perform a

two-point turnabout maneuver. For the second part of the test, you'll be driving on the road in regular traffic for 10 to 15 minutes. The examiner will ask you to perform several maneuvers in traffic, such as turns and lane changes.

You can get the study guide for the driving skills test in our Testing Resources section.

Need extra practice for the driving skills test? Greg's offers extra driving practice

to help you brush up on these maneuvers. Our instructors are very familiar with the MVA test. We will show you the best techniques to help you pass!

For more information about taking the driving test and obtaining your provisional license, visit the

MVA Driving Test and MVA Provisional License pages of the MVA web site.

Step 5: Fulfill Provisional Driving Requirements

Maryland law requires that you keep your provisional license for 18 months (a year and a half) before converting to a full driver's license.

When driving with your provisional license, the following restrictions apply:

During the first 5 months, provisional license holders are not allowed to have friends under the age of 18 in the car, unless accompanied by a qualified supervising driver. If no supervising driver is present, then the only passengers under 18 who are permitted in the car are family members (for the first 5 months).
Provisional license holders under the age of 18 are not permitted to drive after midnight unless accompanied by a qualified supervising driver. There are some exceptions to this rule for certain work-related or school-related activities.
In order to convert to a full driver's license, you must keep your provisional license for 18 months with no traffic violations. If you receive a speeding ticket or other violation while you have your provisional license, then the 18-month waiting period will reset, and you will need to wait an additional 18 months.