Category: Idaho

Photo: Tamanoeconomico, CC BY-SA 4.0, via Wikimedia Commons

If you move to Idaho, you must get an Idaho driver’s license within 30 days, even if your old license has not expired. Drivers transferring from another US state must pass the Idaho knowledge test, but usually not the skills test. Foreign license holders always take the knowledge test, and most also take the skills test. This guide is for new Idaho residents from other states and other countries.

Key facts (as of November 2026)

• Deadline: 30 days after you start living in Idaho (also 30 days for a CDL).
• US transfers: knowledge test required; skills test only if your license expired 25 months or more ago.
• Foreign licenses: knowledge test always; skills test unless an exemption below applies.
• Knowledge test fee: $5. Skills test fee: $35.
• Vehicle: title and register it in Idaho within 30 days too.

Who does not need an Idaho license

• College or university students in Idaho who hold a valid license from another state and claim residency there.
• Active-duty US military, their spouses and dependents, who hold a valid license from another state and claim residency there.

Transferring a license from another US state

1. Gather your documents (list below).
2. Go to a county driver’s license office. Offices are run by county sheriffs and/or assessors, and some take appointments.
3. Pass the vision screening (20/40 in at least one eye, with or without lenses).
4. Pass the Class D knowledge test: 40 questions, miss no more than 6. See the Idaho knowledge test guide.
5. Surrender your out-of-state license or ID card.
6. Pay the license fee (for example, $35 for a 4-year license at 21 and over, or $60 for 8 years at 21 to 62).

Skills test needed? Only if your out-of-state license has been expired 25 months or more, or if your vision, a medical condition or a county agent’s concerns require one. See the Idaho skills test guide.

From a US territory, the rules are the same as moving from another state: surrender your license and pass the knowledge test, with no skills test.

Moving to Idaho with a teen driver

• A teen with a license from another state does not need to complete Idaho’s supervised driving period or prove driver education.
• A teen under 17 who completed driver training in another state (while living there) but was not licensed must prove completion of an approved course from that state, and complete a supervised driving period before licensing.
• Under 18s need a liability signer and school compliance verification.
• Idaho’s under-16 and under-17 restrictions apply to Idaho licenses. See the Idaho GDL rules.

Foreign Class D licenses

Where your license is from	Surrender it?	Knowledge test	Skills test
Germany	Not required	Yes	No
Korea or Taiwan, if you surrender it	Your choice	Yes	No
Korea or Taiwan, if you keep it	Your choice	Yes	Yes
Any other country	Not required	Yes	Yes

• If you have never held a CDL anywhere, you do not have to surrender your foreign license or provide a driving record.
• Once you hold an Idaho Class D license, you may not show or use your foreign license to drive. Doing so is a misdemeanor.
• Foreign nationals prove name and date of birth with a valid foreign passport, plus acceptable lawful presence documents.
• If you are not a citizen or permanent resident, your license expires at the end of your lawful stay or after 4 years, whichever is sooner. If your DHS documents show no end date, it expires 1 year after issue.
• ITD does not issue international driving permits. Contact AAA.

Visiting rather than moving? See driving in the US on a foreign license.

Documents to bring

• Proof of age and identity: surrendering a state photo license or ID together with a US birth certificate showing your full legal name and date of birth is enough. An out-of-state license alone is not accepted as identity. No photocopies or faxes.
• Name change proof, if your name differs from your birth certificate: a certified marriage certificate or court order.
• Social Security card or number, verified with the Social Security Administration.
• Proof of Idaho residency: a lease, utility bill, employment or school records, dated within 1 year.
• Lawful presence documents, if applicable: for example a US passport, permanent resident card, employment authorization card, or foreign passport with I-94.

Getting a Star Card when you transfer

The Star Card is Idaho’s REAL ID. It is optional, but since May 7, 2025 you need it, a passport or another federally accepted ID to fly commercially or enter federal buildings such as military bases. Getting it at the same visit saves a trip. You need:

• Proof of identity and lawful presence (such as a certified birth certificate or permanent resident card)
• Name change documents, if applicable
• Social Security number
• Two different proofs of Idaho residency showing your physical address, such as a mortgage statement or current utility bill

ITD’s “Add the Star” tool builds a personal document list. More: REAL ID and your license.

Your car: title, registration and insurance

• Title and register your vehicle within 30 days of moving. Bring the vehicle, its current title and registration, and your ID. A DMV employee inspects the VIN.
• Plates are made to order and mailed. ITD says to allow 6 weeks.
• Minimum liability insurance: $25,000 for injury or death of one person, $50,000 for two or more people, and $15,000 for property damage, in any one accident. Idaho verifies insurance electronically.

See car insurance for new drivers.

Common questions

Do I have to take a test to transfer my license to Idaho?

Yes, the knowledge test. The skills test is only needed if your license has been expired 25 months or more, or in the other cases ITD lists.

How long do I have to get an Idaho license after moving?

30 days, whether or not your old license has expired.

Can I keep my foreign license?

Yes, for a Class D license you are not required to surrender it. But you cannot use it to drive once you hold an Idaho license. Korea and Taiwan license holders who keep theirs must take the skills test.

Do I need the skills test with a license from Canada or Mexico?

For a Class D license, ITD names only Germany, Korea and Taiwan as exceptions. Other foreign drivers, including from Canada and Mexico, take a skills test.

I am a student in Idaho from another state. Do I need an Idaho license?

Not if you hold a valid license from your home state and claim residency there.

What if my old state license expired long ago?

If it expired 25 months or more ago, you are treated as needing both the knowledge and the skills test.

Related: moving to a new state. Back to the Idaho learner driver guide.

Sources

• Idaho Transportation Department, “Idaho Driver’s Handbook” (July 2026) (itd.idaho.gov)
• Idaho Transportation Department, “New to Idaho” (itd.idaho.gov)
• Idaho Transportation Department, “Star Card” (itd.idaho.gov)
• Idaho Transportation Department, “Taking the Driver’s Test” (itd.idaho.gov)

Photo: An Errant Knight, CC BY-SA 4.0, via Wikimedia Commons

Idaho’s Parent-Student On-Road Driver Training program lets a qualifying parent or guardian teach the in-car part of driver’s ed, while the teen takes the 30 classroom hours through a state-approved online course. It is only open to students who live in a rural school district or a district that does not offer driver education. This guide is for Idaho families checking eligibility and working through the steps, based on ITD and Idaho Department of Education (SDE) documents.

Key facts (as of November 2026)

• Law: Idaho Code 49-307, from House Bill 531 (2024 session).
• Training: 42 hours in total, made up of 30 hours classroom (approved online course), 6 hours behind the wheel and 6 hours in-car observation.
• Then: the usual Supervised Instruction Permit (SIP) period, 50 hours over at least 6 months, 10 of them at night.
• Permit fee: $16.50 for the parent-led Driver Training and Supervised Instruction Permits (includes the $6.50 county skills test fee).
• Parents do not need to be certified driver education instructors.

Who is eligible for parent-led driver training in Idaho?

The student

• Must live in a school district defined as rural (Idaho Code 33-319), or in a district that does not offer a driver education course.
• Homeschooled and online-school students qualify based on the district they live in.
• Must get a specific Verification of Compliance (VOC) from their school district confirming eligibility. Homeschooled students can complete a form instead, stating they are homeschooled and naming their district.
• Driver training permits are available from 14 1/2, and driver training is required for anyone under 17.

