Division of Motor Vehicles (DMV)
West Virginia Permit Test (2026)
Study for the official DMV Knowledge Examination 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.
West Virginia permit test: quick facts
- Questions on the exam
- 25
- Passing score
- 19 of 25 correct (76%)
- Minimum permit age
- 15
- Fee
- Knowledge test: $7.50 per attempt. Level 1 GDL instruction permit: $7.50. Road skills test: $7.50 per attempt. Regular (18 and older) instruction permit: $7.50. A federal-use REAL ID credential costs an additional $10.00.
- If you fail
- Under WV Code §17B-2-6, an applicant who fails the written test or the road skills test may not be tested twice within a period of one week. The application fee entitles an applicant under 18 to up to two written-test attempts and one road-skills attempt; an applicant 18 or older gets up to two written attempts and up to three road-skills attempts within 90 days of permit issuance.
- Online testing
- Available in some cases
- Languages
- The knowledge examination is administered in English; audio versions (given with headphones) are available for reading-impaired applicants, covering the same material under the same rules.
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 West Virginia practice tests
West Virginia Practice Test 1
30 questions — signs, rules, and state law
West Virginia Practice Test 2
30 fresh questions, no repeats from Test 1
West Virginia Road Signs Test
25 questions on signs, shapes, and signals
New-driver rules in West Virginia
West Virginia uses a three-level graduated driver's licensing system for teens. The Level 1 instruction permit is available at 15: holders may drive only between 5:00 a.m. and 10:00 p.m. with a licensed driver 21 or older in the front seat, and must complete 180 conviction-free days plus 50 certified practice hours (10 at night) to advance. The Level 2 intermediate license at 16 requires adult supervision between 10:00 p.m. and 5:00 a.m. (with work, school, religious, and emergency exceptions) and phases in passengers — no non-family passengers under 20 the first six months, then one — and the full Level 3 license is available at 17 after 12 conviction-free months at Level 2.
Verified 2026-08-18 · Source: DMV
West Virginia permit test FAQ
How many questions are on the West Virginia permit test?
The official West Virginia Knowledge Examination has 25 questions, according to the DMV (verified 2026-08-18).
What score do you need to pass the West Virginia permit test?
You must answer 19 of 25 questions correctly (76%) to pass the West Virginia Knowledge Examination.
How old do you have to be to get a learner's permit in West Virginia?
You can apply for a learner's permit in West Virginia at 15, according to the DMV (verified 2026-08-18).
How much does the West Virginia permit cost?
Knowledge test: $7.50 per attempt. Level 1 GDL instruction permit: $7.50. Road skills test: $7.50 per attempt. Regular (18 and older) instruction permit: $7.50. A federal-use REAL ID credential costs an additional $10.00. — as listed by the Division of Motor Vehicles (DMV), verified 2026-08-18. Always confirm current fees on the official site.
What happens if you fail the West Virginia permit test?
Under WV Code §17B-2-6, an applicant who fails the written test or the road skills test may not be tested twice within a period of one week. The application fee entitles an applicant under 18 to up to two written-test attempts and one road-skills attempt; an applicant 18 or older gets up to two written attempts and up to three road-skills attempts within 90 days of permit issuance. (per the DMV, verified 2026-08-18).
Can you take the West Virginia permit test online?
Yes, in some cases. The DMV offers an online option for the Knowledge Examination — check eligibility on the official site.
What languages is the West Virginia permit test offered in?
The knowledge examination is administered in English; audio versions (given with headphones) are available for reading-impaired applicants, covering the same material under the same rules. (per the DMV, verified 2026-08-18).
Who runs the permit test in West Virginia?
Driver licensing in West Virginia is handled by the Division of Motor Vehicles (DMV). The official site is https://dmv.wv.gov/.