Maine Online Driver Education and Maine Licensing Procedures
Congratulations on starting the process of applying for your Maine learner's permit or first Maine driver's license. Maine has a Graduated Driver License Program for Maine teen drivers, and there are a few things to keep in mind to make sure that applying for your Maine driving license goes as smoothly as possible. So let's get started.
Maine Instructional Permit and Maine Learner's Permit
When you turn 15, you can apply for a Maine Instruction Permit, provided you've completed a Maine-approved driver education course. You'll need to make an appointment at your local Maine Bureau of Motor Vehicles (BMV) and bring the following:
- The completed application
- The driver education completion certificate
- Two forms of identification
- $10 fee, payable to the Secretary of State
- Your birth certificate (notarized copies are not acceptable)
At your local Maine BMV, you'll take these materials and then have to pass a Maine written exam, as well as a vision screening. If you survived, then congratulations! You just earned your Maine instruction permit. Remember that with your Maine learner's permit, you can only practice driving with another licensed driver who is at least 20 and has held a license for at least 2 years. Your Maine instruction permit is valid for 18 months. After you've had your Maine learner permit for 6 months, you'll be ready for the next step in the Maine Graduated License Program.
The Maine Intermediate Driver's License
In order to apply for your Maine intermediate driver's license, you'll need to make sure you follow a few Maine State requirements before heading down to your local Maine BMV.
- Hold your Maine learner's permit for at least 6 months in good standing
- Log at least 35 hours of driving
- 5 practice hours must be done at night
If you've completed the following requirements, head on down to your local Maine BMV where you'll have to take the dreaded road exam. If you pass, then congratulations. You've just earned your Maine intermediate driver license! However, you'll still have to drive with a few restrictions until you've held your Maine intermediate driver's license for 180 days in good standing.
Maine Teen Driver License Restrictions and Penalties
There are several restrictions you need to keep in mind regarding your Maine intermediate driver's license:
- you can't carry passengers who aren't family members unless accompanied by a licensed driver who is at least 20 and has held a driver license in good standing for 2 years
- no driving from 12AM to 5AM
- it's prohibited to use your cell phone while driving
If you've driven without incident for 180 days, then congratulations. You can now be issued a full Indiana full license.
Maine Auto Insurance Maine Financial Responsibility Laws
Once you receive your Maine drivers license, you're ready to drive--or are you? Any vehicle registered in Maine must be covered by liability insurance. The minimum coverage is:
- $50,000 per person for bodily injury
- $100,000 per accident for bodily injury
- $25,000 for property damage
- $2,000 for mandatory coverage of medical payments
If you are found to be driving without Maine mandatory liability insurance, your Maine learner's permit or Maine intermediate driver license could be suspended and you could be fined.
Maine Drunk Driving, Cell Phone, and Text Messaging Laws
As a new Maine driver, it's important for you to learn the Maine drunk driving, cell phone, and text messaging laws. First of all, Maine has a zero tolerance law, so if you're under 21 and caught with a Blood Alcohol Content of .02, you'll face stiff fines and Maine driver's license suspension.
Upon your first conviction of a Maine DUI (0.08), you'll face the following penalties:
- Jail sentence of up to 30 days
- $500
- license suspension of 90 days
And of course, further Maine DUI convictions will result in increased jail time, community service, fines, and Maine license suspension or even Maine license revocation.
Currently, Maine prohibits teen drivers who hold a Maine instruction license, Maine learner's license, or Maine intermediate license from using cell phones while driving.
Maine Online Driver Education
For information about approved Maine online driver education courses, you can find more information here.