The parent or guardian who teaches

• Must prove the relationship with a certified original birth certificate, a marriage certificate (for stepparents) or a court-ordered guardianship document.
• Must hold a valid Idaho driver’s license that permits unaccompanied driving.
• Must not have had a license suspended, revoked or canceled, or been disqualified, in the previous 2 years.
• More than one qualifying parent or guardian can share the teaching.

Check eligibility with your local school district first. If your district runs a driver education course and is not rural, this route is not open to you; see the other options in the Idaho learner driver guide.

Parent-led on-road driver training checklist

1. Get the permit at a county driver’s license office. Bring:
   • Certified original birth certificate, marriage certificate or guardianship papers linking the student to the teaching parent(s)
   • The student’s certified original birth certificate, if not already provided
   • Photo ID (under 18s can use a parent’s photo ID)
   • Social Security card or number
   • Liability signer: a parent or court-ordered guardian
   • The eligibility VOC from the school district
   • Lawful presence documents, if applicable
2. Enroll in an approved online course, only after buying the permit. Courses from any other source do not count toward the 30 hours.
3. Complete the 30 hours of classroom instruction.
4. Complete and log 6 hours of behind-the-wheel instruction with a DMV-preapproved parent or guardian.
5. Complete and log 6 hours of in-car observation, also with a preapproved parent or guardian. Hours logged with anyone else do not count.
6. Submit proof of course completion and the official drive log to ITD or your county driver’s license office. This sets your test eligibility date.
7. Complete the SIP period: 50 hours, 10 at night, over at least 6 months, supervised by a licensed driver over 21. See the Idaho GDL and SIP rules.
8. Pass the knowledge test and the skills test on or after your test eligibility date. Tests taken before that date are invalid and have to be bought and passed again.
9. Parent or guardian signs a statement confirming the requirements are met and granting permission to issue the license.

Approved online classroom courses

SDE’s FAQ (updated 2026) lists these as approved for the parent-student program:

• AAA: How to Drive
• Idaho Online Driver Education
• Nampa Driving Academy
• Pass Drivers Ed

SDE says more courses may be approved, so check the current list on SDE’s Parent-Student On-Road Training page before you pay for one.

The drive log

• You must use the official driving log. A homemade or other log is not accepted.
• Record the dates, the lessons and what each lesson covered.
• The parent submits the log at the end of training and before the SIP period.
• SDE provides a digital copy of the Idaho Public Driver Education Manual, which parents must follow when teaching. The AAA Parent’s Supervised Driving Program manual is offered as an optional resource.

Parent-led vs school driver training

	Parent-led	Public school or private school
Who can use it	Rural districts or districts with no driver ed course	Public courses are open to Idaho residents 14 1/2 to 21; private courses to anyone 14 1/2 or older
Classroom (30 hours)	Approved online course	School or driving school
Behind the wheel and observation (6 + 6 hours)	Qualifying parent or guardian	Driver training instructor
Permit fee	$16.50	$21.50
Minimum training period	Check with ITD	30 days at public schools; none at private schools

Both routes then use the same SIP, tests and GDL restrictions.

Common questions

Can parents teach driver’s ed in Idaho?

Yes, the in-car part, if the student lives in a rural district or one without a driver education course. The classroom part must be an approved online course.

Does the parent need to be a certified instructor?

No. They need a valid Idaho license for unaccompanied driving and a clean license history for the past 2 years.

Can a stepparent teach?

Yes, with a certified marriage certificate establishing the relationship, and if they meet the license requirements.

How do I know if my district qualifies?

ITD says to verify eligibility with the school district you live in. The district issues the VOC you need.

Can I start the online course before getting the permit?

No. You may only enroll after buying the driver training permit.

Do the 12 in-car training hours count toward the 50 SIP hours?

The documents list them as separate requirements: the 42 training hours first, then the 50-hour SIP period. Plan for both.

Related: Idaho knowledge test, Idaho skills test, supervised driving hours by state. Back to the Idaho learner driver guide.

Sources

• Idaho Transportation Department, “Idaho’s Parent-Student On-Road Driver’s Training Program” checklist (Rev. 9/26) (itd.idaho.gov)
• Idaho Transportation Department, “Parent-Student On-Road Driver’s Training” (itd.idaho.gov)
• Idaho Department of Education, “Idaho Code 49-307 Parent-Student On-Road Driver Training FAQ” (sde.idaho.gov)
• Idaho Transportation Department, “Idaho Driver’s Handbook” (July 2026) (itd.idaho.gov)
• Idaho Transportation Department, “Young Drivers” (itd.idaho.gov)

Photo: Tony Webster, CC BY 4.0, via Wikimedia Commons

Idaho’s Graduated Driver’s License (GDL) program applies to anyone under 17 who has not held an Idaho license. You must hold a Supervised Instruction Permit (SIP) for at least 6 violation-free months and log 50 hours of supervised driving, 10 of them at night, before testing. Once licensed, drivers under 16 may drive only from 5 a.m. to 10 p.m. without a 21+ supervisor, and drivers under 17 may carry only one passenger under 17 for the first 6 months. This explainer is for Idaho teens and parents.

Key facts

• Who: anyone under 17 applying for a first Idaho license.
• SIP: at least 6 calendar months, violation-free.
• Hours: 50 supervised, including 10 at night.
• Supervisor: licensed driver 21 or older, in the front seat beside you.
• Earliest license: 15.
• Permit fee (as of November 2026): $21.50, or $16.50 for parent-led training.

How the Idaho GDL stages fit together

Stage	From	What you can do	How long
Driver Training Permit	14 1/2	Driver training, including the 6 behind-the-wheel hours	Until you pass driver training
Supervised Instruction Permit (SIP)	After driver training	Drive with a licensed driver 21+ beside you	At least 6 months; 50 hours
Class D license with GDL limits	15	Drive alone, with the under-16 and under-17 limits below	Limits end at 16 and 17

In public and private driver training, the instructor keeps your Driver Training Permit and hands it back when you pass. It then becomes your SIP.

SIP rules while you practice

• The supervising driver must be 21 or older, hold a valid license and sit beside you.
• No other passengers in the front seat.
• Carry the SIP whenever you drive.
• Everyone in the car must wear a seat belt or child restraint.
• Obey all alcohol and intoxicating substance laws.
• You can keep driving on an unexpired SIP after the minimum 6 months.

When the SIP expires

• Issued between 14 1/2 and 17 1/2: 5 days after your 18th birthday.
• Issued at 17 1/2 or older: 180 days.
• Driver Training Permits are not renewable.

The 50-hour certification

Before your license is issued, a parent or legal guardian signs and dates the GDL Requirements Verification. It does two things:

1. Certifies you completed 50 hours of driving, 10 at night.
2. Grants permission to issue the license.

ITD offers a Drive Log Template on its Young Drivers page. Night is not defined in the GDL fact sheet; log the 10 night hours clearly. For a planning guide, see supervised driving hours by state.

A simple 6-month plan

Months	Target hours	Focus
1 to 2	15	Parking lots, quiet residential streets, turns, stops
3 to 4	18 (some at night)	Busier roads, lane changes, roundabouts, railroad crossings
5 to 6	17 (finish the 10 night hours)	Interstate, curves, curb and stall parking, a mock skills test route

The split is a suggestion only. The legal minimum is 50 hours with 10 at night over at least 6 months.

What gets your SIP canceled?

A canceled SIP means buying a new permit and starting a fresh 6-month period. No reinstatement fee is needed to reapply. Causes:

• Conviction for any traffic violation (speeding, running a red light) or an intoxicating substance violation
• Breaking the permit’s rules, such as unbelted occupants, not carrying the permit, or no qualified adult beside you. This also brings a mandatory suspension of driving privileges
• Any suspension ordered by a court or ITD, such as for an unpaid ticket or failing to attend school

Scenario

Five months into your SIP, you are convicted of speeding. The permit is canceled. You buy a new SIP, and your 6-month clock starts again from the new permit. ITD does not say whether hours already logged carry over to the new permit, so ask your county driver’s license office before relying on them.

