Maine driver license and ID card: first license, renewal, replacement and REAL ID

How to get a first Maine driver's license through the learner's permit and BMV exams, convert an out-of-state license within 30 days, renew or replace a license online, at AAA or at a branch, and get a REAL ID or state ID.

Guide · Maine · REAL ID · Driver licenses · Renewals · ID cards · updated October 29, 2026

Maine driver's licenses and state ID cards are issued by the Bureau of Motor Vehicles (BMV), part of the Department of the Secretary of State, at its branch offices. The BMV also schedules and gives the written and road exams for new drivers. Many renewals and duplicates can be done online, and some at AAA Northern New England locations. This guide covers each step. For booking and branch visits, see Visiting the Maine BMV.

Your first license

To get a Maine license, the BMV says you need:

  • Proof of Maine residency
  • Proof of U.S. citizenship or legal presence
  • Two documents proving your identity: one with your date of birth, one with your signature
  • A completed vision screening

You must also provide your Social Security number if it is not on file. Applicants under 18 need a parent or legal guardian with them to sign the application.

Learner's permit

You must be at least 15 and pass a written exam. To start, submit these to a branch office or by mail to the BMV Examination Section in Augusta:

  • The learner's permit application
  • The $35 exam fee
  • Two forms of identification and proof of Maine residency
  • A driver education completion certificate, if you are under 18
  • A birth certificate, if you are under 23

The BMV then schedules your written test at the location nearest your mailing address. The appointment notice arrives by mail within three weeks. You can reschedule without a penalty fee up to 48 hours before the test.

The written test has 30 questions, and you must answer at least 24 correctly. A vision screening is free when you arrive for the written exam.

With a permit, you may drive only with a licensed driver over 20 who has held a license for at least two years. Permits last two years and cannot be renewed. Logged driving hours carry over to a new permit.

Teen and young-driver rules

  • Ages 18 to 20: hold the permit for six months before applying for the road test. Log 70 hours of driving, including 10 after dark. No cellphone use while driving.
  • 21 and older: no six-month wait for the road test, but the same cellphone ban applies while on a permit.
  • Under 18: Maine uses a three-step graduated licensing system. A first license is an intermediate license. With it, you may not carry passengers other than immediate family unless a qualifying licensed driver is with you. You also may not drive between midnight and 5 a.m. or use a cellphone while driving.

Road test

When you are ready, mail the road test request card from the back of your permit to the BMV in Augusta. If you are under 21, send a completed driving log instead. The BMV schedules you at the nearest testing location. The test includes parallel parking and straight-line backing. An antique-registered vehicle cannot be used. If you pass, you receive a temporary license.

The BMV lists a 6-year Class C license under age 65 at $30, or $55 for a REAL ID. At 65 or older, a 4-year license costs $20, or $40 for a REAL ID.

Moving to Maine

The BMV says you must get a Maine license within 30 days of becoming a resident. If your out-of-state or Canadian license is valid, or expired within the past five years, you can get a Maine Class C license at a branch. That includes a REAL ID. You will need to:

  • Prove legal presence, residency and your Social Security number
  • Complete a vision screening; you may not need written or road tests
  • Turn in your out-of-state license, or bring a certified driving record less than 30 days old
  • Pay the fees. The BMV lists a $35 application fee plus the $30 license fee to convert a Class C license.

REAL ID has extra requirements even if your old license is already a REAL ID. Out-of-state CDLs are converted only at the BMV administrative office in Augusta.

Renewing

You can renew up to six months before your license expires, or on the expiration day. The BMV says you may be able to renew online. You can also go to any branch, or to AAA for eligible non-commercial Class C renewals. No appointment is needed to renew at a branch.

To renew, you need proof of your Maine physical address if it is not already on file. You also need proof of U.S. citizenship or legal presence, a vision screening if applicable, and your Social Security number on file.

The renewal FAQ says applicants between 40 and 45, between 52 and 57, and 62 or older must have an eye test. It is free at any branch or mobile unit. If your own eye care specialist does it, note that the online system does not recognize a mailed form. Bring the form to a branch instead.

Licenses are mailed, and the BMV says they may take up to four weeks. Your temporary license is valid for 60 days.

Replacing a lost license

A duplicate costs $5 for a standard license or ID, or $30 for a REAL ID. There are three ways to get one:

  • Online, if you are eligible. You need your Social Security number, a Visa or MasterCard, and a printer. This is not available to CDL holders.
  • At a branch or the mobile unit. Bring two identity documents and complete the duplicate form stating the original is not in your possession.
  • By mail, with a written request giving your name, date of birth, current address, what happened to the original, and the fee.

Update your address with the BMV before ordering a duplicate. The BMV says Maine law requires you to report an address or name change within 30 days. Changing the address on your car registration does not change it on your license. See also updating your DMV address after a move.

REAL ID

Your first REAL ID must be applied for in person at a branch or the mobile unit. On top of the standard requirements, bring:

  • One document proving identity, date of birth and U.S. citizenship or lawful status, such as a certified birth certificate or passport
  • Your Social Security number (the card is not required)
  • Two proofs of Maine residence; a P.O. box is not acceptable
  • Proof of any legal name change, showing a clear trail from the name on your identity document to your current name

Only originals or documents certified by the issuing agency are accepted. You can upgrade when you renew, or at any time by buying a duplicate; a duplicate REAL ID costs $30. To renew an existing REAL ID, bring the expiring card; you only need documents if your name has changed. You can have only one REAL ID credential, either a license or an ID card. See REAL ID explained and how to tell if a license is REAL ID.

State ID cards

Anyone who can prove legal presence and a Maine physical address can apply for a non-driver ID card at any branch or mobile unit. The fee is $5, or $30 for a REAL ID card. ID cards are mailed within two to three weeks. They are renewed the same way as licenses, online or in person.

Sources · checked October 29, 2026

We wrote this summary ourselves from the official pages above on the date shown. Agencies change rules without notice: the official page always wins. DMVorganization.org is independent and not a government agency.

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