Photo: Beth Fitzpatrick, Pexels
To get a North Carolina learner permit you pass a vision test, a road sign test and a computer knowledge test at NCDMV. On the sign test you must identify 9 of 12 signs; on the knowledge test you need 80%. This free practice test has both: 12 sign questions and 30 knowledge questions. They are original and unofficial, written from the North Carolina Driver Handbook topics and state rules; they are not NCDMV’s questions.
The NCDMV permit tests at a glance
| Test | What it checks | Pass standard |
|---|---|---|
| Vision | Eyesight | 20/40 or better in at least one eye for no restriction |
| Road signs | Signs and their meanings | 9 of 12 correct (Class C) |
| Knowledge | Traffic laws and safe driving | 80% correct (ask NCDMV for the question count) |
An audio option lets you listen to knowledge questions through earphones. What to bring and the rest of the process: the NC DMV permit test guide.
Part 1: Road sign test (questions 1 to 12)
NCDMV shows you signs to identify. Here, each question describes a sign by its shape, color and message. Score 9 or more to pass this part.
1. A red, eight-sided sign means:
- A. Wrong way
- B. Stop
- C. Yield
- D. Do not enter
Answer: B. The octagon is reserved for STOP signs. Handbook: Chapter 5, signs.
2. A triangle pointing down, red and white, means:
- A. Stop
- B. Lane ends
- C. Yield
- D. Merge
Answer: C. Slow down and give the right of way; stop if needed. Handbook: Chapter 5, signs.
3. A yellow diamond-shaped sign is a:
- A. Warning sign for a hazard ahead
- B. Regulatory sign
- C. Recreation sign
- D. Guide sign
Answer: A. Diamonds, usually yellow, warn of hazards or changes ahead. Handbook: Chapter 5, warning signs.
4. A pentagon-shaped sign means:
- A. No passing
- B. School zone or school crossing
- C. Rest area
- D. Hospital
Answer: B. The five-sided shape is used only for school signs. Handbook: Chapter 5, signs.
5. A round, yellow sign means:
- A. Rest stop
- B. Road closed
- C. Railroad crossing ahead
- D. Roundabout
Answer: C. The round yellow sign is the advance warning for a railroad crossing. Handbook: Chapter 5, signs.
6. A white rectangular sign reading SPEED LIMIT 35 is a:
- A. Warning sign
- B. Guide sign
- C. Suggested speed
- D. Regulatory sign
Answer: D. White rectangles are regulatory: speed limits, lane use and similar rules. Handbook: Chapter 5, signs.
7. A green rectangular sign shows:
- A. School zones
- B. Work zones
- C. Warnings
- D. Directions and distances
Answer: D. Green signs are guide signs. Handbook: Chapter 5, guide signs.
8. An orange diamond sign reading ROAD WORK AHEAD means:
- A. Speed up to pass the zone
- B. A work zone is ahead; slow down and watch for workers
- C. Detour for trucks only
- D. The road is closed
Answer: B. Orange signs mark work zones. Handbook: Chapter 5, signs.
9. A yellow pennant-shaped sign on the left side of the road means:
- A. No passing zone
- B. Hill ahead
- C. Narrow road
- D. Lane ends
Answer: A. The pennant marks where a no passing zone begins. Handbook: Chapter 5, signs.
10. A blue sign beside the interstate points to:
- A. A school
- B. Motorist services
- C. A work zone
- D. A police station only
Answer: B. Blue signs show services such as gas, food and lodging. Handbook: Chapter 5, guide signs.
11. A white X-shaped crossbuck sign marks:
- A. An intersection with a stop sign
- B. A railroad crossing
- C. A closed road
- D. A pedestrian crossing
Answer: B. The crossbuck stands at the crossing; yield to any train. Handbook: Chapter 5, signs.
