What questions are on the permit test? In every state they are multiple-choice questions on three things: road signs, traffic laws such as right of way and speed limits, and safe driving habits, all taken from your state's official driver manual. The exact number of questions and the pass mark change by state, but the topics are very similar everywhere, so if you know the manual's signs, rules and numbers, you know what to expect.
Quick answer
- Road signs: shapes, colors and meanings, including warning, regulatory and work zone signs.
- Signals and pavement markings: lights, arrows, lane lines and crosswalks.
- Right of way: intersections, four-way stops, roundabouts, pedestrians, school buses and emergency vehicles.
- Numbers: speed limits, following distance, parking distances, alcohol limits and fines.
- Safe driving: night, weather, skids, highways and sharing the road.
- Your state's permit and license rules: supervision, curfews and passenger limits.
What questions are on the permit test, topic by topic
This table shows the kinds of questions you should expect in each area and the details students most often get wrong.
| Topic | What they ask | Where students slip |
|---|---|---|
| Road signs | What a sign means from its shape, color or symbol | Pennant (no passing) and pentagon (school) signs, and the round railroad warning sign |
| Signals and markings | What to do at flashing lights, arrows, and solid or broken lines | Flashing red versus flashing yellow, and when you may cross a yellow line |
| Right of way | Who goes first at stops, turns, roundabouts and crosswalks | Left turns yield to oncoming traffic. At a four-way stop, the first to stop goes first |
| Speed and space | Limits where no sign is posted, following distance, stopping distance | Following distance is 3 seconds in many manuals but 4 in Kentucky |
| Parking | Distances from hydrants, crosswalks and rail crossings, and wheels on hills | The distances differ by state, so learn your own manual's numbers |
| Alcohol and drugs | Legal limits, implied consent and penalties | Only time lowers blood alcohol. Under-21 limits are lower than the adult 0.08 |
| Sharing the road | Bikes, motorcycles, trucks, buses and pedestrians | Truck blind spots and the passing distance for cyclists |
| Emergencies | Skids, brake failure, blowouts, hydroplaning | Ease off the gas and steer where you want to go |
| Permit and license rules | Supervising driver age, curfews, passenger limits, practice hours | These are state laws, so they are pure memory from the manual |
What questions are on the dmv written test in different states
The format changes more than the topics. New York's in-person test has 20 questions, including 4 road sign questions, and you need at least 2 of those 4 right. Georgia splits its exam into 20 sign questions and 20 rules questions and scores each part on its own. Florida's exam has 50 questions. Some states, like Alabama, do not publish a question count at all.
What questions are on the permit test in PA
Pennsylvania's knowledge test has 18 questions, and you need 15 correct. PennDOT draws them from the Pennsylvania Driver's Manual: signs, traffic laws and safe driving. With only 18 questions, each one is worth a lot, so you can miss no more than 3.
What questions are on the permit test in California
The California DMV says its knowledge test is multiple choice, based on the California Driver's Handbook, and you need 80% to pass. The DMV publishes free sample Class C tests on dmv.ca.gov, which are a good way to see the style of questions.
Common traps
- Two answers that both look right. Pick the one that matches the manual's exact rule, and when in doubt, the safest option.
- Minimum or maximum. A question about the least following distance and one about the fastest legal speed need different thinking.
- Not and except. These flip the question. Read it twice.
- Book numbers. Fines, alcohol limits, signal distances and parking distances catch people who already ride in cars and think they know it all.
- Signs from memory. Many students skip the signs chapter, then lose easy points.
Practice: 10-question quiz
Say each answer out loud before you check. These are DMVZone study questions, not real test questions, and they cover rules that are the same in nearly every state.
- What does a red and white downward-pointing triangle mean? Answer: Yield. Slow down and let traffic and pedestrians go first.
- What does a yellow diamond-shaped sign mean? Answer: A warning about a hazard or condition ahead.
- What color are work zone signs? Answer: Orange.
- What does a round yellow sign with an X and two Rs mean? Answer: A railroad crossing is ahead.
- At a four-way stop, two cars arrive at the same time. Who goes first? Answer: The car on the right.
- You are turning left on a green light with no arrow. Who has the right of way? Answer: Oncoming traffic going straight or turning right.
- A solid yellow line is on your side of the center line. Can you pass? Answer: No.
- Your car starts to hydroplane on a wet road. What do you do? Answer: Ease off the gas and steer straight. Do not slam the brakes.
- When should you use your low beams instead of high beams? Answer: When following another car or when a car is coming toward you, and in fog.
- What does a steady green arrow mean? Answer: You may turn in the direction of the arrow. It is a protected turn, but still watch for pedestrians and late vehicles.
FAQ
Is the permit test multiple choice?
Yes, in the states we checked. Arizona, California, Florida and New York all describe their written test as multiple choice. Some states also offer an audio or oral version for people who need it.
What questions are on the permit test 2026?
The same core topics as before: signs, signals, right of way, speed and space, parking, alcohol, sharing the road and your state's permit rules. Formats do change, so check your agency before test day. Florida, for example, has given its exams in English only since February 6, 2026.
Are practice test questions the same as the real ones?
No. Good practice tests cover the same topics and style, but agencies do not publish their real question banks. Study the manual, not answer lists.
Are there questions about driving with a permit?
Usually, yes. Expect questions on who must supervise you, curfews and passenger limits, which are set by your state.
Is there a driving part on the permit test?
No. The permit test is a written knowledge test, usually with a vision screening. The driving test comes later, for your license.
Formats and pass marks change, so confirm the current details with your state's motor vehicle agency.
