Photo: Mr. Matté, CC BY-SA 4.0, via Wikimedia Commons
The Pennsylvania permit test (PennDOT calls it the Knowledge Test) has 18 multiple-choice questions, and you need 15 correct to pass, so you can miss 3. It covers traffic signs, Pennsylvania driving laws and safe driving practices from the Pennsylvania Driver’s Manual (PUB 95). You take it at a PennDOT Driver License Center, once per day at most. This guide covers what to bring, the languages offered, retakes and how to study.
Key facts
- 18 questions, 15 correct to pass.
- One attempt per day, at any location. After a fail, you can retest the next business day.
- Written and audio versions in 30 languages, on request.
- Taken in person at a Driver License Center, along with a vision screening if your provider did not test your vision.
- Fee (as of November 2026): $45.50 for the initial permit and four-year license, paid when you apply.
How many questions are on the PA permit test?
18, all multiple choice. The pass mark is 15 correct (about 83%). The questions come from three areas: signs, Pennsylvania driving laws, and safe driving practices.
What to bring to the Pennsylvania knowledge test
- Your completed DL-180 with the physical section filled in by your health care provider. Do not mail it.
- Under 18: the Parent or Guardian Consent Form (DL-180TD).
- Original proof of date of birth and identity. Photocopies are not accepted. PennDOT lists a US passport and passport card among accepted documents.
- Your signed Social Security card.
- Over 18: two proofs of residency.
- Payment by debit or credit card, check or money order. No cash.
- Your glasses or contact lenses if you wear them.
Full details are in the DL-180 physical and permit guide.
Languages for the Pennsylvania permit test
PennDOT’s online manual lists written and audio versions, on request at all Driver License Centers, in: Albanian, Amharic, Arabic, Bosnian, Burmese, Cambodian, Dari, English, Farsi, French, Greek, Hindi, Italian, Japanese, Korean, Mandarin, Mandinka, Nepali, Pashto, Polish, Portuguese, Punjabi, Russian, Somali, Spanish, Swahili, Turkish, Ukrainian, Urdu and Vietnamese.
Voice (read-aloud) tests are offered for people who have trouble reading. A sign language interpreter can be arranged for deaf or hard of hearing applicants. Call 717-412-5300 at least two weeks ahead and give three possible dates.
If you fail the PA permit test
- The examiner hands back your DL-180 and DL-180TD. Keep them safe; you need them for the retest.
- You cannot test again that day at any center.
- Come back the next business day or later.
- The DL-180 is valid for one year from your physical, so retest within that year or you need a new physical.
Can you take the Pennsylvania permit test online?
No, not as a general option. PennDOT’s pages direct you to a Driver License Center. Since November 2025, a two-year pilot has let students at Williamson and Cowanesque Valley high schools in Tioga County take the knowledge test at school. PennDOT will review the results before deciding on anything wider.
How to study for the Pennsylvania knowledge test
- Read PUB 95 Chapters 2, 3 and 4. These hold the signs, driving skills and driving record content, and each ends with review questions and an answer key.
- Use PennDOT’s free question sets. The Test Your Knowledge page has Question Sets 1 to 3, one per chapter.
- Try the official practice app. PennDOT’s PA Driver’s License Practice Test app is free for Android and Apple.
- Learn the numbers. Questions often turn on figures. Examples from PUB 95:
| Rule | Pennsylvania figure |
|---|---|
| School zone speed when lights flash | 15 mph |
| Maximum distance from curb when parking | 12 inches |
| No parking near a fire hydrant | Within 15 feet |
| No parking near a crosswalk at an intersection | Within 20 feet |
| No parking near a railroad crossing | Within 50 feet of the nearest rail |
| Passing a bicycle | At least 4 feet |
| BAC limit, 21 and over / under 21 | .08 / .02 |
| Points that trigger PennDOT action | 6 |
| Report a change of address | Within 15 days |
For the point and DUI rules behind several questions, see the Pennsylvania point system and DUI guide.
What happens after you pass
You get a learner’s permit valid for one year and can start practicing with a qualified supervisor. PennDOT suggests booking your road test right away, for a date on or after the eligibility date printed on the permit. Under-18s can book up to six months ahead. Next steps: the 65-hour driving log and the road test.
Common questions
How many can you get wrong on the PA permit test?
3. You need 15 of 18 correct.
Is the Pennsylvania permit test hard?
It is short, so each mistake counts for a lot. Working through the review questions at the end of Chapters 2, 3 and 4 covers the same topic areas.
How long do I have to pass after my physical?
The DL-180 is valid for one year from the date of your physical. After that you need a new physical before testing.
Is there an eye test with the permit test?
Yes, unless your health care provider or optometrist tested your vision on the DL-180. If you do not meet the standard, you get a DL-102 eye report form to take to an eye doctor.
How does PA compare with other states?
See permit test questions by state. For the full licensing route, see learning to drive in Pennsylvania.
Sources
- PennDOT, “Pennsylvania Driver’s Manual, PUB 95 (4-21)” (pa.gov)
- PennDOT, “Testing”, Online Driver’s Manual (pa.gov)
- PennDOT, “Test Your Knowledge” (pa.gov)
- PennDOT, “Get a Learner’s Permit” (pa.gov)
- PennDOT, “Payments and Fees” (pa.gov)
- PennDOT, “Remote Learner’s Permit Knowledge Testing Pilot Expands Access to Driver Licensing Services” (pa.gov)