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Kentucky Transportation Cabinet · Kentucky State Police testing

Kentucky permit test 80%, in 26 languages

In Kentucky, State Police examiners give the written test, and the Transportation Cabinet's regional offices issue your permit. The manual was updated July 23, 2026. Here's what it says about the test, the school-attendance rule that can stop you before you start, and a 25-question Kentucky DMV practice test.

Last reviewed October 30, 2026 · Kentucky Driver Manual, updated 7-23-26

Before you practice: the manual sets the pass mark at 80% but doesn't publish the number of questions, so this is a 25-question practice set, not a copy of the real test's length.

Free quiz · no sign-up

Kentucky permit practice test

Questions
25
To pass
80%
About
17 min

Instant feedback and an explanation after every answer.

Preview the 25 free questions

  1. What is the minimum age for a Kentucky learner's permit?

    • 14
    • 15
    • 15½
    • 16

  2. What score do you need on the Kentucky knowledge test?

    • 70%
    • 75%
    • 80%
    • 85%

  3. How old must the licensed driver beside a permit holder be?

    • 18
    • 20
    • 21
    • 25

  4. How long must you hold a permit (ages 15–20)?

    • 90 days
    • 120 days
    • 180 days
    • 365 days

  5. How many hours does the Practice Driving Log require?

    • 40
    • 50
    • 60
    • 65

  6. How many of those hours must be at night?

    • 5
    • 10
    • 15
    • 20

  7. When may a permit holder under 18 not drive, without good cause?

    • 11 p.m.–5 a.m.
    • Midnight–6 a.m.
    • 10 p.m.–6 a.m.
    • 1–5 a.m.

  8. How many unrelated passengers under 20 may a permit holder under 18 carry?

    • 0
    • 1
    • 2
    • 3

  9. What is the earliest age for a full, unrestricted license?

    • 16
    • 16½
    • 17
    • 18

  10. How long must you hold the intermediate license?

    • 90 days
    • 180 days
    • 270 days
    • 365 days

  11. What BAC does Kentucky use for under-21 zero tolerance?

    • .00
    • .02
    • .04
    • .08

  12. A violation during the permit stage adds at least:

    • 30 days
    • 90 days
    • 180 days
    • 365 days

  13. What does the online GDL education course cost?

    • Free
    • $12.50
    • $25
    • $50

  14. When the test is given orally, how must the signs portion be answered?

    • Read aloud by the examiner
    • From your own knowledge
    • It's skipped
    • Through an interpreter

  15. Which buses must you stop for while they load or unload?

    • School buses only
    • School or church buses
    • Transit buses
    • Tour buses

  16. Mandatory DUI jail applies if you were speeding more than ___ over the limit.

    • 15 mph
    • 20 mph
    • 25 mph
    • 30 mph

  17. What following distance does the manual recommend at minimum?

    • 2 seconds
    • 3 seconds
    • 4 seconds
    • 6 seconds

  18. What is the minimum bodily injury liability per person?

    • $10,000
    • $25,000
    • $50,000
    • $100,000

  19. What is the fine range for an uninsured vehicle owner?

    • $100–$250
    • $250–$500
    • $500–$1,000
    • $1,000–$2,000

  20. On average, how long does texting take your eyes off the road?

    • 1.5 seconds
    • 2.6 seconds
    • 4.6 seconds
    • 8 seconds

  21. A driver under 18 may be suspended with more than how many points?

    • 3
    • 6
    • 9
    • 12

  22. Which law ties school standing to driving privileges?

    • No Pass/No Drive
    • Zero tolerance
    • Move Over
    • Implied consent

  23. Which birth certificate is accepted for a permit?

    • A photocopy
    • An original or certified copy
    • A school ID
    • A library card

  24. What is a moped's maximum speed in Kentucky?

    • 20 mph
    • 25 mph
    • 30 mph
    • 35 mph

  25. About how far does a car need to stop from 50 mph on dry pavement?

    • 58 feet
    • 100 feet
    • 158 feet
    • 300 feet

First, school: No Pass/No Drive

Kentucky links teen driving to school under KRS 159.051. Your school completes a School Compliance Verification Form, and you bring it with your other documents. Without it, you won't get the permit.

