How Many Questions Are on the Permit Test? All 50 States Compared

Pennsylvania asks 18 questions. Florida, New Jersey, Utah, Wisconsin and Oklahoma ask 50. So the honest answer to how many questions are on the permit test is "it depends on where you live," and the gap is bigger than most people expect. The passing score swings too, from 70% in New York and Texas to 88% in Maryland.

Below is the quick answer, then a full table for all 50 states and Washington, D.C., with the number of questions, how many you need right, and how many you can afford to miss.

How many questions are on the permit test: the quick answer

Most states land somewhere between 25 and 50 multiple-choice questions, and the most common passing score is 80%. The three most common formats are:

• 25 questions, 20 correct (Arkansas, Colorado, Connecticut, Kansas, Missouri, Nebraska, Nevada, North Carolina, North Dakota, South Dakota)
• 30 questions, 24 correct (Alabama, Arizona, Delaware, Hawaii, Maine, Mississippi, South Carolina, Tennessee)
• 50 questions, 40 correct (Florida, New Jersey, Oklahoma, Utah, Wisconsin)

Short tests aren't necessarily easier. On Pennsylvania's 18-question test you can miss only three, and Maryland's 88% bar on 25 questions also leaves room for just three mistakes.

50-state table: questions, passing score, misses allowed

These figures are for the standard car (Class C or equivalent) learner's permit knowledge test. Where a state doesn't publish a fixed count, or the format varies by testing site, we've marked it "Check DMV" rather than guess. States revise their tests, so confirm with your agency before test day; USA.gov's directory links to each one.

A few notes on the table. California's numbers are for applicants under 18; adults get 36 questions and need 30 correct, the same 83% bar. Wyoming's test has 25 questions, but we couldn't confirm the official passing score. For Iowa and Kentucky, we could confirm the 80% target but not a fixed question count.

States that split signs and rules into two sections

In some states your score isn't one number. You have to clear separate sections, and a strong result on one can't rescue a weak result on the other.

If you're in one of these states, give signs their own study session. Virginia's perfect-score requirement means a single slip on a sign sends you home.

Is it multiple choice or true/false?

Almost every state uses multiple choice, usually with three or four answer options on a touchscreen or computer. A few sign questions show only the sign's picture and ask what it means. Many states also offer the test in multiple languages or as an audio version, so ask when you check in if that would help. Florida is a notable exception: it moved its knowledge exams to English only in 2026.

Some questions are phrased as "Which of the following is NOT..." or "All of the following EXCEPT...". Those are where careless misses happen, so slow down whenever you see a capitalized word.

Is there a time limit?

Many states don't impose a strict limit, but some do. Maryland gives you 20 minutes for its 25 questions. Alaska allows 25 minutes. Online versions tend to be timed: Colorado's at-home test has a 60-minute limit, and Washington, D.C. allows 75 minutes for its learner permit test. Our guide to how long the permit test is goes into timing in more detail.

In practice, most people finish a 25- to 50-question test in well under half an hour. If you're spending more than a minute on a question, you probably need to study that topic more, not think harder in the moment.

How the count affects how you study

The number of questions changes your strategy more than people realize:

• Short tests (18 to 25 questions): each question is worth 4 to 6 percentage points. You can't afford weak spots, so cover every handbook chapter, even the boring ones.
• Long tests (40 to 50 questions): there's more room for a bad question or two, but more chances for fatigue and careless reading. Practice full-length tests so 50 questions feel normal.
• Split-section tests: study signs as their own subject and aim for 100% on sign practice.

Whatever your state's count, practice at that exact length. Our free practice tests are grouped by state and topic, and the New York permit test page shows how a short, sign-heavy test differs from a long one. When you're ready for a full rehearsal, DMV Permit Prep's Premium exam simulator matches your state's length so the real thing feels familiar.

If you're starting from scratch, our seven-day plan for how to pass the permit test turns this table into a study schedule.

Frequently asked questions

How many questions can you get wrong on the permit test?

It depends on your state: as few as three in Pennsylvania and Maryland, and up to ten in states with 50-question tests like Florida and New Jersey. Check the "misses allowed" column in the table above.

Is the permit test 20 or 50 questions?

Both exist. New York and Alaska use 20 questions, Pennsylvania uses 18, and Florida, New Jersey, Oklahoma, Utah and Wisconsin use 50.

What percentage do you need to pass the permit test?

Most states require 80%. A few are lower, such as New York and Texas at 70%, and a few are higher, such as Idaho at 85% and Maryland at 88%.

Do all states have the same permit test?

No. Each state writes its own test from its own driver's manual, so the length, passing score and state-specific questions all differ. If you move, you'll usually take the new state's test.