Above 80%
All 50 states and DC
How many questions can you miss on the permit test?
Between 3 and 10, depending on your state. 36 of the 51 jurisdictions set the passing score at 80%, so you can miss 5 on a 25-question test and 10 on a 50-question one. Find your state in the table.
80%
the passing score in 36 of 51 jurisdictions
5
misses allowed in 13 jurisdictions, the most common number
3
the fewest you can miss, in Maryland and Pennsylvania
10
the most you can miss, in 7 states
| State | You can miss | To pass | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Alabama (not fully confirmed) | 6 | 24 of 3080% | 80% |
| Alaska (not fully confirmed) | 4 | 16 of 2080% | 80% |
| Arizona | 6 | 24 of 3080% | 80% |
| Arkansas (not fully confirmed) | 5 | 20 of 2580% | 80% |
| California (not fully confirmed) | 9 | 37 of 4680% | 80% |
| Colorado | 5 | 20 of 2580% | 80% |
| Connecticut | 5 | 20 of 2580% | 80% |
| Delaware (not fully confirmed) | 6 | 26 of 3281% | 81% |
| District of Columbia (not fully confirmed) | 5 | 20 of 2580% | 80% |
| Florida | 10 | 40 of 5080% | 80% |
| Georgia (scored in parts) | 10 | 30 of 4075% | 75% |
| Hawaii | 6 | 24 of 3080% | 80% |
| Idaho | 6 | 34 of 4085% | 85% |
| Illinois | 7 | 28 of 3580% | 80% |
| Indiana (scored in parts) (not fully confirmed) | 8 | 42 of 5084% | 84% |
| Iowa (not fully confirmed) | 7 | 28 of 3580% | 80% |
| Kansas | 5 | 20 of 2580% | 80% |
| Kentucky (not fully confirmed) | 8 | 32 of 4080% | 80% |
| Louisiana | 8 | 32 of 4080% | 80% |
| Maine | 6 | 24 of 3080% | 80% |
| Maryland | 3 | 22 of 2588% | 88% |
| Massachusetts | 7 | 18 of 2572% | 72% |
| Michigan (scored in parts) (not fully confirmed) | 10 | 40 of 5080% | 80% |
| Minnesota (not fully confirmed) | 8 | 32 of 4080% | 80% |
| Mississippi (not fully confirmed) | 6 | 24 of 3080% | 80% |
| Missouri (scored in parts) | 5 | 20 of 2580% | 80% |
| Montana | 7 | 23 of 3077% | 77% |
| Nebraska | 5 | 20 of 2580% | 80% |
| Nevada | 5 | 20 of 2580% | 80% |
| New Hampshire | 8 | 32 of 4080% | 80% |
| New Jersey | 10 | 40 of 5080% | 80% |
| New Mexico (not fully confirmed) | 7 | 18 of 2572% | 72% |
| New York (scored in parts) | 6 | 14 of 2070% | 70% |
| North Carolina (scored in parts) (not fully confirmed) | 5 | 20 of 2580% | 80% |
| North Dakota (not fully confirmed) | 5 | 20 of 2580% | 80% |
| Ohio | 10 | 30 of 4075% | 75% |
| Oklahoma | 5 | 15 of 2075% | 75% |
| Oregon | 7 | 28 of 3580% | 80% |
| Pennsylvania | 3 | 15 of 1883% | 83% |
| Rhode Island (not fully confirmed) | 8 | 32 of 4080% | 80% |
| South Carolina (not fully confirmed) | 6 | 24 of 3080% | 80% |
| South Dakota (not fully confirmed) | 5 | 20 of 2580% | 80% |
| Tennessee | 6 | 24 of 3080% | 80% |
| Texas (not fully confirmed) | 9 | 21 of 3070% | 70% |
| Utah | 10 | 40 of 5080% | 80% |
| Vermont (not fully confirmed) | 4 | 16 of 2080% | 80% |
| Virginia (scored in parts) | 6 | 34 of 4085% | 85% |
| Washington | 8 | 32 of 4080% | 80% |
| West Virginia | 6 | 19 of 2576% | 76% |
| Wisconsin | 10 | 40 of 5080% | 80% |
| Wyoming (not fully confirmed) | 5 | 20 of 2580% | 80% |
† The test is scored in parts, so the total is not the whole rule. See the 7 states. * Not fully confirmed by an official source. In these 21 rows at least one figure is the best available rather than a published one, and it is the one DMV Champ’s test simulator uses. Check your state’s current handbook before your test.
