Free North Carolina permit practice tests with 90 exam-style questions, a timed mock exam sized to the real test, flashcards, a road-sign quiz, and an on-device AI tutor grounded in the official North Carolina driver handbook. The official North Carolina written knowledge test has 25 questions and requires 80% to pass.
About the North Carolina written test
Knowledge (written) test: 25 multiple-choice questions on traffic laws and safe driving from the *North Carolina Driver Handbook*; you must answer at least 20 correct (80%) to pass.
Sign-identification test: A road-sign recognition test is required at application.
Vision screening: Required; standard acuity of at least 20/40 (with corrective lenses if needed).
Getting licensed in North Carolina
Driver education (prerequisite): A student who is at least 14½ may enroll in an approved course: 30 hours of classroom instruction plus a vision/medical screening, and a driving phase of a minimum 6 hours behind the wheel. A birth certificate or passport is required to enroll.
Level 1 — Limited Learner Permit: Available at ages 15–17 (must be under 18). Requires the Driving Eligibility Certificate, the Driver Education Certificate, and passing the written, sign-identification, and vision tests (a parent/guardian must be present). The permit arrives by mail within about 20 business days. Rules:
A supervising driver must be seated beside the permit holder in the front seat whenever the vehicle is in motion; no one other than the supervising driver may be in the front seat.
For the first six months, driving is allowed only 5 a.m.–9 p.m.; after six months, at any time — always with a supervising driver.
North Carolina written-test FAQ
What is the minimum age to apply for a North Carolina Level 1 limited learner permit?
15.
What two certificates must a teen obtain before the Level 1 permit?
A Driving Eligibility Certificate and a Driver Education Certificate.
How many classroom and behind-the-wheel hours does driver education require?
30 hours classroom and a minimum of 6 hours behind the wheel.
How many hours of supervised driving practice must be logged, and how many at night?
60 hours total, including at least 10 at night.
How long must you hold the Level 1 permit before advancing to Level 2?
At least 9 months (and be 16, with a clean 6-month record).
During the first 6 months of a Level 1 permit, when may you drive?
Only 5 a.m.–9 p.m., with a supervising driver.
Who may sit in the front seat with a Level 1 permit holder?
Only the supervising driver.
How many years must a supervising driver have been licensed?