Practice tests
DMV written test: practice and what to expect
Answer the practice questions above, scored against the pass line of the state you choose, then read how the real knowledge test is organized and what to bring.
Your score · California
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| Pass mark: 37 of 46 (80 %) |
| You can still miss 9 |
Practice questions written from the state handbook and federal rules. Not the official test.
The DMV written test, called the knowledge test in most handbooks, is a multiple-choice exam on traffic laws, road signs and safe driving that every new driver passes before receiving a learner permit. It is taken at a motor vehicle office, usually on a computer or touch screen, and in some states online with a proctor. Where the length is published it runs from 18 to 50 questions, and the most common pass mark among the states that state one is 80 % (14 states). The questions come from the state driver handbook, so reading it once and then practicing is the usual route. A vision screening comes first, and minors need a parent or guardian signature. Our practice test draws on 80 car questions, each with an explanation, and stops counting you as passed the moment you exceed the mistakes your state allows.
Pass mark of your state's knowledge test
Correct answers needed
37 / 46
| Questions | 46 |
| Minimum score | 80 % |
| Mistakes allowed | 9 |
| Retake after a fail | 7 days (minors) |
The state publishes a percentage, not a number of answers: the count is derived from it.
Questions and state rules by Radif Partners · Editorial policy · How the questions are written
The format of the knowledge test
The written test is the gate to the learner permit. It checks that you know the rules before you sit behind the wheel, even with an adult beside you. The questions are drawn from a larger bank, so two applicants on the same day rarely see the same set. Most agencies now test on a screen at the counter; a few offer paper on request, and some let teens take the test online at home with identity checks. The published pass marks we found are 80 % in 14 states, 70 % in 3 states, 75 % in 3 states, 76 % in 1 state, 83 % in 1 state, 85 % in 1 state.
- Question type. Multiple choice, one correct answer, often with a picture for sign and intersection items.
- Length. Set by each state; the question count guide lists the ones that are published.
- Scoring. A minimum number of correct answers. Some computers end the test early once the result is certain.
- Languages. 21 states in our data confirm a Spanish version; see the Spanish test guide.
What the test asks, by topic
Handbooks are organized in similar chapters, and our practice bank follows the same split. The counts below are those of our own bank, not the weights of any state test, which agencies do not publish.
| Topic | Practice questions | Typical content |
|---|---|---|
| Rules of the road | 20 | speed limits, lane use, turns, parking, passing |
| Road signs | 16 | shapes, colors and meaning of regulatory and warning signs |
| Safe driving | 16 | following distance, night, weather, emergencies |
| Right of way | 9 | intersections, pedestrians, emergency vehicles, school buses |
| Traffic signals | 7 | steady and flashing lights, arrows, signals from officers |
| Pavement markings | 7 | yellow and white lines, solid and broken, special lanes |
| Alcohol and drugs | 5 | BAC limits, implied consent, impairment |
The sign items follow the federal Manual on Uniform Traffic Control Devices, which every state applies, so a sign drilled for one state is valid in all of them. The alcohol items rely on rules set nationwide, such as the 0.08 limit for adult drivers that NHTSA describes and the lower limit for drivers under 21. The state-specific part is mostly in speed limits near schools, phone rules, and the details of the teen license.
Pass mark of your state's knowledge test
Correct answers needed
37 / 46
| Questions | 46 |
| Minimum score | 80 % |
| Mistakes allowed | 9 |
| Retake after a fail | 7 days (minors) |
The state publishes a percentage, not a number of answers: the count is derived from it.
How to prepare in a week
Read the handbook once from start to finish, skimming the parts on titles and insurance. Then take a full practice test without notes and look at the explanation of every wrong answer: the mistake usually points to a whole rule you skipped, not a single fact. Repeat with a fresh test every day or two. When you score above the pass line three times in a row, with a margin of two or three answers, you are ready. The road signs test is worth a separate session, since sign items are quick points to win.
On the day of the test
Bring proof of identity, of your Social Security number and of residency in the state, as the agency lists them, plus the application form if it can be filled in advance. A minor needs a parent or guardian, either present or by signed form, and in many states a driver education certificate. Glasses or contact lenses, if you wear them, are needed for the vision check that comes before the test. Expect to pay the permit fee on the spot. In New York, for instance, the test has 20 questions and you need 14 right. Georgia sets 40 questions with 30 needed. Every state page on this site gives the figures of its own agency.
If it does not go well
A fail is common and not recorded against your driving record. You can usually return after a short wait, sometimes the next day, sometimes a week or more, and some states charge again. The failed test guide lists the wait in each state. This site is an independent practice tool and is not affiliated with any DMV; the rules in your state handbook prevail over anything written here.