12. A sign with a red circle and slash over a right arrow means:
- A. Keep right
- B. No right turn
- C. Right turn only
- D. Right lane ends
Answer: B. A red slashed circle prohibits the action shown. Handbook: Chapter 5, signs.
Part 2: Knowledge test (questions 13 to 42)
Score this part out of 30. 24 or more correct is 80%, the NCDMV pass standard.
School buses: the North Carolina favorite
13. On a two-lane road, a school bus coming toward you stops to load children. In North Carolina you must:
- A. Keep going, because you are on the other side
- B. Stop
- C. Slow to 15 mph
- D. Stop only if children are on your side
Answer: B. On a two-lane road, all traffic in both directions stops. See the North Carolina school bus stopping law. Handbook: Chapter 4, school buses.
14. The road has two lanes plus a center turning lane. A school bus going the other way stops. You must:
- A. Stop
- B. Honk and continue
- C. Use the center lane to pass
- D. Continue, because the turn lane divides the road
Answer: A. A center turning lane on a two-lane road does not count as a divider. Oncoming traffic still stops. Handbook: Chapter 4, school buses.
15. On a four-lane road with no median, a school bus stops on the other side. You must:
- A. Stop
- B. Change lanes and continue
- C. Continue slowly
- D. Stop only if you are in the left lane
Answer: A. On a four-lane road without a median, traffic in both directions stops. Handbook: Chapter 4, school buses.
16. On a four-lane road divided by a median, a school bus stops on the opposite side. You:
- A. May continue with caution
- B. Must stop and wait for the driver’s signal
- C. Must stop
- D. Must turn around
Answer: A. Oncoming traffic may continue only on a four-lane road with a median, or a road of four or more lanes with a center turning lane. Traffic following the bus always stops. Handbook: Chapter 4, school buses.
17. On a five-lane road (four travel lanes plus a center turning lane), a school bus going the other way stops. You:
- A. Must use the turn lane to go around
- B. Must stop and turn off your engine
- C. Must stop
- D. May continue with caution
Answer: D. Four or more lanes with a center turning lane is one of the two layouts where oncoming traffic does not stop. Handbook: Chapter 4, school buses.
Right of way and driving rules
18. Two cars reach a four-way stop at the same time. Who goes first?
- A. The bigger car
- B. The car on the right
- C. The car on the left
- D. The car that honks
Answer: B. The driver on the left yields to the driver on the right. Handbook: Chapter 4, right of way.
19. You are turning left at a green light with no arrow. You must yield to:
- A. Vehicles behind you
- B. Parked cars
- C. No one
- D. Oncoming vehicles and pedestrians
Answer: D. Plain green allows the turn but does not protect it. Handbook: Chapter 4, turns.
20. An emergency vehicle with siren and lights approaches. You should:
- A. Ignore it if it is behind you
- B. Speed up
- C. Pull to the right edge and stop until it passes
- D. Stop in the intersection
Answer: C. Yield by pulling over to the right and stopping, clear of intersections. Handbook: Chapter 4, emergency vehicles.
21. A patrol car is stopped on the shoulder with lights flashing. You should:
- A. Keep your speed and lane
- B. Flash your lights
- C. Stop next to it
- D. Move over a lane if safe, or slow down
Answer: D. Move over laws protect responders at the roadside. Handbook: Chapter 4, emergency vehicles.
22. Unless a sign prohibits it, you may turn right on red after:
- A. Slowing down
- B. Waiting one minute
- C. Flashing your headlights
- D. A complete stop and yielding to pedestrians and traffic
Answer: D. Stop fully, then yield. Handbook: Chapter 4, turns.
23. A flashing red light means:
- A. Stop, then go when it is safe
- B. Slow down
- C. The signal is broken; ignore it
- D. Wait for green
Answer: A. A flashing red light works like a STOP sign. Handbook: Chapter 5, signals.
