Photo: Ken Lund, CC BY-SA 2.0, via Wikimedia Commons
The North Dakota permit test is the Class D knowledge test, based on the Rules of the Road in the NDDOT Noncommercial Driver License Manual (2025 to 2027 edition). This page gives you 30 original practice questions that cover the manual, with extra weight on North Dakota’s own rules: permits at 14, restricted licenses at 15, gravel roads and winter driving. The questions are unofficial, not NDDOT’s.
North Dakota knowledge test: key facts
- Minimum age: 14. Take it at a Driver License site (appointment needed) or online at nd.knowtodrive.com.
- $5 per attempt and one attempt per day; the permit costs $15 (NDDOT, as of November 2026).
- Offered in 14 languages, with automated ASL and audio testing at the larger offices.
- Phones, bags, paper and pens in the testing area, or leaving before you finish, mean an automatic fail.
- Question count and pass mark: ask NDDOT before your test.
Documents, sponsorship and the online option: the North Dakota permit test guide.
Section A: signs, signals and right of way
1. A square white sign with a red circle and slash over a U-shaped arrow means:
- A. U-turn lane ahead
- B. Detour
- C. No U-turn
- D. Winding road
Answer: C. The red circle and slash show the action that is forbidden. Manual topic: regulatory signs.
2. In North Dakota, a yellow pennant-shaped sign on the left side of the road means:
- A. No passing zone
- B. Yield ahead
- C. School crossing
- D. Narrow bridge
Answer: A. It can be used in addition to the rectangular DO NOT PASS sign, which goes on the right. Manual topic: regulatory and warning signs.
3. A sign reads TWO WAY LEFT TURN ONLY over the center lane. That lane is for:
- A. Passing slow vehicles
- B. Left turns by traffic from both directions only
- C. Buses
- D. Emergency stopping
Answer: B. It is not for passing or overtaking. Manual topic: regulatory signs.
4. Diagonal stripes on a barricade in a work area show you:
- A. The speed limit
- B. That the road is open
- C. A detour distance
- D. Which direction to pass the barricade
Answer: D. The stripes guide you toward the side you should pass on. Manual topic: channelizing devices.
5. When must your turn signal be on in North Dakota?
- A. Continuously during the last 100 feet before the turn
- B. Only as you start turning
- C. Only in towns
- D. Only when cars are behind you
Answer: A. Learn the hand signals too, and give cyclists and motorcyclists room for theirs. Manual topic: turn signals.
6. A pedestrian with a white cane or guide dog is waiting to cross. You should:
- A. Honk to let them know you are there
- B. Drive past slowly
- C. Yield or stop, and stop behind the crosswalk so their path is clear
- D. Call out directions
Answer: C. Manual topic: pedestrians.
7. An emergency vehicle flashing red, white or blue lights or using its siren approaches. You must:
- A. Keep going at the limit
- B. Immediately stop along the right-hand curb or edge, and stay stopped until it passes
- C. Stop in the intersection
- D. Speed up to get out of its way
Answer: B. Never stop in the middle of an intersection. Manual topic: right of way.
8. A North Dakota DOT maintenance vehicle is parked on the Interstate with its work lights flashing. You should:
- A. Use the shoulder to pass
- B. Stop behind it
- C. Flash your lights
- D. Move over to the opposite lane and proceed with due caution
Answer: D. The same applies to emergency and law enforcement vehicles on multi-lane roads. Manual topic: right of way.
9. A flashing yellow light on a tow truck or slow-moving vehicle tells you to:
- A. Slow down
- B. Stop
- C. Pass immediately
- D. Pull off the road
Answer: A. Manual topic: right of way.
10. At a roundabout in North Dakota, traffic travels:
- A. Clockwise
- B. Either direction
- C. Counterclockwise around a center island
- D. Straight through the center
Answer: C. Reduce your speed and, on multi-lane roundabouts, use the left lane to turn left. Manual topic: roundabouts.
