The Alaska permit test has 20 multiple-choice questions, and you need 16 correct answers (80%) to pass, with 25 minutes allowed. That is the format the Alaska Division of Motor Vehicles (DMV) lists on its official practice knowledge test at dmv.alaska.gov. Alaska is also one of the few states where you can take the real test online at home through Know To Drive, and you can apply for an instruction permit at 14.
Alaska permit test at a glance
| Detail | What to know |
|---|---|
| Questions | 20 multiple-choice questions |
| Pass mark | 16 correct (80%). You can miss 4 |
| Time limit | 25 minutes |
| Agency | Alaska Division of Motor Vehicles (DMV), dmv.alaska.gov |
| Minimum age | 14 for an instruction permit |
| Where you take it | Online through Know To Drive, or in person at a DMV office or an approved knowledge test proctor |
| Online option | Yes. Know To Drive charges $11.50 for each attempt, according to its Alaska FAQ |
| Permit fee | $15 for the instruction permit (DMV fee list). The DMV does not list a separate fee for an in-person knowledge test |
| Languages | The DMV manual says the online test offers several languages with audio playback. Know To Drive lists English and Spanish |
How many questions are on the Alaska permit test?
There are 20 questions on the Alaska permit test, and you need 16 right, so you can miss no more than 4. The DMV lists this format on its practice knowledge test page, with 25 minutes to finish. The Alaska Driver Manual says the test covers only information found in the manual, so you do not need to study anything outside it.
Four misses is not much room. In our experience at a driving school, people who already drive a little are the ones who get caught, because they skip the book facts like signaling distance and alcohol rules.
What's on the Alaska permit test
Questions come from the Alaska Driver Manual and fall into three groups: road signs, traffic laws and safe driving. These are the facts worth writing down:
- Road signs: shape, color and meaning. They are a big share of most permit tests and the topic people skip most.
- Signaling: give your turn signal continuously during the last 100 feet before you turn.
- Following distance: the manual recommends a four-second gap, while Alaska regulation requires at least two seconds. Read questions carefully to see whether they ask for the minimum or the recommended gap.
- School buses: stop when a bus has its red lights flashing and stop arm out, whether you are meeting it or following it.
- Alcohol: a breath result of .08 or higher (.04 for commercial vehicles) leads to license revocation, and drivers under 21 face penalties for any amount of alcohol.
The two-second versus four-second rule is a classic trap. Two seconds is the legal minimum in Alaska; four seconds is what the manual recommends. If two answers look right, check whether the question says minimum or recommended.
The Alaska difference: you can test online
Most states make you sit the permit test at an office. Alaska lets you take the real knowledge test online through Know To Drive, a testing service linked from the DMV's instruction permit page. You still visit the DMV afterward for the vision test, documents and permit.
How to study for the Alaska permit test
- Read the Alaska Driver Manual in short sessions, one chapter a day.
- Learn road signs by shape and color first, then by meaning.
- Write every number from the manual on one page: distances, ages, alcohol limits and following-distance rules.
- Take the DMV's free practice knowledge test, then take more practice tests and note every question you miss.
- Go back to the manual for each miss, then retest a day later before you book the real thing.
What to bring and how to book
The DMV's instruction permit page lists these items for a new permit. Bring originals:
- Completed driver license application (Form D1).
- Parental consent: Form 433 for a car permit, signed by a parent or guardian if you are under 18.
- Proof of the relationship to the minor, such as a birth certificate, adoption or guardianship papers.
- One primary document showing your legal name, date of birth and lawful presence, such as a U.S. birth certificate or passport.
- Proof of your Alaska home address, such as a utility bill, lease or bank statement. A P.O. box is not accepted.
- Your Social Security number, or Social Security Administration paperwork if you do not have one.
- Name change documents, such as a marriage certificate or court order, if your name has changed.
- $15 for the permit. You also pass a vision test at the office.
Find your nearest office and its hours on the DMV locations page at dmv.alaska.gov. In remote areas, the DMV also lists knowledge test proctors by community.
Can you take the Alaska permit test online?
Yes, with conditions. The online test runs through Know To Drive, and its Alaska FAQ sets these rules:
- Use a desktop or laptop with a front-facing webcam, keyboard and mouse. Phones and tablets are not supported.
- Test in a well-lit room with no one else nearby. The webcam watches you and the room the whole time.
- Each attempt costs $11.50 and you have 25 minutes. A registration is valid for 72 hours.
- The FAQ says the online Class D test is for Alaska residents who are at least 16. If you are 14 or 15, ask the DMV whether to test online or at an office.
After you pass online, you get an email with next steps. You still go to a DMV office with your documents for the vision test and to pay for the permit.
What happens if you fail the Alaska permit test?
The Alaska Driver Manual says a failed knowledge test may be retaken the following day. Online, the Know To Drive FAQ says you can retry the same day up to four more times, paying $11.50 for each attempt. After five failed or disqualified online attempts, you cannot test online again for one year and must take the test in person at a DMV office.
Do not rush the retry. Go over every topic you missed first. A day of focused study usually helps more than another fast attempt.
Alaska permit test FAQ
How many questions are on the Alaska permit test?
There are 20 multiple-choice questions, and you need 16 correct (80%) to pass. You have 25 minutes.
How many questions can you miss on the Alaska permit test?
You can miss 4. Missing 5 or more is a fail.
Can you take the Alaska permit test online?
Yes, through Know To Drive, on a computer with a webcam. Each attempt is $11.50. You still visit a DMV office afterward for the vision test and the permit.
How old do you have to be for an Alaska permit?
14. If you are under 18, a parent or guardian signs the consent form, and you need a licensed driver 21 or older with at least one year of experience beside you when you drive.