Restriction when under 16

A licensed driver under 16 may drive only in daylight, which the Idaho handbook defines as 5 a.m. to 10 p.m. local time, unless a licensed driver 21 or older sits in the front seat beside you. The GDL fact sheet adds that no other passengers are allowed in the front seat.

Restriction when under 17

For the first 6 months after your license is issued, you may carry no more than 1 passenger under 17, unless the passengers are related to you by blood, adoption or marriage.

Examples

• Licensed at 16 years 2 months, driving two 15-year-old friends: not allowed in the first 6 months.
• Same driver, taking two younger siblings to school: allowed (related by blood).
• Same driver, one friend aged 16 and one aged 18: allowed (only one is under 17).

GDL penalties for drivers under 17

Conviction (moving traffic or intoxicating substance)	Penalty
First	Warning letter
Second	30-day suspension (minimum)
Third or later	60-day suspension (minimum)

These come on top of any SIP cancellation or court suspension. The handbook says GDL suspensions are absolute, with no driving privileges of any kind. Breaking a daylight-only restriction is also listed as a reason for suspension.

What else applies under 18 and under 21

• Your license shows “Under 18 until” a date and expires 5 days after your 18th birthday.
• A parent or guardian signs as your liability signer and can withdraw consent at any time, which cancels your license.
• Under 21, the DUI threshold is a BAC of .02. See zero tolerance laws.

Common questions

What time can a 15-year-old drive in Idaho?

From 5 a.m. to 10 p.m. alone. Outside those hours only with a licensed driver 21 or older beside them.

How many passengers can a 16-year-old have in Idaho?

In the first 6 months of the license, no more than 1 passenger under 17, unless they are family by blood, adoption or marriage.

Who can supervise an Idaho SIP driver?

Any licensed driver 21 or older sitting beside the permit holder. The parent or guardian certifies the 50 hours.

Do I need a GDL if I move to Idaho at 16 with a license?

No supervised period or proof of driver education is required if you have a license from another state. If you completed driver training elsewhere but were not licensed, you need proof of it and a supervised period. See moving to Idaho.

Can I drive past 6 months on my SIP without testing?

Yes. You can keep driving on an unexpired SIP past the minimum period.

Does the GDL apply if I start at 17?

The GDL and driver training requirement applies under 17. At 17 or older you can use a Class D Instruction Permit instead.

Related: Idaho parent-led driver training, Idaho knowledge test, Idaho skills test, US GDL rules compared. Back to the Idaho learner driver guide.

Sources

• Idaho Transportation Department, “Idaho’s Graduated Driver’s Licensing (GDL) Program” fact sheet ITD 3506 (Rev. 4/24) (itd.idaho.gov)
• Idaho Transportation Department, “Idaho Driver’s Handbook” (July 2026) (itd.idaho.gov)
• Idaho Transportation Department, “Young Drivers” (itd.idaho.gov)
• Idaho Transportation Department, “Idaho’s Parent-Student On-Road Driver’s Training Program” checklist (Rev. 9/26) (itd.idaho.gov)

Photo: Dougtone, CC BY-SA 2.0, via Wikimedia Commons

To pass the Idaho Class D skills test you must finish the route with 12 or fewer errors and no critical driving error, which ends the test on the spot. The test is given by a private, third-party Skills Test Examiner, not county staff, and costs $35 in total. This guide is for Idaho teens finishing their Supervised Instruction Permit, permit holders 17 and older, and anyone else ITD requires to take a road test.

Key facts (as of November 2026)

• Pass mark: 12 or fewer errors, and no critical driving error (CDE).
• Length: about 30 minutes, per ITD’s test guide.
• Fee: $35 ($6.50 to the county DMV, up to $28.50 to the examiner).
• Failing: wait 3 days, then pay both fees again.
• Tests only in daylight and acceptable weather.
• Pre-drive vehicle check: miss 3 or fewer items to continue.

Who needs the Idaho skills test?

• Anyone never licensed before
• Teens under 17 who have completed driver training and the SIP (test eligibility dates are strictly enforced)
• Drivers 17 or older on a Class D Instruction Permit
• Holders of a foreign license from a country without a reciprocity agreement (see moving to Idaho)
• Anyone with an Idaho or out-of-state license expired 25 months or more
• Anyone whose vision does not meet the standard, or who has a medical or vision skills test requirement
• Anyone a county agent has concerns about, whatever their age or experience

How the $35 fee is split

Paid to	Amount	When
County DMV	$6.50	For SIP holders, already included in the permit fee ($21.50 or $16.50)
Skills Test Examiner	Up to $28.50	Paid to the examiner

A failed test means paying both parts again.

How to book a third-party examiner

1. Open ITD’s “Taking the Driver’s Test” guide and pick the examiner list for your region: North, North Central, Southwest, South Central, Southeast or East Idaho.
2. Call an examiner of your choice between 8 a.m. and 8 p.m.
3. If no one answers, leave a voicemail with your name and phone number. Examiners will not call back without one.
4. If you need a restricted skills test (for example, only driving within specific restrictions or to certain places), tell the examiner and discuss it before the test. Otherwise you must complete the full route.

What to bring on test day

• Photo ID: a state license, ID card, instruction permit, SIP, passport, school ID or yearbook.
• Vehicle permission: if you do not own the car, the owner gives permission in writing or in person. Permission by phone is not accepted.
• Proof of insurance: paper or digital, not expired. An SR22 does not count.
• Registration: the original (not a photocopy), not expired and signed by the registrant.
• Skills test receipt: needed for identity only if you have no state-issued credential. Photo ID is still required.
• Skills Test Evaluation Form: only if ITD requires one for a medical review.

Without a valid license you may not drive yourself to the test.

Examiner vehicle inspection

The examiner checks the car against Idaho Code and ITD standards. If it fails, you have to rebook with a safe vehicle.

• Passenger door and passenger seat belt work
• Rear-view mirror, or both side mirrors
• Windshield with no cracks or obstructions
• Tires with at least 2/32 inch of tread. No studded tires from May 1 to September 30
• No critical warning lights or gauges lit on the dashboard
• No dealer plates, unless you are a dealer or full-time salesperson with a state dealer ID
• No rental car if you are unlicensed or under 25

Your vehicle knowledge check

You locate or demonstrate these items. Miss 3 or fewer to continue to the drive. ITD’s test guide says the test stops if any item marked * does not meet standards or you cannot show it:

Must work and be shown (*)	Also checked
Driver door, driver seat belt, brake lights, front and rear turn signals, headlights, windshield wipers, hazard lights, driver window, horn	All three arm signals (left, right, slow or stop), defroster or defogger, emergency or parking brake

Arm signals in Idaho: left is arm straight out, right is arm up, slow or stop is arm down.

What the Idaho driving route includes

• Commercial and residential driving
• A curve
• Intersections: controlled, uncontrolled, railroad and roundabout
• Interstate (freeway) driving and lane changes
• A parking lot
• Right turns, left turns and a U-turn
• Stall parking and curb parking

What you are scored on

ITD lists these scored skills. Each mistake is an error, and 12 is the most you can have.

• Acceleration and deceleration
• Attentiveness and traffic checks
• Complete stops, and stopping at the gap or stop line
• Curb
• Lane position
• Right-of-way
• Signaling (at least 100 feet before a turn in town)
• Spacing
• Speed and steering control
• Unnecessary stops

Critical driving errors: automatic fails

A CDE is anything that could cause an incident, injury or death. One CDE ends the test immediately.

