Free Pennsylvania DMV Practice Test (2026)

Pennsylvania · Checked October 2026

Practice for the Pennsylvania permit test with a learning path built around the Pennsylvania Department of Transportation, Driver and Vehicle Services rules: a Pennsylvania-only module on the state's own laws and teen-license limits, core rules-of-the-road lessons, instant explanations and a timed exam simulation.

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Pennsylvania permit test at a glance

Questions18

To pass15 correct (83%)

Min. permit age16

AgencyPennDOT

The knowledge test has 18 multiple-choice questions on signs, Pennsylvania driving laws and safe driving, and you must answer 15 correctly. It is given at PennDOT Driver License Centers in written and audio form in many languages (including Spanish); PennDOT does not list an online option. If you fail, you can retake it the next business day (only one try per day at any location).

Tip: Start with module 1, “Pennsylvania laws & permit rules”. These 12 questions cover rules that are specific to Pennsylvania, the part of the test that general study guides usually miss.

Pennsylvania traffic laws you will be tested on

Topic	Pennsylvania rule	Source
Hand-held devices (Paul Miller's Law)	Drivers may not use a hand-held device while driving, even when stopped in traffic or at a red light; hands-free calls, GPS and music are allowed. Since June 5, 2026, violators pay a $50 fine plus court costs.	pa.gov
Texting ban	Since March 8, 2012, it has been a primary offense to send, read or write text-based messages while the vehicle is moving, with a $50 fine.	pa.gov
Seat belts	Drivers and front-seat passengers must buckle up, and everyone 8 to 17 must wear a seat belt in any seat. For adults the belt law is secondary, but for passengers 8 to 17 it is a primary offense.	pa.gov
Child passenger seats	Children under 2 must ride in a rear-facing car seat, children under 4 in an approved car seat, and children 4 to 8 in a booster seat with the seat belt. These are primary offenses with a $75 fine plus costs.	pa.gov
Alcohol limits (zero tolerance)	Drivers 21 and older are DUI at a BAC of .08 or higher. Drivers under 21 are considered DUI at .02 or higher, and you can be convicted at lower levels if you drive erratically.	pa.gov
Implied consent	By being licensed you agree to chemical testing. Refusing a breath or blood test brings an automatic one-year suspension (even if found not guilty of DUI) plus a $500 refusal restoration fee for a first offense.	pa.gov
Move Over Law	Near an emergency response area or a disabled vehicle, move into a lane that is not next to it; if you cannot, slow to at least 20 mph below the posted limit. Fines run up to $500, $1,000 and $2,000 for first, second and later offenses, plus 2 points.	pa.gov
Headlights and wipers	Turn on headlights from sunset to sunrise, when you cannot see 1,000 feet ahead, in bad weather, in work zones, and any time your wipers are on (continuous or intermittent) because of weather. Daytime running lights are not enough; the fine starts at $25.	pa.gov

Pennsylvania learner permit and teen license rules

Learner's permit at 16: a licensed driver 21 or older (or a licensed parent, guardian or spouse 18 or older) must sit in the front seat with you at all times.
Hold the permit at least 6 months and complete 65 hours of practice, including at least 10 at night and 5 in bad weather, certified on form DL-180C.
Under 18, you may never carry more passengers than there are seat belts.
Junior license: no driving from 11 p.m. to 5 a.m. unless a parent, guardian or spouse is with you (exceptions for work, public or charitable service, or volunteer fire company with a notarized affidavit).
Junior license passengers: no more than one passenger under 18 who is not immediate family for the first 6 months, then up to three, unless a parent or guardian is in the car; the higher limit is lost after an at-fault crash or any driving conviction.
Drivers under 18 get a 90-day suspension for 6 or more points or for driving 26 mph or more over the limit.
You can apply for a regular license at 17 1/2 with an approved driver training course, one year on the junior license with no at-fault crashes or convictions, and parent consent (form DL-59); otherwise it converts automatically at 18.

How to get your Pennsylvania learner's permit

Download the Non-Commercial Learner's Permit Application (DL-180) and have your health care provider complete the physical exam on the back, no earlier than 6 months before your 16th birthday.
If you are under 18, have a parent, guardian, person in loco parentis or spouse 18+ complete the Parent or Guardian Consent Form (DL-180TD), signed in front of a notary if they cannot come with you.
On or after your 16th birthday, go to a Driver License Center with the DL-180, DL-180TD, original proof of date of birth and identity, and your Social Security card.
Pay the fee shown on the DL-180 (the 7-23 form lists $6 for the Class C permit plus $39.50 for the 4-year photo license, $45.50 total; cash is not accepted).
Pass the vision screening (unless your provider tested your vision) and the 18-question knowledge test; you receive a learner's permit valid for one year.
Practice 65 hours with your supervising driver, wait 6 months, then schedule your road test and bring the signed DL-180C.

