A school bus ahead has its red lights flashing and its stop arm out. On a two-lane road you must:

Stop, whether you are behind it or coming from the opposite direction

Stop only if you are behind the bus

Free DMV Permit Practice Test

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Get ready for your DMV written knowledge test — the exam you take to get a learner's permit — with free practice questions based on the official driver handbooks. Every answer is explained, so you learn the rule, not just the letter.

Updated on 2026-11-05

DMVPermitUSA is an independent study tool. It is not affiliated with, endorsed by or operated by any state DMV, BMV, MVD, DPS or other government agency. Always check your state's official driver handbook and DMV website for current requirements.

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Try 5 permit test questions

What is the shape of a STOP sign? Triangle / Octagon (8 sides) / Diamond / Circle. Answer: Octagon (8 sides). The STOP sign is the only eight-sided (octagonal) sign. Come to a complete stop at the stop line, before the crosswalk or before entering the intersection.
Two cars arrive at a 4-way stop at the same time. Who goes first? The car on the left / The faster car / The car on the right / The larger vehicle. Answer: The car on the right. At an all-way stop, the first vehicle to stop goes first. When two vehicles arrive at the same time, the driver on the left yields to the driver on the right.
For drivers 21 and over, the legal blood alcohol concentration (BAC) limit in most states is: 0.02% / 0.05% / 0.08% / 0.10%. Answer: 0.08%. The limit is 0.08% BAC in every state except Utah (0.05%). Commercial drivers are limited to 0.04%, and drivers under 21 face zero-tolerance limits (usually 0.01–0.02%).
A yellow, diamond-shaped sign is usually a: Regulatory sign / Warning sign / Guide sign / Service sign. Answer: Warning sign. Yellow diamonds warn of conditions ahead — curves, merging traffic, slippery roads, deer crossings. Regulatory signs (speed limit, no turn) are mostly white rectangles.
A school bus ahead has its red lights flashing and its stop arm out. On a two-lane road you must: Slow down and pass carefully / Stop, whether you are behind it or coming from the opposite direction / Stop only if you are behind the bus / Honk and continue. Answer: Stop, whether you are behind it or coming from the opposite direction. On an undivided road, traffic in both directions must stop and stay stopped until the red lights stop flashing and the stop arm is pulled in. Rules for divided highways vary by state.

Why practice with DMVPermitUSA

Real test format

Multiple-choice questions written like the ones on the DMV written knowledge test, covering signs, signals, right-of-way, speed and safe driving.

Every answer explained

Each question links the correct answer to the rule in the driver handbook, so you understand why — and remember it on test day.

Timed mock exams

Full-length simulations with a pass mark, a timer and a score report that shows which topics to review before your DMV appointment.

U.S. road signs

Learn the MUTCD road signs by shape and color: regulatory, warning, guide, school zone, railroad crossing and work zone signs.

How the DMV written knowledge test works

The written knowledge test — often simply called the permit test — checks that you know your state's traffic laws, road signs and safe-driving practices before you drive with a learner's permit. It is a multiple-choice test, usually taken on a computer or touch screen at a DMV office, and in some states online.

There is no single national test: each state writes its own, based on its driver handbook. Most tests have 20 to 50 questions, and the passing score in most states is around 80%. If you fail, most states let you retake it, sometimes after a waiting period (often a day to a week) and sometimes for a new fee.

Examples of permit test formats (check your DMV for current rules)
State	Questions	To pass
California	46 (under 18)	38 correct (about 83%); adults 18+ generally take 36 questions and need 30
Texas	30	70% (21 correct)
Florida	50 (Class E knowledge exam)	80% (40 correct)
New York	20, including 4 road-sign questions	14 correct, with at least 2 of the 4 road-sign questions

Tip: the rules above change from time to time. Always confirm the number of questions, passing score and retake policy in your state's official driver handbook.

U.S. road signs you must know

Road signs in the United States follow the federal Manual on Uniform Traffic Control Devices (MUTCD), so shapes and colors mean the same thing in every state. Many permit tests include sign questions — New York, for example, always asks four.

Red octagon: STOP — come to a complete stop.
Red and white downward triangle: YIELD — slow down and give the right-of-way.
White rectangle: regulatory signs such as speed limits, no turns and one way.
Yellow diamond: warning signs — curves, merges, signals ahead, slippery road.
Fluorescent yellow-green pentagon: school zone and school crossing.
Round yellow sign with an X and the white crossbuck: railroad crossing ahead / at the tracks.
Orange: work zones; green: guide and directions; blue: motorist services; brown: parks and recreation.

