In Kansas you can get an instruction permit at age 14. The knowledge test has 25 questions, and you need 80 percent, which is 20 correct. Rules and fees change, so as of 2026 treat this guide as a starting point and confirm everything on the official site. The official source is the Kansas Department of Revenue, Division of Vehicles, and the Kansas Driving Handbook.
Age and test format
The minimum age for an instruction permit is 14. Applicants under 16 need a written application and affidavit signed by a parent or guardian. You must pass a vision screening and the knowledge test. The test has 25 questions on traffic laws and road signs, and you need 80 percent to pass. The test is not timed. You get four chances to pass, and after the fourth failure you wait six months.
Practice hours and time with the permit
- A Class C permit is valid for one year and is renewed by passing the written exam again.
- Teens under 17 hold the permit for one year before the driving test.
- Teen license applicants need 50 hours of supervised driving, with 10 at night. A 15-year-old applying for a restricted license needs 25 hours and driver's education.
- Your supervisor must be a licensed adult at least 21 with one year of driving experience, sitting in the front seat.
Keep a log. It is much easier to write down each drive than to remember months later. A parent or guardian signs an affidavit about your hours.
Rules you should know
- School buses: stop for school, church and day care buses that are loading or unloading. You may skip stopping only when a median or other physical barrier separates the roads.
- Blood alcohol limits: .08 for adults, and a driver under 21 can be arrested for alcohol impairment at .02.
- Parking: stay 15 feet from a fire hydrant, 30 feet from a stop sign or signal, and 50 feet from a railroad crossing.
- Speed limits unless posted: 30 in urban districts, 20 in marked school zones, 65 on state and federal highways, 55 on county roads.
- Seat belts are a primary violation, and texting while driving is banned.
- The move-over law covers stopped emergency vehicles with flashing lights, including tow trucks.
Kansas uses 15 feet for the hydrant, as many states do, but other distances differ. If you study for more than one state, label your notes with the state.
Why details matter
Test writers like numbers: distances, ages, hours, and limits. When you read the manual, highlight every number and make a one-page summary. Review it before each practice test.
A simple study plan
- Read the Kansas Driving Handbook in short sessions, one section at a time.
- Learn road signs by shape and color, then by meaning.
- Take practice tests and explain every wrong answer out loud.
- Repeat your weak topics, such as right of way or parking distances.
- Sleep well the night before and bring your documents.
Confirm current fees, documents and testing locations with the Kansas Department of Revenue at ksrevenue.gov.
Tips for parents and guardians
Parents can make a big difference without taking over. Sit down with your teen once a week and ask them to explain a rule in their own words. If they can teach it back to you, they probably know it.
Look at the practice driving log together, plan a mix of daytime, night and bad weather drives, and keep the first drives in quiet places such as empty parking lots or calm neighborhood streets. Stay patient. Everyone is nervous at the start.
Common mistakes to avoid
- Studying only signs and skipping the numbers and rules.
- Using a manual from a different state.
- Waiting until the night before to study.
- Rushing through questions without reading every answer.
- Forgetting to check the document list for your KS visit.
On test day
Arrive early, bring everything on the official list, and take a few slow breaths before you begin. Read each question twice. If a question is confusing, move on to the next one if the test allows it and come back later. Staying calm is part of passing.
DMVZone practice questions are for study only. They are not the real test questions, but they help you practice the kinds of topics the test covers.