The Alabama permit test is a written knowledge test given by the Alabama Law Enforcement Agency (ALEA), the agency that runs driver licensing in Alabama, so you will see ALEA on every form instead of "DMV". ALEA does not publish how many questions are on the test or what score you need to pass. Practice-test sites commonly say 30 questions and 80%, but that figure is unofficial, so study for every topic in the Alabama Driver Manual.
Alabama permit test at a glance
| Detail | What to know |
|---|---|
| Agency | Alabama Law Enforcement Agency (ALEA), Driver License Division |
| Minimum age | 15 for the learner license (Stage I) |
| Test | Written knowledge test taken from the Alabama Driver Manual: traffic laws, road signs and safe driving |
| Questions and pass mark | Not published by ALEA. Third-party sites say 30 questions and 80%, which is unofficial |
| Test fee | $5.00 for each knowledge test. ALEA does not accept checks |
| Learner license fee | $36.25, so $41.25 with the test fee (some counties charge a little more) |
| Where | In person at an ALEA driver license office. Walk-ins are welcome |
| Online test | No online option is listed by ALEA |
How many questions are on the Alabama permit test?
ALEA's website and driver manual do not give a question count or a passing score. The manual says only that the test "contains questions on Alabama traffic laws, road signs, and rules of safe driving" and that it is taken from the manual itself. Many practice sites report 30 questions with 80% needed to pass. Treat that as a guide and ask the examiner at your office if you want the exact number.
Because the number of questions you can miss is not published, the safest plan is to aim for every question on your practice tests.
What's on the Alabama permit test
The test comes from the Alabama Driver Manual, not from another state's book. Expect questions in three groups: traffic laws, road signs, and safe driving habits.
- Road signs: shape, color and meaning. Many people skip them when studying, and they show up on the test.
- Right of way, passing, turning and parking rules, including distances.
- School buses: stop at least 20 feet from a bus with flashing red lights. Flashing amber lights mean it is about to stop.
- Alcohol limits: 0.08 for most drivers, 0.04 for commercial drivers and 0.02 for drivers under 21.
- Parking: stay 15 feet from a fire hydrant and 20 feet from a crosswalk at an uncontrolled intersection.
- Move-over law: on roads with four or more lanes, leave the lane next to a stopped emergency vehicle or wrecker. If you cannot, slow to 15 mph below the limit.
- Leave at least three feet when passing a person on a bicycle.
Alabama's fire hydrant distance is 15 feet, while some other states use 10. If you study for more than one state, label your notes with the state.
How to study for the Alabama permit test
- Read the Alabama Driver Manual in short sessions, one chapter at a time.
- Learn road signs by shape and color, then by meaning.
- Highlight every number (distances, ages, limits) and make a one-page summary.
- Take practice tests and explain every wrong answer out loud.
- Repeat your weak topics, then sleep well the night before.
What to bring and how to book
Bring the original documents, not photocopies. ALEA's list for a learner license includes:
- Age 15: a certified U.S. birth certificate from the Bureau of Vital Statistics.
- Age 16 and older: two forms of ID, at least one with a photo and one from ALEA's primary list (such as a birth certificate, U.S. passport or permanent resident card), or three non-photo IDs with one from the primary list.
- Your original Social Security card.
- Proof of school enrollment or graduation (Form DL1/93, a graduation certificate or a GED) if you are 15 or under 19 and applying for the first time.
- Two proofs of where you live, such as a lease, vehicle registration or a utility bill less than 90 days old.
- $41.25 in cash or a money order. No checks.
Walk-ins are welcome at ALEA testing sites. You can also book a driver license appointment online at AlabamaDL.alea.gov. Document rules and fees change, so check ALEA's Document Requirements and Fees page before you go.
Can you take the Alabama permit test online?
No online option is listed. ALEA describes the knowledge test as taken at a driver license office, so plan to go in person with your documents.
What happens if you fail the Alabama permit test?
ALEA does not publish a waiting period or an attempt limit for the knowledge test. The manual says the fee is $5.00 for each knowledge test, so expect to pay again for another try. Ask the examiner about retake timing before you leave, then go back to the sections you missed.
After you pass
- Your license has a Y restriction. At 15, you must drive with a licensed Alabama driver who is 21 or older in the seat beside you, or with a licensed or certified driving instructor.
- After your 16th birthday, any licensed driver in the seat beside you will do.
- To move to a regular license before 18, you must hold the learner license for six months with no violations of its restrictions.
Alabama permit test FAQ
How many questions are on the Alabama permit test?
ALEA does not publish the number. Practice sites commonly say 30, but that is unofficial. The test is taken from the Alabama Driver Manual.
How many questions can you miss on the Alabama permit test?
ALEA does not publish a passing score. Third-party sites often say 80%, which would mean missing no more than six of 30, but confirm with the examiner.
Can you take the written driving test online in Alabama?
ALEA lists no online option. The knowledge test is taken in person at a driver license office.
How much does the Alabama permit test cost?
The knowledge test is $5.00 and the learner license is $36.25, so $41.25 in total. ALEA does not accept checks.
