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The Alabama permit test is the knowledge test you pass to get a learner license, the “Y”-restricted Class D license you can hold from age 15. It costs $5 per attempt and is taken at an ALEA driver license office. It is in English, 11 other languages or an oral format, and it comes with a vision screening. This guide covers what is tested, what to bring and what happens after you pass.
Key facts (as of November 2026)
- Fee: $5 for each knowledge test, no checks. The learner license itself is $36.25.
- Content: Alabama traffic laws, road signs and safe driving rules, all taken from the Alabama Driver Manual.
- Format: automated testing is available to all applicants.
- Languages: Arabic, Chinese, Farsi, French, German, Japanese, Korean, Russian, Spanish, Thai and Vietnamese, plus English.
- Oral exams: available if you cannot read and understand the written test.
- The learner license is valid for 4 years.
How many questions are on the Alabama permit test?
Ask at your ALEA driver license office for the number of questions and the pass mark before the test, and treat any figure you see on a practice-test site as unofficial. For other states that do publish theirs, see US permit tests compared by state.
What is on the test
ALEA says the test contains questions on Alabama traffic laws, road signs and the rules of safe driving, taken from the manual. The chapters that carry the most testable facts:
| Manual chapter | Facts worth memorizing |
|---|---|
| Ch 1 Your License to Drive | GDL stages, “Y” restriction, 4-year validity, hands-free law fines |
| Ch 2 You May Lose Your License | Point values (for example 5 points for passing a stopped school bus) and suspension bands |
| Ch 3 The Driving Task | Signal 100 feet before a turn; 3 feet to pass a bicycle; parking distances (15 feet from a hydrant, 50 feet from a railroad rail) |
| Ch 4 The Driver | 0.08% and 0.02% alcohol limits; two-second rule; implied consent; crash duties |
| Ch 5 Signs, Signals and Road Markings | Sign shapes and colors; railroad advance sign 750 feet before tracks; roundabouts |
| Ch 6 Traffic Laws | Statutory speed limits; school bus stop distance of 20 feet; right of way; move-over law |
| Ch 7 Adjust to Driving Conditions | Headlight times; dim within 500 feet oncoming and 200 feet following |
| Ch 8 and 9 | Freeway entry and exit; required equipment; 1/16 inch minimum tread |
Alabama’s statutory speed limits often come up: 30 mph urban district, 35 mph unpaved road, 45 mph county paved road unless posted, 55 mph elsewhere, 65 mph where posted, 70 mph where posted on interstates.
Documents to bring for an Alabama learner license
Age 15
- Certified U.S. birth certificate issued by the Bureau of Vital Statistics (no photocopies)
- Social Security card (original)
- Proof of school enrollment or graduation: form DL-1/93 from your school, a graduation certificate or a GED certificate
- 2 proofs of principal residence, for example a utility bill under 90 days old or a lease. If the bill is in a parent’s name, bring your birth certificate to show the link.
- $5 test fee and $36.25 license fee, in cash or money order
Age 16 and older
- Two forms of ID, at least one with a photo, or three non-photo forms. One must come from ALEA’s “primary” list (for example a certified birth certificate or U.S. passport).
- Social Security card
- School enrollment form or proof of graduation if you are under 19
- 2 proofs of principal residence
Documents must be originals or copies certified by the issuing agency. ALEA rejects documents with white-out, erasures, alterations or missing information.
The vision screening
You take a vision check at the same visit. If it shows you need corrective lenses, your license will require you to wear them while driving. If you fail, you must have your eyes examined by a licensed eye specialist and bring the report back. If the report shows you can see well enough to drive safely, you can finish the test.
Taking the test in another language or orally
Written knowledge tests are available in Arabic, Chinese, Farsi, French, German, Japanese, Korean, Russian, Spanish, Thai and Vietnamese. Ask the Driver License District Office how these tests are run. If you cannot read and understand the knowledge test, you can take an oral exam on the automated testing equipment.
After you pass: what your learner license allows
- At 15: you may drive only with a parent, legal guardian or licensed driver aged 21 or older in the front seat beside you. A licensed or certified driving instructor beside you also counts.
- From your 16th birthday: any licensed driver can sit beside you.
- The license can be suspended or revoked like a full license, and also for breaking its conditions.
- Carry it every time you drive.
Next steps: log your practice hours (Alabama 50 hour verification and driver ed), then prepare for the Alabama road skills test. The full route is in learning to drive in Alabama.
Common questions
How much is the Alabama permit test?
$5 per attempt as of November 2026, plus $36.25 for the learner license once you pass. ALEA does not accept checks.
Can I take the Alabama permit test in Spanish?
Yes. Spanish is one of the 11 foreign languages ALEA offers for the written test.
What if I fail the knowledge test?
You pay the $5 fee again for each test you take. The manual does not set a waiting period, so ask the office when you can retake it.
Can I take the Alabama permit test online?
The manual describes the test at a driver license office. ALEA’s online services let you pre-apply for a first-time license or permit and book an appointment.
Do I need an appointment?
ALEA offers online appointment booking at AlabamaDL.alea.gov. Check your local office’s options before you go.
Is the permit called a learner license in Alabama?
Yes. Alabama’s “permit” is officially a Class D learner license with a “Y” restriction, also called the Stage I license.
Sources
- Alabama Law Enforcement Agency, “Alabama Driver Manual” (November 2024) (alea.gov)
- Alabama Law Enforcement Agency, “Document Requirements and Fees” (alea.gov)
- Alabama Law Enforcement Agency, “Graduated Driver License” (alea.gov)
- Alabama Law Enforcement Agency, “Driver License Information” (alea.gov)