1. Dangerous action
2. Disobeying an emergency or safety vehicle
3. Disobeying police or safety personnel
4. Disobeying a traffic sign or signal
5. Driving up onto the curb or sidewalk
6. Intervention by, or disobeying, the examiner
7. Habitual violation: 5 or more errors on the same scored skill
8. Lane violation
9. Passenger interference
10. Speeding (ITD’s test guide says more than 10 mph over, or unsafe)
11. Curb parking more than 18 inches from the curb and impeding traffic
12. Striking an object

Scenario: the habitual violation trap

You roll through four stop signs without a full stop, and also finish a lane change without checking your blind spot once. That is 5 errors, well under 12. But a fifth rolling stop would be a habitual violation, which fails you even with a low total. Fix repeated habits before test day.

Passengers on the Idaho skills test

Passengers are not allowed, with these exceptions. Each must be 18 or older, carry valid ID and sign the liability waiver:

• One parent or legal guardian of an applicant 17 or younger
• A translator (does not need certification or a license; you arrange one)
• A law enforcement officer accompanying an inmate
• A religious missionary companion, on request

A service dog may come along if needed. Phones and other devices must be off.

Results

• Pass: the examiner gives you your result in a sealed envelope. Take it unopened to the county DMV and pay the license fee. An opened or tampered envelope means your result is held for ITD review.
• Fail: the examiner sends the result to ITD for your driving record. Wait 3 days, then book with the same or a different examiner.
• You have no driving privileges from the test itself until a passing result is recorded and a license is issued.

Common questions

How many points can you miss on the Idaho driving test?

You can have up to 12 errors, as long as none is a critical driving error.

What is an automatic fail on the Idaho skills test?

Any critical driving error on the list above, including 5 errors on the same skill.

Who gives the Idaho driving test?

Private Skills Test Examiners approved by ITD. You find them on ITD’s regional lists.

Can my parent ride along?

Yes, one parent or legal guardian can ride with an applicant 17 or younger, after signing the liability waiver.

Can I use a rental car?

Not if you are unlicensed or under 25.

Do I parallel park on the Idaho test?

The route includes curb parking and stall parking. In curb parking you must end up within 18 inches of the curb.

Can I take the skills test at night?

No. Tests are only scheduled in daylight and acceptable weather.

Related: Idaho knowledge test, Idaho GDL and SIP rules, common reasons people fail the US driving test, US road test by state. Back to the Idaho learner driver guide.

Sources

• Idaho Transportation Department, “Idaho Driver’s Handbook” (July 2026) (itd.idaho.gov)
• Idaho Transportation Department, “Taking the Driver’s Test” (itd.idaho.gov)
• Idaho Transportation Department, “Young Drivers” (itd.idaho.gov)

Photo: Tamanoeconomico, CC BY-SA 4.0, via Wikimedia Commons

The Idaho Class D knowledge test has 40 questions, and you can miss up to 6 and still pass, so you need at least 34 right. It costs $5, you take it at a county driver’s license office, and if you fail you must wait 3 days and pay again. This guide is for Idaho permit applicants, teens on a Supervised Instruction Permit and new residents who have to take the test to transfer a license.

Key facts (as of November 2026)

• Questions: 40, taken directly from the Idaho Driver’s Handbook.
• Pass mark: miss no more than 6 (34 correct).
• Fee: $5 per attempt.
• Retest: wait 3 days and pay the fee again.
• Minimum age to test: 15.
• Languages: 12, listed below.

Who has to take the Idaho knowledge test?

• New applicants who have never been licensed
• Anyone transferring a license from another state, US territory or DC
• Anyone whose Idaho license has been expired for 25 months or more
• Anyone 17 or older applying for a Class D Instruction Permit (you must pass the test before the permit is issued)
• Foreign license holders: ITD says no foreign drivers are exempt from the knowledge test

Which permit do you need, and when do you test?

Your age	Permit	When the knowledge test fits
14 1/2 to under 17	Driver Training Permit, then Supervised Instruction Permit (SIP), $21.50 ($16.50 for parent-led training)	No test needed for the permit. You take the knowledge test near the end, after your SIP test eligibility date
17 or older	Class D Instruction Permit, $20, valid 1 year	Pass the knowledge test first, then the permit is issued

Under 17, the parent-led training checklist warns that knowledge or skills tests taken before your test eligibility date are invalid, and you would have to buy and pass a new test. See the Idaho GDL and SIP rules.

What languages is the Idaho knowledge test in?

ITD lists English, Arabic, Chinese, Farsi, French, Korean, Russian, Serbo-Croatian, Spanish, Swahili and Vietnamese, each written and aural (audio), plus American Sign Language on video.

You may only use a translator if your language is not offered, or if you have tried the test at least 3 times in an offered language and could not pass. The translator cannot be a family member, may only read the questions and answers, and you must select your own answers. Arrange this with your county office.

Rules in the testing area

Not allowed:

• Phones, smart watches, cameras, tablets, laptops, headphones and earbuds
• Handbooks, notes or other written material
• Talking with others
• Leaving the testing area except to go to an examiner
• Interpreters, unless authorized

Children and bags are allowed at the county’s discretion.

What to bring

• The test fee ($5)
• For a first permit or license: proof of identity and age, Social Security number, proof of Idaho residency, and lawful presence documents if they apply
• Under 18: a liability signer (parent or legal guardian) and school compliance verification
• Glasses or contacts, because you also take a vision screening (20/40 in at least one eye)

What is on the test?

Questions come straight from the handbook. ITD’s New to Idaho page lists traffic laws, highway signs by shape and symbol, traffic signals, pavement markings and the equipment motor vehicles must have. ITD also warns that web-based practice tests are not an accurate guide, except the sample questions on ITD’s own site. Study these handbook chapters:

1. Vehicle Equipment and Safety (brakes, lights, tires, seat belts, child seats)
2. Highway and Vehicle Knowledge (signs, signals, markings, intersections, roundabouts)
3. Traffic Laws and the Rules of the Road (speed, stopping, turns, right-of-way, passing, parking, freeways)
4. The Driving Task and Sharing the Road
5. Be Prepared (crashes, points, alcohol and drugs)

Idaho numbers that are easy to test

Topic	Handbook figure
Max distance from curb when parallel parked	18 inches
Signal before a turn	100 feet in town, 5 seconds on highways
Minimum following distance	3 seconds
Stopping at a railroad crossing	Within 50 feet, no closer than 15 feet from the nearest rail
Residential, business or urban speed	35 mph unless posted
No parking near a fire hydrant	15 feet
No parking near a crosswalk	20 feet
No parking near a stop sign or signal	30 feet
Dim high beams	500 feet before meeting, 200 feet before overtaking
Passing a bicycle	At least 3 feet
BAC limit under 21	.02

Practice test questions

These are written from the handbook. Answers follow each one.

1. A traffic signal is dark because of a power outage. What do you do?

Treat the intersection as a four-way stop.

2. When may you pass on the right without leaving the pavement?

When the vehicle ahead on a two-lane, two-way road is signaling to turn left, or on a one-way or multi-lane road with two or more lanes going your way.

3. When do you NOT have to stop for a school bus with flashing red lights?

When you are going the opposite direction on a highway with four or more lanes, two going each way.

4. What is Idaho’s basic speed law?

Drive at a speed that is reasonable and prudent at all times. Driving too slowly and blocking traffic also breaks it.

