Yes. The North Dakota Department of Transportation (NDDOT) offers the Class D knowledge test at home through KnowTo Drive Online, so the North Dakota permit test online is open to any North Dakota resident age 14 or older. If you are under 18, a parent or guardian registers with you, and you still go to a driver license site afterward to get the learner's permit.
Can you take the North Dakota permit test online?
Yes. NDDOT (dot.nd.gov) links to KnowTo Drive Online from its learner's permit page. According to the KnowTo Drive North Dakota FAQ:
- Age and residency: any North Dakota resident who is at least 14 can test online.
- 18 and older: you verify your own identity.
- Under 18: a parent or guardian must register with you. That adult must be a North Dakota resident and at least 18, and answers the identity verification questions for you.
- Test offered: the Class D knowledge test, the one you need for a learner's permit.
You can also take the same test in person at a North Dakota driver license site. The in-office test is offered in 14 languages, and automated sign language and audio testing is available at several larger offices.
How the ND permit test online works
- Study firstRead the North Dakota driver's manual and take practice tests. NDDOT also has an online study guide.
- Check your computerUse a desktop or laptop with internet, a keyboard, a mouse and a webcam on the monitor you are testing on. Tablets and phones are not supported.
- RegisterStart from the learner's permit page at dot.nd.gov or the KnowTo Drive North Dakota site. A registration is valid for 72 hours.
- PayKnowTo Drive says each online attempt costs $10, paid by credit card or PIN-less debit card.
- Take the testYou have 60 minutes. Stay in view of the camera the whole time.
- Watch your emailIf you pass, you get an email from ND_K2DO@iti4dmv.com with the next steps.
How much does it cost?
Costs differ by where you test. KnowTo Drive lists $10 for each online attempt. NDDOT lists the knowledge test at a driver license site at $5 per attempt, with one attempt allowed per day, and the learner's permit itself at $15.
Questions and passing score
NDDOT does not publish the number of questions or the passing score for the Class D knowledge test, and the KnowTo Drive FAQ does not list them either. Practice-test sites quote their own numbers, but those are unofficial. Ask NDDOT at 701-328-2500 if you want the exact figure, and study every chapter of the manual so the number does not matter.
Rules that get people failed
KnowTo Drive watches you and your surroundings through the webcam to prevent cheating. Its FAQ lists three things that disqualify you:
- Your mouse cursor leaves the red border around the test session.
- Photos taken during the test do not match the photo you took at the start.
- A photo shows another person. Nobody else should be around you while you test.
Keep only the test site using your webcam, clean the lens and test in good light without glare or shadows. A parent who helped with registration should leave the room once the test begins.
From our driving-school experience, the easy mistakes are the ones that cost people: reaching for a phone to check the time, moving the mouse off the test to adjust a window, or a younger sibling wandering into the camera view. Close the door and silence everything.
Retakes
After a failed online test you can try again after 24 hours. After five failures, KnowTo Drive says you must wait one year. The FAQ gives two different rules for retaking after a disqualification (a 7-day wait in one section, and four more attempts in another), so confirm with NDDOT if that happens to you.
Online vs in person
| Online at home | At a driver license site | |
|---|---|---|
| Who can use it | North Dakota residents age 14 and up; parent or guardian registers if under 18 | Anyone who needs the Class D test |
| Test fee | $10 per attempt (KnowTo Drive) | $5 per attempt (NDDOT) |
| Equipment | Desktop or laptop, keyboard, mouse, webcam | Provided |
| Time limit | 60 minutes | Not published |
| Retakes | After 24 hours; one-year wait after five failures | One attempt per day |
| Permit card | Still need an office visit | Same visit |
What to do after you pass
Passing online does not issue a permit. Schedule an appointment at your nearest driver license site and bring:
- Proof of identity and address, from NDDOT's ID checklist.
- Your Social Security number, which NDDOT verifies with the Social Security Administration.
- Your physical North Dakota address for the application.
- A sponsor's signature if you are under 18, usually a parent or guardian.
- $15 for the learner's permit.
You also complete a vision screening. If you are 14 or 15, NDDOT requires you to hold it at least a year, complete an approved driver education course and log 50 hours of practice driving before the road test.
FAQ
Can you take permit test online at home in North Dakota?
Yes. Any North Dakota resident age 14 or older can take the Class D knowledge test online through KnowTo Drive Online. A parent or guardian must register with testers under 18.
How much is the North Dakota permit test online?
KnowTo Drive lists $10 per attempt. The test at a driver license site is $5 per attempt, and the permit is $15.
How many questions are on the ND permit test online?
NDDOT does not publish the number or the passing score. Study the whole manual and ask NDDOT if you want the exact figure.
Is there a North Dakota permit test online practice option?
Yes. NDDOT has an online study guide, and DMVZone has free North Dakota practice tests with every answer explained. Neither uses the real test questions.
What happens if I fail online?
You can retest after 24 hours. After five failures you must wait one year, according to KnowTo Drive.
