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QuizDMV

How many questions are on the permit test in each state?

Each state writes its own permit test. This page gives the number of questions and the passing score for 51 states and districts, and notes where a state's test works differently.

By the QuizDMV Editorial Team

It depends on the state. Among the 33 states that publish the number, the test runs from 18 questions (Pennsylvania) to 50 (Florida, New Jersey, Utah, and Wisconsin). The most common length is 25 questions, used by 9 of them.

To pass, 27 of the 40 states that publish a score ask for 80%. The lowest passing score is 70% (New Mexico, New York, Rhode Island, and Texas) and the highest is 88% (Maryland).

Some states split the test into parts or give more than one version of it, and some publish no numbers at all. Those cases are explained below the table.

What score do you need to pass the permit test in each state?

Each state sets its own written test. The table lists the passing score, the number of questions and the minimum permit age for 51 states and districts.

We checked the numbers without an asterisk against official sources between September 24, 2026 and October 12, 2026. Each state page shows its own date and sources.

Permit test passing score, number of questions and minimum permit age by state. An asterisk (*) marks a number the state does not publish. It is the figure commonly reported for the test, and two figures mean the test differs by age. Where a state issues no permit, the age is when supervised practice can start.
StatePassing scoreQuestionsMinimum permit age
Alabama80% (commonly reported, not published by the state)30 (commonly reported, not published by the state)15
Alaska80%2014
Arizona80%3015½
Arkansas80% (commonly reported, not published by the state)25 (commonly reported, not published by the state)14
California80%46 or 36 (commonly reported, not published by the state)15½
Colorado80%2515
Connecticut80%2516
Delaware81%3216
District of Columbia80% (commonly reported, not published by the state)30 or 25 (commonly reported, not published by the state)16
Florida80%5015
Georgia75%4015
Hawaii80%3015½
Idaho85%4014½
Illinois80%3515
Indiana80%50 (commonly reported, not published by the state)15
Iowa80% (commonly reported, not published by the state)35 (commonly reported, not published by the state)14
Kansas80%2514
Kentucky80%40 (commonly reported, not published by the state)15
Louisiana80%4015
Maine80%3015
Maryland88%2515¾
Massachusetts72%2516
Michigan70% or 80% (commonly reported, not published by the state)50 (commonly reported, not published by the state)14¾
Minnesota80%40 (commonly reported, not published by the state)15
Mississippi80% (commonly reported, not published by the state)30 (commonly reported, not published by the state)15
Missouri80%2515
Montana82% (commonly reported, not published by the state)33 (commonly reported, not published by the state)14½
Nebraska80%2515
Nevada80%2515½
New Hampshire80%4015½No permit
New Jersey80%5016
New Mexico70%25 (commonly reported, not published by the state)15
New York70%2016
North Carolina80% (commonly reported, not published by the state)25 (commonly reported, not published by the state)15
North Dakota80% (commonly reported, not published by the state)25 (commonly reported, not published by the state)14
Ohio75%4015½
Oklahoma75%2015
Oregon80%3515
Pennsylvania83%1816
Rhode Island70%4016
South Carolina80% (commonly reported, not published by the state)30 (commonly reported, not published by the state)15
South Dakota80%25 (commonly reported, not published by the state)14
Tennessee80%3015
Texas70%30 (commonly reported, not published by the state)15
Utah80%5015
Vermont80%2015
Virginia80%4015½
Washington80%4015
West Virginia76%2515
Wisconsin80%5015
Wyoming80% (commonly reported, not published by the state)25 (commonly reported, not published by the state)15

Which states give more than one version of the test?

In these states, the test depends on your age, whether you had a license before, or where you take it. One row in the table can't show every version.

  • California

    The DMV says you need 80% to pass. Its Provisional Licensing fact sheet says applicants under 18 may miss no more than 8 questions. The DMV doesn't publish the number of questions, so the table shows the two commonly reported figures, with an asterisk.

  • District of Columbia

    Drivers 16 to 20 take the GRAD learner permit test, which has a 75-minute limit. The standard non-commercial test has a 60-minute limit. DC DMV publishes neither the number of questions nor the passing score, so both figures in the table have an asterisk.

  • Hawaii

    The table shows the 30-question exam that Hawaii County and Maui County describe at their licensing offices. The Hawaii Department of Transportation says the online version has 25 questions and a one-hour limit.

  • Michigan

    Teens under 18 don't take a Secretary of State written test for their first license. They pass the Segment 1 state exam in driver education with at least 70%. Drivers 18 and older take the written knowledge test, which includes a road sign test. The Department of State publishes neither the number of questions nor the passing score for it, so the table shows the commonly reported figures, with an asterisk.

  • Utah

    If you've never had a license, the written test is closed book, with 50 questions. If you were licensed before, it's open book, with 25. Both need 80%. Everyone getting a first Class D license also has to pass the online Traffic Safety and Trends Exam with a score of 100%.

Which states score parts of the test separately?

In these states, a passing total isn't enough. You also have to pass one part of the test, or a second test, on its own.

  • Georgia

    The exam has two parts of 20 questions, road signs and road rules. You need at least 15 right on each part.

  • Indiana

    The exam has two sections, one on traffic signs and one on traffic rules and safe driving. You need at least 80% on each.

  • New York

    Four of the 20 questions are about road signs. You must get at least two of those four right, whatever your overall score.

  • Virginia

    The first part has 10 traffic sign questions, and you must answer all 10 correctly before you go on. The second part has 30 general knowledge questions, and you need 24 right.

  • Wisconsin

    Besides the 50-question knowledge test, you take a separate highway signs test with 15 questions. You need 12 right on it.

What if your state doesn't have a learner's permit?

  • New Hampshire

    New Hampshire doesn't issue learner's permits. From 15½ you can practice driving while a parent, legal guardian or licensed adult 25 or older rides with you. At 16 you take the vision and knowledge tests for your license. The knowledge test has 40 questions, and you need at least 32 right. That's why the age column shows 15½ with "No permit".

Which states don't publish the number of questions?

We found no official number of questions or passing score for these states: Alabama, Arkansas, District of Columbia, Iowa, Michigan, Mississippi, Montana, North Carolina, North Dakota, South Carolina, and Wyoming.

For these, we found the passing score but no official number of questions: California, Indiana, Kentucky, Minnesota, New Mexico, South Dakota, and Texas.

For these states, the table shows the figure commonly reported for the test, with an asterisk. Check your state's page for what its agency does say.