Section B: speed, space and parking
11. Unless posted, the North Dakota speed limit in a business or residential district is:
- A. 20 mph
- B. 25 mph
- C. 30 mph
- D. 35 mph
Answer: B. Manual topic: speed limits.
12. Unless posted, the limit on a gravel, dirt or loose-surface road is:
- A. 55 mph
- B. 45 mph
- C. 35 mph
- D. 65 mph
Answer: A. 55 mph also applies on paved two-lane county and township highways with no posted limit. Manual topic: speed limits.
13. You approach a railroad crossing where your view of the track is blocked. Unless posted otherwise, the maximum speed is:
- A. 10 mph
- B. 30 mph
- C. 25 mph
- D. 20 mph
Answer: D. 20 mph also applies at intersections with an obstructed view and past a school while children are arriving, leaving or at recess. Manual topic: speed limits.
14. The manual’s rule for a safe following distance is the:
- A. One-second rule
- B. Three-second rule
- C. Ten-foot rule
- D. Two-car rule
Answer: B. Count from when the vehicle ahead passes a fixed mark until you reach it. Manual topic: following distance.
15. You may not make a U-turn near the crest of a hill or a curve where you cannot see at least:
- A. 100 feet
- B. 200 feet
- C. 500 feet
- D. 1,000 feet
Answer: C. Manual topic: right of way and turns.
16. You may not park within how many feet of a fire hydrant in North Dakota?
- A. 10 feet
- B. 5 feet
- C. 20 feet
- D. 30 feet
Answer: A. Also not within 10 feet of a crosswalk at an intersection, or within 15 feet of a stop sign, flashing beacon or traffic signal at the roadside. Manual topic: parking.
17. You park facing downhill next to a curb. Turn your front wheels:
- A. Away from the curb
- B. Toward the curb
- C. Straight ahead
- D. Either way
Answer: B. Uphill with a curb, turn them away from it; uphill with no curb, toward the shoulder. Manual topic: parking on a hill.
18. A school bus is stopped with red lights flashing on a North Dakota road. Who must stop?
- A. Only traffic behind the bus
- B. Only oncoming traffic
- C. Only drivers who see children
- D. Drivers approaching from both directions
Answer: D. Stay stopped until the bus moves, the driver signals you on, or the red lights stop. Yellow lights mean it is about to stop. Manual topic: school buses.
Section C: alcohol and implied consent
19. A North Dakota driver under 21 is considered under the influence at an alcohol concentration of:
- A. 0.08%
- B. 0.05%
- C. 0.02%
- D. 0.10%
Answer: C. The adult level is 0.08%. Manual topic: driving while under the influence.
20. For a first offense at 0.08% or more (or 0.02% under 21), the administrative license suspension is:
- A. 30 days
- B. 91 days
- C. 1 year
- D. No suspension
Answer: B. Court penalties come on top. See North Dakota points and DUI penalties. Manual topic: DUI.
21. If you refuse a chemical test under North Dakota’s implied consent law, your license will be:
- A. Revoked for 180 days to three years
- B. Suspended for 7 days
- C. Unaffected
- D. Marked with a warning
Answer: A. Manual topic: implied consent.
Section D: North Dakota permits, restricted licenses and phones
22. Who may sit beside a North Dakota instruction permit holder?
- A. Any passenger aged 16 or older
- B. A licensed driver at least 18, with at least 3 years of driving experience and a license for that vehicle class
- C. Only a parent
- D. Any licensed driver
Answer: B. Nobody else may sit in the front seat unless the vehicle only has a front seat. Manual topic: instruction permits.
23. A 14-year-old with a North Dakota permit may drive:
- A. Any car with a supervisor
- B. Only their own car
- C. Any farm vehicle
- D. Only a vehicle owned by a parent, guardian, grandparent, sibling, aunt or uncle, or a dual-control driver training car
Answer: D. The same family-vehicle rule applies at 15. Manual topic: instruction permits.
