What score do you need to pass the permit test?
The passing score for the driver's permit knowledge test in all 50 states, from each state's official driver handbook.
- 70%lowest: New York, Rhode Island and Texas
- 88%highest: Maryland
- 18–65questions on the test
Short answer
In most states you need 80% to pass the permit test: 33 of the 50 states set the pass mark there. The lowest is 70% (New York, Rhode Island and Texas) and the highest 88% (Maryland: 22 of 25). On a 25-question test, 80% means you can miss 5.
Pass marks on the map
- Below 80%
- 80%
- Above 80%
Passing score in every state
Pick your state to take its full practice exam, with the same number of questions and the same pass mark.
| State | Correct to pass | Score | You can miss | Good to know | Practice |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Alabama | 24 of 30 correct | 80% | miss up to 6 | Alabama ALEA practice test →Alabama FAQ | |
| Alaska | 16 of 20 correct | 80% | miss up to 4 | Alaska DMV practice test →Alaska FAQ | |
| Arizona | 24 of 30 correct | 80% | miss up to 6 | Separate road sign test | Arizona MVD practice test →Arizona FAQ |
| Arkansas | 20 of 25 correct | 80% | miss up to 5 | Arkansas DMV practice test →Arkansas FAQ | |
| California | 38 of 46 correct (under 18)30 of 36 correct (adults 18 or older) | 83% | miss up to 8 (under 18) · 6 (adults 18 or older) | Two versions of the test, by age | California DMV practice test →California FAQ |
| Colorado | 20 of 25 correct | 80% | miss up to 5 | Colorado DMV practice test →Colorado FAQ | |
| Connecticut | 20 of 25 correct | 80% | miss up to 5 | Connecticut DMV practice test →Connecticut FAQ | |
| Delaware | 26 of 32 correct | 81% | miss up to 6 | Delaware DMV practice test →Delaware FAQ | |
| Florida | 40 of 50 correct | 80% | miss up to 10 | Florida DMV practice test →Florida FAQ | |
| Georgia | 30 of 40 correct | 75% | miss up to 10 | Road signs: 15 of 20 right · Road rules: 15 of 20 right | Georgia DDS practice test →Georgia FAQ |
| Hawaii | 24 of 30 correct | 80% | miss up to 6 | Hawaii DMV practice test →Hawaii FAQ | |
| Idaho | 34 of 40 correct | 85% | miss up to 6 | Idaho DMV practice test →Idaho FAQ | |
| Illinois | 28 of 35 correct | 80% | miss up to 7 | Illinois Rules of the Road practice test →Illinois FAQ | |
| Indiana | 42 of 50 correct | 84% | miss up to 8 | Traffic signs: 14 of 16 right · Traffic maneuvers: 28 of 34 right | Indiana BMV practice test →Indiana FAQ |
| Iowa | 20 of 25 correct | 80% | miss up to 5 | Iowa DOT practice test →Iowa FAQ | |
| Kansas | 20 of 25 correct | 80% | miss up to 5 | Kansas DMV practice test →Kansas FAQ | |
| Kentucky | 32 of 40 correct | 80% | miss up to 8 | Kentucky DMV practice test →Kentucky FAQ | |
| Louisiana | 32 of 40 correct | 80% | miss up to 8 | Louisiana OMV practice test →Louisiana FAQ | |
| Maine | 24 of 30 correct | 80% | miss up to 6 | Maine BMV practice test →Maine FAQ | |
| Maryland | 22 of 25 correct | 88% | miss up to 3 | Maryland MVA practice test →Maryland FAQ | |
| Massachusetts | 18 of 25 correct | 72% | miss up to 7 | Massachusetts RMV practice test →Massachusetts FAQ | |
| Michigan | 40 of 50 correct | 80% | miss up to 10 | Separate road sign test | Michigan SOS practice test →Michigan FAQ |
| Minnesota | 32 of 40 correct | 80% | miss up to 8 | Minnesota DVS practice test →Minnesota FAQ | |
| Mississippi | 24 of 30 correct | 80% | miss up to 6 | Mississippi DPS practice test →Mississippi FAQ | |
| Missouri | 20 of 25 correct | 80% | miss up to 5 | Separate road sign test | Missouri DMV practice test →Missouri FAQ |
| Montana | 27 of 33 correct | 82% | miss up to 6 | Montana MVD practice test →Montana FAQ | |
