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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:
- Vehicle Equipment and Safety (brakes, lights, tires, seat belts, child seats)
- Highway and Vehicle Knowledge (signs, signals, markings, intersections, roundabouts)
- Traffic Laws and the Rules of the Road (speed, stopping, turns, right-of-way, passing, parking, freeways)
- The Driving Task and Sharing the Road
- 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)