Maryland Permit Practice Hours: 60 Hours Under 25, RD-006 Log Required

Maryland requires supervised driving practice before testing for a provisional license. Under 25? You need 60 hours with 10 at night. Over 25? That drops to 14 hours with 3 at night.

Every hour goes into an official log, either paper or app. Show up without a completed logbook, and your skills test gets canceled on the spot.

Maryland Practice Hours by Age: 60 Hours Under 25, 14 Hours Over 25

Maryland requires 60 total practice hours for applicants under 25 years old, including at least 10 hours driven after sunset. Applicants 25 and older must log 14 hours. All sessions must be recorded in the official RD-006 Skills Log.

Maryland MVA doesn't accept just any logbook. Use the official RD-006 Rookie Driver Skills Log (fillable PDF) or the RoadReady app. The app tracks drives through GPS and separates day from night automatically.

Your supervising driver signs the certification page under penalty of perjury. MVA examiners collect and review every log. They check for realistic progression patterns and reject anything that looks falsified.

• Maryland's log certification rule caught a Frederick applicant off guard: the parent had signed the RD-006 form correctly, but the witness line was left blank. The form was rejected as incomplete at the skills test window. Both parent and witness signatures are required: budget 4 days if you discover this error the day of your test.
• At the Gaithersburg MVA, a parent's work ran late and they arrived 9 minutes past the appointment window. The skills test slot was forfeited with no exceptions, and rescheduling stretched 6 days. Treat the appointment window exactly like a court date: plan travel time conservatively.

Print your completed log at least two days before testing. Last-minute printer failures cause automatic rejections at intake windows.

Minors need a parent or guardian to sign the VR-002 parental consent form before testing. Drivers under 16.5 require an additional age waiver application, available through MVA's forms page.

For detailed guidance on completing your application and required documents, review Maryland's official Maryland Rookie Driver GLS Program requirements. Reference the Maryland Driver's Manual throughout your practice sessions to reinforce safe driving habits.

What Driving Counts Toward Maryland's RD-006 Practice Hour Log?

Only supervised time with qualified adults counts. Your supervisor must be 21+, licensed for 3+ years, and sitting in the front passenger seat.

The 6 hours of behind-the-wheel training from a state-licensed driver's education school apply toward your total (60 or 14 hours). Find approved schools through Maryland's MVA-approved driver education list.

Here's what doesn't count:

• Driving with anyone under 21 or licensed less than 3 years
• Any solo driving, zero tolerance
• Retroactively estimating old drives you forgot to log

Creating logs after the fact is falsification. MVA can cancel your permit and ban testing for 6 months. Log every drive immediately after you finish, not days later.

Examiners audit signatures, check batch logging patterns, and verify night hours fall within the legal window (30 minutes before sunset to 30 minutes after sunrise). Waldorf and other busy offices specifically flag inconsistencies during intake reviews.

Honestly? Forgetting to log drives is the #1 reason teens fail at the intake window before even reaching the parking lot.

Any moving violation during your holding period resets the entire 9-month clock to zero for drivers under 18. This updated 2026 rule applies even to minor infractions. Don't risk shortcuts:Maryland's permit restrictions exist for safety, and enforcement is strict.

How Do You Finish Maryland's Practice Hours and Book Your Skills Test?

You need three things ready: finished holding period, completed driver's ed certificate submitted electronically by your school, and a perfect logbook.

1. Complete all required supervised driving hours
2. Verify your driver's education school electronically submitted your completion certificate to MVA
3. Sign the RD-006 certification page with your supervising driver
4. Bring the original signed paper log, no phone screenshots accepted
5. Arrive with a licensed driver (21+, 3 years experience) who accompanies you to the test center

Schedule weekday morning slots when possible. Afternoon appointments at Salisbury and other busy locations run hours behind schedule, adding unnecessary stress before your exam. Check current wait times and find your nearest MVA skills test location before booking.

Missing any step triggers automatic cancellation. The learner's permit application fee is $65, covering both permit issuance and the provisional license once you pass. Review all MVA fees for 2026 to budget accordingly.

After completing practice hours, check your eligibility to schedule the driving test based on your age and permit holding period. Prepare with Maryland road test tips, then review next steps after getting your permit for provisional license requirements.