Full practice exam
- 25 questions, 20 to pass, like the real written test
- No answers until you finish
- Your score, every answer explained, and what to study next
Free learning aid · Based on the North Carolina Driver Handbook (May 2025)
North Carolina Permit Practice Test
A free study aid for the North Carolina (NC) DMV knowledge test: practice in the real test format, with every answer explained and the guide page to study. Not the official test. Always verify with the official guide.
- 25questions
- 20to pass (80%)
- $0full exam here
Practice by topic
- The answer and why, right after each question
- 10 questions a round, a new mix every time
- Every answer shows the guide page to read
Road sign test
Know every sign on sight
Learn the signs from pictures one at a time, then test yourself on 20 signs.
Study mode
North Carolina permit test topics
The answer and explanation after every question. Each round is a new random mix, so practice as often as you like.
- Signs, signals & markingsTraffic signals, flashing arrows, sign shapes and colors, and pavement markings.
- Rules of the roadSpeed, curves, turns, following, passing, parking, railroads and roundabouts.
- Sharing the roadPedestrians, school buses, emergency vehicles, bikes, trucks and motorcycles.
- Safe driving & conditionsScanning, work zones, night, rain, fog, snow, emergencies and crashes.
- Alcohol, points & penaltiesDWI laws, young drivers and alcohol, license points and suspensions.
- Permits & licensesGraduated licensing, tests, renewals, IDs and vehicle registration.
- Practice my weak spotsA round from the topics you miss most.Fills in automatically as you practice on this device
About the North Carolina permit test
The basics, in plain English, from the North Carolina Driver Handbook.
Separate tests
For a license you're tested on vision, traffic signs and knowledge of driving laws, and each test must be passed on its own. (North Carolina Driver Handbook, p. 8–9)
Permit at 15
After driver education (30 hours of class and 6 behind the wheel), teens 15 to 17 can get a Level One Limited Learner Permit. (North Carolina Driver Handbook, p. 12)
60 hours of practice
Learner permit holders log at least 60 hours of supervised driving, 10 of them at night, and hold the permit for nine months. (North Carolina Driver Handbook, p. 12)
No phones under 18
Drivers under 18 may not use a cell phone at all while driving, except to call for emergencies or reach a parent or spouse. (North Carolina Driver Handbook, p. 12–14)
Points and suspensions
12 points in three years can suspend your license; 7 points may send you to a driver improvement clinic. (North Carolina Driver Handbook, p. 34)
School bus rules
On two-lane roads and four-lane roads without a median, traffic in both directions stops for a school bus. (North Carolina Driver Handbook, p. 47–48)
North Carolina permit test FAQ
What tests do I take for a North Carolina license?
Vision, traffic signs and a knowledge test of driving laws, plus an on-road driving test for a first license. Each test is passed separately. (North Carolina Driver Handbook, p. 8–9)
How old must I be for a learner permit?
15, after finishing driver education with at least 30 hours of class and 6 hours behind the wheel. (North Carolina Driver Handbook, p. 12)
What are the Level One permit rules?
For the first six months you may drive only from 5 a.m. to 9 p.m. with your supervising driver; then any time with a supervisor. Only you and the supervisor ride in front, and phones are off limits. (North Carolina Driver Handbook, p. 12)
I'm 18 or older. How do I start?
Learner permits are available at 18 and older; you pass vision, signs and knowledge tests and drive only with a licensed driver seated beside you. (North Carolina Driver Handbook, p. 8)
Read the official North Carolina Driver Handbook
Our questions are written from the guide (revised May 2025). Always study the official handbook from the state. Page numbers are the ones printed on the handbook pages; tap one to open the official PDF at that page. A PDF viewer counts the cover too, so its page numbers run 2 higher.
New driver? How to get your Level One Limited Learner PermitWhat to bring, the tests and the rules while you practice →