Knowledge Test
Pennsylvania Permit Practice Test
320 free questions written from the official handbook, each with an explanation and the page it comes from.
- From the official Pennsylvania handbook
- Every answer cites its page
- Checked November 4, 2026
The real test at a glance
- Questions
- 18
- To pass
- 15 of 18 correct (83%)
- Languages
- English, Spanish, Arabic, Chinese (Mandarin), French, Hindi, Korean, Russian, Ukrainian, Vietnamese, Burmese, Greek, Italian, Japanese, Nepali, Polish, Somali, Urdu (written and audio) - per 4-21 manualsource
- Road signs
- no - single Knowledge Test covers traffic signs, laws and safe drivingsource
- Minimum permit age
- 16source
- Where you take it
- in office at Driver License Centers, no appointment needed; no online option foundsource
- Permit fee
- 45.50 (initial permit and four-year license combined)source
Checked against official sources on November 4, 2026. Rules change: confirm with the Pennsylvania Department of Transportation (PennDOT) Driver and Vehicle Services before your test.
About the real test
What to expect on test day
Pennsylvania's Knowledge Test has 18 questions, and you need 15 correct (83%) to pass. It covers traffic signs, laws and safe driving in one test, taken in person at a Driver License Center with no appointment needed. It is offered in English and 17 other languages, including Spanish, Arabic, Chinese, Russian and Ukrainian, in written and audio form. You can get a learner's permit from age 16; the $45.50 fee covers both the permit and your four-year license.
Every question here is written from the official Pennsylvania Driver's Manual and shows the page it comes from. Practice by topic, or take a full 18-question mock exam scored the same way as the real test.
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.
- Permits, junior licenses, points and insuranceLearner's permit and junior license rules, license classes, the point system, driving without insurance, police stops, crashes, the Driver's License Compact and change-of-address rules.33 questions
- Alcohol, drugs and DUIHow alcohol and drugs affect driving, DUI penalties, chemical test refusal, zero tolerance for drivers under 21 and underage drinking.20 questions
- Safe driver habitsSeat belts, distractions, lack of sleep, health factors, the seat belt and child restraint laws, air bags, heatstroke, anti-texting and carbon monoxide.24 questions
- Vehicle checks and inspectionVehicle checks before driving and safety and emissions inspection.12 questions
- Pavement markingsYellow and white lines, turning lanes and other road markings.13 questions
- Road signsRegulatory, lane-use, warning, work zone, guide, route and service signs.48 questions
- SignalsRed, yellow and green lights, flashing signals and arrows, signals that are out, ramp meters and pedestrian signals.19 questions
- Space cushion and speedManaging space ahead, to the sides and behind, blind spots, backing, and managing speed and posted limits.18 questions
- Turns, intersections and curvesTurning, center turn lanes, U-turns, right on red, crossing traffic, intersections, circular intersections and curves.31 questions
- Merging, passing, highways and work zonesMerging, passing and when you may not pass, highways and interchanges, work zones and the Move Over law.26 questions
- ParkingParking and parallel parking, and parking areas for persons with disabilities.15 questions
- Conditions and emergenciesNight driving, road and visibility conditions, snow squalls, the headlight/wiper law, traffic flow, road rage, skids, floods, stuck accelerators, brake failure and blowouts.35 questions
- Sharing the roadRailroad crossings, pedestrians, bicyclists, motorcyclists, trucks and their No-Zones, buses, school buses, emergency vehicles and horse-drawn vehicles.26 questions
learned (right 3 times on different days) seen
Full practice exam
Take it like the real thing
18 questions in the real format, scored with the real pass rule. Answers are shown at the end, and every retake draws different questions.
Try a few
Sample Pennsylvania permit test questions
Open a question to see the answer, why, and the handbook page.
1.You are stopped at a crossing with two tracks, and a train has just passed. When may you start across?
- AAfter you count 3 seconds to yourself
- BWhen the car behind you starts honking
- COnce you can see down both tracks
- DAs soon as the last train car passes
Show the answer
✓ C. Once you can see down both tracks
At a multi-track crossing don't start as soon as a train passes; wait until you can see clearly down both tracks, since another train may be coming.
Source: Pennsylvania Driver's Manual (PUB 95) (PUB 95), page 59
2.You are 16 with a learner's permit. Your licensed 19-year-old cousin offers to supervise your practice drive. May they?
- ANo, only a certified instructor may supervise
- BYes, any licensed driver aged 18 may
- CNo, a cousin must be at least 21
- DYes, if they sit in the back seat
Show the answer
✓ C. No, a cousin must be at least 21
A permit holder under 18 must be supervised by a licensed driver at least 21, or by a licensed parent, guardian, person in loco parentis or spouse who is 18 or older.
Source: Pennsylvania Driver's Manual (PUB 95) (PUB 95), page 7
3.You just passed your highway exit. What should you do?
- ABack up on the shoulder
- BCross the median to turn around
- CSwerve across lanes to the ramp
- DTake the next exit
Show the answer
✓ D. Take the next exit
If you miss your exit, take the next one; never stop, back up, swerve across lanes or cross the median.
Source: Pennsylvania Driver's Manual (PUB 95) (PUB 95), page 56
4.What does R X R painted on the pavement warn you about?
- AA railroad crossing ahead
- BA rest area exit
- CA reduced speed zone
- DA right turn only lane
Show the answer
✓ A. A railroad crossing ahead
R X R painted on the road is placed before a railroad crossing.
Source: Pennsylvania Driver's Manual (PUB 95) (PUB 95), page 26
5.What does this sign mean?
- AOnly one car at a time may pass
- BThe road ends ahead
- CTraffic moves only the way the arrow points
- DTraffic may go in either direction
Show the answer
✓ C. Traffic moves only the way the arrow points
A ONE WAY sign means traffic may move only in the direction the arrow points; turning the wrong way risks a head-on crash.
Source: Pennsylvania Driver's Manual (PUB 95) (PUB 95), page 15
6.Ice slides off your car's roof while driving and seriously injures someone. What fine can you face?
- A$1,000 to $5,000
- B$25 to $100
- C$200 to $1,000
- DNo fine; it's an accident
Show the answer
✓ C. $200 to $1,000
If snow or ice from a moving vehicle strikes someone and causes death or serious injury, the driver faces a fine of $200 to $1,000 for each offense.
Source: Pennsylvania Driver's Manual (PUB 95) (PUB 95), page 45
FAQ
Questions people ask
How many questions are on the Pennsylvania permit test?
18 questions.
What score do I need to pass?
15 of 18 correct (83%).
What languages is the test offered in?
English, Spanish, Arabic, Chinese (Mandarin), French, Hindi, Korean, Russian, Ukrainian, Vietnamese, Burmese, Greek, Italian, Japanese, Nepali, Polish, Somali, Urdu (written and audio) - per 4-21 manual. (Source: official Pennsylvania page, checked November 4, 2026.)
How old do I have to be to get a permit?
16. (Source: official Pennsylvania page, checked November 4, 2026.)
Can I take the test online?
in office at Driver License Centers, no appointment needed; no online option found. (Source: official Pennsylvania 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 Pennsylvania Driver's Manual (PUB 95), and each one shows the handbook page it's based on, so you learn the rules the real test is built from.