Kentucky Transportation Cabinet (KYTC)
Kentucky Permit Test (2026)
Study for the official KYTC Written Test with free practice tests written from the state's own rules — plus the verified facts below: how many questions, the passing score, and what it costs.
Kentucky permit test: quick facts
- Questions on the exam
- Check your state's official site
- Passing score
- 80%
- Minimum permit age
- 15
- Fee
- Learner's permit: $15.00 ($18.00 for the REAL ID version). The intermediate license is also $15.00 ($18.00 REAL ID), and a 4-year full driver's license is $21.50 ($24.00 REAL ID).
- If you fail
- If you fail the written test, you may return the next available day to retake it (schedule a new appointment with Kentucky State Police). If you fail the road skills test, you must wait seven full days before retaking it.
- Online testing
- In person only
- Languages
- English plus 26 other languages on the written test, including Spanish, Arabic, Chinese, French, Japanese, Korean, Russian, and Vietnamese. Several languages are available electronically and in audio form on testing-office tablets; oral administration or an interpreter requires a special appointment.
How it works
Step 1
Take Practice Test 1 like the real thing — no notes, one question at a time.
Step 2
Read every explanation, especially for questions you missed. That's where the learning happens.
Step 3
Repeat with Test 2 and the road signs test until you pass comfortably every time.
Free Kentucky practice tests
Kentucky Practice Test 1
30 questions — signs, rules, and state law
Kentucky Practice Test 2
30 fresh questions, no repeats from Test 1
Kentucky Road Signs Test
25 questions on signs, shapes, and signals
New-driver rules in Kentucky
Kentucky's GDL has three steps: a learner's permit at 15, an intermediate license at 16 after holding the permit 180 days and logging 60 supervised practice hours (10 at night), and a full license at 17 after 180 days at the intermediate step plus a 4-hour driver education course. Permit holders must drive with a licensed driver 21 or older in the front passenger seat, and permit and intermediate drivers face a midnight-6 a.m. driving ban absent good cause plus a limit of one unrelated passenger under age 20. A moving-violation conviction restarts the 180-day waiting period.
Verified 2026-08-18 · Source: KYTC
Kentucky permit test FAQ
What score do you need to pass the Kentucky permit test?
You must score at least 80% to pass the Kentucky Written Test, according to the KYTC.
How old do you have to be to get a learner's permit in Kentucky?
You can apply for a learner's permit in Kentucky at 15, according to the KYTC (verified 2026-08-18).
How much does the Kentucky permit cost?
Learner's permit: $15.00 ($18.00 for the REAL ID version). The intermediate license is also $15.00 ($18.00 REAL ID), and a 4-year full driver's license is $21.50 ($24.00 REAL ID). — as listed by the Kentucky Transportation Cabinet (KYTC), verified 2026-08-18. Always confirm current fees on the official site.
What happens if you fail the Kentucky permit test?
If you fail the written test, you may return the next available day to retake it (schedule a new appointment with Kentucky State Police). If you fail the road skills test, you must wait seven full days before retaking it. (per the KYTC, verified 2026-08-18).
Can you take the Kentucky permit test online?
No. The Kentucky Written Test is administered in person through the Kentucky Transportation Cabinet (KYTC), not online.
What languages is the Kentucky permit test offered in?
English plus 26 other languages on the written test, including Spanish, Arabic, Chinese, French, Japanese, Korean, Russian, and Vietnamese. Several languages are available electronically and in audio form on testing-office tablets; oral administration or an interpreter requires a special appointment. (per the KYTC, verified 2026-08-18).
Who runs the permit test in Kentucky?
Driver licensing in Kentucky is handled by the Kentucky Transportation Cabinet (KYTC). The official site is https://drive.ky.gov/.
Where can I read the official Kentucky driver handbook?
The official Kentucky driver handbook is published by the KYTC at https://wp.kentuckystatepolice.ky.gov/wp-content/uploads/2026/07/Kentucky-Driver-Manual_Updated_7-23-26.pdf. It is the source our practice questions are grounded in.