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Key Facts: PA Permit Test Exam

18

Multiple-Choice Questions

PennDOT

15 of 18 (83%)

Passing Score

PennDOT

16

Minimum Age to Apply

PennDOT

$45.50

Permit and License Fee

PennDOT 2026

The Pennsylvania permit knowledge test has 18 multiple-choice questions and you must answer at least 15 correctly (about 83%) to pass. There is no time limit, and the test is taken in person at any PennDOT Driver License Center. All questions come from the Pennsylvania Driver's Manual (PUB 95). The minimum age to apply is 16, and the test is bundled into the $45.50 initial permit and four-year license fee. If you fail, you may retake the test the following business day.

Sample PA Permit Test Practice Questions

Try these sample questions to review concepts for the PA Permit Test exam. Each question includes a detailed explanation. Start the interactive quiz above for the full 118+ question experience with AI tutoring.

1How many multiple-choice questions are on the Pennsylvania knowledge test for a learner's permit?
A.15 questions
B.18 questions
C.20 questions
D.25 questions
Explanation: The Pennsylvania knowledge test consists of 18 multiple-choice questions covering traffic signs, driving laws, and safe-driving practices. You must answer at least 15 of them correctly to pass. The test is administered at any PennDOT Driver License Center.
2How many questions must you answer correctly to pass the Pennsylvania permit knowledge test?
A.12 of 18
B.14 of 18
C.15 of 18
D.16 of 18
Explanation: You must answer at least 15 of the 18 questions correctly to pass the Pennsylvania knowledge test, which works out to about 83%. Answering fewer than 15 correctly is a failing result. If you fail, you may retake the test the following business day.
3If you fail the Pennsylvania knowledge test, when can you retake it?
A.The same day
B.The following business day
C.After seven days
D.After 30 days
Explanation: PennDOT allows you to retake the knowledge test the following business day if you fail. You may take the knowledge test only one time on any day, regardless of which Driver License Center you visit. The test must be successfully completed before you can receive a valid learner's permit. There is no separate retest fee while your DL-180 application remains valid.
4What is the minimum age to apply for a non-commercial learner's permit in Pennsylvania?
A.15 years
B.16 years
C.17 years
D.18 years
Explanation: You must be at least 16 years of age to apply for a non-commercial learner's permit in Pennsylvania. You cannot apply before your 16th birthday. A permit is required before you operate a motor vehicle, regardless of your age.
5Which form is the Non-Commercial Learner's Permit Application used to apply for a Pennsylvania permit?
A.Form DL-59
B.Form DL-180
C.Form DL-180TD
D.Form MV-1
Explanation: Form DL-180 is the Non-Commercial Learner's Permit Application in Pennsylvania. It includes a section that must be completed by a health care provider, and it is valid for one year from the date of the physical examination.
6How long is a Pennsylvania learner's permit valid once it is issued?
A.Six months
B.One year
C.Two years
D.Four years
Explanation: After you pass the vision and knowledge tests, the examiner issues a learner's permit that is valid for one year. During that year you may practice driving under the required supervision and prepare for your road test.
7While driving with a learner's permit in Pennsylvania, who must accompany you in the vehicle?
A.Any passenger over age 16
B.A licensed driver who is at least 21 years old, or a licensed parent or guardian, seated next to you
C.Another permit holder
D.No one — you may drive alone after six months
Explanation: A learner's permit holder must be accompanied by a licensed driver who is at least 21 years old, or a licensed parent, guardian, or spouse who is 18 or older. The supervising driver must be seated next to the permit holder at all times. Permit holders may never drive alone.
8How many hours of behind-the-wheel skill-building must a Pennsylvania driver under 18 complete before taking the road test?
A.40 hours
B.50 hours
C.65 hours
D.100 hours
Explanation: Drivers under 18 must complete at least 65 hours of supervised behind-the-wheel practice before taking the road test. This must include no less than 10 hours of nighttime driving and 5 hours of bad-weather driving.
9Of the 65 supervised practice hours required for Pennsylvania drivers under 18, how many must be at night?
A.5 hours
B.10 hours
C.15 hours
D.20 hours
Explanation: Of the 65 required behind-the-wheel hours, at least 10 hours must be nighttime driving and at least 5 hours must be in bad weather. Nighttime practice helps new drivers build the visibility and judgment skills that crashes most often expose.
10A Pennsylvania junior driver's license holder may not drive between which hours unless accompanied by a parent or guardian?
A.9 p.m. and 6 a.m.
B.10 p.m. and 5 a.m.
C.11 p.m. and 5 a.m.
D.Midnight and 6 a.m.
Explanation: A junior license holder may not drive between 11 p.m. and 5 a.m. unless accompanied by a parent, guardian, person in loco parentis, or spouse who is 18 or older. Limited exceptions apply for employment and certain volunteer or charitable activities with documentation.

About the PA Permit Test Exam

The Pennsylvania knowledge test is the written exam required to obtain a non-commercial learner's permit from the Pennsylvania Department of Transportation (PennDOT). Taken in person at any PennDOT Driver License Center, the test has 18 multiple-choice questions drawn from the Pennsylvania Driver's Manual (Publication 95) and covers traffic signs, Pennsylvania driving laws, and safe-driving practices. Applicants must be at least 16 years old, pass a vision screening, and answer at least 15 of 18 questions correctly to pass.