5. Two vehicles reach an uncontrolled intersection at the same time. Who yields?

The vehicle on the left yields to the vehicle on the right.

6. You are parked facing downhill against a curb. Which way do you turn your wheels?

Sharply toward the curb.

7. Can you cross a solid double yellow line to pass?

No.

8. A person is walking with a white cane or guide dog. What does that tell you?

They are likely blind, and you must yield to them.

The handbook itself ends with 20 practice questions and an answer key. Work through those too.

If you fail

• Wait at least 3 days before retesting. A test taken and passed during those 3 days is invalid.
• Pay the $5 fee again.
• Reread the chapters that tripped you up, and drill the figures in the table above.

Common questions

How many questions can you miss on the Idaho permit test?

Up to 6 out of 40.

Can you take the Idaho knowledge test online?

ITD’s test guide sends you to a county driver’s license office to take it. Its online practice tests are for study only.

Do I need the knowledge test before the skills test?

ITD’s test guide says you must pass the knowledge test first, unless you are under 17 on a SIP. The handbook says passing it first is beneficial but the tests may be taken in either order. Ask your county office if your order matters.

Do I have to take the knowledge test when moving to Idaho?

Yes, if you are transferring a license from another state, territory or DC. See moving to Idaho.

Is there a time limit?

Neither the handbook nor ITD’s test guide states one. Ask your county office.

What vision score do I need?

20/40 in at least one eye, with or without glasses or contacts. Wearing them adds a lens restriction to your license.

Next: the Idaho skills test. Back to the Idaho learner driver guide. Compare states: US permit test by state.

Sources

• Idaho Transportation Department, “Idaho Driver’s Handbook” (July 2026) (itd.idaho.gov)
• Idaho Transportation Department, “Taking the Driver’s Test” (itd.idaho.gov)
• Idaho Transportation Department, “New to Idaho” (itd.idaho.gov)
• Idaho Transportation Department, “Idaho’s Parent-Student On-Road Driver’s Training Program” checklist (Rev. 9/26) (itd.idaho.gov)
• Idaho Transportation Department, “Young Drivers” (itd.idaho.gov)

Photo: Quintin Soloviev, CC BY 4.0, via Wikimedia Commons

In Idaho you can get a Class D driver’s license at 15, one of the youngest ages in the US, but only after approved driver training and a 6-month Supervised Instruction Permit (SIP) with 50 logged hours. This guide is for Idaho teens, parents and new residents. It covers every step, the fees, the tests and the rules that apply once you are licensed, based on the Idaho Transportation Department (ITD) Driver’s Handbook (cover dated July 2026).

Key facts (as of November 2026)

• Driver training permit: from 14 1/2.
• Earliest license: 15, after driver training plus at least 6 months on the SIP.
• Supervised driving: 50 hours, 10 of them at night, with a licensed driver 21 or older beside you.
• Knowledge test: 40 questions, you can miss up to 6. Fee $5.
• Skills test: 12 or fewer errors to pass, given by a third-party Skills Test Examiner. Fee $35 in total.
• Failing either test: wait 3 days and pay again.
• Licenses and permits are issued at county sheriff’s driver’s license offices, not at one state office.

The route to an Idaho license, step by step

If you are under 17

1. Buy a Driver Training Permit at a county driver’s license office (from 14 1/2). Bring the documents listed below, a liability signer and school verification.
2. Complete approved driver training: 30 hours of classroom, 6 hours of behind-the-wheel driving and 6 hours of in-car observation. You can do this at a public school, a private driving school, or, if you live in a rural school district or one with no driver education course, through Idaho’s parent-led on-road driver training program.
3. The permit becomes your SIP. Drive at least 6 calendar months, violation-free, logging 50 hours (10 at night). See the Idaho GDL and SIP rules.
4. Pass the knowledge test at the county office. See the Idaho knowledge test guide.
5. Pass the skills test with a third-party examiner. See the Idaho skills test guide.
6. Return to the county office with the sealed result envelope. A parent or guardian signs the GDL Requirements Verification, certifying the 50 hours and giving permission. Your license is issued with GDL restrictions.

If you are 17 or older

Driver training is only required under 17. At 17 or older you can pass the knowledge test and get a Class D Instruction Permit, valid for 1 year, which lets you practice with an adult 18 or older who holds a valid license. When ready, you take the skills test. At 18 you can apply for the instruction permit without a liability signer. You can also choose driver training on a Driver Training permit at 17 or older.

Idaho driver’s license fees

From the ITD handbook fee table, as of November 2026. All fees are non-refundable, and retest fees are the same as the original test fees.

Item	Fee
Driver Training Instruction Permit and Supervised Instruction Permit*	$21.50
Parent-led driver training and Supervised Instruction Permits*	$16.50
Class D Instruction Permit (17 and older)	$20.00
Knowledge test	$5.00
Skills test ($6.50 to the county DMV, up to $28.50 to the examiner)	$35.00
1-year license (age 17 or 20)	$20.00
3-year license (under 18, or 18 to 21)	$30.00
4-year license (21 and over)	$35.00
8-year license (21 to 62)	$60.00
Duplicate	$20.00

*These permit fees include the $6.50 county skills test fee, collected in advance. Eligible drivers who renew online get $5 off a driver’s license renewal.

One driver, one license, one record

• When you get an Idaho license you surrender any license or ID card from another state, US territory or DC. If you take a license elsewhere, your Idaho credential is canceled.
• You must carry your license whenever you drive. Misuse or mutilation of a license, permit or ID card is a misdemeanor, and false information on an application can be prosecuted as perjury.
• Your record is checked against ITD records and the National Driver Register. Any suspension in any jurisdiction must be cleared first.
• You must tell ITD about an address change within 30 days.
• At 21 or older you can renew up to 25 months before expiry, for 4 years or (from 21 to 62) 8 years. Every renewal includes a vision screening. If you are out of state when your license expires, you can buy up to two 12-month extensions at $10 each.

Documents for a first license or permit

• Proof of age and identity (certified original birth certificate plus an accepted photo ID; under 18s can use a parent’s photo ID instead). Photocopies and faxes are not accepted.
• Social Security card or number for verification
• Proof of Idaho residency dated within 1 year (lease, utility bill, school records and similar)
• Lawful presence documents, if applicable
• Proof of driver training and the SIP (under 17)
• A liability signer, usually a birth parent or court-ordered guardian (under 18)
• Verification of School Compliance, a diploma or an equivalency certificate (under 18)

Star Card (Idaho’s REAL ID)

The Star Card is optional. Since May 7, 2025, you need it, a passport or another federally accepted ID to fly commercially or enter federal buildings. It needs extra documents, including two proofs of Idaho residency. More on the national rules: REAL ID and your first license.

Vertical “Under 18” licenses

If you are licensed at 15 to 17, your license shows “Under 18 until” a date and expires 5 days after your 18th birthday. At 18 to 20 it shows “Under 21 until” and expires 5 days after your 21st birthday.

Restrictions on young Idaho drivers

Who	Rule
Licensed driver under 16	Daylight only (defined as 5 a.m. to 10 p.m. local time) unless a licensed driver 21 or older sits beside you
Licensed driver under 17, first 6 months	No more than 1 passenger under 17, unless related by blood, adoption or marriage
Driver under 17 with convictions	1st: warning letter. 2nd: 30-day suspension. 3rd or later: 60-day suspension
Under 21	DUI threshold is a BAC of .02

Vehicle equipment and safety

Idaho has no annual safety inspection, but police can cite you for an unsafe vehicle. Points the handbook covers:

• All occupants must wear seat belts where the vehicle has them. Children 6 and younger must ride in an approved child safety seat.
• Tires should have at least 2/32 inch of tread. Studded tires are allowed only from October 1 to April 30 (ITD sometimes adjusts the dates for weather).
• Headlights must be on from sunset to sunrise and in poor visibility. Dim high beams within 500 feet of an oncoming vehicle and 200 feet behind one.
• Red or blue lights and sirens are not allowed on private vehicles.

