Two-part knowledge exam

Virginia Permit Practice Test

218 free questions written from the official handbook, each with an explanation and the page it comes from.

Start free practice (10 questions)Full 40-question practice exam Flashcards

From the official Virginia handbook
Every answer cites its page
Checked November 4, 2026

Questions: Part 1: Road Signs: 10 · Part 2: General Knowledge: 30
To pass: Part 1: Road Signs: 10 of 10 correct (100%); Part 2: General Knowledge: 24 of 30 correct (80%). You must pass each part.
Road signs: yes - Part 1 is 10 road sign questions, all must be correct before Part 2source
Languages: English, ASL, Amharic, Arabic, Chinese/Mandarin (Simplified and Traditional), Dari, Farsi, French, German, Haitian Creole, Italian, Japanese, Korean, Kurdish, Mongolian, Nepali, Pashto, Punjabi, Russian, Spanish, Thai, Twi (Akan), Turkish, Urdu, Vietnamese (all)source

Where you take it: in office (computer at DMV customer service centers) or in classrooms at participating high schools; oral exams on request; no online at-home test found (all)source
Minimum permit age: 15 years 6 months (all)source
Permit fee: 3 (plus yearly cost of driver's license) (all)source

Checked against official sources on November 4, 2026. Rules change: confirm with the Virginia Department of Motor Vehicles before your test.

About the real test

What to expect on test day

Virginia's knowledge exam has two parts. Part 1 is 10 road sign questions, and you must answer all 10 correctly before moving on. Part 2 is 30 general knowledge questions, and you need 24 correct (80%). The exam is taken on a computer at a DMV customer service center or in a classroom at a participating high school, and oral exams are available on request. It is offered in English, ASL and more than 20 other languages.

You can get a learner's permit from age 15 years 6 months; the permit fee is $3 plus the yearly cost of a driver's license. If you fail, drivers under 18 must wait 15 full days to retest, and after three failures you must complete a driver-education classroom course. From January 1, 2027, first-time applicants aged 18 to 20 must hold the permit for 90 days and complete driver education. Every question here is written from the official Virginia Driver's Manual and shows the page it comes from, and the mock exam scores both parts the way the DMV does.

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Sample Virginia permit test questions

Open a question to see the answer, why, and the handbook page.

1.You have no E-ZPass and enter an E-ZPass-only toll lane by mistake. What should you do?
- AStop and back up
- BCut across to a cash lane
- CStop and wait for help
- DKeep going; don't stop
Show the answer
✓ D. Keep going; don't stop
If you enter a transponder-only lane by mistake, don't stop; stopping could cause a rear-end crash. The owner will be billed from a photo of the plate.
Source: Virginia Driver's Manual (DMV 39) (No edition date printed in text), page 15
2.You come to this sign at a crossing with two tracks. What should you keep in mind?
- AA train may come either way on either track
- BTrains only ever come from the left
- CA second track never has a second train
- DNo train runs unless lights are flashing
Show the answer
✓ A. A train may come either way on either track
At a crossbuck, trains may approach from either direction, and with more than one track they may come from either direction on either track.
Source: Virginia Driver's Manual (DMV 39) (No edition date printed in text), page 11
3.How many demerit points can Virginia assign to a single conviction?
- AOne, two or three
- BFive, ten or fifteen
- CAlways eight
- DThree, four or six
Show the answer
✓ D. Three, four or six
DMV assigns three, four or six demerit points to traffic convictions and moving violations.
Source: Virginia Driver's Manual (DMV 39) (No edition date printed in text), page 31
4.When must you use your headlights in Virginia?
- AFrom sunset to sunrise
- BOnly on highways
- COnly in fog
- DOnly after full dark
Show the answer
✓ A. From sunset to sunrise
You must use headlights from sunset to sunrise; turn them on as soon as light begins to fade.
Source: Virginia Driver's Manual (DMV 39) (No edition date printed in text), page 25
5.On a two-way street, which side of the road should you park on?
- AEither side
- BThe right side
- CThe side with more space
- DThe left side
Show the answer
✓ B. The right side
Park on the right when the street carries traffic both ways; only a one-way road lets you use either side.
Source: Virginia Driver's Manual (DMV 39) (No edition date printed in text), page 24
6.Your car has a driver air bag. How far from the steering wheel should you sit?
- AAt least 10 inches
- BAs close as is comfortable
- CAt least 18 inches
- DAt least 4 inches
Show the answer
✓ A. At least 10 inches
Move your seat back so you are at least ten inches from the steering wheel, and tilt an adjustable wheel downward.
Source: Virginia Driver's Manual (DMV 39) (No edition date printed in text), page 29

FAQ

Questions people ask

How many questions are on the Virginia permit test?

Part 1: Road Signs: 10 questions; Part 2: General Knowledge: 30 questions.

What score do I need to pass?

Part 1: Road Signs: 10 of 10 correct (100%); Part 2: General Knowledge: 24 of 30 correct (80%). You must pass each part..

What languages is the test offered in?

English, ASL, Amharic, Arabic, Chinese/Mandarin (Simplified and Traditional), Dari, Farsi, French, German, Haitian Creole, Italian, Japanese, Korean, Kurdish, Mongolian, Nepali, Pashto, Punjabi, Russian, Spanish, Thai, Twi (Akan), Turkish, Urdu, Vietnamese (all). (Source: official Virginia page, checked November 2, 2026.)

Can I take the test online?

in office (computer at DMV customer service centers) or in classrooms at participating high schools; oral exams on request; no online at-home test found (all). (Source: official Virginia page, checked November 2, 2026.)

How old do I have to be to get a permit?

15 years 6 months (all). (Source: official Virginia page, checked November 2, 2026.)

Are these the real test questions?

No. Nobody can legally offer the real questions. We write our own questions from the official Virginia Driver's Manual (DMV 39), and each one shows the handbook page it's based on, so you learn the rules the real test is built from.