24. Which phone use is allowed for a North Dakota permit holder while driving?
- A. Hands-free calls
- B. None, except calling for emergency help and the other narrow exceptions in the law
- C. Texting at red lights
- D. Music apps only
Answer: B. Permit holders of any age, and licensed drivers under 18, may not use an electronic communication device while driving. Texting is illegal for everyone, with a $100 fine. Manual topic: electronic devices.
25. On a restricted Class D license at 15, you need a parent, guardian or someone 18 or older with you:
- A. From 10 p.m. to 6 a.m.
- B. At all times
- C. From the later of sunset or 9 p.m. until 5 a.m., unless going directly to or from work, a school activity or a religious activity
- D. Only on weekends
Answer: C. The license becomes unrestricted at 16. See the North Dakota restricted license at 15. Manual topic: restricted license.
26. A North Dakota driver under 18 who reaches 6 or more points will:
- A. Get a warning letter
- B. Pay a fine only
- C. Have the permit or license cancelled
- D. Lose points after a year
Answer: C. Breaking a permit or license restriction adds points too. Manual topic: points.
27. How many hours of supervised driving must a teen log before the road test or waiver?
- A. At least 50 hours
- B. 20 hours
- C. 100 hours
- D. No minimum
Answer: A. See the North Dakota 50 hour log. Manual topic: parents and teen drivers.
Section E: winter and rural driving
28. Your car gets stuck in a snowstorm on a rural North Dakota road. The manual says to:
- A. Walk to the nearest farm
- B. Stay with the vehicle, open a window slightly and run the engine and heater only for short periods
- C. Run the engine nonstop with windows shut
- D. Leave the car and flag down traffic
Answer: B. Most deaths happen when people leave their vehicles and get lost. Short engine runs avoid carbon monoxide poisoning. Manual topic: winter driving.
29. When may studded snow tires be used in North Dakota?
- A. All year
- B. November 1 to March 31
- C. December to February only
- D. October 15 to April 15
Answer: D. Even with snow tires or chains, double your following distance. Manual topic: winter driving.
30. You come up behind a snowplow at work. You should:
- A. Stay well back: plows may stop or back up, and the driver cannot see directly behind
- B. Follow closely in its cleared path
- C. Pass on the right shoulder
- D. Honk until it pulls over
Answer: A. Pass with extreme caution: drifts can push the plow sideways. Manual topic: meeting snow removal equipment.
Check your score
| Correct out of 30 | Suggested next step |
|---|---|
| 27 to 30 | Book your test |
| 24 to 26 | Reread the manual pages behind your misses, then retest yourself |
| Under 24 | Read the Rules of the Road chapters again before booking |
These bands are study guidance only, so check the pass mark with NDDOT. Aim for 27 or more to give yourself a margin.
Common questions
Are these the real North Dakota test questions?
No. They are original, unofficial practice questions written from the NDDOT Noncommercial Driver License Manual.
How many questions are on the North Dakota permit test?
Neither the manual nor NDDOT’s permit pages state the number or the pass mark. Check with NDDOT before your test and treat figures on practice-test websites as unofficial.
Can I take the North Dakota permit test online?
Yes, on nd.knowtodrive.com. You still visit a Driver License office for the vision screening and to get the permit.
What if I fail?
You can try again on another day. NDDOT allows one attempt per day at $5 per attempt.
What part of the manual should I study most?
The Rules of the Road. Parents of under-18s should also read the parent pages, which cover the permit and restricted license rules.
Where are practice tests for other states?
See US permit practice tests. The full route is in learning to drive in North Dakota.
Sources
- North Dakota Department of Transportation, “Noncommercial Driver License Manual, Class D” (2025 to 2027) (dot.nd.gov)
- North Dakota Department of Transportation, “How to Apply for a Learner’s Permit” (dot.nd.gov)
- North Dakota Department of Transportation, “Driver License Points Reduction and Points Schedule” (dot.nd.gov)