National detail: seat belt and child car seat laws.

Highway and vehicle knowledge

The knowledge test draws on the handbook’s chapters on signs, signals, pavement markings, work zones, school safety patrols, intersections, roundabouts and Diverging Diamond Interchanges. Idaho-specific points worth knowing:

• Most warning signs are black on yellow and diamond-shaped. Work zone signs are orange.
• In a roundabout, drive counter-clockwise and yield to traffic already in it on your left.
• At a railroad crossing where you must stop, stop within 50 feet but no less than 15 feet from the nearest rail.

Related: US road signs by shape and color and how to drive a roundabout.

Idaho traffic laws and rules of the road

Rule	Idaho handbook
Basic speed rule	Always drive at a “reasonable and prudent” speed, even below the limit
Interstates	75 mph unless posted (80 where posted)
State highways	65 mph (70 where posted)
Residential, business, urban districts	35 mph unless posted
Signal before turning	At least 100 feet in town, 5 seconds on highways
Following distance	At least 3 seconds, more in bad weather
Parallel parking	Within 18 inches of the curb, facing the direction of traffic
Fire hydrant	No parking within 15 feet
Crosswalk	No parking within 20 feet
Stop sign, yield sign, signal	No parking within 30 feet
Railroad tracks	No parking within 50 feet

• Right on red is allowed after stopping and yielding unless posted. Left on red is allowed from a one-way street onto a one-way street.
• Stop for a school bus with flashing red lights or its stop arm out. You do not have to stop if you are going the opposite way on a highway with two or more lanes in each direction. See school bus stopping laws.
• On a two-lane road with a limit of 55 mph or higher, a car, motorcycle or pickup not towing may go up to 15 mph over the limit to pass a slower vehicle (not in work zones).
• A slow vehicle holding up 3 or more vehicles on a two-lane or rural road must pull off where safe to let them pass.
• Treat a dark traffic signal (power outage) as a four-way stop.
• No U-turn on a curve, near a hill crest, or anywhere you cannot be seen from 500 feet in both directions.
• Finish any pass before you come within 200 feet of oncoming traffic.
• Funeral processions: do not enter an intersection while a procession is passing through it, whatever the light shows, unless you can do so without crossing its path.
• Backing is never allowed on a freeway or its shoulder. If you miss your exit, go on to the next one.

The driving task

The handbook covers defensive driving, distraction, fatigue and highway hypnosis.

Phones: Idaho is a hands-free state

Since July 1, 2020 (House Bill 614), Idaho bans using a handheld electronic device while driving. ITD says the law applies whenever you are in a travel lane on a public road, even when stopped at a stop sign or signal. You may use your phone when parked out of the travel lane, and one-touch dialing is allowed. A violation is a moving violation, with fines that rise for repeat offenses within 3 years. Note that the handbook’s cell phone section still describes the older texting-only law, which HB 614 replaced. See hands-free and texting laws.

Drivers aged 15 through 24 can take Alive at 25, a law enforcement defensive driving course.

Sharing the road in Idaho

• Bicycles: leave at least 3 feet when passing. Under Idaho law, cyclists may roll through stop signs and may proceed through a red light after stopping, if they yield. Expect it.
• Emergency vehicles: pull to the right and stop for sirens or flashing lights. When passing a stopped emergency vehicle, tow truck or incident response vehicle, slow below the limit and move over a lane if you safely can. See move over laws.
• Large trucks: a loaded truck needs about 450 feet to stop from 55 mph on a dry road.
• Open range: outside city limits and herd districts, livestock may roam, and herds being moved have the right-of-way. If you hit livestock on open range, the owner is not liable for your damage.
• Wildlife: moose, elk and deer travel in herds. If one crosses, expect more.
• Snowplows: stay two car lengths back for every 10 mph of your speed, and pass only when you can clearly see the road ahead.
• Low visibility: headlights must be on in daytime whenever you cannot see 500 feet ahead.
• Road conditions: dial 511 or use 511.idaho.gov.

More: sharing the road with motorcycles, bicycles and trucks and driving in snow, fog and rain.

Be prepared: crashes, DUI and suspensions

• Crashes: report any crash with injury or property damage over $1,500 to police. On an interstate or major divided highway, move a vehicle from a crash with no injury or death to the shoulder, median or emergency lane. If you hit an unattended vehicle, try to find the owner or leave a note with your name and phone number. Idaho’s Good Samaritan law protects people who help in good faith.
• Points: each moving violation carries 1 to 4 points. 8 to 11 points in 12 months brings a warning letter; 12 to 17 in 12 months, a 30-day suspension; 18 to 23 in 24 months, 90 days; 24 or more in 36 months, 6 months. An ITD-approved defensive driving course can remove up to 3 points that are already on your record. A traffic safety course offered by the officer at the time of a ticket, and finished within 45 days, removes that ticket’s points (up to 4).
• DUI limits: .02 under 21, .04 in a commercial vehicle, .08 at 21 or older.
• First DUI conviction: up to 6 months in jail, up to $1,000 fine, and a license suspension of 90 to 180 days (one year if under 21), with no driving at all for the first 30 days.
• Test refusal: a $250 civil penalty and, for a first refusal, a one-year suspension with no driving privileges. A second refusal within 10 years means a two-year absolute suspension.
• Failing a breath or blood test: an administrative suspension starting 30 days after you are served. A first failure means 90 days, with no driving at all for the first 30, then an ignition interlock for a year. You have 7 days to ask for a hearing.
• Open containers: drivers and passengers may not drink or hold an open alcohol container. Carry unsealed alcohol in the trunk.
• Reinstatement: $25 to $285, depending on the suspension.

National context: implied consent and DUI, zero tolerance under 21, points systems and suspensions.

Practice test questions

ITD says web practice tests are not an accurate guide to the real test, except the sample questions on ITD’s own website. The handbook ends with 20 practice questions and answers. Use those, then try the questions in the Idaho knowledge test guide.

New to Idaho?

You have 30 days after moving to get an Idaho license, and you will take the knowledge test. Out-of-state college students and active-duty military (and their families) who keep residency elsewhere are exempt. Full details: moving to Idaho and transferring your license.

Common questions

Can you get a driver’s license at 15 in Idaho?

Yes. You must finish approved driver training, hold the SIP for at least 6 months violation-free with 50 hours logged, and pass both tests. Until 16 you drive in daylight only (5 a.m. to 10 p.m.) unless a licensed driver 21 or older is beside you.

What age can you get a permit in Idaho?

14 1/2, for a Driver Training Permit. The Class D Instruction Permit is for ages 17 and up.

Can parents teach driver’s ed in Idaho?

Yes, if you live in a rural school district or one without a driver education course. A qualifying parent teaches the in-car hours and the student takes an approved online classroom course. See the parent-led training guide.

Where do you get an Idaho license?

At a county sheriff’s driver’s license office. ITD’s website lists locations, and some offices take appointments.

Who gives the Idaho driving test?

Third-party Skills Test Examiners, not county staff. You contact one from ITD’s regional examiner lists.

Does Idaho issue international driving permits?

No. ITD says to contact AAA.

For how Idaho compares with other states, see how to get a driver’s license in the US, GDL rules compared and supervised driving hours by state.

