What score do I need to pass the North Carolina permit test?

State rules say a Class C applicant must correctly identify 9 of 12 road signs on the sign test and answer 80% of the questions correctly on the knowledge test. Each test must be passed separately.

What happens if I fail the knowledge test?

NCDMV says an applicant who does not pass the knowledge test or the driving test for a regular Class C license may retake it in seven calendar days.

How long must I hold my learner permit before the next level?

You must hold the Level 1 limited learner permit for at least nine months and log at least 60 hours of supervised driving, with at least 10 hours at night. You must also be 16 and have no moving violation, seat belt, or cell phone convictions in the last six months. Then you take a road test for the Level 2 limited provisional license.

Can I take the test in another language or listen to it?

Yes. NCDMV offers the knowledge test in different languages, and oral or audio tests are available on request for people who have trouble reading.

Are these the real North Carolina test questions?

No. Every question here is an original practice question written from North Carolina law and the North Carolina Driver's Handbook. NCDMV posts its own sample questions on its website. Use this site to learn the rules, and read the official handbook as well.

North Carolina DMV Permit Test

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Checked 10/21/26

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Full mock exam37 questions · 30 min · 4 choices →Key conceptsAI-written · VerifiedRead the key concepts by subject and unit before you practice.2 subjects · 9 unitsOpen key concepts →

Exam info

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Type: State license
Field: Driving
Provider: North Carolina Division of Motor Vehicles (NCDMV)
Sections: Road Signs (12) · Rules of the Road (25)
Questions · Time: 37 questions · 30 min
Format: NCDMV gives two written tests for a learner permit: a Road Sign test, where you identify signs by color and shape and tell what they mean, and a computer-based knowledge test on traffic laws and safe driving. State rules say a Class C applicant must correctly identify 9 of 12 road signs and answer 80% of the knowledge questions correctly. NCDMV does not post the number of knowledge questions or a time limit, so this practice mock uses 12 sign questions plus 25 knowledge questions with a 30-minute timer. This practice mock uses 4 answer choices per question.
Passing score: On the real tests you must correctly identify at least 9 of the 12 road signs and answer at least 80% of the knowledge questions correctly. This practice mock scores both parts at 80%, so on the 12 sign questions you need 10 correct here, one more than the real test asks.
Eligibility: In North Carolina you can apply for a Level 1 limited learner permit when you are 15 to 17 years old. You must first finish an approved driver education course with 30 hours of classroom instruction and 6 hours behind the wheel, and bring the certificate. You must pass the written (knowledge), road sign, and vision tests, and a parent or guardian must be with you. NCDMV says that from October 1, 2026, a Driving Eligibility Certificate is no longer needed for the permit. Adults 18 and older can get a regular learner permit after the same three tests. Check the NCDMV website for current documents and fees before you go.

Exam outline

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Tap a unit name to see its key concepts and sample questions.

Road Signs12 questions

Unit 1: Sign Shapes, Colors, and Regulatory Signs★★★★★Weight 45%Concepts
Unit 2: Warning, School, Railroad, and Work Zone Signs★★★★★Weight 40%Concepts
Unit 3: Guide Signs and Route Markers★★★☆☆Weight 15%Concepts

Rules of the Road25 questions

Unit 1: Traffic Signals and Pavement Markings★★★★☆Weight 20%Concepts
Unit 2: Right of Way, School Buses, and Emergency Vehicles★★★★★Weight 20%Concepts
Unit 3: Speed, Passing, and Parking★★★★☆Weight 20%Concepts
Unit 4: Safe Driving, Emergencies, and Sharing the Road★★★★☆Weight 15%Concepts
Unit 5: Learner Permit and Graduated Licensing★★★☆☆Weight 10%Concepts
Unit 6: Alcohol, DWI, and the Point System★★★★☆Weight 15%Concepts

North Carolina DMV Permit Test study tips

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Study order: Start with the three sign chapters, because the road sign test is graded on its own and you must get 9 of 12 signs right. Then study Traffic Signals and Pavement Markings, Right of Way, and Speed, Passing, and Parking, which carry the most weight in the knowledge test. Finish with Safe Driving, the teen license levels, and the DWI and points chapter.
Topics people often miss: Speed, Passing, and Parking has many numbers that are easy to mix up, such as 15 feet from a fire hydrant, 25 feet from an intersection curb line, and 500 feet of clear view on a hill or curve before passing, so keep them in one list. The school bus rules change with the type of road, so learn which roads make both directions stop. In the teen license chapter, keep the nine months, 60 hours, and 5 a.m. to 9 p.m. limits straight.
Test day tips: The sign test and the knowledge test are passed separately, so a strong rules score cannot make up for a weak signs score. On sign questions, use the shape and color first, because the sign test asks you to identify signs that way. Read every answer choice before you pick one, because wrong choices often differ by a single number or word.

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North Carolina DMV Permit Test exam trends

The sign test covers regulatory signs, warning signs such as the school pentagon, the railroad signs, and the no-passing pennant, plus guide signs and route markers. The knowledge test covers traffic signals and pavement markings, right of way, school buses and emergency vehicles, North Carolina speed limits, passing and parking rules, safe driving in bad weather, the graduated license levels for teens, and DWI and the point system. The chapters on this site are study groupings, not official test sections.

Start with the three sign chapters, because the sign test is passed or failed on its own. Then study signals and markings, right of way, and the speed, passing, and parking rules, and finish with safe driving, the teen license levels, and DWI and points, which are full of numbers. Before test day, take a full 37-question Mock Exam and aim for at least 11 of 12 on signs and 22 of 25 on rules.

North Carolina DMV Permit Test Sample Questions and Explanations →

About North Carolina DMV Permit Test

The North Carolina permit test is really two NCDMV tests taken at a driver license office: a road sign test and a knowledge test. On the sign test you identify traffic signs by color and shape and explain what they mean, and state rules say a Class C applicant must get 9 of 12 signs right. The knowledge test is a computer test on traffic laws and safe driving, and you need 80% correct to pass. The questions come from the North Carolina Driver's Handbook. Knowledge tests are offered in several languages, and an audio version is available on request.

FAQ

Q. What score do I need to pass the North Carolina permit test?: State rules say a Class C applicant must correctly identify 9 of 12 road signs on the sign test and answer 80% of the questions correctly on the knowledge test. Each test must be passed separately.
Q. What happens if I fail the knowledge test?: NCDMV says an applicant who does not pass the knowledge test or the driving test for a regular Class C license may retake it in seven calendar days.
Q. How long must I hold my learner permit before the next level?: You must hold the Level 1 limited learner permit for at least nine months and log at least 60 hours of supervised driving, with at least 10 hours at night. You must also be 16 and have no moving violation, seat belt, or cell phone convictions in the last six months. Then you take a road test for the Level 2 limited provisional license.
Q. Can I take the test in another language or listen to it?: Yes. NCDMV offers the knowledge test in different languages, and oral or audio tests are available on request for people who have trouble reading.
Q. Are these the real North Carolina test questions?: No. Every question here is an original practice question written from North Carolina law and the North Carolina Driver's Handbook. NCDMV posts its own sample questions on its website. Use this site to learn the rules, and read the official handbook as well.

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