Your car starts to hydroplane on a wet road. What should you do?

Ease off the gas and keep the wheel straight

Turn the wheel sharply toward the shoulder

If the rear of your car starts to skid, you should:

Steer in the direction you want the front of the car to go

Steer in the opposite direction of where you want to go

Pass Your DMV Permit Test on the First Try: A Study Plan That Works

To pass the permit test, study your state's driver handbook, then take practice tests until you score at least 90% several times in a row — well above the typical 80% passing mark. Focus extra time on right-of-way, numbers (distances, BAC, speed limits) and your state's own laws, and arrive on test day with the right documents.

Updated on 2026-11-06 · Ver en español

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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Commonly missed permit test questions

In most states, you may not park within how many feet of a fire hydrant? 5 feet / 10 feet / 15 feet / 30 feet. Answer: 15 feet. Fifteen feet is the rule in most state handbooks. Parking distances are classic test questions, so memorize your state's numbers for hydrants, crosswalks, stop signs and railroad crossings.
A driver's left arm is extended out the window and bent upward at the elbow. This hand signal means: Left turn / Right turn / Slow down or stop / You may pass. Answer: Right turn. Arm straight out means left turn, arm bent up means right turn, and arm bent down means slow down or stop.
Your car starts to hydroplane on a wet road. What should you do? Brake hard / Speed up to regain traction / Ease off the gas and keep the wheel straight / Turn the wheel sharply toward the shoulder. Answer: Ease off the gas and keep the wheel straight. Release the accelerator gradually and steer straight until the tires grip again. Hard braking or sharp steering can cause a skid.
In most states, you must switch from high beams to low beams when an oncoming vehicle is within: 100 feet / 200 feet / 500 feet / 1,000 feet. Answer: 500 feet. Dim your high beams within 500 feet of an oncoming vehicle and when following another vehicle closely (often 200 to 300 feet, depending on the state).
If the rear of your car starts to skid, you should: Steer in the direction you want the front of the car to go / Steer in the opposite direction of where you want to go / Slam on the brakes / Shift into park. Answer: Steer in the direction you want the front of the car to go. Look and steer where you want to go, take your foot off the gas and avoid hard braking. Be ready to correct as the car straightens.

Start by learning your state's test format

There is no national permit test. Each state writes its own written knowledge test from its driver handbook, so the first step is to know exactly what you are facing: the number of questions, the passing score, whether road signs are graded separately, whether there is a time limit and how retakes work. That information is on your DMV's website or in the opening pages of the handbook.

The format matters for your strategy. On a short test like New York's 20 questions, every mistake costs 5 points, so a weak topic can sink you. On longer tests, such as Florida's 50 questions, you can afford a few misses but need stamina and consistency. Several states end the test early as soon as you have reached the passing score — or as soon as you can no longer reach it.

Verified against each state's official sources (see the state page)
State	Questions	To pass
California	46	At least 38 correct answers (no more than 8 wrong, about 83%)
Texas	—	—
Florida	50	40 correct answers out of 50 (80%)
New York	20	14 correct answers (70%), including at least 2 of the 4 road-sign questions
Pennsylvania	18	15 correct answers out of 18 (about 83%)
Illinois	35	80% correct (28 of 35 questions)
Ohio	40	30 correct answers (75%)
Georgia	40	15 correct answers out of 20 on each part (75%)
North Carolina	—	80% of the questions correct
Michigan	—	—

A two-week study plan

Most people need somewhere between a few days and a few weeks to prepare, depending on how much driving knowledge they already have. Two weeks of short, regular sessions — 30 to 45 minutes a day — is a reliable plan for a beginner. It spreads the material out so that you review each topic several times, which is how long-term memory works.

Sample 14-day plan
Days	What to do
1–3	Read the driver handbook from start to finish. Highlight every number and every rule that is new to you.
4–5	Road signs and signals: learn shapes and colors, then take sign practice tests until you score 100%.
6–7	Right-of-way, turns, intersections and roundabouts. Draw the tricky situations on paper.
8–9	Speed, following distance, parking, passing and lane use. Make a one-page list of numbers.
10	Alcohol, drugs, BAC limits, implied consent and your state's GDL rules.
11–12	Full timed mock exams. Review every wrong answer in the handbook, not just the explanation.
13	Light review of your mistake list and number sheet. Gather your documents.
14	Test day. Eat, arrive early and stay calm.

Read the driver handbook the smart way

Every question on the official test is based on your state's handbook, so it is the one source you cannot skip. Download the current edition from your DMV's website — handbooks are updated, and an old copy may give outdated answers. Many states publish it in Spanish and other languages as well as an audio version.

Read actively. Instead of skimming, stop at the end of each section and ask yourself what a test question about it would look like. Pay special attention to anything specific to your state: GDL restrictions, cell phone rules, school bus rules on divided highways, Move Over laws, insurance requirements and penalties. Those are the questions that general knowledge cannot answer for you.

Make a number sheet as you go. Permit tests love numbers: the BAC limits (0.08% for adults, 0.04% for commercial drivers, zero tolerance under 21 — Utah's adult limit is 0.05%), the 3-second following distance, school-zone speeds, how far to signal before a turn (100 feet in most states), parking distances and how many feet to dim your headlights. Reviewing one page of numbers the night before is far easier than searching a whole handbook.

Use practice tests the right way

Practice tests are the most effective study tool because they force you to recall answers, not just recognize them. Learning research consistently shows that retrieval practice — testing yourself — builds stronger memory than rereading. But how you use them matters more than how many you take.