Sources

• Idaho Transportation Department, “Idaho Driver’s Handbook” (July 2026) (itd.idaho.gov)
• Idaho Transportation Department, “Idaho’s Graduated Driver’s Licensing (GDL) Program” fact sheet ITD 3506 (itd.idaho.gov)
• Idaho Transportation Department, “Young Drivers” (itd.idaho.gov)
• Idaho Transportation Department, “Taking the Driver’s Test” (itd.idaho.gov)
• Idaho Transportation Department, “New to Idaho” (itd.idaho.gov)
• Idaho Transportation Department, “Star Card” (itd.idaho.gov)
• Idaho Transportation Department, The Transporter, “Idaho drivers to go hands-free as of July 1” (June 26, 2020) (apps.itd.idaho.gov)

Photo: Brett Sayles, Pexels

The Idaho Class D knowledge test has 40 questions taken from the Idaho Driver’s Handbook, and you pass if you miss 6 or fewer (34 correct). This mock is the same length and uses the same pass line, so you can score it like the real thing. The questions are original and unofficial: written from the July 2026 ITD handbook, not copied from the test or from the handbook’s own practice section.

Idaho knowledge test: the essentials

• 40 questions; miss no more than 6.
• Fee: $5 per attempt at a county driver’s license office (as of November 2026).
• Fail it and you wait 3 days, then pay again. A test passed inside those 3 days is invalid.
• Offered in 12 languages; ask your county office about translators.
• Vision screening: 20/40 in at least one eye, glasses allowed.

Who must take it, and when teens on a Supervised Instruction Permit test: the Idaho knowledge test guide.

Traffic control: signs, signals and markings (questions 1 to 11)

1. What shape and color tells you a sign is a warning?

• A. White rectangle
• B. Yellow diamond
• C. Red octagon
• D. Blue square

Answer: B. Yellow diamonds warn of hazards and changes ahead. See US road signs by shape and color. Handbook topic: traffic control devices.

2. A round yellow sign with a large X and the letters RR means:

• A. Rest rooms ahead
• B. Right lane reserved
• C. A railroad crossing is ahead
• D. Road repairs

Answer: C. The round sign gives advance warning of a railroad crossing. See railroad crossings.

3. The light turns steady yellow as you approach. You have not yet entered the intersection and can stop safely. You should:

• A. Keep going at the same speed
• B. Speed up to beat the red
• C. Stop
• D. Honk and proceed

Answer: C. The handbook says stop if you can do so safely. If you are already in the intersection, continue and clear it.

4. A power outage has knocked out the traffic signals at an intersection. What should you do?

• A. Drive through with hazard lights on
• B. Go if you are on the bigger road
• C. Treat it as a four-way stop
• D. Wait until power returns

Answer: C. The handbook says treat a non-working signal as a four-way stop. See four-way stops explained.

5. A pedestrian signal ahead goes from dark to flashing yellow after someone presses the button. It warns you to:

• A. Speed up before the pedestrian steps out
• B. Ignore it unless it is red
• C. Turn on your hazard lights
• D. Slow down and prepare to stop for a pedestrian

Answer: D. This is a pedestrian hybrid beacon. Flashing yellow means slow down; it is followed by solid yellow (prepare to stop), then solid red (stop at the line).

6. Broken white lines between lanes mean:

• A. Traffic is moving in opposite directions
• B. The lane is ending
• C. You may change lanes when it is safe
• D. Lane changes are illegal

Answer: C. Dashed white lines can be crossed when it is safe. See US pavement markings.

7. You are behind a slow car on a road marked with double solid yellow lines. May you pass?

• A. No
• B. Yes, in daylight
• C. Yes, if the car is below the limit
• D. Yes, if no one is coming

Answer: A. Double solid yellow lines mean no passing in either direction.

8. A red circle with a slash over an arrow means:

• A. A one-way street
• B. The movement shown is required
• C. A detour ahead
• D. The movement shown is not allowed

Answer: D. The slashed circle prohibits what the symbol shows, such as a turn or U-turn.

9. Brown signs point you to:

• A. Interstate exits only
• B. Recreation areas and points of interest
• C. Hospitals
• D. Construction zones

Answer: B. Brown guide signs mark parks, recreation and cultural sites.

10. Most work zone signs are which color?

• A. Purple
• B. Green
• C. Orange
• D. Blue

Answer: C. Orange marks temporary traffic control in work zones. See work zone driving rules.

11. You see a white diamond painted in a lane. It usually means the lane is:

• A. For bicycles only
• B. Closed
• C. Reserved for certain vehicles, such as carpools or buses
• D. For turning only

Answer: C. Check the signs for who may use it and when. See HOV lanes explained.

Right of way, turns and passing (questions 12 to 20)

12. Two cars reach a four-way stop at the same moment. Under the Idaho handbook:

• A. The car on the left yields to the car on the right
• B. The car on the right yields to the car on the left
• C. The faster car goes first
• D. Both go together

Answer: A. First to arrive goes first; if you arrive together, the vehicle on the left yields.

13. An emergency vehicle with flashing lights and siren approaches. You must:

• A. Pull over to the right edge, clear of intersections, and stay stopped until it passes
• B. Stop wherever you are
• C. Move to the left lane
• D. Speed up to get out of its way

Answer: A. Pull right, clear of any intersection, and wait. See pulling over for emergency vehicles.

14. When may you pass on the right in Idaho?

• A. Never
• B. When the car ahead on a two-lane road is signaling a left turn, or on a road with two or more lanes going your way
• C. Whenever the car ahead is under the limit
• D. Whenever there is a wide shoulder

Answer: B. Those are the two cases the handbook allows, and never by driving off the roadway.

15. Which of these is a place where passing is NOT allowed?

• A. On a one-way street with two lanes
• B. In the left lane of a four-lane highway
• C. On a straight road with a broken yellow line and a clear view
• D. When a vehicle ahead has stopped at a crosswalk for a pedestrian

Answer: D. The handbook also bans passing within 100 feet of a railroad crossing, near a bridge or tunnel with a blocked view, and when a school bus is stopped to load or unload.

16. On a two-lane road posted at 55 mph or more, how much may a car driver exceed the limit while passing a vehicle going below the limit?

• A. 5 mph
• B. 10 mph
• C. 15 mph
• D. 20 mph

Answer: C. Up to 15 mph while passing, not in work zones and not when towing. Then return to the right lane and the posted limit. See passing on two-lane roads.

17. In Idaho, a cyclist approaching a stop sign:

• A. Need not stop fully, but must yield to vehicles in or near the intersection
• B. Has the right of way over all cars
• C. Must get off and walk
• D. Must always stop and put a foot down

Answer: A. Idaho law lets cyclists treat stop signs as yields. Expect cyclists to roll through when the way is clear. See sharing the road.

18. A person crossing with a white or silver cane, or a guide dog, is most likely:

• A. Taking part in a traffic count
• B. Deaf
• C. Blind or visually impaired, and you must yield
• D. A crossing guard

Answer: C. Stop and give them all the time they need.

19. You are turning left at an intersection with a green light and no arrow. You must:

• A. Wait for the light to turn yellow
• B. Yield to oncoming traffic and pedestrians, then turn when safe
• C. Turn first because you signaled
• D. Turn from the right lane

Answer: B. A plain green light gives no protection for left turns. See left-turn yield rules.

20. You are joining a freeway from an on-ramp. The right approach is to:

• A. Expect freeway traffic to let you in
• B. Stop at the end of the ramp to look
• C. Merge at 30 mph
• D. Adjust your speed in the acceleration lane and merge into a gap

Answer: D. Match the traffic speed and fit into a gap. In heavy traffic you may need to slow before the end of the lane. See freeway driving.

