Knowledge test and traffic signs test
North Carolina Permit Practice Test
264 free questions written from the official handbook, each with an explanation and the page it comes from.
- From the official North Carolina handbook
- Every answer cites its page
- Checked November 4, 2026
The real test at a glance
- Road signs
- yes - separate road signs test; Class C applicants must identify 9 of 12 signssource
- Languages
- multiple languages (not listed on page); oral tests available on requestsource
- Where you take it
- in office (automated computer test at driver license office); no online/at-home option foundsource
Checked against official sources on November 4, 2026. Rules change: confirm with the North Carolina Division of Motor Vehicles (NCDMV) before your test.
About the real test
What to expect on test day
North Carolina's knowledge test is an automated computer test at a driver license office. You must answer 80% of the questions correctly, and there is a separate road signs test: Class C applicants must identify 9 of 12 signs. Tests are offered in several languages, and an oral test is available on request. If you do not pass, you can retake the test after 7 calendar days. NCDMV does not publish how many questions are on the knowledge test, so there is no full-length mock exam here.
Every question here is written from the official North Carolina Driver Handbook and shows the page it comes from. Practice by topic or in mixed sets, then review your misses.
Practice by topic
Pick a topic to start
Start with a topic you're unsure of. Mixed sets work better once you've seen each topic.
- Learner permits, provisional licenses and pointsGraduated licensing levels for drivers under 18, provisional license limits, losing a license for school discipline, driver license and insurance points, and suspensions.24 questions
- Alcohol, drugs and DWIDriving while impaired, blood alcohol limits for adults, commercial and under-21 drivers, the young driver rules, and medications.16 questions
- Safe driver habitsDriver condition, drowsy and distracted driving, cell phone rules, seat belts, child seats and boosters, air bags, helmets and riding in pick-up truck beds.20 questions
- Vehicle equipmentRequired lights, mirrors, brakes, tires, horn, muffler, emergency flashers and other equipment.9 questions
- Pavement markingsYellow and white lines, broken and solid center lines, and what each lets you do.9 questions
- Road signsSign shapes and colors, regulatory, warning, guide and railroad signs, as on the separate signs test.34 questions
- Traffic signalsSteady and flashing signals, arrows, flashing yellow arrows and hybrid beacons.14 questions
- Speed and following distanceAdjusting speed to conditions, maximum speed limits, curves and the two-second rule.17 questions
- Right-of-way, intersections and turnsTurning, right-of-way at intersections, roundabouts and railroad crossings.28 questions
- Lanes, highways and passingChanging lanes, passing and being passed, city and rural roads, interstates and work zones.21 questions
- Backing and parkingBacking safely, parking rules and where parking is not allowed.9 questions
- Conditions, emergencies and crashesScanning, communicating and hand signals, margins of safety, night driving, glare, rain, floods, fog, snow and ice, wildlife, vehicle emergencies, skids and what to do after a crash.32 questions
- Sharing the roadPedestrians, motorcyclists, school buses, emergency vehicles and the Move Over law, law enforcement stops, farm equipment, funeral processions, bicycles, trucks and No-Zones, RVs and mopeds.31 questions
learned (right 3 times on different days) seen
Try a few
Sample North Carolina permit test questions
Open a question to see the answer, why, and the handbook page.
1.You are on a two-lane road. A school bus coming toward you stops with its red lights flashing. What must you do?
- ASlow to 20 mph and pass the bus carefully
- BKeep going, since the bus is in the other lane
- CStop only if you can see children nearby
- DStop, since traffic both ways must stop
Show the answer
✓ D. Stop, since traffic both ways must stop
On a two-lane road, when a school bus stops for passengers, all traffic from both directions must stop.
Source: North Carolina Driver Handbook (Revised May 2025), page 49
2.Oncoming cars are on your left, and a child on a bicycle is on your right. How should you position your car?
- AKeep to the exact middle of your lane between them
- BMove toward the child to give oncoming cars room
- CSpeed up so you get past both dangers quickly
- DGive the child more room, even closer to oncoming cars
Show the answer
✓ D. Give the child more room, even closer to oncoming cars
When facing two dangers at once, give the most room to the greater or more likely one. A child is most likely to move suddenly, so give the child more room.
Source: North Carolina Driver Handbook (Revised May 2025), page 71
3.How should you leave an interstate at your exit?
- ACross the gore area at the last second
- BBrake hard just before you reach the exit
- CSlow down in the travel lane, then turn off
- DSignal early and slow in the deceleration lane
Show the answer
✓ D. Signal early and slow in the deceleration lane
Signal your turn well in advance and, without slowing down, enter the deceleration lane. Then slow to the posted exit speed.
Source: North Carolina Driver Handbook (Revised May 2025), page 66
4.You are driving straight through an intersection on a multi-lane street. What should you NOT do?
- ACheck for pedestrians as you go
- BChange lanes in the intersection
- CWatch out for cars that are turning
- DStay in the lane you are already in
Show the answer
✓ B. Change lanes in the intersection
Never change lanes while you are moving straight through an intersection.
Source: North Carolina Driver Handbook (Revised May 2025), page 59
5.A 19-year-old driver is convicted of driving with alcohol in their body, even though their BAC was below 0.08. What is the penalty?
- AA 30-day revocation
- BA warning and points only
- CA one-year license revocation
- DNo penalty, since the BAC was under 0.08
Show the answer
✓ C. A one-year license revocation
A driver under 21 convicted of driving with any amount of alcohol or drugs in their body has the license revoked for one year.
Source: North Carolina Driver Handbook (Revised May 2025), page 35
6.A traffic light is green, but a police officer at the intersection holds up a hand with the palm facing you. What should you do?
- AGo ahead, because the light is green
- BSlow down and honk to get attention
- CStop, since the officer overrides the light
- DTurn right instead of going straight
Show the answer
✓ C. Stop, since the officer overrides the light
When an officer is directing traffic, obey the officer's hand signals instead of the traffic lights or signs. A raised palm facing you means stop.
Source: North Carolina Driver Handbook (Revised May 2025), page 90
FAQ
Questions people ask
How many questions are on the North Carolina permit test?
The state doesn't publish the number of questions or the passing score on its official site, so check with the North Carolina Division of Motor Vehicles (NCDMV) before your test. Practice until you get at least 80% of new questions right.
What languages is the test offered in?
multiple languages (not listed on page); oral tests available on request. (Source: official North Carolina page, checked November 4, 2026.)
Can I take the test online?
in office (automated computer test at driver license office); no online/at-home option found. (Source: official North Carolina page, checked November 4, 2026.)
Are these the real test questions?
No. Nobody can legally offer the real questions. We write our own questions from the official North Carolina Driver Handbook, and each one shows the handbook page it's based on, so you learn the rules the real test is built from.