Maine Permit Practice Log: 70 Hours Required Under 21, 10 at Night, Use Form MVE-21 (2026)

How many hours do I need to practice driving with a permit in Maine?

Minors (under 18) must complete 50 supervised hours, including at least 10 at night, and hold the permit for 6 months. Maine learner's permit guide

Confirm exact requirements for drivers 18-20 with the BMV. Drivers 18 and older have no set minimum hour requirement.

Requirement	Under 18	18-20	21+
Supervised Hours	50 hours	70 hours (confirm with BMV)	None
Night Hours	10 hours	10 hours	None
Permit Hold Period	6 months	Confirm with BMV	None
Log Form	MVE-21	MVE-21	Not required
Log Certifier	Parent/guardian	Parent/guardian/employer	N/A

Maine's instruction permit practice hours requirement differs for minors and adults.

Minors (under 18): 50 total supervised driving hours are mandatory. This includes 10 hours of nighttime driving. You must hold your learner's permit for at least six months.
Adults (18+): No minimum driving hours for permit are required. You can take the road test when you feel ready.

For learners permit driving hours to be valid, they must meet specific criteria.

Counts: All supervised driving time with a licensed adult (21+) in the vehicle. This includes professional driving lessons, driving on various road types (city, highway, residential), and practice in different conditions.
Does Not Count: Time studying the driver's manual, simulation exercises, or any driving without a qualified supervising adult present.

Both types of practice contribute to the required supervised driving hours needed.

Supervised Practice: Driving with a parent, guardian, or any licensed adult over 21. This is the most common way to accumulate hours.
Professional Lessons: Hours with a certified instructor from a driving school count fully toward the total. These lessons often provide structured skill development.

Yes, if you are under 18, Maine requires you to log your 50 supervised driving hours. Drivers 18 and older do not need to keep a formal log.

Teen drivers must maintain a detailed record of their practice.

Official Form: Use the Maine BMV Learner's Permit Driving Record (MVE-20).
Personal Log: A clear, written notebook or digital record is acceptable if it includes all required details and supervisor signatures.
Driving School Records: Certificates from professional lessons can serve as part of your log.

A parent or guardian must verify the logged hours.

Signature: The supervising adult must sign each entry or the final attestation on the official form.
BMV Review: Present the completed and certified MVE-21 log at your road test appointment. Examiners require the signed record before testing.

Errors in logging can lead to test delays or rescheduling.

Common Issue	Realistic Example	How to Avoid
Missing Night Hours	A teen in Portland submits a log with only 5 night hours. The examiner at the Portland BMV office reschedules the test, requiring the missing 5 hours to be completed and logged.	Track night hours separately from day hours. Label each session clearly as 'Day' or 'Night' in your log.
Illegible or Incomplete Log	A driver in Augusta brings a handwritten log with smudged ink and missing supervisor signatures for several entries. The Augusta examiner cannot verify the hours and refuses the test.	Use the official BMV form or a digital log that prints clearly. Ensure every entry is signed immediately after the practice session.
Lost or Damaged Log	A Bangor applicant loses their paper log a week before the test. They and their parent must hastily reconstruct records from memory, causing stress and potential discrepancies if audited.	Keep a digital backup (photos or app data) of your paper log. Update and store it securely after each driving session.

Log immediately after each practice session to avoid forgetting details and to ensure accurate time recording, preventing last-minute log reconstruction before your test.
Exceed the 50-hour minimum and practice on local test routes, such as around the Augusta BMV office, to build confidence and reduce the risk of failing due to unfamiliar roads.
Schedule your road test appointment early in the day to minimize wait times at busy offices like Portland, as afternoon slots often face longer delays due to backlog.