North Carolina Permit Practice Test 2026: written knowledge test and traffic signs test
Free North Carolina permit practice test: official facts from NCDMV, questions written from the official North Carolina Driver Handbook.
- 25 questions, commonly reported
- 80% pass mark, commonly reported
- $25.50 fee, Level 1 Limited Learner Permit
- 15 minimum age
- Facts checked October 13, 2026
- Tests 1–2 free, no sign-up
Free practice tests
Practice test 1
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Practice test 2
Practice tests 3–10
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North Carolina road signs test: free practice with 20 sign questions.
Every test has the same length and pass mark, shown on each card. Each answer comes with its handbook reference. Each test has 19 national rules-and-signs questions and 6 North Carolina-specific questions. Tests 1–2 are free; your best score is saved in this browser. The United States pass unlocks every United States test. Have a code? Open practice test 3 to enter it.
Practice format (commonly reported): NCDMV does not publish the number of questions; the test is commonly reported as 25 questions with 20 correct (80%) to pass, and our practice tests use that format.
Official facts from NCDMV
| Official exam name | Written knowledge test and traffic signs test(Level 1 Limited Learner Permit) |
|---|---|
| Run by | North Carolina Division of Motor Vehicles (NCDMV), N.C. Department of Transportation official page |
| Number of questions | Not published by NCDMV |
| Breakdown | Traffic signs and knowledge (traffic laws and safe-driving practices)Question counts not published |
| Pass mark | Not published by NCDMV |
| Time limit | None published by NCDMV |
| Fee | $25.50 — Level 1 Limited Learner Permit (ages 15-17)Level 1 Limited Learner Permit (ages 15-17), per the Level 1 page and the handbook fee schedule. Adult (18+) Learner Permit is also $25.50. No separate test or retest fee is published. PayIt online transactions carry a $3 fee plus 1.85% card processing. |
| Minimum age | 15 |
| Where to book | NCDMV test booking and locations (official site) |
The North Carolina written knowledge test and traffic signs test (Level 1 Limited Learner Permit) has a traffic signs section and a knowledge (traffic laws and safe-driving practices) section, per NCDMV; questions come from the official North Carolina Driver Handbook (revised May 2025).
Source: North Carolina Division of Motor Vehicles (NCDMV), N.C. Department of Transportation official pages, checked October 13, 2026.
ID, retakes and booking
| ID and documents | One document verifying identity and date of birth; Social Security card or one document proving an SSN; one document proving North Carolina residency; Driver's Education Certificate from the driver education school (30 hours classroom + 6 hours behind the wheel). A parent or guardian must be present for the tests (anyone else needs written consent from the parent/guardian). Non-US citizens: proof of legal presence. Vision test at the office. |
|---|---|
| Retake | '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.' (Stated for a regular Class C license; no separate rule is published for the limited learner permit.) |
| Attempts | No attempt limit stated on the pages read. |
| Languages | Driver License Tests page: written knowledge 'Tests offered in different languages'; 'Oral tests available, upon request'. Handbook: 'Audio tests are available, upon request, for those who have difficulty reading.' Handbook also published in Spanish (Manual de Manejo de Carolina del Norte). No list of test languages published. |
| Road signs | US regulatory and warning signs as shown in the North Carolina Driver Handbook and NCDMV's Regulatory Signs and Warning Signs PDFs; the signs test asks applicants to identify signs by color and shape and explain each. |
| Handbook | North Carolina Driver Handbook — Revised May 2025 (print run dated 09/25) read the handbook |
| Facts last checked | October 13, 2026 |
North Carolina road signs test
US regulatory and warning signs as shown in the North Carolina Driver Handbook and NCDMV's Regulatory Signs and Warning Signs PDFs; the signs test asks applicants to identify signs by color and shape and explain each. Practice them in the free North Carolina road signs test or browse the United States sign library.
North Carolina written knowledge test and traffic signs test: common questions
How many questions are on the North Carolina permit test?
NCDMV does not publish the number of questions; the test is commonly reported as 25 questions with 20 correct (80%) to pass, and our practice tests use that format.
What is the pass mark for the North Carolina permit test?
NCDMV does not publish a pass mark for the North Carolina written knowledge test and traffic signs test. It is commonly reported as 20 of 25 (80%), and our practice tests use that mark.
Is the North Carolina permit test hard?
You need 20 of 25 (80%) to pass, so in the commonly reported 25-question format you can get at most 5 wrong. The best preparation is to study the official North Carolina Driver Handbook (revised May 2025) and take practice tests until you pass them comfortably.
How much does the North Carolina permit test cost?
$25.50 — Level 1 Limited Learner Permit (ages 15-17), per NCDMV.
Is there a free North Carolina permit practice test for 2026?
Yes. This site has 2 free North Carolina written knowledge test and traffic signs test practice tests for 2026, each with 25 questions and the commonly reported pass mark of 20 of 25 (80%), plus a free road-sign quiz.
Nearby tests
Official handbook
Written knowledge test and traffic signs test questions come from the official North Carolina Driver Handbook. Read the North Carolina Driver Handbook on the official site.
Last updated October 13, 2026. Facts checked against North Carolina Division of Motor Vehicles (NCDMV), N.C. Department of Transportation official pages. This site is independent and is not run by NCDMV.