How Many Questions Are on the DMV Permit Test? (By State)

The short answer

Every state writes its own knowledge test (also called the written test or permit test). In the states we have checked against the official driver handbooks, the test has between 18 questions (Pennsylvania) and 50 questions (Florida, New Jersey and Wisconsin).

The pass mark differs too. In New York you need 70% (14 of 20). In Florida, New Jersey, Illinois and Wisconsin you need 80%. Maryland asks for 22 of 25, or 88%.

So before you study, check the numbers for the state where you will take the test, not the state where a friend took it.

The biggest states

California: the DMV does not publish the number of questions on the official pages we checked. The test is multiple choice, and the passing score is 80%. You get three attempts to pass before you must reapply, and minors must wait seven days to retake a failed test, not counting the day of the failure.
Texas: the official DPS pages we checked do not publish the number of questions or the passing score. DPS gives the knowledge test only in English or Spanish. Teens who did not take the test as part of driver education take it at a driver license office.
Florida: the Class E Knowledge Exam has 50 multiple-choice questions about Florida traffic laws, safe driving practices and traffic controls. You need 40 correct, or 80%.
New York: 20 questions; you need 14 correct, and at least 2 of the 4 road-sign questions must be right. The permit test is offered in 20 languages, including Russian and Spanish.
Illinois: 35 questions; you need 28 correct.
New Jersey: 50 questions; you need 40 correct. You also take a vision test.
Pennsylvania: 18 multiple-choice questions about traffic signs, Pennsylvania driving laws and safe-driving practices; you need 15 correct.

Road-sign questions: one test or two parts?

In New York the road-sign questions have their own minimum. Of the 20 questions, 4 are about road signs, and you must answer at least 2 of those 4 correctly. A high score on the other questions does not make up for missing too many sign questions.

In Pennsylvania, traffic signs are part of the same 18-question test, together with driving laws and safe driving. Florida's 50 questions also include identifying traffic controls.

Computer, paper, online or audio

New York: Class D knowledge tests can be taken on touch screen test stations or on paper. If you are under 18, you can take the permit test online; the DMV then needs three business days to review your results and identity documents.
Florida: FLHSMV gives the Class E exam through a web-based application. You can take it at a service center, with an approved third-party administrator, or through many high school driver education classes (DELAP). Applicants under 18 can take it online.
Pennsylvania: the test is available in written and audio format, on request at Driver License Centers.
New Jersey: oral tests are offered in English and Spanish.
California: you may not use any testing aids during the knowledge test, such as the California Driver's Handbook or a cell phone.

If you do not pass

Pennsylvania: you may retake the test the following business day.
New Jersey: you can re-test in 7 days.
California: three attempts, then you must reapply; minors wait seven days between attempts.

Number of questions by state

These numbers come from each state's official driver handbook and were checked in October 2026. States that are not listed are still being checked. For Kansas, the handbook figure we have is the number of questions only. California and Texas are not listed: their official pages do not publish the number of questions.

Connecticut: 25 questions, 20 to pass
Florida: 50 questions, 40 to pass
Georgia: 40 questions, 30 to pass
Idaho: 40 questions, 34 to pass
Illinois: 35 questions, 28 to pass
Kansas: 25 questions
Louisiana: 40 questions, 32 to pass
Maryland: 25 questions, 22 to pass
Massachusetts: 25 questions, 18 to pass
Missouri: 25 questions, 20 to pass
New Hampshire: 40 questions, 32 to pass
New Jersey: 50 questions, 40 to pass
New York: 20 questions, 14 to pass, including at least 2 of 4 road-sign questions
Ohio: 40 questions, 30 to pass
Pennsylvania: 18 questions, 15 to pass
Vermont: 20 questions, 16 to pass
West Virginia: 25 questions, 19 to pass
Wisconsin: 50 questions, 40 to pass

Questions

Of the states we have checked, Florida, New Jersey and Wisconsin have the most: 50 questions, with 40 correct answers needed to pass.

Pennsylvania: 18 questions, and you need 15 correct to pass.

In New York, 4 of the 20 questions are about road signs and you must get at least 2 of them right. In Pennsylvania, traffic signs are part of the same 18-question test.

In New York and Florida, applicants under 18 can take the permit test online.