Sample Pennsylvania-specific questions

Here are four of the 12 questions in our Pennsylvania module. Each one is based on the official Pennsylvania Driver's Manual (PUB 95) or Pennsylvania law; open the answer to see the rule behind it.

1. How many questions are on the Pennsylvania knowledge test, and how many must you answer correctly?

20 questions, 16 correct
25 questions, 20 correct
18 questions, 15 correct
18 questions, 12 correct

Show answer

Correct answer: 18 questions, 15 correct. PennDOT's knowledge test has 18 multiple-choice questions, and you need 15 correct to pass. Source: pa.gov

2. How much supervised practice must a Pennsylvania driver under 18 complete before the road test?

65 hours, including 10 at night and 5 in bad weather
50 hours, including 10 at night
40 hours, including 5 at night
100 hours, including 10 at night

Show answer

Correct answer: 65 hours, including 10 at night and 5 in bad weather. Pennsylvania requires at least 65 hours of behind-the-wheel skill-building, with at least 10 hours at night and 5 hours in bad weather. Source: pa.gov

3. With a Pennsylvania junior license, during which hours may you not drive unless a parent, guardian or spouse is with you (or a work or service exception applies)?

Midnight to 6 a.m.
11 p.m. to 5 a.m.
10 p.m. to 5 a.m.
1 a.m. to 5 a.m.

Show answer

Correct answer: 11 p.m. to 5 a.m.. Junior drivers may not drive between 11 p.m. and 5 a.m. unless accompanied by a parent, guardian or spouse, or carrying a notarized affidavit for work, public service or volunteer fire company duties. Source: pa.gov

4. During the first 6 months of a junior license, how many passengers under 18 who are not immediate family may you carry without a parent or guardian in the car?

None
Two
Three
One

Show answer

Correct answer: One. The limit is one such passenger for the first 6 months, rising to three afterward unless you have an at-fault crash or a driving conviction. Source: pa.gov

How this practice test works

Learn the Pennsylvania rules first: module 1 covers the state's permit test, teen-license limits and traffic laws.
Work through the core modules: signs, signals, right-of-way, speed, lanes, special situations, impairment and sharing the road.
Practice 5 questions at a time: every answer shows an explanation, and missed questions come back until you get them right.
Take the timed Pennsylvania exam simulation and review every mistake before your appointment.

Frequently asked questions

When can I start the learner's permit process in Pennsylvania?

Your health care provider can complete the physical on form DL-180 up to 6 months before your 16th birthday, but you cannot apply for the permit itself until you turn 16.

How many friends can ride with me on a junior license?

For the first 6 months, no more than one passenger under 18 who is not immediate family unless a parent or guardian is with you; after that, up to three. If you cause a crash or are convicted of a driving violation, you stay at one.

What happens if I fail the road test?

If you are under 18 you must wait seven days to retake it. You get three tries per learner's permit; after that, or if the permit expires, you use form DL-31 to extend it.

Can I use my phone at a red light now that Paul Miller's Law is in effect?

No. The law bans hand-held device use while driving, including when you are stopped temporarily for traffic or a red light. You may use hands-free features or call for help in an emergency.

Are these the real DMV test questions?

No. The Pennsylvania Department of Transportation, Driver and Vehicle Services does not publish its exam. Our Pennsylvania module is written from the official handbook and state law, and the core modules cover the rules of the road taught in every state handbook.

Is this practice test free?

Yes. Every lesson, practice round and exam simulation is free, with no sign-up.

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Official Pennsylvania sources

Every Pennsylvania fact and question on this page was checked in October 2026 against the official handbook, the Pennsylvania Department of Transportation, Driver and Vehicle Services website or Pennsylvania law. When an official source did not publish a detail (for example, the number of test questions), we say so instead of guessing. Rules change, so confirm with the Pennsylvania Department of Transportation, Driver and Vehicle Services before your test. PracticePermit.us is an independent study resource and is not affiliated with any government agency. How we write and check our questions.

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