Mass. Gen. Laws » Part I Title XIV Chapter 90
Massachusetts General Laws

Mass. Gen. Laws ch. 90, § 10 (2026)

Operation of motor vehicle without license; members of armed forces; nonresidents; suspension or revocation of license

✓ current as of July 2026
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Section 10. No person under sixteen years of age shall operate a motor vehicle upon any way. No other person shall so operate unless licensed by the registrar unless he possesses a receipt issued under section eight for persons licensed in another state or country or unless he possesses a valid learner's permit issued under section eight B, except as is otherwise herein provided or unless he is the spouse of a member of the armed forces of the United States who is accompanying such member on military or naval assignment to this commonwealth and who has a valid operator's license issued by another state, or unless he is on active duty in the armed forces of the United States and has in his possession a license to operate motor vehicles issued by the state where he is domiciled, or unless he is a member of the armed forces of the United States returning from active duty outside the United States, and has in his possession a license to operate motor vehicles issued by said armed forces in a foreign country, but in such case for a period of not more than forty-five days after his return. The motor vehicle of a nonresident may be operated on the ways of the commonwealth in accordance with section three by its owner or by any nonresident operator without a license from the registrar if the nonresident operator is duly licensed under the laws of the state or country where such vehicle is registered and has such license on his person or in the vehicle in some easily accessible place. Subject to the provisions of section three, a nonresident who holds a license under the laws of the state or country in which he resides may operate any motor vehicle of a type which he is licensed to operate under said license, duly registered in this commonwealth or in any state or country; provided, that he has the license on his person or in the vehicle in some easily accessible place, and that, as finally determined by the registrar, his state or country prescribes and enforces standards of fitness for operations of motor vehicles substantially as high as those prescribed and enforced by this commonwealth. The nonresident shall have in their possession a valid international driver's permit, or a document containing a photo and an English translation that substantially corresponds to an international driving permit, that shall be used solely to properly identify the individual appearing on the license for the purpose of enforcing this section if no English translation appears on the front or back of the license that the nonresident is required to have in possession at all times while operating a motor vehicle.

Notwithstanding the foregoing provisions, no person shall operate on the ways of the commonwealth any motor vehicle, whether registered in this commonwealth or elsewhere, if the registrar shall have suspended or revoked any license to operate motor vehicles issued to him under this chapter, or shall have suspended his right to operate such vehicles, and such license or right has not been restored or a new license to operate motor vehicles has not been issued to him. Operation of a motor vehicle in violation of this paragraph shall be subject to the same penalties as provided in section twenty-three for operation after suspension or revocation and before restoration or issuance of a new license or the restoration of the right to operate.

Notes of Decisions
Cited in 63 cases (10 in the last 5 years), 1922–2026 · leading case: Commonwealth v. Chown, 948 N.E.2d 394 (Mass. 2011).
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Commonwealth v. Chown, 948 N.E.2d 394 (Mass. 2011). · cites it 8× “Chown, was stopped for speeding and then arrested for operating a motor vehicle without a license in violation of G. L. c. 90, § 10. During the subsequent inventory search of his motor vehicle, police recovered drugs, cash, and other items.”
Commonwealth v. Chown, 925 N.E.2d 562 (Mass. App. Ct. 2010). · cites it 10× “See G. L. c. 90, §§ 10, 21. The stop being valid, drugs, money, and other evidence were appropriately seized.”
Commonwealth v. Depiero, 42 N.E.3d 1123 (Mass. 2016). “At the station, the defendant agreed to a breathalyzer test, which registered a blood alcohol level of 0.”
Peabody v. Campbell, 190 N.E. 521 (Mass. 1934). · cites it 8× “by him delegated” to operate the automobile, and made the following statement: “There was no evidence offered before me, and therefore, I cannot find, that the registrar of Massachusetts ever ‘finally determined’ that the State of Rhode Island had granted privileges similar to…”
Commonwealth v. Sabean, 176 N.E. 523 (Mass. 1931). · cites it 8× “The defendant was found guilty upon a complaint charging him with a violation of G. L. c. 90, § 10, as amended "by St. 1923, c.”
United States v. Coplin, 463 F.3d 96 (1st Cir. 2006). “See Mass. Gen. Laws ch. 90, §§ 10 , 21, 23. The mistake was, therefore, one of fact, not of law.”
Commonwealth v. Feyenord, 833 N.E.2d 590 (Mass. 2005). “5 After additional questioning of Feyenord and Cox, Pinkes made several decisions: (1) he chose not to arrest Feyenord, as an out-of-State driver without a license, despite having probable cause to do so, see G. L. c. 90, §§ 10, 21; (2) he focused his investigation on the…”
Wallace W. v. Commonwealth, 128 N.E.3d 581 (Mass. 2019). “In late August 2018, the juvenile was arrested for operating a motor vehicle without a license in violation of G. L. c. 90, § 10. Following the juvenile's arrest, the arresting officer filed an application for a delinquency complaint.”
Commonwealth v. Martin, 63 N.E.3d 1107 (Mass. 2016). “94C, § 32J; unlicensed operation of a motor vehicle, G. L. c. 90, § 10; failure to stop, G. L.”
Commonwealth v. DeJesus, 795 N.E.2d 547 (Mass. 2003). “The defendant was also charged with unlicensed operation of a motor vehicle in violation of G. L. c. 90, § 10, and two civil motor vehicle infractions.”
Commonwealth v. Martinez Commonwealth v. Green, 109 N.E.3d 459 (Mass. 2018). “defendant must make to be entitled to a refund of such fees, and from what source should this payment be refunded?" (3) "If a refund is required either pursuant to the statute or pursuant to Nelson , can the court limit the refund to $40 by redistributing $50 of the victim…”
Commonwealth v. Guaman, 90 Mass. App. Ct. 36 (Mass. App. Ct. 2016). “90, § 25; and operating a motor vehicle without a license, G. L. c. 90, § 10. The judge, sitting without a jury, found the defendant not guilty on an indictment charging him with murder in the second degree, G.”
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