24. A solid yellow line on your side of the center line means:
- A. Bike lane
- B. You may pass when clear
- C. Do not pass
- D. Bus lane
Answer: C. Passing is not allowed from the side with the solid line. Handbook: Chapter 5, pavement markings.
25. The posted limit is 55 mph, but fog is heavy. You should:
- A. Drive 55 mph
- B. Follow the car ahead closely
- C. Use high beams to see better
- D. Slow down to a speed that is safe for the conditions
Answer: D. Drive at a speed safe for conditions, and use low beams in fog. Handbook: Chapter 4, speed and weather.
26. When another vehicle is passing you, you should:
- A. Brake hard
- B. Move toward the center
- C. Speed up
- D. Keep right and do not speed up
Answer: D. Help the passing driver complete the pass safely. Handbook: Chapter 4, passing.
27. Before changing lanes on an interstate, you should:
- A. Slow down first
- B. Signal, check your mirrors and look over your shoulder
- C. Check only your mirrors
- D. Signal and change immediately
Answer: B. A head check covers the blind spots your mirrors miss. Handbook: Chapter 4, interstate driving.
28. A pedestrian is crossing at a crosswalk as your light turns green. You should:
- A. Let the pedestrian finish crossing
- B. Honk
- C. Drive around them
- D. Go, since you have the green light
Answer: A. Yield to pedestrians in crosswalks. Handbook: Chapter 6, pedestrians.
29. You are driving next to a large truck and cannot see its mirrors. You should:
- A. Stay there; the driver knows you are there
- B. Move ahead or drop back out of its blind spot
- C. Honk continuously
- D. Brake suddenly
Answer: B. If you cannot see the truck’s mirrors, the driver cannot see you. Handbook: Chapter 6, trucks.
Alcohol and the law
30. For a North Carolina driver under 21, driving after drinking any alcohol is:
- A. Legal below 0.08
- B. Legal if no crash happens
- C. Only a warning
- D. An offense in its own right, separate from DWI
Answer: D. The under-21 offense does not require impairment or a 0.08 reading. A single drink can be enough to be charged. See NC provisional licensee alcohol and DWI rules. Handbook: Chapter 2, alcohol and the law.
31. What blood alcohol level is the adult line for DWI in North Carolina?
- A. 0.02
- B. 0.05
- C. 0.08
- D. 0.10
Answer: C. 0.08 is the adult line. Commercial drivers have a 0.04 limit. Handbook: Chapter 2.
32. Under North Carolina’s insurance points system, a conviction for driving after drinking while under 21 adds how many insurance points?
- A. 1
- B. 2
- C. 4
- D. 12
Answer: C. It carries 4 Safe Driver Incentive Plan points and a 90% rate increase. DWI carries 12 points and a 340% increase. Handbook: Chapter 3.
33. When you drive in North Carolina you have agreed, if charged with an implied-consent offense, to:
- A. Pay a fine in cash
- B. Take a chemical test of your breath or blood
- C. Let police drive your car
- D. Surrender your phone
Answer: B. This is implied consent. Refusal has its own license penalties. Handbook: Chapter 2.
34. What is the only thing that lowers blood alcohol?
- A. Food
- B. Exercise
- C. Coffee
- D. Time
Answer: D. Alcohol leaves the body at a steady rate. Handbook: Chapter 2.
Your permit and the GDL levels
35. What is the minimum age for a North Carolina Level 1 limited learner permit?
- A. 14 and a half
- B. 15
- C. 15 and a half
- D. 16
Answer: B. The permit is from 15, after an approved driver education course. You can start driver ed at 14 and a half. Handbook: Chapter 1.
36. For the first 6 months on a Level 1 permit, you may drive only between:
- A. 6 a.m. and 9 p.m.
- B. 5 a.m. and 9 p.m.
- C. 5 a.m. and 10 p.m.
- D. 6 a.m. and midnight
Answer: B. 5 a.m. to 9 p.m. for the first 6 months, always with a supervisor. After that, any time with a supervisor. Handbook: Chapter 1, graduated licensing.
