The Idaho permit test, the Class D knowledge test given by the Idaho Transportation Department (ITD) Division of Motor Vehicles, has 40 questions, and you can miss no more than 6. That works out to 34 correct, or 85%, one of the highest pass marks in the country, so plan to study a little harder than friends in other states did.
Idaho permit test at a glance
| Detail | What to know |
|---|---|
| Agency | Idaho Transportation Department (ITD), Division of Motor Vehicles, through county driver's license offices |
| Questions | 40 |
| Pass mark | Miss no more than 6, so 34 correct (85%) |
| Knowledge test fee | $5.00, non-refundable |
| Where | In person at a county driver's license office |
| Online test | Not offered. ITD has said it is exploring online testing |
| If you fail | Wait 3 days to retest |
| Languages | English plus Arabic, Chinese, Farsi, French, Korean, Russian, Serbo-Croatian, Spanish, Swahili and Vietnamese, and ASL video |
| Teens under 17 | Driver training and a supervised instruction permit come first |
How many questions are on the Idaho permit test?
There are 40 questions on the Idaho permit test. The Idaho Driver's Handbook says you can miss up to six questions before failing, so you need at least 34 right.
With only six misses allowed, there is little room for guessing. If you score 34 or 35 on practice tests, keep studying. Aim for 37 or better before you go in.
What's on the Idaho permit test
Every question comes from the Idaho Driver's Handbook on itd.idaho.gov. Topics include:
- Road signs, signals and pavement markings.
- Right of way, turning, passing and lane use.
- School buses: stop for a bus loading or unloading students while its red lights flash or its stop arm is out, and stay stopped until the children are clear. On highways with four or more lanes (two each way), traffic going the other direction may not need to stop.
- Speed, following distance and driving in bad weather and work zones.
- Alcohol, drugs and the penalties for impaired driving.
- Graduated driver's license rules for teens.
What makes Idaho different: the 85% bar
Most states pass you at 80%. Idaho's six-miss limit means 85%, and the handbook itself warns that web-based practice tests are not an accurate picture of the real Idaho test. Use practice tests to find your weak spots, then go back to the handbook for the exact wording. ITD also posts official sample questions on its site.
How to study for the Idaho permit test
- Read the Idaho Driver's Handbook one chapter at a time, and keep notes.
- Learn road signs by shape and color, then by meaning.
- Make a one-page list of every number: distances, speeds, ages and hours.
- Take practice tests and the ITD sample questions, and reread the handbook section for each miss.
- Book your test once you score 37 or more out of 40 several times in a row.
What to bring and how to book
Find your county driver's license office through itd.idaho.gov and check whether it takes appointments or walk-ins. Bring:
- Proof of identity, such as a certified U.S. birth certificate or a valid U.S. passport. ITD does not accept photocopies or faxes.
- The other documents on ITD's list, such as proof of your Social Security number and Idaho residency.
- If you are under 17: your approved driver training enrollment and a parent or guardian.
- The $5.00 knowledge test fee. A Driver Training and Supervised Instruction Permit costs $21.50 ($16.50 for parent-led training).
Leave your phone and notes outside. Electronic devices, manuals and talking are not allowed in the testing room.
Can you take the Idaho permit test online?
No. ITD does not offer the knowledge test online. In 2024, after testing-station outages, ITD said it was exploring online knowledge testing for the future, but it has not announced a launch. Check itd.idaho.gov for updates, and plan to test in person.
What happens if you fail the Idaho permit test?
The handbook is clear: if you fail a knowledge test, you must wait three days to retest, and you pay the fee again because fees are non-refundable. If English is your second language and you fail three times in a language ITD offers, you may then use a translator.
Idaho permit test FAQ
How many questions is the Idaho permit test?
40 questions. You can miss up to six and still pass.
How many questions on Idaho driving test?
The written knowledge test has 40 questions. The separate driving skills test takes about 30 minutes and allows no more than 12 errors and no critical errors.
What score do you need on the Idaho permit test?
34 of 40, which is 85%.
How much is the Idaho knowledge test?
$5.00, and it is non-refundable.
