How many hours Maryland requires for a learner's permit

Maryland requires 60 hours of supervised driving before you can take the road test for a full license. Of those 60 hours, at least 10 must occur at night (between sunset and sunrise). There is no minimum number of hours required to straightforward hold a learner's permit — the 60-hour requirement applies only when you are ready to test for an unrestricted license.

These hours must be logged in a driving log that you bring to your road test appointment. The Maryland Motor Vehicle Administration (MVA) does not track your hours for you; you and your supervising driver are responsible for recording them accurately. If you cannot show proof of the required hours at test time, the MVA will not allow you to take the road test, even if you are otherwise ready.

Key Takeaways

  • Maryland learner's permit holders must complete 60 total hours of supervised driving, with at least 10 of those hours at night, before taking a road test.
  • You must keep a written or digital driving log and bring it to your road test appointment as proof of the hours you have completed.
  • The supervising driver (usually a parent or guardian) must sign off on each entry in the log to confirm the hours are accurate.
  • Night driving hours are defined as any driving between sunset and sunrise, and the MVA may ask you questions about your night driving experience during the road test.

What counts as a supervised driving hour in Maryland

A supervised driving hour is any time you are behind the wheel of a vehicle while a licensed adult is sitting in the front passenger seat next to you. The supervising driver must hold a valid driver's license and be at least 21 years old. The adult does not have to be a parent or guardian — it can be any licensed driver who meets the age requirement.

Hours count only when you are actively driving. Time spent parked, sitting in traffic without moving, or riding as a passenger does not count toward your 60 hours. Similarly, if you are practicing in a parking lot or empty field, those hours do count as long as you are behind the wheel and a licensed adult is present in the front seat.

Night driving hours are any hours logged between sunset and sunrise on the day of the drive. You do not need to log the exact time — only the date and whether the drive occurred at night. If you drive partly during daylight and partly after dark on the same trip, you can count the portion that occurred at night toward your 10-hour night requirement.

How to keep a Maryland driving log

Maryland does not provide an official driving log form, but the MVA expects you to keep a record that includes the date of each drive, the number of hours driven, whether it was a night drive, the supervising driver's name, and the supervising driver's signature. Many families use a straightforward notebook or spreadsheet; others print templates from the MVA website or use a mobile app designed for this purpose.

The log must be legible and organized so that the road test examiner can quickly verify your hours. Entries should be made as soon as possible after each drive, while details are fresh. The supervising driver should sign each entry to confirm the hours are accurate — this signature is important because it shows the MVA that an adult has verified your record.

Keep your log with you at all times during the testing period. Bring the original (not a copy) to your road test appointment. If your log is lost or damaged, you will need to reconstruct it with the help of your supervising driver and bring a signed statement explaining what happened.

Night driving requirements and how they are counted

The 10 required night hours must be completed between sunset and sunrise. This means that if you drive at 7:00 p.m. in December when the sun sets early, that counts as night driving. If you drive at 8:00 p.m. in June when the sun is still up, it does not count as night driving, even though it is evening.

You can find sunset and sunrise times for your area through the National Weather Service or a weather app. The MVA does not require you to log the exact time of each drive, only the date and a note that it was a night drive. However, if the examiner questions whether a particular date qualifies as night, you should be able to explain why — for example, "I drove on December 15th after 5:30 p.m., which is after sunset that day."

Night driving hours do not have to be completed all at once. You can spread them across multiple trips. Many families complete their night hours gradually over several weeks or months as part of their regular practice schedule.

What happens if you do not have the required hours at test time

If you arrive at your road test appointment without proof of 60 hours of driving (including the 10 night hours), the MVA will not allow you to take the test. You will need to reschedule your appointment and continue logging hours until you meet the requirement. This means paying the road test fee again when you book a new appointment.

The examiner may also ask you questions about your driving experience during the test itself — for example, what you found most challenging about night driving or how you handled a particular road condition. If your answers do not match the hours you have logged, the examiner may question the accuracy of your log. It is important that you actually complete the hours you record, not straightforward write them down.

How to schedule your road test once hours are complete

Once you have completed your 60 hours (including 10 at night), you can schedule a road test appointment through the MVA website or by calling the MVA at 410-768-7000. You will need to provide your learner's permit number and choose a test location near you. Road test appointments typically fill up weeks in advance, so schedule as soon as you are ready.

Bring your learner's permit, your driving log, proof of insurance, and the vehicle you will be testing in. The vehicle must be registered, insured, and in safe working condition. Arrive at least 15 minutes early. The examiner will review your driving log before the test begins and may ask questions about your hours or your driving experience.

Frequently Asked Questions

Do I have to log hours if I already have my learner's permit?

You do not have to log hours straightforward to hold a learner's permit. However, if you want to take a road test and earn an unrestricted license, you must have 60 logged hours (with 10 at night) to present at the test. Start logging as soon as you begin practicing, even if you do not plan to test right away.

Can my parent sign off on hours they did not actually supervise?

No. The supervising driver must be present in the front passenger seat during the drive and must have actually observed your driving. If the MVA suspects fraudulent logging, they may deny your road test or revoke your learner's permit. It is better to take longer to complete your hours honestly than to risk losing your permit.

What if I lose my driving log before my road test?

Contact the MVA as soon as possible. You can reconstruct your log with your supervising driver's help and bring a signed statement explaining what happened. The examiner may ask more detailed questions about your hours to verify they are accurate, but you can still test if you can provide reasonable proof of your driving experience.

Do hours from driver's education classes count toward the 60 hours?

No. Hours from a driver's education course are separate from the 60 supervised driving hours. You must complete both the course and the 60 hours of supervised driving with a licensed adult in the front seat. Some families complete the course first, then log their 60 hours afterward.

Can I count hours if I drive in another state?

Yes. As long as you are driving a registered vehicle with a licensed adult in the front passenger seat, the hours count regardless of where you drive. Many families log hours during road trips or visits to other states. Just make sure to record the date and note whether it was a night drive.