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The North Carolina DMV knowledge test has 25 multiple-choice questions. To pass, you need at least 20 correct, which is 80%. There is also a separate road sign test: you must identify 9 of 12 signs by their color and shape, so 3 misses are allowed. This guide explains the structure and compares it with other states.
What the test includes in North Carolina
The theory part of the license exam (the knowledge test, or permit test) is made up of two separate tests taken during the same visit to the DMV office:
- Knowledge test: 25 multiple-choice questions on traffic rules, safe driving and special situations (school buses, emergency vehicles, weather).
- Road sign test: you must identify what a sign means from its color and shape. You are shown 12 signs and must get 9 right.
Both are taken at the DMV office. According to the official handbook, each exam must be passed separately. For a walk through the visit, see NC DMV knowledge test: what to expect.
How many correct answers you need
On the knowledge test (25 questions) you need at least 20 correct (80%). You can miss 5 at most.
The sign test has its own rule: 9 of 12 correct for a Class C license, with 3 misses allowed (19A NCAC 03B .0201). For commercial licenses A and B you must identify all of them. Still, it pays to master the signs: by shape (octagon, downward-pointing triangle, diamond), by color (red means stop or prohibition, yellow warns, green guides) and by meaning. See our guide to North Carolina road signs.
What happens if you fail
The NCDMV requires a wait of 7 calendar days before the next test. The official NCDOT page says that applicants who do not pass may retake the test in seven calendar days. Offices commonly allow up to 3 attempts within 90 days of your application. Confirm the details at your office, because practice can vary. If you do not pass in 3 attempts (or the 90 days run out), the application closes and you must start over: submit your documents again and pay again. The plan for that week is in what to do if you failed the NC DMV test.
What it costs to take it
There is no separate charge for the test. You do not pay $5 or $20 to sit down at the computer. Payment comes after you pass:
- Learner permit: $25.50 (confirm the current amount at ncdot.gov).
- Class C license: $6.50 per year of validity, so $52 for 8 years and $32.50 for 5 years (age 66 and older).
More detail in how much the NC permit costs.
How many questions other states have
The format varies a lot from state to state, both in the number of questions and in the passing score. For comparison (2026 data; before you go, confirm with your state's DMV):
| State | Questions | Correct needed | Misses allowed |
|---|---|---|---|
| North Carolina | 25 (plus a separate sign test) | 20 (80%) | 5 (on signs, 3 of 12) |
| Florida (Class E) | 50 | 40 (80%) | 10 |
| New York | 20 | 14 (70%), with at least 2 of the 4 sign questions | 6 |
| Texas | 30 | 21 (70%) | 9 |
| Illinois | 35 (about 15 on signs) | 28 (80%) | 7 |
| California (18 and older)* | 36 | 30 | 6 |
| California (under 18)* | 46 | 38 | 8 |
* The California figures come from test-prep resources, not from dmv.ca.gov; verify them there before you go.
What topics the North Carolina test covers
The NCDMV does not publish how many questions come from each topic, and no DMV publishes the questions in its real bank. That is why it makes sense to study the whole handbook. Central topics include:
- Signs and pavement markings: regulatory, warning and guide signs.
- Right of way: intersections, roundabouts and crossings with no signs.
- Speed limits: as a general rule, 70 mph on most interstates, 55 mph on numbered two-lane highways outside a city and 35 mph inside a municipality, unless a sign shows another limit.
- School buses: when everyone must stop and when only one direction must.
- Alcohol and driving: the BAC limit is 0.08% for adults 21 and older, 0.04% for commercial licenses and 0.00% for drivers under 21.
- Driving in bad weather, at night and on slippery pavement.
Typical mistakes on these topics are in the 10 most common mistakes on the NC DMV test.
How to prepare
- Read the whole handbook: understanding why a rule exists helps you remember it. The official NC Driver Handbook is free (a summary is on our handbook page).
- Learn the DMV vocabulary: yield, right of way, intersection, pavement marking, four-way stop, school zone. These are the words you will see on the road and on the test.
- Practice with test-style questions: that way you get used to the format. Try our free 25-question practice test or the 400 questions with explanations. These are practice questions based on the official handbook; they are not the questions on the real test.
There is no strict time limit on the test: read each question calmly. No material can guarantee that you will pass.