Idaho distances, speeds and parking (questions 21 to 29)

21. When parked parallel to a curb in Idaho, your wheels may be no farther than:

• A. 6 inches
• B. 12 inches
• C. 18 inches
• D. 24 inches

Answer: C. 18 inches. Many states use 12, so this is an Idaho number to learn. See how to parallel park.

22. In town, how far before a turn must you signal?

• A. 50 feet
• B. 100 feet
• C. 200 feet
• D. 500 feet

Answer: B. 100 feet in town. On highways, signal for 5 seconds before you turn or change lanes.

23. On an Idaho highway, how long should you signal before changing lanes?

• A. 1 second
• B. 2 seconds
• C. 3 seconds
• D. 5 seconds

Answer: D. The handbook says 5 seconds on highways. See lane changes and blind spots.

24. What minimum following distance does the Idaho handbook recommend?

• A. 1 second
• B. 2 seconds
• C. 3 seconds
• D. 6 seconds

Answer: C. At least 3 seconds; more in bad weather. Many rear-end crashes come from following too closely. See following distance.

25. When you are required to stop at a railroad crossing, you must stop:

• A. Right at the rail
• B. Within 100 feet, no closer than 30 feet
• C. Only if you see a train
• D. Within 50 feet of the nearest rail, but no closer than 15 feet

Answer: D. Within 50 feet but not less than 15 feet from the nearest rail.

26. Unless posted otherwise, what is the speed limit in Idaho residential, business and urban districts?

• A. 25 mph
• B. 30 mph
• C. 35 mph
• D. 45 mph

Answer: C. 35 mph unless signs show a different limit. The basic rule still applies: drive at a speed that is reasonable and prudent. See the basic speed law.

27. How close to a fire hydrant may you park in Idaho?

• A. No closer than 15 feet
• B. No closer than 10 feet
• C. No closer than 20 feet
• D. No closer than 30 feet

Answer: A. 15 feet. The other figures: 20 feet from a crosswalk and 30 feet from a stop sign or signal. See US parking rules.

28. Within how many feet of an oncoming vehicle must you dim your high beams?

• A. 200 feet
• B. 300 feet
• C. 500 feet
• D. 1,000 feet

Answer: C. 500 feet before meeting a vehicle, and 200 feet before overtaking one. See night driving.

29. When passing a bicyclist, a safe margin under the Idaho handbook is at least:

• A. 2 feet
• B. 3 feet
• C. 4 feet
• D. 6 feet

Answer: B. At least 3 feet. Move into the left lane if possible.

Alcohol, drugs and phones (questions 30 to 34)

30. An Idaho driver under 21 is considered under the influence at a BAC of:

• A. .02 or more
• B. .04 or more
• C. .05 or more
• D. .08 or more

Answer: A. .02 under 21, .04 in a commercial vehicle and .08 for drivers 21 and older. See zero tolerance laws.

31. You refuse an evidentiary (BAC) test for the first time and the court upholds it. How long is your Idaho license suspended?

• A. 30 days
• B. 90 days
• C. 1 year
• D. 5 years

Answer: C. One year with no driving privileges of any kind. A second refusal within 10 years means two years. See implied consent and DUI.

32. Your BAC is under .08 but you have taken a drug that affects your driving. Can you still be convicted of DUI?

• A. Only if the drug is illegal
• B. Only if you crash
• C. No, only alcohol counts
• D. Yes, for driving under the influence of other intoxicating substances

Answer: D. The handbook says you can be convicted for other intoxicating substances even below .08. See drugged driving.

33. Since July 1, 2020, Idaho law bans hand-held phone use while driving. Does it apply while you wait at a red light?

• A. Yes, it applies when stopped at signs or signals
• B. No, only when moving
• C. Only for texting
• D. Only on interstates

Answer: A. ITD says the hands-free law applies when stopped at signs or signals. You may use a phone when parked out of the travel lane. See hands-free and texting laws.

34. Which is the best way to sober up before driving?

• A. Take a cold shower
• B. Wait; only time lowers your BAC
• C. Eat a large meal
• D. Drink coffee

Answer: B. Nothing speeds up how fast your body clears alcohol. Handbook topic: alcohol and other drugs.

Permits, GDL and licensing (questions 35 to 40)

35. How long must an Idaho teen hold a Supervised Instruction Permit (SIP), violation-free, before licensing?

• A. 3 months
• B. 6 months
• C. 9 months
• D. 12 months

Answer: B. At least 6 calendar months, violation-free. See Idaho GDL and SIP rules.

36. How many supervised driving hours must be certified on an Idaho SIP?

• A. 30, with 5 at night
• B. 40, with 10 at night
• C. 50, with 10 at night
• D. 60, with 15 at night

Answer: C. 50 hours, 10 of them at night, with a licensed driver 21 or older beside you.

37. A licensed Idaho driver under 16 may drive without a 21+ licensed driver beside them only between:

• A. 5 a.m. and 10 p.m.
• B. 6 a.m. and 9 p.m.
• C. 6 a.m. and 11 p.m.
• D. 7 a.m. and 7 p.m.

Answer: A. The handbook defines daylight as 5 a.m. to 10 p.m. local time.

38. For the first 6 months after licensing, an Idaho driver under 17 may carry no more than how many passengers under 17 who are not related?

• A. 0
• B. 1
• C. 2
• D. 3

Answer: B. One, unless the passengers are related by blood, adoption or marriage.

39. What is the earliest age you can hold an Idaho Class D license?

• A. 14 and a half
• B. 15
• C. 16
• D. 17

Answer: B. 15, after driver training and at least 6 months on the SIP. The driver training permit starts at 14 and a half. See the Idaho learner driver guide.

40. You move to Idaho from another state. Within how many days of living here must you apply for an Idaho license?

• A. 10 days
• B. 30 days
• C. 60 days
• D. 90 days

Answer: B. 30 days, whether or not your old license has expired. You also have 30 days to report an address change. See moving to Idaho.

Your score

Missed	Result on the Idaho standard
0 to 3	Pass, with room to spare
4 to 6	Pass, just. Review every miss.
7 or more	Fail. Study the handbook chapters above and retake this mock in a few days.

Then work through the 20 practice questions and answer key at the back of the Idaho handbook. ITD warns that most web practice tests are not an accurate guide, apart from its own sample questions.

Common questions

Are these the actual Idaho test questions?

No. They are original, unofficial practice that tests the same handbook knowledge.

How many questions can I miss on the Idaho permit test?

6 out of 40.

Can I retake the test the same day?

No. Wait at least 3 days and pay the $5 fee again.

When do teens take the knowledge test?

Under 17 on a SIP, near the end of the permit period, after your test eligibility date. A test taken before that date is invalid. Next step: the Idaho skills test. Parents teaching at home: Idaho parent-led driver training.

Is the handbook’s phone section up to date?

No. Its cell phone section still describes the old texting-only law. Follow ITD’s hands-free rule from July 1, 2020.

Where are other states’ practice tests?

See US permit practice tests by state.

Sources

• Idaho Transportation Department, “Idaho Driver’s Handbook” (July 2026) (itd.idaho.gov)
• Idaho Transportation Department, “Graduated Driver’s License” fact sheet ITD 3506 (itd.idaho.gov)
• Idaho Transportation Department, “Young Drivers” (itd.idaho.gov)
• Idaho Transportation Department, “Taking the Driver’s Test” (itd.idaho.gov)
• Idaho Transportation Department, “Idaho drivers to go hands-free as of July 1” (apps.itd.idaho.gov)