Exam sponsor: Pennsylvania Department of Transportation (PennDOT). The requirements and fees below concern the certification or admission exam, separate from our free practice resources.

Questions

18 questions

Time Limit

No time limit

Passing Score

83% (15 of 18 questions correct)

Exam / Certification Fees

$45.50 (initial learner's permit and four-year license fee)

Exam sponsor website

Fees, eligibility, and exam policies can change. Confirm them with the exam sponsor before applying or paying.

Our practice resources: topics covered

We aim to reflect publicly available exam outlines and topic information in our study resources. Coverage, format, and difficulty may differ from the actual exam, and we cannot guarantee that every detail is accurate or current. Confirm exam requirements, fees, and policies with the official exam sponsor.

Chapter 2

Road Signs

Regulatory, warning, guide, and work zone signs - recognizing sign shapes, colors, and meanings

Chapter 2-3

Signals, Markings, and Right-of-Way

Traffic signals, pavement markings, intersections, roundabouts, and who must yield

Chapter 3

Pennsylvania Driving Laws

Speed limits, four-second following distance, passing, turning, signaling, lane use, and parking distances

Chapter 3

Sharing the Road

Pedestrians, bicyclists, motorcyclists, trucks, school buses, emergency vehicles, and the Steer Clear / Move Over law

Chapter 3

Safe Driving and Special Conditions

Adverse weather, skids, hydroplaning, vehicle emergencies, and defensive-driving habits

Chapter 4-5

Driving Record, Alcohol, and Licensing Laws

BAC limits, implied consent, the point system, graduated driver licensing, and seat belt and child restraint laws

Preparing for the PA Permit Test Exam

What You Need to Know

  • Passing score: 83% (15 of 18 questions correct)
  • Exam length: 18 questions
  • Time limit: No time limit
  • Exam / certification fees: $45.50 (initial learner's permit and four-year license fee) Official sources

Using Our Practice Resources

  • Work through all 118 available questions
  • Review every answer and explanation
  • Track weak areas and revisit them
  • Use our AI tutor for tough concepts

PA Permit Test: Suggested Study Strategy

1Read the entire Pennsylvania Driver's Manual (PUB 95) - every test question comes directly from it, with Chapters 2 and 3 carrying the most material
2Memorize Pennsylvania-specific numbers: 70 mph maximum speed, 15 mph school zones, the four-second following distance, and parking distances of 15, 20, 30, and 50 feet
3Learn the sign system by shape and color so you can identify a sign even before reading it - red octagon for stop, yellow diamond for warning, orange diamond for work zones
4Know the alcohol laws cold: .08 BAC for drivers 21 and over, .02 under the Zero Tolerance law for those under 21, and the one-year suspension for refusing a chemical test
5Practice the Move Over (Steer Clear) law and school bus rules - move to a non-adjacent lane or slow 20 mph below the limit, and stop at least 10 feet from a school bus with flashing red lights
6Take timed practice tests until you consistently score 90% or higher, well above the 15-of-18 pass mark, before visiting a Driver License Center

Frequently Asked Questions

How many questions are on the Pennsylvania permit test?

The Pennsylvania knowledge test has 18 multiple-choice questions. They cover traffic signs, Pennsylvania driving laws, and safe-driving practices, all drawn from the Pennsylvania Driver's Manual (Publication 95). The test is taken in person at any PennDOT Driver License Center and has no time limit.

What is the passing score for the PA permit test?

You must answer at least 15 of the 18 questions correctly to pass the Pennsylvania knowledge test, which is about 83%. If you answer fewer than 15 correctly, you fail and may retake the test the following business day.

How much does it cost to get a Pennsylvania learner's permit?

PennDOT bundles the knowledge test into the initial permit and license fee. The fee for an initial learner's permit and a four-year non-commercial license is $45.50. Always check the back of Form DL-180 for current fees and accepted forms of payment, as PennDOT Driver License Centers do not accept cash.

What is the minimum age to take the PA permit test?

You must be at least 16 years old to apply for a non-commercial learner's permit in Pennsylvania, and you cannot apply before your 16th birthday. Applicants under 18 also need a completed Parent or Guardian Consent Form (DL-180TD). All applicants must pass a vision screening and the knowledge test to receive a permit.

What study material does the Pennsylvania permit test come from?

Every question is based on the Pennsylvania Driver's Manual, also known as Publication 95 (PUB 95), published by PennDOT. The manual is available free as a PDF and as an audio version. PennDOT also offers sample question sets and a free official practice test app for Android and Apple devices.

Can I take the Pennsylvania permit test online?

No. The Pennsylvania knowledge test must be taken in person at a PennDOT Driver License Center. No appointment is needed for the knowledge test. The test can be given in written or audio format in English and many other languages upon request.

What happens if I fail the Pennsylvania knowledge test?

If you fail the knowledge test, you may retake it the following business day. You must pass the knowledge test before you can receive a valid learner's permit, complete supervised practice, and move on to the road test.