Maine BMV Practice Test 2025

The Maine BMV knowledge exam consists of 30 questions, and you must answer at least 24 correctly to pass — an 80% passing threshold. The exam covers road signs, traffic laws, OUI statutes, GDL requirements, implied consent rules, speed limits, school bus laws, and seat belt law from the Maine Driver's Manual.

Maine uses OUI — Operating Under the Influence — under 29-A M.R.S. § 2411. This is an important distinction because the Maine knowledge exam uses OUI terminology throughout. The legal BAC limit is 0.08% for adults 21+, 0.00% (zero tolerance) for drivers under 21, and 0.04% for CDL holders operating commercial vehicles. Aggravated OUI triggers at 0.15%+ BAC.

Maine enforces true zero tolerance for drivers under 21 — any detectable alcohol in a driver's system constitutes an OUI violation. There is no minimum threshold; even a BAC of 0.01% is sufficient for an OUI charge under Maine law. This is stricter than states that set a 0.02% under-21 threshold.

Refusing a chemical test triggers an automatic license suspension under Maine's implied consent law (29-A M.R.S. § 2521): 275 days for a first refusal, 18 months for a second, 4 years for a third, and 6 years for a fourth or subsequent refusal. Maine also allows the refusal itself to be admitted as evidence against you in any OUI criminal proceeding — meaning the prosecution can argue to the jury that you refused because you knew you were over the limit.

Maine's Graduated Driver Licensing program requires permit holders to complete 70 hours of supervised driving practice before the road test, with at least 10 of those hours at night. Permit holders must also hold the permit for a minimum of 6 months before they can take the road test. Under-18 drivers are also subject to a midnight-to-5-a.m. curfew and, for the first 6 months after receiving a full license, cannot carry passengers under 20 without a licensed adult present.

Maine law requires all drivers to stop before reaching a stopped school bus with red lights flashing and the stop arm extended. Drivers must remain stopped until the red lights stop flashing and it is safe to proceed. On a divided or limited-access highway, only vehicles in the lane directly behind the bus must stop. The minimum fine for a first offense of illegally passing a stopped school bus is $250.

Maine requires all front-seat occupants to wear a seat belt, regardless of age. All passengers under 18 must wear a seat belt in any seat — front or rear. A distinctive Maine rule is that seat belt fines CANNOT be suspended by the court: once a violation is found, the judge has no discretion to waive or reduce the penalty.

Maine residents may apply for a learner's permit beginning at age 15, provided they are enrolled in driver education. Driver education is required for all applicants under 18. Permit holders must be accompanied at all times by a licensed driver who is 18 or older, seated in the front passenger seat. Applicants 18 and older may obtain a permit without completing a formal driver education course.

Maine requires headlights from sunset to sunrise, when visibility is less than 1,000 feet due to weather, AND when windshield wipers are in constant or intermittent use. The wiper-use trigger is an important Maine-specific rule: if conditions require wipers, headlights must also be on to ensure other drivers can see you.

Maine's statutory speed limits: interstate highways — 75 mph; business and residential areas — 25 mph; rural roads (no sign posted) — 45 mph; school zones when children are present — 15 mph. Maine's basic speed rule also requires drivers to travel at a speed that is reasonable and prudent for actual road and weather conditions, meaning drivers can be cited even while traveling at or below the posted limit if conditions make that speed dangerous.