About the Permit Test
Sometimes referred to as the learners permit test (also known as the dmv test, or knowledge test) the permit test is a multiple-choice written test designed to test your knowledge of the rules of road before earning your learner’s permit and getting behind the wheel.
The permit test is administered at your state’s local motor vehicle office and varies in length and minimum pass rate from state to state. While each state provides its own test, there are some topics that are universal. You can expect to be tested on various topics including: traffic laws, defensive driving, signals, signs, and lane markings.
Permit Practice Tests
Whether you are looking to get your learners permit or driver’s license, practice tests can help get you there. Designed by experts to simulate the look and feel of the exam, permit practice tests are proven to help boost scores and increase your chances of passing the exam. Our permit practice tests include:
- State-Specific Questions
- Detailed Explanations
- Unlimited Attempts
- Progress Tracker
- Exam Mode Simulator
Preparing for Your Permit Test
Many of the unprepared believe that simply cramming the night before will have them walking out of the testing office with their permit in hand. While this sounds like a way to save a bit of time, a recent survey has reported that nearly half of all test takers fail the permit test on the first attempt. Nobody wants to leave their local drivers licensing office empty handed so its essential that you have a game plan in place before you sit for the exam.
Study Your State’s Drivers Manual
Each state licensing agency regularly publishes a drivers manual sometimes referred to as the drivers handbook as a resource for those looking to prepare for the written knowledge test. This powerful resource is a great place to start preparing for the test and includes information on state traffic laws, road signs, and safe driving practices.
All questions on the test are based on the information found in the manual, so its essential you take the time to become familiar with each chapter. You view or download a copy of your states drivers manual from this site to help get you started.
Take Permit Practice Tests
Practice tests work hand in hand with the driver’s manual by helping you determine how much information you’ve truly absorbed. Each state’s driver manual is huge and covers hundreds of topics ranging from how to react when hydroplaning to speed limits in an alley. With so many topics to absorb, you need a study tool that will allow you to quickly gauge how much you really know before exam day.
Practice tests allow you to experience the permit test before test day by simulating the test format and incorporating the very same type of questions you can expect to see on the real thing. Quickly determine how well you are performing, and get a detailed report of your strengths and weaknesses.
Permit Test Frequently Asked Questions
For most states, written permit tests are typically multiple-choice with one correct answer. The majority of states have opted to use computerized exams, while others have continued to use the traditional pencil-and-paper format. Its important to keep in mind that you may have a question time limit when taking a computerized test.
The number of questions featured on the exam will vary according to the state you live in but in general you can expect between 20 and 50 questions.
EXAMPLES:
Idaho: 40 questions.
Arizona: 30 questions.
Indiana: 50 questions.
All questions on the written knowledge test have been created based on the information in your state’s drivers manual. The questions on the exam are designed to test your knowledge of the rules of the road, including:
- Traffic laws.
- Road signs.
- Defensive driving.
- Lane markings.
- Sharing the road.
- Dealing with inclement weather.
- Speed limits.
- Passing.
While each state has varying minimum passing scores, you can expect that you will be required to answer a minimum of 80 percent of the questions correctly in order to pass. In Texas, for example, you’ll need to answer 70 percent of the questions correctly while Virginia requires a minimum of 86 percent.
Each state publishes a driver’s manual containing all the material you can expect to find on the test. Once you feel you’ve spent a sufficient amount of time studying the manual, you can test your knowledge using the practice tests on this site. Our practice tests have been designed to carefully simulate the real exam format and provide questions based on the same concepts.
Practice tests can help you quickly identify your strengths and weaknesses by highlighting areas where you may need to spend a bit more time studying. Preparing is essential as state statistics reveal that nearly half of all test takers end up failing on their first attempt. This can result in additional testing fees and lost time as you will need to take the exam again.
While most states will allow you to retake the test if you fail, its important to prepare to avoid having to wait in line again and pay any additional testing fees to retake the test.