A red, eight-sided sign with the word STOP in white letters requires you to do what?

Come to a full stop and go only when you are sure the way is clear

Slow down and continue without stopping if no traffic is coming

Stop only if other vehicles or pedestrians are present

Stop only when a train or emergency vehicle is approaching

A yellow, pennant-shaped (sideways triangle) sign is posted on the left side of a two-lane road. What does it mark?

The beginning of a no-passing zone

What does a five-sided (pentagon-shaped) sign warn you about?

A school zone or school crossing

A construction or maintenance area

A hospital or other emergency service nearby

A round yellow sign with a black X and the letters RR gives you what information?

Advance warning that a railroad crossing is ahead

The road ahead is closed to through traffic

The driving log you complete with a limited learner permit must show at least how much supervised driving?

60 hours, with at least 10 hours at night

40 hours, with at least 10 hours at night

30 hours, with at least 10 hours at night

50 hours, with at least 5 hours at night

You are driving on a divided highway of four lanes with a median. A school bus going the other way stops with its red lights flashing to let children off. What must you do?

Continue with caution; only traffic following the bus must stop

Stop and stay stopped until the bus starts moving

Stop only if you see children waiting on your side

Slow to 15 mph until you are past the bus

What does the two-second rule tell you?

Leave two seconds between the moment the vehicle ahead passes a point and the moment you reach it

Signal for two seconds before any turn

Stop for two seconds at every stop sign

Check your mirrors every two seconds

Your car starts to hydroplane on a wet highway. What should you do?

Take your foot off the gas, keep the steering wheel straight and do not brake

Brake hard to slow down quickly

Steer sharply toward the shoulder

Accelerate gently to regain traction

How must a child under age 8 who weighs less than 80 pounds ride in a vehicle?

Properly secured in a weight-appropriate child passenger restraint system

In any seat with a lap belt fastened

In the front seat with the air bag switched on

On an adult's lap if the trip is short

Your vehicle stalls on railroad tracks. What should you do first?

Get everyone out immediately and move away from the vehicle and tracks

Keep trying to restart the engine

Stay inside with the emergency flashers on

Push the vehicle off the tracks

NC Permit Practice Test 2026 (Free, Explained)

North Carolina DMV Permit Test format

NCDMV does not publish the number of questions on the knowledge test. The state rule (19A NCAC 03B .0201) describes it as an automated computer test and sets the pass mark at 80% of the questions; the separate road sign test for a regular Class C license is 12 signs, of which 9 must be identified correctly.

North Carolina DMV Permit Test	Official rule
Tests for a permit	Knowledge (traffic laws and safe driving), traffic signs and vision; a first license also requires the on-road driving test source
Number of knowledge test questions	Not published by NCDMV (automated computer test on rules of the road) source
Knowledge test passing score	80% of the questions answered correctly source
Traffic signs test	Separate test of road signs and their meanings; Class C applicants must correctly identify 9 of 12 signs (Class A or B: all signs) source
Retake after failing	Knowledge or driving test for a regular Class C license may be retaken in seven calendar days source
Languages and audio	Knowledge tests offered in different languages; oral tests available on request source
Minimum age	15 for a Level 1 limited learner permit (ages 15 to 17); regular learner permit from age 18 source
Driver education (under 18)	Approved course of 30 hours classroom plus 6 hours behind the wheel; enrollment possible from age 14 1/2 source
Driving Eligibility Certificate	Issued by your high school if you are in good academic standing (by the N.C. Department of Administration for homeschooled students) source
Level 1 restrictions	Supervising driver seated beside you; 5 a.m. to 9 p.m. only for the first six months, then any time with a supervising driver; no mobile phone use except emergency calls and calls to a parent, legal guardian or spouse source
Holding period	Level 1 permit held 9 months and age 16 before Level 2; Level 2 held 6 months before Level 3; no moving, seat belt or phone convictions in the previous six months source
Supervised driving log	At least 60 hours of driving, at least 10 of them at night, signed by the supervising driver source
Fees	Level 1 limited learner permit $25.50; Level 2 $25.50; adult learner permit $25.50; Class C license $6.50 per year source
Road test for Level 2	At an NCDMV driver license office or a certified driver education school; parent or guardian present source
Handbook edition	North Carolina Driver Handbook, revised May 2025 (printing dated 09/25), free online and at driver license offices source

Checked on the official sources on September 30, 2026. Rules change: always confirm on the official site before test day.

