The Newfoundland and Labrador knowledge test
The written test (often called the knowledge or permit test) is your first official step to a Class 5I learner licence. It checks that you know the rules of the road and the meaning of signs before you take the wheel.
Newfoundland and Labrador sets a high bar: you need 85 per cent to pass.
By the end of this topic you can
- You can describe the format and content of the written test.
- You can state the pass mark.
- You can choose between taking the test online or in person and say what follows each.
- You can build a study plan from the official handbook.
What you need to know and understand
- The test is multiple choice.
- It covers rules of the road, safe driving practices and road sign recognition.
- Questions are based on the Driver's Handbook and the Highway Traffic Act and regulations.
- The pass mark is 85 per cent.
- The Class 5 test is offered online in English through MyGovNL.
- In-person tests are available in French and Ukrainian by appointment.
- A passed result is valid for six months.
What the questions cover
Expect questions on speed limits when no sign is posted, right of way at intersections and four-way stops, passing rules, school buses, emergency vehicles, impaired driving, demerit points and the limits on novice drivers. A good share of the test is road signs: shapes, colours and what each one asks you to do.
Motor Registration does not publish the exact number of questions on its main pages, so focus on the pass mark rather than a fixed count.
Online or at an office
- Online: register on MyGovNL (using a Motor Registration photo ID, or your email and MCP card), take the Class 5 test in English, then book an appointment for a vision test, document check and photo before your permit is issued.
- In person: book an appointment to take the test at a Motor Registration office. Either way, your results are checked, your vision is tested, your documents are examined and your photo is taken before your permit is issued.
- Other languages: French and Ukrainian versions are offered at offices by appointment. Interpreters must be approved by the Registrar and you pay any cost.
- Reading or writing help: contact the office in advance to book a supported appointment.
A study plan that works
Our separate written test guide and our rules and signs study guide give more practice.
- Read the whole Driver's Handbook once, without trying to memorise it.
- Go back through the licensing, road safety, signs and rules of the road sections and make short notes on every number: distances, speeds, points and times.
- Practise sign recognition until you can name each sign from its shape and colour alone.
- Test yourself with practice questions and review every one you get wrong in the handbook.
- Aim to score well above 85 per cent in practice before you book.
Common mistakes
- Studying only signs. The test also covers rules, safe driving and licensing.
- Using an old Road User Guide. Study the current Driver's Handbook.
- Aiming for a bare pass. With an 85 per cent pass mark, a few careless errors can fail you.
- Forgetting the follow-up appointment after an online pass.
Test yourself: The Newfoundland and Labrador knowledge test
Answer each question, then read the explanation. Questions come in a random order each time.
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Sources: Driver's Handbook (formerly the Road User Guide), Motor Registration Division, Government of Newfoundland and Labrador (2025 edition); Licence application process and written test guidance, Motor Registration Division, Digital Government and Service NL. Independent guide, not affiliated with any licensing agency. Always check the latest official rules with your province or territory.