37. A Level 1 supervising driver must have been licensed for at least:
- A. 1 year
- B. 2 years
- C. 5 years
- D. 10 years
Answer: C. The supervisor is a parent, grandparent, guardian or approved responsible person, licensed at least 5 years, in the front passenger seat. Handbook: Chapter 1.
38. How long must you hold a Level 1 permit before Level 2?
- A. 6 months
- B. 9 months
- C. 12 months
- D. 18 months
Answer: B. 9 months, cut from 12 in 2021. You must also be 16 with no moving, seat belt or phone convictions in the past 6 months. See NC graduated license Levels 1, 2 and 3. Handbook: Chapter 1.
39. A Level 2 driver driving without a supervisor may carry how many passengers under 21 who are not household members?
- A. One
- B. Three
- C. Two
- D. None
Answer: A. One passenger under 21 who is not a member of your household, when no supervisor is in the car. Check the current DL-214 handout for exceptions. Handbook: Chapter 1.
40. May a North Carolina Level 1 permit holder use a mobile phone while driving?
- A. No, mobile device use is prohibited while driving
- B. Yes, at red lights
- C. Yes, hands-free only
- D. Yes, for texting only
Answer: A. Mobile device use is prohibited on a Level 1 permit, and Level 2 drivers may not use a mobile phone while driving either. Handbook: Chapter 1.
41. What is the vision standard for an unrestricted North Carolina license?
- A. 20/20 in both eyes
- B. 20/40 or better in at least one eye
- C. 20/70 in one eye
- D. 20/100 with glasses
Answer: B. Below 20/40 means a corrective lens restriction. Wear your glasses or contacts to the test if you use them. Handbook: Chapter 1, tests.
42. Since October 1, 2026, teens applying for a North Carolina permit no longer need:
- A. A driver education certificate
- B. A Driving Eligibility Certificate from their school
- C. A vision test
- D. Proof of identity
Answer: B. Session Law 2026-46 ended the DEC requirement. Driver education and the NCDMV tests are still required. Handbook: Chapter 1 (check the current edition).
Scoring both parts
| Part | Questions | Pass on the NCDMV standard |
|---|---|---|
| Road signs | 1 to 12 | 9 or more correct |
| Knowledge | 13 to 42 | 24 or more correct (80%) |
The school bus questions trip up more people than any other topic. If you missed any of 13 to 17, reread the table in the school bus law guide until you can say from memory which two road layouts let oncoming traffic continue.
Common questions
Are these the real NCDMV questions?
No. They are original, unofficial practice questions written from North Carolina Driver Handbook topics and North Carolina rules.
How many questions are on the NC knowledge test?
The state rule sets the pass mark at 80%. Ask NCDMV for the number of questions.
How many signs do I need to get right?
9 of 12 for a Class C (regular car) license.
Can I take the NC permit test online?
Plan to test at an NCDMV office, and book an appointment if you can.
Do adults take the same tests?
Yes. Adults 18 and over take the knowledge, sign, vision and road tests.
Where next?
See learning to drive in North Carolina or practice tests for other states.
Sources
- North Carolina Division of Motor Vehicles, “North Carolina Driver Handbook” (ncdot.gov)
- North Carolina Office of Administrative Hearings, “19A NCAC 03B .0201 Driver’s License Examination and Online Renewal” (reports.oah.state.nc.us)
- North Carolina Department of Public Safety, “School Bus Safety” (ncdps.gov)
- North Carolina Department of Administration, Division of Non-Public Education, “Teen Drivers” (doa.nc.gov)
- North Carolina Department of Public Instruction, “Driver and Traffic Safety Education Program Administrative Policies & Procedures Manual” (dpi.nc.gov)
- North Carolina Department of Insurance, “Safe Driver Incentive Plan (Insurance Points)” (ncdoi.gov)