What the North Carolina permit test is

In North Carolina you do not get behind the wheel alone the day you turn 16. Teens go through graduated licensing: a Level 1 limited learner permit, a Level 2 limited provisional license, then a Level 3 full provisional license. The first step, the permit, is where the written tests happen. At an NCDMV driver license office you take three tests (NCDMV, limited learner permit): a knowledge test on traffic laws and safe driving, a traffic signs test and a vision test (NCDMV, Driver License Tests). Adults 18 and older taking out a first license sit the same tests, plus the road test (NCDMV, New Adult Drivers).

Everything on the written tests comes from the free North Carolina Driver Handbook. The current edition was revised in May 2025 and printed in September 2025.

Format and scoring

Test	What it covers	To pass
Knowledge	Traffic laws and safe driving practices, on a computer	80% of the questions
Traffic signs	Regulatory and warning signs, identified by color and shape	9 of 12 signs (Class C)
Vision	Eyesight standard	20/40 or better in at least one eye for an unrestricted license

Number of questions. NCDMV does not publish how many questions the knowledge test has. The state rule (19A NCAC 03B .0201) only describes it as an automated computer test and says 80% of the questions must be answered correctly. Treat any exact count you see elsewhere as unofficial.

The signs test is separate. The handbook says each test must be passed separately. On the signs test you identify the signs by color and shape and explain what each means. NCDMV publishes the two sign pages as separate sheets: regulatory signs and warning signs. Learn every one of them.

Languages and audio. NCDMV says the knowledge test is offered in different languages and oral tests are available on request. The handbook itself comes in English and Spanish.

Retakes. If you fail the knowledge test or the driving test for a regular Class C license, you can retake it in seven calendar days.

The North Carolina GDL process, step by step

1. Driver education (from age 14 1/2). You can enroll in an approved course through your high school or a DMV-licensed driving school from age 14 1/2. The course has two parts: 30 hours of classroom instruction and at least 6 hours behind the wheel.

2. Driving Eligibility Certificate. If you are in good academic standing, your high school issues a Driving Eligibility Certificate. Homeschooled students get theirs from the N.C. Department of Administration.

3. Level 1 limited learner permit (age 15 to 17). Bring your Driving Eligibility Certificate, your Driver's Education Certificate, and proof of identity, Social Security number and North Carolina residency. You then pass the written, sign and vision tests with a parent or guardian present. The fee is $25.50. The permit comes with rules (DL-214 handout):

A supervising driver must sit beside you at all times. That can be a parent, grandparent or guardian, or an adult the parent approves. They must be licensed for at least five years.
For the first six months you may drive only between 5 a.m. and 9 p.m. After that you may drive at any hour, still supervised.
No one but the supervising driver may sit in the front seat. All passengers must be belted, and you may not use a mobile phone except for the emergency calls and family calls the law lists.
You keep a driving log of at least 60 hours, 10 of them at night, signed by the supervising driver.

4. Level 2 limited provisional license (age 16 or 17). You become eligible after holding the permit for 9 months, provided you have had no moving violation, seat belt or phone conviction in the last six months. Next comes the road test. You can take it at a driver license office or at a certified driver education school. Bring your permit, the driving log, printed proof of insurance and a registered vehicle. The fee is $25.50. With this license you may drive alone from 5 a.m. to 9 p.m., and at any hour to or from work or a volunteer fire, rescue or EMS activity. Passengers under 21 who are not in your household are limited.

5. Level 3 full provisional license. After holding Level 2 for six months with a clean record, you can upgrade, online or at an office, with a parent or guardian. The time and passenger limits end, but the phone ban stays until you turn 18. At 18 you can upgrade to a regular Class C license online.

Adults (18 and older) can go straight to the license tests or first get a learner permit. The permit also costs $25.50, and a Class C license costs $6.50 per year. Since March 16, 2026, adults can also take the road test at a certified private driving school.