Your document stack

  • Original or certified birth certificate (no photocopies)
  • Social Security card
  • One proof of residency, or two for REAL ID
  • The School Compliance Verification Form
  • A parent or legal guardian with you. Guardians bring their court documents.

Schedule at a Driver Licensing Regional Office. You'll do vision screening, then the written test on rules, regulations, procedures and highway signs.

Test languages listed in the manual

* = available electronically or as audio. Other languages may need an appointment for oral administration or an interpreter.

AlbanianArabic*BosnianBurmese*CambodianChinese*CroatianDariFarsiFrench*GermanHindiJapanese*KinyarwandaKoreanLaotianPashtoPolishRomanianRussianSomali*Spanish*SwahiliThaiTurkishVietnamese

Every office has tablets that read the test aloud, with no special appointment needed. There's one catch: on an oral test, you must answer the signs portion from your own knowledge.

From 15 to a full license at 17

StageMinimumKey limits (under 18)
PermitAge 15; hold 180 days; 60 logged hours, 10 at nightLicensed 21+ supervisor in front. No driving midnight–6 a.m. without good cause. One unrelated passenger under 20.
IntermediateRoad test passed; hold 180 days; GDL education courseThe same midnight–6 a.m. rule and one-passenger rule
Full licenseAge 17Under 18 with more than 6 points may be suspended

A violation while on a permit adds 180 days. The GDL education course can be taken in a classroom (free), online ($12.50), through high school driver ed, or at an approved school with 4 classroom hours.

Five things Kentucky does its own way

  1. Church buses count. Stop for a school or church bus loading or unloading on any roadway, and stay stopped until people are clear and the bus moves.
  2. Four-second following distance, not the three seconds many states teach. From 50 mph on dry pavement, stopping takes about 158 feet.
  3. DUI aggravators bring mandatory jail: more than 30 mph over the limit, going the wrong way on a limited-access highway, or a crash that kills or seriously injures someone. Repeat offenders can lose their license plates during a suspension.
  4. Uninsured owners face a $500–$1,000 fine, up to 90 days in jail and a revoked registration. The minimum coverage is $25,000/$50,000 for bodily injury.
  5. Zero tolerance at .02 for drivers under 21.

The manual also notes that a text takes your eyes off the road about 4.6 seconds, which is a football field at 55 mph. Mopeds are capped at 30 mph and 50cc, and riders must be 16. If you rent a car for the road test, you must be listed as a driver on the rental.

Not in the manual: the question count, retake wait, permit fee, and whether an online test exists. Ask your regional office.

Neighboring states

Indiana · Ohio · West Virginia · Virginia · Tennessee · Missouri · Illinois

Kentucky permit test FAQ

How many questions are on the Kentucky permit test?

The Kentucky Driver Manual says you need at least 80%, but it doesn't say how many questions there are. We couldn't confirm a number.

Who gives the Kentucky permit test?

Kentucky State Police driver testing gives the exams, and the Transportation Cabinet's Driver Licensing Regional Offices issue the permit. You schedule at a regional office.

Can I take the Kentucky permit test in another language?

Yes. The manual lists 26 languages, and every office has tablets that read the test aloud in English and several other languages. You'll need an appointment for an oral exam or an interpreter.

What is Kentucky's No Pass/No Drive law?

KRS 159.051 ties a teen's driving privileges to school attendance and standing. Bring a School Compliance Verification Form when you apply.

How many hours do I need to drive on a Kentucky permit?

60 hours, 10 at night, recorded on the Practice Driving Log and certified by a parent, with the permit held at least 180 days.

What can I bring as ID?

An original or certified birth certificate, your Social Security card, and one proof of residency (two for REAL ID). Photocopies aren't accepted.

Keep studying

Source: Kentucky Driver Manual (PDF, 7-23-26); drive.ky.gov. Not affiliated with KYTC or KSP.