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This guide is for anyone 15 or older taking the Utah learner permit test. If you have never held a license, you take a 50-question closed-book test from the Utah Driver Handbook and need 80% (40 correct) to pass. Below is what to bring, what happens on the day, and the rules for driving on a Utah learner permit.
Utah permit test at a glance
| Item | Never licensed | Licensed in another state or country |
|---|---|---|
| Questions | 50 | 25 |
| Format | Closed book | Open book |
| Pass mark | 80% (40 of 50) | 80% |
| Time limit | None (usually 30 to 45 minutes) | None |
| Retakes | Up to two attempts a day at the DLD if it can fit you in; the fee covers three attempts in 12 months | Same |
Who can get a Utah learner permit?
Under Utah law, the DLD can issue a learner permit, valid for 18 months, to anyone at least 15 who:
- passes the written knowledge test
- passes the physical and mental fitness checks, including a vision screening (at least 20/40 in one eye and a 90-degree field of vision; if you fail, you take a vision form to an eye doctor)
- pays the nonrefundable permit fee
Under 18, a parent or guardian, or another responsible adult, must sign your application and accept financial responsibility.
How much is a Utah learner permit?
The DLD lists the learner permit fee as $19, nonrefundable (as of November 2026). Fees change, so check the current amount on the DLD website before your appointment.
Where can I take the Utah knowledge test?
- At a DLD office. Book an appointment on the DLD website. If you pass, your permit can be issued the same day.
- At school. Utah schools that offer driver education must give students the chance to take the written test, starting from age 15 years and 9 months. A certified instructor supervises and enters your passing score. You still go to the DLD for the vision and fitness checks and to pay the fee.
Need a reader, an interpreter or another accommodation? You must test at the DLD. Schools are not allowed to provide accommodations on the permit test. At school you get at most two retakes. After that, you test at the DLD.
What is on the Utah permit test?
Questions come from the Utah Driver Handbook:
- traffic signs, signals and pavement markings
- right of way, turns, passing, speed and parking
- freeway driving and sharing the road
- winter and emergency situations
- Utah’s GDL rules
- alcohol, drugs and penalties, including the 0.05 BAC limit
Expect questions on Utah-specific rules, such as the teen passenger limit and Not a Drop, as well as general road rules.
How to study
- Read the current Utah Driver Handbook from the DLD website. Avoid lookalike sites that do not end in .gov.
- Learn sign shapes and colors first. See US road signs by shape and color.
- Take the free DLD online practice test.
- Reread the GDL and alcohol sections. Learners often lose marks on these.
How long is the Utah test score and permit valid?
The first (entry-level) permit is issued for 18 months, and its knowledge test score is valid for 18 months. If you renew the permit or let it expire, you must retake the knowledge test. A 6-month renewal permit, for drivers 16 or older, carries a test score valid for 12 months.
Utah learner permit rules
With a learner permit you may drive only when:
- your permit is with you, and
- one of these is sitting beside you: a licensed parent, stepparent, foster parent or guardian, an approved driving instructor, or the licensed adult who signed for your financial responsibility.
- Other passengers may ride along, as long as the right supervisor is in the front seat.
A licensed adult 21 or older who is not your parent can also supervise a permit holder under 18, but only if your parent or guardian is not a licensed driver and has given that adult a note or proof allowing it. A 2026 law (SB 22) confirms that stepparents and foster parents count as parents. A learner permit from another state does not let you drive in Utah.
You need your permit before any behind-the-wheel driver ed lesson. Under 18, you must hold it for at least 6 months before you can get a license. Next steps: 40-hour log and driver ed and the Traffic Safety and Trends Exam.
Common questions
How many questions are on the Utah permit test?
50 if you have never been licensed. 25, open book, if you hold a license from another state or country.
How many can I miss on the Utah permit test?
You need 80%, so up to 10 wrong on the 50-question test.
Can I take the Utah permit test online?
No. The permit test is taken at a DLD office or through your school’s driver ed program. The separate Traffic Safety and Trends Exam is the one taken online.
What if I fail?
At a DLD office you can take up to two attempts in a day if the office can fit you in. Otherwise book a written retest appointment. The fee covers three attempts within 12 months, then you pay again. If you tested at school and have used your two retakes, go to the DLD.
Can I take the test at 15 and a half?
Yes. The minimum age is 15.
Is there a time limit?
No. Most people finish in 30 to 45 minutes.
How other states compare: US permit test by state. Back to the Utah learning-to-drive guide.
Sources
- Utah State Board of Education, “Driver Education Law & Policy” (2024 edition) (schools.utah.gov)
- Utah Violence and Injury Prevention Program, “Be Smart. Be Safe. A Parent’s Guide to Smart Teen Driving” (vipp.utah.gov)
- Utah Highway Safety Office, “2025 Legislative Update” (highwaysafety.utah.gov)