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The Louisiana permit test has 40 multiple-choice questions, and you need 80% to pass. You also need 20/40 vision in one or both eyes. This page is for Louisiana teens and parents. It covers how the test fits into driver ed, what to bring and what you can do once you have your learner’s permit.
Louisiana permit test at a glance
| Item | Louisiana rule |
|---|---|
| Questions | 40, multiple choice (OMV permits page) |
| Pass mark | 80% |
| Where | Your driver education provider, after the classroom portion, or the OMV |
| Format | Computer-based in most OMV offices |
| Study material | Class D and E Driver’s Guide (traffic signs, signals, safe driving and Louisiana law) |
| Vision standard | 20/40 in one or both eyes |
| Before you test | You need a Temporary Instructional Permit (TIP) |
| Language help | You may bring a translator for Class D or E knowledge tests (not CDL) |
Step by step: from TIP to learner’s permit
- Get a TIP from the OMV (age 14 or older). You must have it before the knowledge test, before any behind-the-wheel lessons and before a road test. It lets you drive only with a licensed driving school instructor.
- Take the 38-hour driver ed course. That is 30 hours in the classroom and 8 behind the wheel. You can start the classroom part at 14 if you are at least in eighth grade and within 90 days of your 15th birthday. Behind-the-wheel training waits until 15. Details: Louisiana teen driver ed and the 50 hour practice statement.
- Pass the knowledge test. Driving schools give it when the 30-hour classroom portion ends.
- Finish the 8 hours behind the wheel.
- Go to the OMV. Take the vision test, hand in your TIP and the school’s Certificate of Successful Completion, and come out with your learner’s permit. Converting the TIP costs nothing extra.
Documents for a Louisiana learner’s permit
- Certified birth certificate (original or certified copy only; no photocopies)
- Social Security Number verification, such as your card, a W-2 or a printout from the Social Security Administration
- Proof of address
- Driver ed Certificate of Successful Completion
- Your custodial parent or legal guardian, who shows ID and signs. In joint custody, only the domiciliary parent can sign. A guardian also brings guardianship papers.
Fee: the OMV driver’s guide lists the learner’s permit at $32.25. Some offices add a service fee (as of November 2026).
What’s on the Louisiana knowledge test?
The questions come from the Class D and E Driver’s Guide. They cover traffic signs and signals, safe driving practices and Louisiana driving law. The guide tells you to learn every number in it. These come up often:
| Topic | Louisiana figure |
|---|---|
| Stopped school bus loading or unloading | Stop at least 30 feet away |
| Railroad crossing stop | Between 15 and 50 feet from the nearest rail |
| Following distance | 3 seconds, or 4 in bad weather |
| Interstate maximum | 70 mph unless posted otherwise |
| Dim high beams | Within 500 feet of oncoming traffic and 200 feet of a vehicle ahead |
| Following an emergency vehicle | Not within 500 feet |
| Turn signal before a turn | At least 100 feet |
| Parking near a hydrant | Not within 15 feet |
| BAC limits | 0.08% at 21 and over; 0.02% under 21 |
| Refusing a chemical test | 365-day suspension for a first offense |
| Children rear facing | From birth to at least age 2 |
For signs, use US road signs by shape and color.
Test day tips from the official guide
- Read the guide at least three times.
- Read the whole question and every answer before you choose.
- If unsure, pick the safest-sounding answer.
- At the OMV, arrive at least an hour before the last test of the day.
- Bring proper ID every time you take the test.
Learner’s permit rules in Louisiana
- Supervisor: a licensed parent, guardian or adult aged 21 or older, or a licensed sibling aged 18 or older.
- Phones: no cell phone use at all, including hands-free.
- Practice: log at least 50 supervised hours, 15 at night, before you upgrade.
- Time held: at least 180 days. If you got the permit at 15, you also have to wait until you turn 16.
Next step: Louisiana intermediate license rules, then the Louisiana road skills test.
Common questions
Can I take the Louisiana permit test online?
No online option appears on the OMV pages. The test is given by your driver ed provider or at the OMV, on a computer in most offices.
Can I get a learner’s permit without driver’s ed?
No. Teens need the 38-hour course. Adults 18 and older need either the 14-hour pre-licensing course or the 38-hour course. See the Louisiana pre-licensing course for adults.
What happens if I fail the vision test?
You get a vision report for a vision specialist to complete. If you need glasses or contacts to pass, your license will carry restriction code 01.
Do I need a permit if I’m 17?
No. At 17 you can apply for a learner’s permit or go straight to a full license by passing the vision, knowledge and road skills tests.
How does Louisiana’s test compare with other states?
See US permit tests by state and driving with a permit in another state.
Main guide: learning to drive in Louisiana.
Sources
- Louisiana Office of Motor Vehicles, “Permits” (expresslane.la.gov)
- Louisiana Office of Motor Vehicles, “New Licenses” (expresslane.la.gov)
- Louisiana Office of Motor Vehicles, “Louisiana Graduated Driver’s License Laws” (expresslane.la.gov)
- Louisiana Office of Motor Vehicles, “Lagniappe Information and Expectations” (expresslane.la.gov)
- Louisiana Office of Motor Vehicles, “Class D & E Driver’s Guide” DPSMV2052 (R08/25) (public.powerdms.com/LADPSC)