Maine Behind-the-Wheel Training: Driver Ed Under 18 and Practice Hours Under 21 (2026)

Maine's requirement for behind-the-wheel training depends entirely on your age.

Do I need behind-the-wheel training in Maine?

Maine separates driver education, supervised practice, and optional extra lessons.

State Requirements and Approved Instruction

For applicants under 18, the approved driver-education course includes 30 classroom hours and 10 behind-the-wheel hours. The separate post-permit practice requirement is explained in the direct question below.

The learner's permit application is Form MVE-64. It is not the driver-education completion certificate. Applicants under 18 must provide the required driver-education completion documentation with the permit application.

Are the 10 driver-ed behind-the-wheel hours the same as Maine's 70 practice hours?

No. The 10 behind-the-wheel hours are part of the approved driver-education course for applicants under 18. The separate 70 supervised practice hours are completed after the learner's permit is issued and apply to permit holders under 21.

Do 18–20-year-olds need professional driving lessons in Maine?

No professional lesson package is required just because the driver is 18–20. However, drivers in this age group still need the 70 supervised hours, including 10 after dark, and the 6-month permit hold.

Parent-Taught vs. Professional Instruction

After the permit is issued, qualifying parent/guardian or other adult-supervised driving can be used to build the required under-21 practice hours. Professional instruction can supplement that practice but is not a separate requirement for an 18-20-year-old.

Use professional lessons when they add value for a specific skill or confidence issue. Detailed prices and packages belong on the Behind-the-Wheel Training Cost page.

Can parent-supervised driving satisfy Maine's 70-hour requirement?

Yes, when the accompanying driver meets Maine's supervisor rules and the practice is logged correctly. The required hours do not all have to be purchased from a driving school.

Can extra lessons with a driving instructor count toward my supervised practice hours?

Post-permit driving with a qualified instructor can count when it meets Maine's supervised-driving requirements and is recorded correctly. Keep the official log accurate rather than counting classroom or pre-permit driver-ed time as post-permit practice.

Common Maine Driver-Training Requirement Mistakes

• Do not treat completion of the under-18 driver-education course as a substitute for the separate post-permit practice requirement.
• An 18-20-year-old can skip the driver-education course but cannot skip the under-21 70-hour and 6-month requirements.
• A driver age 21+ may take optional professional lessons without a state-set lesson count.

How many driving lessons do I need in Maine?

Maine does not set a general number of extra professional lessons after the required under-18 driver-education course. The right amount depends on the driver's experience and the skills that still need work.

Optional Professional Lesson Planning

Use extra professional instruction only when it is useful for the individual driver. A new driver may want help with parking, highway merging, winter conditions, or a final skills review. There is no statewide extra-lesson package that every applicant must buy.

Cost and Practical Considerations

Lesson prices and package terms vary by driving school. Before paying, confirm that any required under-18 driver-education program is Maine-approved and ask what the quoted package actually includes.

When you are ready for the road-test stage, do not self-book a branch slot online. Under-21 applicants submit MVE-21; applicants 21+ submit the road-test request card. BMV assigns the testing location and mails the appointment notice.

Regional Lesson Patterns

Training needs vary more by the driver's experience than by city. Use local roads to practice the conditions you actually face, and choose professional instruction for specific gaps rather than relying on regional lesson-count averages.