Scored in parts
In 7 states, where you miss matters.
These states score the road sign questions on their own. You can stay under the total in the table and still fail, so learn the signs first.
Georgia10 in total, 30 of 40 to pass
There are two tests of 20 questions, one on road signs and one on road rules. You need 15 on each, so you can miss 5 on each.
Indiana8 in total, 42 of 50 to pass
The road sign questions and the traffic rules questions are scored separately, and you need 80% on each part.
Michigan10 in total, 40 of 50 to pass
There is a road sign test as well as the written knowledge test.
Missouri5 in total, 20 of 25 to pass
The road sign test is given separately from the written test.
New York6 in total, 14 of 20 to pass
At least 2 of your correct answers must be among the 4 road sign questions.
North Carolina5 in total, 20 of 25 to pass
There is also a separate road sign test of 12 signs, and you need 9 of them.
Virginia6 in total, 34 of 40 to pass
The test has two parts. Part one is 10 road sign questions and you need all 10 to move on. The 6 you can miss are all in part two, which has 30 questions.
By passing score
From 88% in Maryland to 70% in New York and Texas.
A higher passing score leaves less room on a short test. The same 80% is 4 misses on 20 questions and 10 on 50.
80%
36 jurisdictions, the standard
You can miss 4 of 20, 5 of 25, 6 of 30, 7 of 35, 8 of 40, 9 of 46 or 10 of 50, depending on how long your state’s test is.
Alabama, Alaska, Arizona, Arkansas, California, Colorado, Connecticut, District of Columbia, Florida, Hawaii, Illinois, Iowa, Kansas, Kentucky, Louisiana, Maine, Michigan, Minnesota, Mississippi, Missouri, Nebraska, Nevada, New Hampshire, New Jersey, North Carolina, North Dakota, Oregon, Rhode Island, South Carolina, South Dakota, Tennessee, Utah, Vermont, Washington, Wisconsin and Wyoming.
Below 80%
9 states ask for less
- New York70% · 14 of 20
- Texas70% · 21 of 30
- Massachusetts72% · 18 of 25
- New Mexico72% · 18 of 25
- Georgia75% · 30 of 40
- Ohio75% · 30 of 40
- Oklahoma75% · 15 of 20
- West Virginia76% · 19 of 25
- Montana77% · 23 of 30
Questions
Good to know before your test.
How many questions can you miss on the permit test?
Between 3 and 10, depending on your state. The most common number is 5, in 13 of the 51 jurisdictions. Maryland and Pennsylvania allow the fewest, 3, and 7 states allow 10.
What percent do you need to pass the permit test?
80% in 36 of the 51 jurisdictions. The lowest passing score is 70%, in New York and Texas, and the highest is 88%, in Maryland.
How many questions are on the permit test?
From 18 in Pennsylvania to 50 in Florida, Indiana, Michigan, New Jersey, Utah and Wisconsin. The most common length is 25 questions, in 16 jurisdictions.
Which state has the highest passing score?
Maryland, at 88%. You need 22 of 25 correct, so you can miss 3.
Can you fail the permit test without missing too many questions?
In 7 states, yes, because part of the test is scored on its own: Georgia, Indiana, Michigan, Missouri, New York, North Carolina and Virginia. There you can stay under the total and still fail on the road sign questions. The rule for each one is on this page.
Is the permit test timed?
In 8 of the 51 jurisdictions: District of Columbia (60 minutes), Hawaii (60 minutes), Maryland (20 minutes), Massachusetts (25 minutes), New Hampshire (40 minutes), Oklahoma (60 minutes), Rhode Island (90 minutes), Tennessee (60 minutes). Everywhere else there is no time limit.
Practice against your state’s passing score.
Pick your state once. The 5 simulated tests use its number of questions and its passing score, and every practice question explains its answer. See every state’s test format.