Right-of-way rules

Right-of-way questions are among the most missed on the permit test. The law does not give anyone the right-of-way — it says who must yield.

At a 4-way stop, the first vehicle to stop goes first; if two arrive together, yield to the vehicle on your right.
When turning left, yield to oncoming traffic and to pedestrians.
Always yield to pedestrians in a marked or unmarked crosswalk.
For an emergency vehicle using lights or siren, pull to the right edge of the road and stop until it passes.
Vehicles entering a highway or leaving a driveway or alley yield to traffic already on the road.
Many states have a Move Over law: change lanes or slow down for stopped emergency and service vehicles.

Speed limits and following distance

Speed limits are set by each state and posted in miles per hour (mph). Typical limits are 15–25 mph in school zones, 25 mph in residential and business districts, and 55–70 mph or more on highways and interstates. You must also drive slower than the limit when weather, traffic or visibility require it — the basic speed law.

Keep a following distance of at least 3 seconds behind the vehicle ahead, and more in rain, at night or behind large trucks and motorcycles.

Alcohol, drugs and BAC limits

It is illegal in every state to drive with a blood alcohol concentration (BAC) of 0.08% or higher if you are 21 or over (Utah's limit is 0.05%). Commercial drivers are limited to 0.04%, and drivers under 21 face zero-tolerance laws, usually 0.01–0.02%.

Under implied consent laws, by driving you agree to a chemical test if an officer suspects impaired driving; refusing usually means an automatic license suspension. Drugs — including some prescription and over-the-counter medicines and cannabis — can also make driving illegal.

Graduated Driver Licensing (GDL) in a nutshell

All states use a Graduated Driver Licensing system for new teen drivers, in three stages: the learner's permit (driving only with a licensed adult), the intermediate or provisional license (solo driving with limits on night driving and teen passengers), and the full license.

Adults who get a first license usually skip most GDL restrictions but still need to pass the vision, knowledge and road tests. Requirements, ages and hours vary by state, so read your handbook's GDL section closely — it is a common source of test questions.

How to get your learner's permit (typical steps)

Check your state's minimum age Most states issue a learner's permit at 15 or 16 (a few as early as 14). Applicants under 18 usually need a parent or guardian's signature, and some states require driver's education first.
Study the driver handbook Every question on the written test comes from your state's driver handbook (also called the driver's manual). Read it, then use practice tests to find your weak spots.
Gather your documents Bring proof of identity, your Social Security number and proof of state residency. If you want a REAL ID-compliant card, check your DMV's document list carefully.
Pass the vision and knowledge tests At the DMV office (or online in some states) you take a vision screening and the written knowledge test, and pay the application fee.
Complete supervised driving Under Graduated Driver Licensing (GDL), teens drive with a licensed adult for a holding period — often 6 to 12 months — and log supervised hours, commonly 40 to 70 including some at night.
Take the road test Once you meet the holding period and hours, pass the behind-the-wheel road test to get a provisional (intermediate) license, then a full license, usually by age 17 or 18.

The permit test at a glance

20–50 — multiple-choice questions, depending on the state
≈ 80% — passing score in most states
0.08% — BAC limit for drivers 21+ (Utah: 0.05%)
3 sec — minimum following distance

DMV permit test FAQ

How many questions are on the DMV permit test?

It depends on the state: most permit tests have between 20 and 50 multiple-choice questions. For example, New York asks 20, Texas 30, California 46 for applicants under 18, and Florida 50.

What score do I need to pass the permit test?

Most states require about 80% correct answers. Some differ — Texas requires 70%, and California requires 38 out of 46 for applicants under 18. Check your state's driver handbook for the exact passing score.

Is this practice test the same for every state?

Road signs and most safe-driving rules are the same nationwide, so the practice questions help in every state. Some laws — speed limits, GDL hours, cell phone rules — vary, so also read your own state's driver handbook.

What happens if I fail the written test?

You can retake it. Most states let you try again after a short waiting period, often the next day or within a week, and some charge a new fee or limit the number of attempts per application.

What do I need to bring to the DMV for my learner's permit?

Usually proof of identity (such as a birth certificate or passport), your Social Security number, proof of residency, the application fee and — if you are under 18 — a parent or guardian's consent. Requirements vary, so check your DMV's document list before your appointment.

Is DMVPermitUSA an official DMV website?

No. DMVPermitUSA is an independent study tool and is not affiliated with any state DMV or government agency. The official test is taken through your state's DMV.