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State rules

Driver training rules in Maryland

What Maryland requires of driving schools, CDL training and school bus drivers, with every fact linked to its official source.

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✓ Checked against official sources · 2026-10-18

Driver training rules in Maryland for teen and adult driver's education, CDL schools, carriers that train their own drivers and school bus drivers, each with a link to the official source. Federal ELDT rules (49 CFR Part 380) apply in every state on top of these.

Driver education (teens)Required for all new drivers (any age): MVA-approved course of 30 hours classroom + 6 hours behind the wheel.source 1
Supervised practice (teens)Ages 16-18 without diploma: 60 supervised hours (10 at night), permit held 9 months. Age 18 with diploma: permit held 3 months.source 2
New adult driversAdults also need the 30+6 driver ed course. Age 25+: 14 supervised hours (3 night) and permit held 45 days.source 2
Who licenses driving schoolsMaryland Motor Vehicle Administration (MVA) licenses and certifies driving schools and instructors.source 3 · source 4
CDL training: state rules beyond federal ELDTMVA requires federal ELDT before the skills test; no separate state hour minimum on MVA pages.source 5
CDL schools: state licenseYes. Truck-driving schools are private career schools and need a certificate of approval from the Maryland Higher Education Commission (Educ. 11-202), paid or free.source 6 · source 7 · source 8
CDL schools: state hours or curriculumNo state hour minimum. MVA requires federal ELDT before the skills test.source 5 · source 8
CDL schools: instructor rulesNo state instructor license. Approved schools' instructors need 2 years' practical experience and must have held the credential they teach (CDL) for 2 years (COMAR 13B.01.01.10).source 9
Carriers training their own drivers: licenseExempt by request. Instruction exclusively for a company's own employees is outside the rules, but the Secretary grants the exemption on filed documentation (COMAR 13B.01.01.03).source 10 · source 8
Carriers: hours or curriculumNo state hours for anyone; federal ELDT only.source 5
Carriers: instructor rulesExempt. The instructional-staff rule is part of the regulations that do not apply to employee-only instruction; federal 380.605 qualifications apply.source 10 · source 9
New school bus driversPre-service: at least 8 hours classroom (MSDE core units) + 9 hours behind the wheel.source 11
School bus refresherAt least 6 hours in-service every year (5 with emphasis on safety).source 11

Driving manuals and handbooks

Official publications from Maryland, checked 2026-10-19. Read them here or download them; the state's own copy is always linked.

Cover of Maryland Driver's ManualDriver's manual

Maryland Driver's Manual

Maryland Department of Transportation, Motor Vehicle Administration (MDOT/MVA) · October 2025 Edition (DL-002) · 56 pages

Open on the state siteOpens on the state's site.
Cover of Maryland Rookie Driver Manual: A Practice Guide for Coaches & DriversTeen and parent guides

Maryland Rookie Driver Manual: A Practice Guide for Coaches & Drivers

Maryland Department of Transportation, Motor Vehicle Administration (MDOT/MVA) · RD-006 (10/26) October 2026 Edition · 32 pages

Open on the state siteOpens on the state's site.
Mature and senior drivers

Maryland Resource Guide for Aging Drivers

Maryland Older Driver Safety Forum / Maryland Department of Transportation · 64 pages

Download PDFOfficial copy on the state site
Cover of Maryland Commercial Driver's License ManualCommercial (CDL)

Maryland Commercial Driver's License Manual

Maryland Motor Vehicle Administration · DL-151 (05/26) · 319 pages

Open on the state siteCopyright American Association of Motor Vehicle Administrators (AAMVA), so it opens on the state's site.
Cover of Motorcycle Operator ManualMotorcycle and moped

Motorcycle Operator Manual

Maryland Motor Vehicle Administration · DL-001 (03/22) · 57 pages

Open on the state siteOpens on the state's site.

Driving jobs in Maryland

29,150heavy and tractor-trailer truck drivers employed (May 2025)
$59,360median yearly pay (May 2025)
3,480projected openings each year, 2024 to 2034
7.4%projected job growth, 2024 to 2034
U.S. Bureau of Labor StatisticsOccupational Employment and Wage Statistics, Maryland, May 2025Projections CentralLong-Term Occupational Projections (2024-2034)

Rules change. Always confirm with the state agency before you rely on a rule. Something out of date? Email terry@eldt.courses.

Federal rules in every state

CDL entry-level driver training must come from a provider listed on FMCSA's Training Provider Registry, for a first Class A or B CDL, an upgrade to Class A or B, or a first P, S or H endorsement (49 CFR 380.609). See ELDT record keeping under 49 CFR 380.

Sources

  1. https://mva.maryland.gov/your-mva-guide/teens-new-drivers/drivers-education
  2. https://mva.maryland.gov/your-mva-guide/teens-new-drivers/provisional-license
  3. https://mva.maryland.gov/your-mva-guide/businesses/drivers-education-providers/school-licensing-certification
  4. https://mva.maryland.gov/your-mva-guide/businesses/drivers-education-providers
  5. https://mva.maryland.gov/licenses-ids/commercial-drivers-license-cdl/get-or-renew-cdl/cdl-skills-test
  6. https://mgaleg.maryland.gov/mgawebsite/Laws/StatuteText?article=ged&section=11-202&enactments=false
  7. https://mgaleg.maryland.gov/mgawebsite/Laws/StatuteText?article=ged&section=10-101&enactments=false
  8. https://mhec.maryland.gov/institutions_training/Pages/career/pcs/apprfactsheet.aspx
  9. https://regs.maryland.gov/us/md/exec/comar/13B.01.01.10
  10. https://regs.maryland.gov/us/md/exec/comar/13B.01.01.03
  11. https://regs.maryland.gov/us/md/exec/comar/13A.06.07.10

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