The Maryland knowledge (permit) test

By the end of this topic you can

• You can describe the format of the Maryland knowledge test.
• You can name the three subject areas it covers.
• You can explain the help available for people with disabilities or limited English.
• You can plan your study using the manual and the online tutorial.
• You can answer common questions on Maryland numbers such as speed limits and parking distances.

What you need to know and understand

• The test has 25 questions and you have 20 minutes.
• It covers motor vehicle laws, safe driving practices and traffic signs.
• You take it at an MVA location.
• The MVA offers an Online Driver Test Tutorial with practice questions.
• Accommodations include extra time, oral testing, screen readers, sign language support and visual aids.
• If the test is offered in your language, you must take it at least 5 times before you may use an interpreter.
• You must score 88 percent or higher to pass, which means at least 22 correct answers out of 25. If you fail, you may retake it the next day.

What the test looks like

You answer 25 multiple-choice questions in 20 minutes at an MVA branch, after your vision screening. Questions come from the Maryland Driver's Manual: right-of-way, speed, passing, parking, signals, signs and pavement markings, alcohol and drugs, sharing the road and what to do after a crash.

Twenty minutes is less than a minute per question, so you need to know the material well, not work it out on the day.

Maryland facts that often come up

• Steady red: stop, then you may turn right, or left from one one-way street onto another, unless a sign says no.
• School bus with flashing red lights: stop at least 20 feet away, front or back.
• Parking: not within 15 feet of a fire hydrant, 20 feet of a crosswalk at an intersection (outside Baltimore City), 30 feet of a stop sign or signal, or 50 feet of a railroad crossing.
• Following distance: the MVA recommends at least 3 to 4 seconds in ideal conditions.
• High beams: dim within 500 feet of oncoming traffic and 300 feet behind another vehicle.
• Under 18: no phone use while driving, even hands-free, except 911.

Help with language and disabilities

The MVA offers several tests in other languages. If yours is available, you must try it at least 5 times before using an approved interpreter. The MVA does not charge for interpreter use, but you pay the interpreter.

For disabilities, the MVA provides accommodations based on need, such as extra time, oral tests and headphones. Ask in advance. Our Maryland permit practice test and knowledge test guide offer more preparation.

Common mistakes

• Skimming the sign pages. Many questions show a sign shape or color and ask what it means.
• Running out of time. Practice answering under a 20-minute limit.
• Relying on another state's practice questions. Maryland numbers, such as parking distances, can differ.
• Using an old manual. Study the current edition from the MVA.

Test yourself: The Maryland knowledge (permit) test

Answer each question, then read the explanation. Questions come in a random order each time.

Go deeper

• Maryland Permit Test
• Maryland Permit Practice Test
• How to Get a Driver’s License in Maryland