Start by topic, not with full exams. Our practice tests by topic isolate signs, right-of-way, speed and alcohol so you can see exactly where you lose points.
Read every explanation, including for questions you got right by guessing.
Keep a mistake list and retest those topics the next day.
Do not memorize answer positions. The real test words questions differently and shuffles options. Learn the rule behind each answer.
Switch to timed full exams once each topic is above 90%. Take a full mock exam under real conditions: no notes, no phone, one sitting.
Set a clear target. When you pass three full mock exams in a row with 90% or more, you are ready.

The topics most people get wrong

The same areas trip up test-takers in every state. Give them extra time:

Right-of-way: 4-way stops, left turns on a green light, T-intersections, roundabouts and emergency vehicles. See our right-of-way rules guide.
Parking distances: in many states, 15 feet from a fire hydrant, 20 feet from a crosswalk at an intersection, 30 feet from a stop sign or traffic signal and 50 feet from a railroad crossing. Check your state's exact numbers.
Lane markings: which yellow and white lines you may cross, and when you may pass.
Signs that look alike: the pentagon school sign versus the pedestrian diamond, merge versus lane ends, advisory speed versus speed limit.
School buses: when traffic in both directions must stop and how divided highways change the rule.
Alcohol and implied consent: BAC limits, what happens if you refuse a test and zero tolerance for drivers under 21.
Your state's GDL rules: permit holding period, supervised hours, night and passenger limits for provisional drivers.

Test-taking strategies that work

Knowledge wins the test, but good technique protects you from silly mistakes. Read the whole question and every option before choosing; the first option that looks right is not always the best one. Watch for words such as not, except, always and never, which flip the meaning of a question.

When you are unsure, eliminate the options that are clearly wrong and choose the safest legal choice. Permit tests reward caution: yielding, slowing down, increasing following distance and avoiding risk are usually right, and answers that involve speeding up, honking or insisting on your right-of-way are usually wrong. Avoid overthinking: the question describes ordinary conditions unless it says otherwise.

If your state's test lets you skip a question and return to it, use that feature for anything that makes you hesitate, then come back with a fresh look. If it does not, take a breath, eliminate, pick the best answer and move on — dwelling on one question costs focus for the next.

Test-day checklist

Ask for accommodations if you need them. Most states offer the test in several languages and as an audio version, and can make arrangements for applicants with reading difficulties or disabilities — request this when you book.

Your appointment confirmation, if your state requires one.
All required documents — originals or certified copies — plus parental consent and school forms if you are under 18. See our documents checklist.
Your glasses or contact lenses for the vision screening.
Payment for the application fee in a form your DMV accepts.
A good night's sleep and a meal beforehand.
Arrive early: some offices stop giving knowledge tests well before closing time.
Phones, notes and earbuds are not allowed during the test. Using them can get you disqualified.

If you fail: what happens next

Failing the permit test is common and not a big deal. Every state allows retakes, usually after a short waiting period that ranges from the next business day to about a week, and some limit attempts per application fee — California, for example, allows three attempts per fee. Ask the examiner about your state's rules before you leave.

Most states show you your score and sometimes the topics you missed. Write them down right away. Then go back to the handbook for those chapters and use topic practice tests until you score 90% or more on each before booking the retest. The second attempt is usually much easier, because you now know the format and the type of questions your state asks.

Nerves cause more failures than people admit. If you tend to freeze on tests, simulate the real thing at home: sit at a table, put your phone in another room, set a timer and take a full mock exam in one go. Doing that three or four times makes the real test feel familiar. On the day, breathe slowly before you start, answer the questions you are sure of with confidence and remember that a retake is always possible — the stakes are lower than they feel.

How to pass the permit test (study plan)

Learn your state's test format Find out how many questions there are, the passing score and whether road signs are scored separately.
Read the driver handbook once, actively Read every chapter, highlighting numbers, state-specific laws and anything that surprises you.
Take practice tests by topic Work through signs, right-of-way, speed, alcohol and safe driving, and review every explanation you get wrong.
Take full timed mock exams When you reach 90% on every topic, take full-length mock exams until you pass several in a row.
Prepare for test day Gather your documents, bring glasses if you need them, sleep well and arrive early.

Permit test tips FAQ

How many questions can you miss on the permit test?

It depends on the state. You can miss 8 of 46 in California (under 18), 7 of 35 in Illinois, 10 of 50 in Florida and 6 of 20 in New York, as long as you also pass the road-sign questions there. Check your state's rules.

How long should I study for the permit test?

Most beginners do well with about two weeks of short daily sessions. Study until you consistently score 90% or more on full practice tests, not for a fixed number of hours.

Is the permit test hard?

It is not designed to trick you, but many people fail on the first try because they skip the handbook or underestimate right-of-way and number questions. With focused practice, it is very manageable.

Are practice tests similar to the real DMV test?

Good practice tests cover the same topics and multiple-choice format, but the official test uses its own wording. Use practice tests to learn the rules behind the answers, not to memorize questions.

Can I take the permit test online?

Some states offer online knowledge tests with remote proctoring, often for teens enrolled in driver's ed or for certain applicants. Others require the test at a DMV office. Check your state's DMV website.

What should I do the night before the permit test?

Review your number sheet and mistake list for 20 to 30 minutes, check your documents, and get a full night's sleep. Avoid cramming new material late at night.

What happens if I fail the permit test?

You can retake it, usually after a short waiting period. Some states charge a new fee or limit attempts per application. Review the topics you missed before trying again.