Department of Motor Vehicles (DMV)
Virginia Permit Test (2026)
Study for the official DMV Knowledge Exam (two-part: traffic signs, then general knowledge; multiple choice, with oral exams 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.
Virginia permit test: quick facts
- Questions on the exam
- Check your state's official site
- Passing score
- Check your state's official site
- Minimum permit age
- 15½
- Fee
- The learner's permit fee is $3, paid on top of the yearly cost of the driver's license it is combined with; the driver's license itself costs $4 per year ($20 minimum, $32 for a standard eight-year license). A replacement learner's permit is $2.
- If you fail
- Passing is judged per part: all 10 road sign questions must be answered correctly before the 30-question general knowledge part, which requires at least 24 correct (80%). Applicants under 18 who fail must wait a full 15 days before retesting, while adults 18 and older may test once per day. After a third failure, every applicant must complete the classroom component of a Virginia-approved driver training program (finished after the third failure) before testing again, and exam results expire if no permit or license is obtained within one year.
- Online testing
- In person only
- Languages
- 26 languages, including English, Spanish, American Sign Language, Amharic, Arabic, Chinese (Mandarin and Traditional), Dari, Farsi, French, Korean, Russian, Urdu, and Vietnamese; oral exams are available by request at all DMV customer service centers.
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 Virginia practice tests
Virginia Practice Test 1
30 questions — signs, rules, and state law
Virginia Practice Test 2
30 fresh questions, no repeats from Test 1
Virginia Road Signs Test
25 questions on signs, shapes, and signals
New-driver rules in Virginia
Virginia applicants under 18 must hold a learner's permit at least nine months and complete a state-approved driver education program before being licensed, and the earliest licensing age is 16 years and three months. A parent or guardian must certify at least 45 hours of practice driving, 15 of which occurred after sunset. Adults 18 and older may instead hold the permit 60 days or complete driver education, and beginning January 1, 2027, applicants aged 18-20 must hold the permit at least 90 days and complete driver education.
Verified 2026-08-18 · Source: DMV
Virginia permit test FAQ
How old do you have to be to get a learner's permit in Virginia?
You can apply for a learner's permit in Virginia at 15½, according to the DMV (verified 2026-08-18).
How much does the Virginia permit cost?
The learner's permit fee is $3, paid on top of the yearly cost of the driver's license it is combined with; the driver's license itself costs $4 per year ($20 minimum, $32 for a standard eight-year license). A replacement learner's permit is $2. — as listed by the Department of Motor Vehicles (DMV), verified 2026-08-18. Always confirm current fees on the official site.
What happens if you fail the Virginia permit test?
Passing is judged per part: all 10 road sign questions must be answered correctly before the 30-question general knowledge part, which requires at least 24 correct (80%). Applicants under 18 who fail must wait a full 15 days before retesting, while adults 18 and older may test once per day. After a third failure, every applicant must complete the classroom component of a Virginia-approved driver training program (finished after the third failure) before testing again, and exam results expire if no permit or license is obtained within one year. (per the DMV, verified 2026-08-18).
Can you take the Virginia permit test online?
No. The Virginia Knowledge Exam (two-part: traffic signs, then general knowledge; multiple choice, with oral exams available on request) is administered in person through the Department of Motor Vehicles (DMV), not online.
What languages is the Virginia permit test offered in?
26 languages, including English, Spanish, American Sign Language, Amharic, Arabic, Chinese (Mandarin and Traditional), Dari, Farsi, French, Korean, Russian, Urdu, and Vietnamese; oral exams are available by request at all DMV customer service centers. (per the DMV, verified 2026-08-18).
Who runs the permit test in Virginia?
Driver licensing in Virginia is handled by the Department of Motor Vehicles (DMV). The official site is https://www.dmv.virginia.gov/.
Where can I read the official Virginia driver handbook?
The official Virginia driver handbook is published by the DMV at https://www.dmv.virginia.gov/sites/default/files/forms/dmv39.pdf. It is the source our practice questions are grounded in.
What is the Virginia permit test officially called?
The DMV officially calls it the Knowledge Exam (two-part: traffic signs, then general knowledge; multiple choice, with oral exams available on request). "Permit test" and "written test" are common informal names for the same exam.