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Am I Ready for the Pennsylvania Permit Test?
12-question diagnostic · 4 easy, 4 medium, 4 hard · Updated July 12, 2026
Twelve questions, deliberately mixed: four easy, four medium, four of the hardest in our verified Pennsylvania bank. The real test needs 83% — but a diagnostic this short needs a margin, so read your result like this: 11+ of 12, you're ready to book; 9–10, you're close — drill the 25 hardest first; below that, work the full test ladder before test day.
Answer each question to see the explanation. Your score is tallied against the real passing bar at the end.
1. What is the only safe amount of alcohol you can drink and then drive?
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Correct answer: Zero
The only safe amount of alcohol you can drink and then drive is zero. Even amounts well below the legal limit endanger your life and the lives of others.
2. Before you may operate a motor vehicle in Pennsylvania, you must first:
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Correct answer: Obtain a learner’s permit
You must obtain a learner’s permit before you operate a motor vehicle in Pennsylvania. You then take and pass the Vision, Knowledge and Road Tests to get your driver’s license.
3. When you park next to a curb, how far from the curb may your vehicle be?
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Correct answer: No more than 12 inches
If the street has a curb, park as close to it as you can, but no more than 12 inches away. If there is no curb, pull as far off the roadway as possible.
4. PennDOT begins to take corrective action on a driving record when it reaches:
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Correct answer: 6 or more points
PennDOT begins to take corrective action when a driving record reaches 6 or more points. The first time this happens, the driver must take a written special point examination.
5. What does Pennsylvania law actually say about the right-of-way at intersections?
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Correct answer: The law does not give anyone the right-of-way; it only says who must yield
The law does not give anyone the right-of-way at intersections; it only says who must yield. Even when another driver should yield, you must still stop or yield as needed to avoid a crash.
6. How long is the Non-Commercial Learner’s Permit Application (DL-180) valid?
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Correct answer: One year from the date of your physical examination
The DL-180 application is valid for one year from the date of your physical examination. It must be completed before you go to the Driver License Center to take your Knowledge Test.
7. A driver under 18 will have their license suspended for 90 days if they accumulate:
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Correct answer: 6 or more points, or a conviction for going 26 mph or more over the limit
A driver under 18 who accumulates 6 or more points, or is convicted of driving 26 mph or more over the posted limit, receives a 90-day suspension for the first occurrence (120 days for any additional).
8. When you are following a truck or bus, a good rule to know whether the driver can see you is:
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Correct answer: If you cannot see the vehicle’s side mirrors, the driver cannot see you
When following a large vehicle, if you cannot see the driver’s side mirrors, the driver cannot see you. Drop back until the mirrors — and therefore the driver’s view of you — come into sight.
9. Under Pennsylvania law, how far before turning must you use your turn signal?
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Correct answer: At least 100 feet if driving under 35 mph, or at least 300 feet at 35 mph or more
Under Pennsylvania law, you must signal at least 100 feet before turning if you are driving less than 35 mph, and at least 300 feet before turning if you are driving 35 mph or more.
10. How early may the physical examination on the DL-180 be completed relative to your 16th birthday?
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Correct answer: No more than six months before your 16th birthday
The physical examination date may not be more than six months prior to your 16th birthday, and the form must be completed no earlier than that point.
11. A driver with a blood alcohol level of just .04 (half the adult legal limit) is:
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Correct answer: Between two and seven times more likely to be in a crash
Even drivers whose blood alcohol level is .04 — half of the .08 legal limit for adults — are between two and seven times more likely to be involved in a crash than drivers with no alcohol in their blood.
12. After your driving privilege is restored following a suspension, your record will show:
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Correct answer: 5 points
After your driving privilege is restored, your record will show 5 points, regardless of how many points were on it before the suspension (with limited exceptions).
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