N.C. Division of Motor Vehicles (NCDMV)
North Carolina Permit Test (2026)
Study for the official NCDMV Knowledge test (written test covering traffic laws and safe driving practices; oral versions available on request) with free practice tests written from the state's own rules — plus the verified facts below: how many questions, the passing score, and what it costs.
North Carolina permit test: quick facts
- Questions on the exam
- Check your state's official site
- Passing score
- 80%
- Minimum permit age
- 15
- Fee
- $25.50 for a Level 1 limited learner permit (ages 15-17), paid when applying at a driver license office.
- If you fail
- Applicants who do not pass the knowledge test or the driving test for a regular Class C license may retake the failed test after seven calendar days.
- Online testing
- In person only
- Languages
- NCDMV states the knowledge test is offered in different languages, with oral tests available upon request for applicants who have difficulty reading; it does not publish a specific language list online.
How it works
Step 1
Take Practice Test 1 like the real thing — no notes, one question at a time.
Step 2
Read every explanation, especially for questions you missed. That's where the learning happens.
Step 3
Repeat with Test 2 and the road signs test until you pass comfortably every time.
Free North Carolina practice tests
North Carolina Practice Test 1
30 questions — signs, rules, and state law
North Carolina Practice Test 2
30 fresh questions, no repeats from Test 1
North Carolina Road Signs Test
25 questions on signs, shapes, and signals
New-driver rules in North Carolina
North Carolina licenses drivers under 18 through a three-level graduated system. A Level 1 limited learner permit (issued from age 15 after driver education and a written test) must be held at least nine months while the teen completes a 60-hour driving log, including 10 hours at night, before advancing. The Level 2 limited provisional license allows unsupervised driving only from 5 a.m. to 9 p.m. or directly to and from work, caps non-household passengers under 21 at one, and after six violation-free months the driver may obtain the Level 3 full provisional license.
Verified 2026-08-18 · Source: NCDMV
North Carolina permit test FAQ
What score do you need to pass the North Carolina permit test?
You must score at least 80% to pass the North Carolina Knowledge test (written test covering traffic laws and safe driving practices; oral versions available on request), according to the NCDMV.
How old do you have to be to get a learner's permit in North Carolina?
You can apply for a learner's permit in North Carolina at 15, according to the NCDMV (verified 2026-08-18).
How much does the North Carolina permit cost?
$25.50 for a Level 1 limited learner permit (ages 15-17), paid when applying at a driver license office. — as listed by the N.C. Division of Motor Vehicles (NCDMV), verified 2026-08-18. Always confirm current fees on the official site.
What happens if you fail the North Carolina permit test?
Applicants who do not pass the knowledge test or the driving test for a regular Class C license may retake the failed test after seven calendar days. (per the NCDMV, verified 2026-08-18).
Can you take the North Carolina permit test online?
No. The North Carolina Knowledge test (written test covering traffic laws and safe driving practices; oral versions available on request) is administered in person through the N.C. Division of Motor Vehicles (NCDMV), not online.
What languages is the North Carolina permit test offered in?
NCDMV states the knowledge test is offered in different languages, with oral tests available upon request for applicants who have difficulty reading; it does not publish a specific language list online. (per the NCDMV, verified 2026-08-18).
Who runs the permit test in North Carolina?
Driver licensing in North Carolina is handled by the N.C. Division of Motor Vehicles (NCDMV). The official site is https://www.ncdot.gov/dmv/.
Where can I read the official North Carolina driver handbook?
The official North Carolina driver handbook is published by the NCDMV at https://www.ncdot.gov/dmv/license-id/driver-licenses/new-drivers/Documents/nc-driver-handbook.pdf. It is the source our practice questions are grounded in.