On the day

Walk-ins are served from open to close, until the office reaches capacity. You check in with your phone and wait nearby until you get a text (NCDMV). Appointments can also be booked at skiptheline.ncdot.gov (handbook, Office Hours). Bring original documents. Proof of insurance (needed for a license, not for a learner permit) must be printed, because images on a phone are not accepted. Your permit or license arrives by mail within 20 business days, and you get a temporary certificate to use until then.

How to prepare

Read the whole handbook once, then again with a pencil. Chapters 1 to 6 cover licensing and GDL, alcohol, points, driving rules, signs and sharing the road. Chapter 7 (How DMV Serves You) covers services such as registration and insurance.
Learn the numbers. The handbook is full of figures you can be asked about. Examples: the default speed limits (35 mph in towns, 55 mph outside them), parking distances (15 feet from a hydrant, 25 feet from an intersection), and the rule to stop 15 to 50 feet from the nearest rail. Also the 0.08 BAC limit and the point values. Make flashcards.
Learn the signs by shape and color first. Octagon means stop, a triangle pointing down means yield, a pentagon marks a school zone, and a pennant marks a no-passing zone. Diamonds are warnings, and orange means a work zone. Then learn the symbols on the two official sign sheets.
Practice with explanations. Our free test and practice packs use original questions written from the current handbook. Each answer is explained and points to the handbook section. They are not NCDMV test items. Use your mistakes to decide which handbook pages to reread.
Log real hours. The 60-hour log exists because experience matters. Practice at night, in rain and on highways before your road test.

Frequently asked questions

How many questions are on the North Carolina knowledge test?

NCDMV does not publish a number. The state rule describes an automated computer test on rules of the road and requires 80% of the questions to be answered correctly. Source

Is the traffic signs test separate from the knowledge test?

Yes. The handbook says each driver license test must be passed separately, and on the signs test you identify signs by color and shape and explain what each means. The state rule (19A NCAC 03B .0201) requires 9 of 12 signs correct for a regular Class C license. Source

What happens if I fail?

Applicants who do not pass the knowledge test or driving test for a regular Class C license may retake the test in seven calendar days. Source

Can I take the test in another language or have it read to me?

NCDMV says knowledge tests are offered in different languages and oral tests are available on request. Source

What does a 15-year-old need for a limited learner permit?

Be 15 to 17, bring a Driving Eligibility Certificate and a Driver Education Certificate, proof of identity and date of birth, Social Security number and North Carolina residency, pass the written, sign and vision tests, and have a parent or guardian present. The fee is $25.50. Source

Can I take the road test at a driving school instead of the DMV?

Yes. Certified private driver education schools can give the road test to teens moving from Level 1 to Level 2 and, since March 16, 2026, to adults 18 and older seeking a first Class C license. Each school sets its own price. Source

Sources

North Carolina Driver Handbook (revised May 2025, printing 09/25) — NCDMV (checked September 30, 2026)
NCDMV — Driver License Tests — NCDMV (checked September 30, 2026)
19A NCAC 03B .0201 — Driver's License Examination and Online Renewal — N.C. Office of Administrative Hearings (NC Administrative Code) (checked September 30, 2026)
NCDMV — How do I get a limited learner permit? — NCDMV (checked September 30, 2026)
NCDMV — How do I get a Level 2 Limited Provisional License? — NCDMV (checked September 30, 2026)
NCDMV — How do I get a Level 3 Full Provisional License? — NCDMV (checked September 30, 2026)
NCDMV — New Adult Drivers — NCDMV (checked September 30, 2026)
DL-214 Graduated Driver License Informational Handout (Rev. 06-26) — NCDMV (checked September 30, 2026)
NCDMV — Driver Handbooks — NCDMV (checked September 30, 2026)
NCDMV Expands Private Road Testing to Adult Drivers Beginning March 16 (press release, 13 March 2026) — NCDOT (checked September 30, 2026)

passmock is an independent practice resource. It is not affiliated with, endorsed by or operated by the North Carolina Division of Motor Vehicles, the N.C. Department of Transportation or the State of North Carolina. Our questions are original practice questions written from the North Carolina Driver Handbook. Our questions are original practice questions written from the official test description and study materials; they are not questions from the real test.

North Carolina permit practice test

Free North Carolina DMV Permit Test practice test (20 questions)