North Carolina DMV permit test practice

Practice in the real North Carolina test format, learn the rules North Carolina tests, and know when you're ready to book.

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The North Carolina knowledge test at a glance

Questions: 25
To pass: 20
You can miss: 5
Answer choices: 4

Sign section: No separate section
Format source: Partly published by the state

Your North Carolina study kit

761: practice questions for North Carolina
201: written only for North Carolina's own rules
65: lessons with North Carolina's numbers filled in
16: rules where North Carolina differs from most states

Where North Carolina is different

Most handbooks look alike. These are the rules where North Carolina does its own thing, and they show up on the test.

Rule	North Carolina	Most states
Minimum learner's-permit holding period	9 months	6 months (35/51)
Night-driving restriction for a new intermediate licensee (first stage)	9 p.m. to 5 a.m.	Midnight to 5 a.m. (11/50)
Required supervised practice hours	60 hours, including 10 at night	50 hours, including 10 at night (21/51)
Left turn on red after stopping	Never	Only from a one-way street onto a one-way street (35/50)
Signal distance before turning on a 55 mph highway	200 feet	100 feet (29/40)
Recommended following distance, good conditions, ~30 mph	2 seconds	3 seconds (16/45)
Recommended following distance, good conditions, ~60 mph	2 seconds	3 seconds (16/45)
Minimum clearance when passing a bicyclist (low-speed street)	2 feet	3 feet (28/32)

Sample North Carolina questions

Three questions from the North Carolina pool. Pick an answer to see the explanation.

1 / 3

In North Carolina, your license may be suspended if you accumulate:

2 / 3

How often must a vehicle registered in North Carolina be inspected?

3 / 3

In North Carolina, which license class is required to drive a noncommercial single vehicle under 26,001 pounds?

North Carolina test FAQ

How many questions are on the North Carolina knowledge test?

The North Carolina test has 25 questions.

How many can I get wrong on the North Carolina permit test?

You need 20 correct to pass, so you can miss up to 5.

What's the best way to study for the North Carolina test?

Read the North Carolina Driver Handbook, then practice in the real format until your readiness is above 90%. Steerivo's lessons follow the handbook's topics and fill in North Carolina's numbers.

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