| Nebraska | 20 of 25 correct | 80% | miss up to 5 | Nebraska DMV practice test →Nebraska FAQ | |
| Nevada | 20 of 25 correct | 80% | miss up to 5 | Nevada DMV practice test →Nevada FAQ | |
| New Hampshire | 32 of 40 correct | 80% | miss up to 8 | New Hampshire DMV practice test →New Hampshire FAQ | |
| New Jersey | 40 of 50 correct | 80% | miss up to 10 | New Jersey MVC practice test →New Jersey FAQ | |
| New Mexico | 18 of 25 correct | 72% | miss up to 7 | New Mexico MVD practice test →New Mexico FAQ | |
| New York | 14 of 20 correct | 70% | miss up to 6 | Road signs: 2 of 4 right | New York DMV practice test →New York FAQ |
| North Carolina | 20 of 25 correct | 80% | miss up to 5 | Separate road sign test | North Carolina DMV practice test →North Carolina FAQ |
| North Dakota | 20 of 25 correct | 80% | miss up to 5 | North Dakota DOT practice test →North Dakota FAQ | |
| Ohio | 30 of 40 correct | 75% | miss up to 10 | Ohio BMV practice test →Ohio FAQ | |
| Oklahoma | 15 of 20 correct | 75% | miss up to 5 | Oklahoma DMV practice test →Oklahoma FAQ | |
| Oregon | 28 of 35 correct | 80% | miss up to 7 | Oregon DMV practice test →Oregon FAQ | |
| Pennsylvania | 15 of 18 correct | 83% | miss up to 3 | Pennsylvania PennDOT practice test →Pennsylvania FAQ | |
| Rhode Island | 28 of 40 correct | 70% | miss up to 12 | Rhode Island DMV practice test →Rhode Island FAQ | |
| South Carolina | 24 of 30 correct | 80% | miss up to 6 | South Carolina DMV practice test →South Carolina FAQ | |
| South Dakota | 20 of 25 correct | 80% | miss up to 5 | South Dakota DPS practice test →South Dakota FAQ | |
| Tennessee | 24 of 30 correct | 80% | miss up to 6 | Tennessee DMV practice test →Tennessee FAQ | |
| Texas | 21 of 30 correct | 70% | miss up to 9 | Texas DPS practice test →Texas FAQ | |
| Utah | 40 of 50 correct | 80% | miss up to 10 | Utah DLD practice test →Utah FAQ | |
| Vermont | 16 of 20 correct | 80% | miss up to 4 | Vermont DMV practice test →Vermont FAQ | |
| Virginia | 34 of 40 correct | 85% | miss up to 6 | All 10 traffic sign questions right · General knowledge: 24 of 30 right | Virginia DMV practice test →Virginia FAQ |
| Washington | 32 of 40 correct | 80% | miss up to 8 | Washington DOL practice test →Washington FAQ | |
| West Virginia | 19 of 25 correct | 76% | miss up to 6 | West Virginia DMV practice test →West Virginia FAQ | |
| Wisconsin | 52 of 65 correct | 80% | miss up to 13 | Highway signs: 12 of 15 right · Traffic laws: 40 of 50 right | Wisconsin DMV practice test →Wisconsin FAQ |
| Wyoming | 20 of 25 correct | 80% | miss up to 5 | Wyoming WYDOT practice test →Wyoming FAQ |
No state matches. Check the spelling, or clear the box.
From each state's current driver handbook or licensing agency. Tests change: always confirm the current test with your state's licensing agency before you go.
How many questions can you miss on the permit test?
Take the number of questions and subtract the number you must get right. It ranges from 3 of 25 in Maryland and 3 of 18 in Pennsylvania to 13 of 65 in Wisconsin. Tests graded in parts also limit the misses in each part.
When one score isn't enough
Road signs graded on their own: Georgia, Indiana, New York, Virginia and Wisconsin. You must pass the sign part as well as the whole test, and Virginia asks for every sign question right.
A separate road sign test: Arizona, Michigan, Missouri and North Carolina.
Depends on your age: Only in California, where the test has two versions: under 18, 38 of 46; adults 18 or older, 30 of 36. In every other state the pass mark is the same at any age.
Every state on Yield & Go has road sign practice and a road sign test, and each full practice exam grades you the way your state does.