North Carolina Learner's Permit Practice Test

Free North Carolina DMV practice test for your learner's permit — road signs, right-of-way and the rules of the road, with real North Carolina knowledge-exam questions.

What's on the North Carolina knowledge test

The North Carolina exam is graded in two parts: 12 road-sign questions, of which you must answer 9 of 12 correctly, and 25 rules-of-the-road questions, of which you need 20 (80%). Both parts must be passed.

Questions and exam format researched against North Carolina's official driver handbook and state sources. Last verified 22 August 2026.

Topics covered

Sample North Carolina permit test questions

In the standard U.S. sign system, what shape is always used for a STOP sign?

Answer: Octagon

STOP signs always use the eight-sided octagon shape.

Road Signs

What is North Carolina's default speed limit inside cities and towns unless a different limit is posted?

Answer: 35 mph

NC's default speed limit within cities and towns is 35 mph unless otherwise posted.

Speed & Braking Distance

When are headlights required in North Carolina?

Answer: From sunset to sunrise, and anytime visibility drops to 400 feet or less

NC requires headlights from sunset to sunrise, and anytime visibility is 400 feet or less.

NC Laws

What is the minimum age to get a Level One Limited Learner Permit in North Carolina?

Answer: 15

NC's graduated licensing program allows a Level 1 learner permit starting at age 15.

Teen & Permit Rules

When passing ANY vehicle in North Carolina, the general law requires leaving at least how much side clearance?

Answer: 2 feet

NC's general passing-clearance law (GS 20-149(a)) requires at least 2 feet of side clearance when passing any vehicle.

Sharing the Road

What shape and color combination is generally used for warning signs, like a curve or merge warning?

Answer: Yellow diamond with black symbols

Standard warning signs use a yellow diamond with black symbols or text.

Road Signs

What is North Carolina's default speed limit outside cities and towns unless a different limit is posted?

Answer: 55 mph

Outside cities and towns, NC's default is 55 mph absent a posted sign.

Speed & Braking Distance

Your high beams must be bright enough to reveal a person how far ahead?

Answer: 200 feet

NC requires high beams capable of revealing a person at least 200 feet ahead.

NC Laws

Ways to practise

Other states

Sources

Questions and exam format researched against North Carolina's official driver handbook and state sources. Last verified 22 August 2026.

Full research notes, including what could not be confirmed

NC Driver Handbook (official, revised May 2025, ncdot.gov); North Carolina General Statutes via ncleg.gov (GS 20-140 reckless driving, GS 20-141.6 aggressive driving, GS 20-141(j2) work-zone speeding, GS 20-217 school bus stop law, GS 20-157 Move Over, GS 20-135.2A seat belts, GS 20-137.4A texting, GS 20-137.3 under-18 cell phone ban, GS 20-149(a) general passing clearance, GS 20-150(e) bicycle passing exception, GS 20-137.1 child restraint, GS 20-135.2B open pickup-bed law); NC Department of Insurance SDIP (Safe Driver Incentive Plan) page (ncdoi.gov) for the insurance-points schedule, which is administratively distinct from the DMV driver-license point schedule. Researched and verified 2026-08-18. IMPORTANT — mock exam numbers are a third-party estimate, NOT officially confirmed: NC's real exam is structurally a split format (a separate Traffic Signs test plus a separate Knowledge Test), confirmed on ncdot.gov, but neither test's exact question count nor passing score is published on any official ncdot.gov page located during research, including the dedicated 'Driver License Tests' subpage (ncdot.gov/dmv/license-id/driver-licenses/new-drivers/Pages/driver-license-tests.aspx), which describes what each test covers but not question counts or scores. Re-verification attempted again 2026-08-20 (direct fetch of ncdot.gov new-drivers and driver-license-tests pages) confirms the same gap persists — still not published. The signCount:20/signPassCount:18/ruleCount:25/rulePassPct:0.80 configured here reflects third-party aggregator consensus only (commonly cited as 'knowledge test 25 questions/80%, signs test miss no more than 2') — before treating these as final, confirm with NCDMV Customer Service at (919) 715-7000 or a current in-person/official practice test. Other gaps worked around rather than guessed: NC's child-restraint law is age-AND-weight banded (GS 20-137.1), not a single discrete rear-facing-age cutoff like some states use — content reflects that banding. No official curb-color chart or hill-parking wheel-turn-direction rule was found for NC. No numeric 'how many feet behind a MOVING emergency vehicle' rule was found (only stopped-vehicle Move Over distances). No statewide distracted-driving crash statistic was found in the handbook — the handbook's confirmed alcohol-fatality statistic (~38%) was used instead. Liability insurance minimums ($30,000/$60,000/$25,000 bodily injury/property) are confirmed but were not built into a dedicated question in this pass. EXAM FORMAT CORRECTED 2026-08-22: the sign section was 20 questions / 18 to pass, which no official source supports. NC administrative rule 19A NCAC 03B .0201 (ncdot.gov) states that applicants for a regular Class C license shall correctly identify nine of twelve road signs, and that eighty percent of the questions shall be answered correctly in order to pass. signCount/signPassCount are now 12/9. NCDMV does NOT publish a question count for the separate knowledge examination, so ruleCount 25 remains an UNCONFIRMED ESTIMATE; only its 80% threshold is official. Re-verify periodically, as NC handbook figures, fines, and point schedules change over time.

Unofficial study aid. Not affiliated with or endorsed by any DMV or state agency.