PermitPal
How Many Questions Are on the Permit Test?
Updated July 2026 · every state verified against its official driver manual
Most states ask 25 questions. Across all 50 states the regular car permit test runs from 18 to 50 questions, and several states give teens a longer test than adults. Here is every state.
| State | Questions | Max wrong | Passing score |
|---|---|---|---|
| Alabama | 30 | 6 | 80% |
| Alaska | 20 | 4 | 80% |
| Arizona | 30 | 6 | 80% |
| Arkansas | 25 | 5 | 80% |
| California | 46 (Under 18) 36 (18 or older) |
8 (Under 18) 6 (18 or older) |
83% (Under 18) 83% (18 or older) |
| Colorado | 25 | 5 | 80% |
| Connecticut | 25 | 5 | 80% |
| Delaware | 32 | 6 | 81% |
| Florida | 50 | 10 | 80% |
| Georgia | 40 | 10 † | 75% |
| Hawaii | 25 | 5 | 80% |
| Idaho | 40 | 6 | 85% |
| Illinois | 35 | 7 | 80% |
| Indiana | 40 | 8 † | 80% |
| Iowa | 25 | 5 | 80% |
| Kansas | 25 | 5 | 80% |
| Kentucky | 30 | 6 | 80% |
| Louisiana | 40 | 8 | 80% |
| Maine | 30 | 6 | 80% |
| Maryland | 25 | 3 | 88% |
| Massachusetts | 25 | 7 | 72% |
| Michigan | 40 | 8 | 80% |
| Minnesota | 40 | 8 | 80% |
| Mississippi | 30 | 6 | 80% |
| Missouri | 25 | 5 | 80% |
| Montana | 33 | 6 | 80% |
| Nebraska | 25 | 5 | 80% |
| Nevada | 25 | 5 | 80% |
| New Hampshire | 40 | 8 | 80% |
| New Jersey | 50 | 10 | 80% |
| New Mexico | 25 | 7 | 70% |
| New York | 20 | 6 † | 70% |
| North Carolina | 35 | 7 † | 80% |
| North Dakota | 25 | 5 | 80% |
| Ohio | 40 | 10 | 75% |
| Oklahoma | 20 | 5 | 75% |
| Oregon | 35 | 7 | 80% |
| Pennsylvania | 18 | 3 | 83% |
| Rhode Island | 25 | 5 | 80% |
| South Carolina | 30 | 6 | 80% |
| South Dakota | 25 | 5 | 80% |
| Tennessee | 30 | 6 | 80% |
| Texas | 30 | 9 | 70% |
| Utah | 50 | 10 | 80% |
| Vermont | 20 | 4 | 80% |
| Virginia | 40 | 6 † | 85% |
| Washington | 40 | 8 | 80% |
| West Virginia | 25 | 6 | 76% |
| Wisconsin | 50 | 10 | 80% |
| Wyoming | 30 | 6 | 80% |
The passing score above is worked out from the two numbers a state actually publishes: how many questions it asks and how many you may get wrong. Some states round that to a friendlier headline figure. California, for example, says 80%, but missing 8 of 46 means you really need 82.6%. The "max wrong" column is the number to trust on test day, EXCEPT where it carries a †. Those states score sections separately, and missing the section minimum fails you however good your total is. Virginia requires all ten sign questions correct before the rest of the test opens; Georgia needs at least 15 of 20 in each half. The state's own page below spells out its rule.
States with a sectional rule: Georgia, Indiana, New York, North Carolina, Virginia.
Want this for motorcycle or CDL too, or want it worked out for you? The passing score calculator does the arithmetic for any state and license type.
California in detail
California uses a longer test for teens and a shorter one for adults. Here is the whole picture in one table, then the details.
| Age bracket | Questions | Max wrong | Passing score |
|---|---|---|---|
| Under 18 | 46 | 8 | 80% (38 correct) |
| 18 and older | 36 | 6 | 80% (30 correct) |
Both tests need the same 80% to pass (California Driver's Handbook — The Testing Process). The DMV builds several versions of each: the under-18 exam (form DL 5T) comes in five 46-question versions, and the 18-and-over exam (form DL 5) comes in five 36-question versions, so no two people next to you are guaranteed the same questions.
Three choices, one right answer, no clock
Every question gives you 3 answer choices with a single correct answer — the other two are either clearly wrong or not right for the situation asked (California Driver's Handbook — The Testing Process). There is no time limit, so read each question carefully. You cannot use any testing aids during the exam — no handbook, no phone.
What topics show up
The knowledge test checks that you understand traffic laws and safe-driving rules straight from the California Driver's Handbook. Expect questions spread across:
- Right-of-way and intersections
- Speed limits and safe following distance
- Turns, lane changes, and lane use
- Parking rules and curb colors
- Sharing the road with bikes, pedestrians, and big trucks
- Alcohol, drugs, and the points-and-penalties system
- Driving in fog, rain, and other tough conditions
- Road signs and signals
How many are sign questions?
The DMV doesn't publish a fixed number of road sign questions, so treat signs as a graded topic you'll definitely be tested on rather than a set count. A handful is a safe expectation. The good news: signs are the most learnable part of the whole test because there are only 41 official signs to know — warning, regulatory, guide, and construction. Drill those and you bank several easy points.
📱 Study smarter: Start free in your browser covers all 50 states with car, motorcycle, and CDL tracks, turning your state's handbook into short lessons, sign games, and real-format mock exams. Free to start — $29.99 once for everything, or $6.99 a week in the app.
What about the renewal test?
Renewing your license is a different path. Many eligible noncommercial Class C renewal applicants can skip the sit-down test entirely and instead take the DMV's online eLearning course — seven short interactive lessons, about 20 to 30 minutes, on a no-fail basis (dmv.ca.gov — Online Learning). It replaces the knowledge test for those who qualify, though you still finish up at a DMV office. Not everyone is eligible, so confirm your renewal notice or check with the DMV.
The bottom line
Under 18 you get 46 questions and can miss 8. At 18 or older you get 36 and can miss 6. Either way, 80% is the bar, there's no clock, and there are only three choices per question. Learn the handbook, nail the signs, and the math is very much in your favor.
Next: check your passing score, take a free practice test, or see the hardest questions people miss. Adult first-timer? Read the adult permit guide. Under 18? See the provisional license rules.