Free Virginia DMV Practice Test (2026)

Virginia · Checked October 2026

Practice for the Virginia permit test with a learning path built around the Virginia Department of Motor Vehicles rules: a Virginia-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.

Start learning About the Virginia test

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Virginia permit test at a glance

Questions40

To pass34 correct (85%)

Min. permit age15 yrs 6 mos

AgencyDMV

The computer-based knowledge exam has two parts: 10 traffic-sign questions that you must all answer correctly before moving on, then 30 general-knowledge questions where you need at least 24 right (80%). It is offered at DMV customer service centers and participating high schools in many languages, including Spanish and American Sign Language (oral exams on request); if you are under 18 you must wait a full 15 days to retake it, and after three failures you must complete driver education classroom training (or a DMV-approved 8-hour manual course) first.

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

Virginia traffic laws you will be tested on

Topic	Virginia rule	Source
Handheld phone use	It is illegal to hold a phone or other handheld communications device while driving a moving vehicle, unless you are lawfully parked or stopped or reporting an emergency. The fine is $125 for a first offense, $250 for a second, and a mandatory $250 in a highway work zone.	law.lis.virginia.gov
Seat belts	The driver and every passenger 18 or older must wear a seat belt, and the driver must make sure anyone under 18 is in a belt, booster, or child seat wherever they sit. For adults the penalty is a $25 civil fine with no points, and police may not stop a vehicle for a seat belt violation alone.	law.lis.virginia.gov
Child safety seats	All children under 8 must ride in a child safety seat or booster seat, and children should ride rear-facing from birth to age 2 (or as long as the seat allows). A first violation costs $50 and a later one can cost $500; children under 16 may not ride in a pickup truck bed.	dmv.virginia.gov
Alcohol: adults and drivers under 21	Drivers are legally under the influence at 0.08 BAC. If you are under 21 and drive with a BAC of at least 0.02 but under 0.08, you face a 1-year license suspension plus a $500 minimum fine or at least 50 hours of community service.	dmv.virginia.gov
Implied consent	By driving on Virginia's public roads you agree to take a breath test when asked. If you refuse, or test at 0.08 or higher and are charged with DUI, your license is automatically suspended for 7 days on a first offense (longer for repeat offenses), on top of any court penalties.	dmv.virginia.gov
Move over law	When approaching a stopped emergency vehicle or tow truck with flashing lights, change to a lane not next to it if you safely can; otherwise slow down and proceed with caution. Next to a trash truck on a road with fewer than four lanes, slow to 10 mph below the limit and pass at least 2 feet away.	dmv.virginia.gov
Default speed limits and reckless driving	Unless posted otherwise, the limit is 25 mph in school, business, and residential areas, 35 mph on unpaved roads, and 55 mph on other roads. Driving 20 mph or more over the limit, or over 85 mph, can be charged as reckless driving, a criminal misdemeanor.	dmv.virginia.gov
Headlights and wipers	You must use headlights from sunset to sunrise, when rain, fog, snow, or sleet cuts visibility to 500 feet, and any time your windshield wipers are on because of bad weather.	dmv.virginia.gov

Virginia learner permit and teen license rules

Under 18: hold your learner's permit at least 9 months and complete a state-approved driver education course (some school divisions also require a 90-minute parent/teen session).
Drive at least 45 hours on the permit, 15 of them after sunset, certified by a parent or guardian.
Your supervisor must be a licensed driver 21 or older seated beside you, or 18 or older if they are your parent, legal guardian, or sibling.
On a permit you may not drive between midnight and 4 a.m., and you may carry only one passenger under 21 (family and household members do not count).
Provisional license (under 18): only one passenger under 21 during the first year; after one year, up to three passengers under 21 when driving to or from school activities, with a licensed driver 21+ beside you, or in an emergency.
No driving from midnight to 4 a.m. until 18, except for work, adult-supervised school, civic, or religious activities, with a parent or adult spouse beside you, or emergencies; these limits end on your 18th birthday.
Any demerit-point or seat belt/child restraint conviction before 18 requires a driver improvement clinic; a second conviction means a 90-day suspension.

How to get your Virginia learner's permit

Be at least 15 years 6 months old and complete the Application for a Virginia Driver's License; if you are under 18, a parent or legal guardian must sign written consent on it.
Gather one proof of identity, one proof of legal presence, two proofs of Virginia residency, and proof of your Social Security number if you have one.
Schedule an appointment or walk in to a DMV customer service center; some high schools offer the knowledge exam through DMV's remote testing program.
Pay the $3 learner's permit fee plus the yearly cost of the driver's license.
Pass the vision screening and the two-part knowledge exam (all 10 sign questions, then at least 24 of 30 general questions).
DMV mails your permit to you; then complete driver education, log 45 hours (15 after sunset), and hold the permit 9 months before you can be licensed.

Sample Virginia-specific questions

Here are four of the 12 questions in our Virginia module. Each one is based on the official Virginia Driver's Manual (DMV 39, April 2026) or Virginia law; open the answer to see the rule behind it.

1. Part one of Virginia's knowledge exam has 10 traffic sign questions. How many must you answer correctly to go on to part two?

8
9
7
All 10

Show answer

Correct answer: All 10. You must correctly answer all ten traffic sign questions in part one before you can take part two of the exam. Source: dmv.virginia.gov

2. On part two of Virginia's knowledge exam (30 general questions), how many must you answer correctly?

Show answer

Correct answer: 24. Part two has 30 general knowledge questions and you need at least 24 correct, which is 80%. Source: dmv.virginia.gov

3. If you are under 18 and fail Virginia's knowledge exam, how long must you wait to retake it?

1 day
7 days
A full 15 days
30 days

Show answer

Correct answer: A full 15 days. By law, applicants under 18 must wait a full 15 days; for example, failing on January 1 means the earliest retest is January 17. Source: dmv.virginia.gov

4. What is the minimum age to apply for a Virginia learner's permit?

15
15 years 6 months
16
15 years 3 months

Show answer

Correct answer: 15 years 6 months. You must be at least 15 years and six months old to apply for a learner's permit in Virginia. Source: dmv.virginia.gov

How this practice test works

Learn the Virginia 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 Virginia exam simulation and review every mistake before your appointment.

Frequently asked questions

Can I drive alone before my license arrives in the mail?

Yes, in one case: if you are at least 16 years 3 months old, have held your permit for 9 months, and carry a Virginia Driver Training Certificate (DTS B) signed by your parent showing you finished classroom and behind-the-wheel driver ed, it works as a temporary license until your license arrives.

What happens if I fail the Virginia knowledge exam?

If you are under 18 you must wait a full 15 days (fail on January 1, retest January 17 at the earliest); at 18 or older you may test once per day. After three failures you must complete the classroom part of driver education, or a DMV-approved 8-hour driver's manual course if eligible, before a fourth try.

Does my passing knowledge exam score expire?

Yes. If you don't get your license or permit within 1 year of passing the knowledge exam, you must retest, and each retake requires a new application with your identity and residency documents.

What changes in 2027 for new drivers ages 18 to 20?

Starting January 1, 2027, first-time applicants 18 through 20 must hold a learner's permit at least 90 days and complete state-approved driver education. Applicants 21 and older can still choose either 60 days on a permit or driver education.

Are these the real DMV test questions?

No. The Virginia Department of Motor Vehicles does not publish its exam. Our Virginia 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 Virginia sources

Every Virginia fact and question on this page was checked in October 2026 against the official handbook, the Virginia Department of Motor Vehicles website or Virginia 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 Virginia Department of Motor Vehicles 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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