North Dakota Department of Transportation (NDDOT)
North Dakota Permit Test (2026)
Study for the official NDDOT Rules of the Road knowledge 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.
North Dakota permit test: quick facts
- Questions on the exam
- Check your state's official site
- Passing score
- Check your state's official site
- Minimum permit age
- 14
- Fee
- Permit: $15. Knowledge test: $5 per attempt (one attempt allowed per day). Road test: $5.
- If you fail
- Only one knowledge-test attempt is allowed per day at $5 per attempt, so a failed test cannot be retaken until at least the next day. A failed road test also may not be retaken the same day.
- Online testing
- Available in some cases
- Languages
- The Class D knowledge test is offered in 14 languages: English, Arabic, Chinese, Dari, French, Nepali, Pashto, Russian, Serbo-Croatian, Somali, Spanish, Swahili, Turkish, and Vietnamese. Automated American Sign Language and audio testing is available at eight driver license offices.
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 North Dakota practice tests
North Dakota Practice Test 1
30 questions — signs, rules, and state law
North Dakota Practice Test 2
30 fresh questions, no repeats from Test 1
North Dakota Road Signs Test
25 questions on signs, shapes, and signals
New-driver rules in North Dakota
North Dakota issues instruction permits at age 14 after a knowledge exam and vision screening; applicants who are 14 or 15 must hold the permit 12 months or until age 16 (minimum six months), complete formal driver education, and log 50 hours of supervised practice driving, while 16- and 17-year-olds must hold it six months. After the road test, a 15-year-old receives a restricted Class D license limited to vehicles owned by a parent, guardian, grandparent, sibling, aunt, or uncle, with no unsupervised driving between the later of sunset or 9 p.m. and 5 a.m. except directly to or from work, school activities, or religious activities. The license becomes unrestricted at 16, and electronic communication devices are barred for all permit holders and licensed drivers under 18.
Verified 2026-08-18 · Source: NDDOT
North Dakota permit test FAQ
How old do you have to be to get a learner's permit in North Dakota?
You can apply for a learner's permit in North Dakota at 14, according to the NDDOT (verified 2026-08-18).
How much does the North Dakota permit cost?
Permit: $15. Knowledge test: $5 per attempt (one attempt allowed per day). Road test: $5. — as listed by the North Dakota Department of Transportation (NDDOT), verified 2026-08-18. Always confirm current fees on the official site.
What happens if you fail the North Dakota permit test?
Only one knowledge-test attempt is allowed per day at $5 per attempt, so a failed test cannot be retaken until at least the next day. A failed road test also may not be retaken the same day. (per the NDDOT, verified 2026-08-18).
Can you take the North Dakota permit test online?
Yes, in some cases. The NDDOT offers an online option for the Rules of the Road knowledge test — check eligibility on the official site.
What languages is the North Dakota permit test offered in?
The Class D knowledge test is offered in 14 languages: English, Arabic, Chinese, Dari, French, Nepali, Pashto, Russian, Serbo-Croatian, Somali, Spanish, Swahili, Turkish, and Vietnamese. Automated American Sign Language and audio testing is available at eight driver license offices. (per the NDDOT, verified 2026-08-18).
Who runs the permit test in North Dakota?
Driver licensing in North Dakota is handled by the North Dakota Department of Transportation (NDDOT). The official site is https://www.dot.nd.gov/.
Where can I read the official North Dakota driver handbook?
The official North Dakota driver handbook is published by the NDDOT at https://www.dot.nd.gov/sites/www/files/documents/Drivers%20-%20documents/noncommercial-manual.pdf. It is the source our practice questions are grounded in.
What is the North Dakota permit test officially called?
The NDDOT officially calls it the Rules of the Road knowledge test. "Permit test" and "written test" are common informal names for the same exam.