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Nebraska Department of Motor Vehicles

Nebraska permit test LPE, SCP, LPD and POP

Nebraska has four teen permits with four acronyms, and the right one depends on your age and whether you live in a rural area. This page explains each one, then covers the vision and written tests, the road to a POP at 16, and a 25-question Nebraska DMV practice test.

Last reviewed October 30, 2026 · Nebraska Driver's Manual, Class O, January 2025

The four permits

LPE

School Learner's Permit · age 14

Practice toward a School Permit, with a licensed 21+ driver beside you.

SCP

School Permit · age 14 yrs 2 mos

For rural students living outside a city of 5,000+. Requires 2 months on an LPE or LPD, plus a driver safety course or a 50-hour certification.

LPD

Learner's Permit · age 15

The standard permit. Apply up to 60 days early. Valid 1 year. Licensed 21+ supervisor beside you.

POP

Provisional Operator's Permit · age 16

Your first unsupervised driving, with night and passenger limits.

The tests

Every permit requires a vision test. The written test is waived if you've held a valid LPE, SCP or LPD within the past year, so a 14-year-old who tests for an LPE may not need to test again for the LPD. Bring identity, lawful status and residency documents. Your permit card is mailed to your principal address and can take up to 20 days.

Timing tip from the manual: offices are busiest after 3 p.m., during school breaks and around holidays.

The DMV also publishes an audio version of the manual, and the manual has its own practice exams starting on page 76.

Not in the manual: the written test's question count, pass score, languages, retake rules and permit fees, and the statewide speed limits. Our quiz uses an 80% target as a benchmark, not an official figure.

Nebraska DMV practice test

Free quiz · no sign-up

Nebraska 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 School Learner's Permit (LPE)?

    • 13
    • 14
    • 15
    • 16
  2. What is the minimum age for a Learner's Permit (LPD)?

    • 14
    • 14½
    • 15
    • 16
  3. How early can you apply for an LPD?

    • 30 days
    • 60 days
    • 90 days
    • You can't apply early
  4. Who must ride with an LPD holder?

    • Anyone 18+
    • Anyone 19+
    • A licensed driver 21+ in the seat beside you
    • Any adult
  5. How long is an LPD valid?

    • 6 months
    • 1 year
    • 2 years
    • 5 years
  6. What is the minimum age for a Provisional Operator's Permit (POP)?

    • 15
    • 16
    • 16½
    • 17
  7. How long must you hold a permit before applying for a POP?

    • 3 months
    • 6 months
    • 9 months
    • 1 year
  8. Without a driver safety course, how many certified hours do you need?

    • 40
    • 50
    • 60
    • 30
  9. How many of those hours must be between sunset and sunrise?

    • 5
    • 10
    • 15
    • 20
  10. When may a POP holder drive unsupervised?

    • 5 a.m.–11 p.m.
    • 6 a.m.–midnight
    • 6 a.m.–10 p.m.
    • Any time
  11. In the first six months on a POP, how many non-family passengers under 19 are allowed?

    • 0
    • 1
    • 2
    • 3
  12. What is the first-offense fine for a permit holder using an interactive wireless device while moving?

    • $25
    • $100
    • $200
    • $500
  13. What is the fine when someone in a permit holder's car isn't belted?

    • $10
    • $25
    • $50
    • $100
  14. How many points on your record keep you from getting a POP?

    • 1
    • 2
    • 3
    • 6
  15. What is the unlawful BAC for drivers under 21?

    • .00
    • .02
    • .04
    • .08
  16. What is the unlawful BAC in a commercial vehicle?

    • .02
    • .04
    • .05
    • .08
  17. What is the administrative license revocation for a first failed alcohol test?

    • 90 days
    • 180 days
    • 1 year
    • 2 years
  18. What is the revocation for refusing the test?

    • 90 days
    • 180 days
    • 1 year
    • 5 years
  19. How many points in a year require a driver under 21 to take a driver improvement course?

    • 3
    • 4
    • 6
    • 12
  20. How many points for illegally passing a stopped school bus?

    • 1
    • 2
    • 3
    • 4
  21. How close to a railroad crossing may you pass another vehicle?

    • No closer than 50 feet
    • No closer than 100 feet
    • No closer than 200 feet
    • No closer than 500 feet
  22. Until what age must children ride rear-facing?

    • 1
    • 2
    • 4
    • 8
  23. How much space should you keep between yourself and the steering-wheel air bag?

    • 6 inches
    • 8 inches
    • 10 inches
    • 15 inches
  24. How long is the license impounded after an under-21 .02 conviction?

    • 7 days
    • 30 days
    • 90 days
    • 1 year
  25. How long can it take for your permit card to arrive by mail?

    • 5 days
    • 10 days
    • Up to 20 days
    • 60 days

From LPD to POP

At 16, you can move up to a Provisional Operator's Permit if you've held an LPE, SCP or LPD for six months with fewer than 3 points, and you have either:

  • a DMV-approved driver safety course, or
  • a 50-hour certification, with 10 hours between sunset and sunrise, signed by a parent, guardian or licensed adult 21+.

Life on a POP

  • No unsupervised driving midnight–6 a.m., except between home and work or a school activity.
  • First six months: at most one non-family passenger under 19.
  • No interactive wireless devices while moving. That's a $200 fine plus points for a first offense.
  • Everyone belted, or it's a $25 fine.

Alcohol: three limits, two clocks

The unlawful BAC is .02 under 21, .04 in a commercial vehicle and .08 for everyone else. A first failed test means a 180-day administrative revocation. Refusing means a full year. An under-21 conviction at .02 gets your license impounded for 30 days, and it stays on your record for 90 days.

Points and passing

  • Illegally passing a stopped school bus (flashing reds, stop arm out): 3 points.
  • Reading, typing or sending texts on a handheld device: 3 points.
  • Under 21 with 6+ points in a year: a driver improvement course within 3 months.
  • No passing within 100 feet of an intersection or railroad crossing.

Also from the manual

Children ride rear-facing until 2 and must be correctly secured up to 8. Sit at least 10 inches from the steering-wheel air bag. ATVs and UTVs may use roads only from sunrise to sunset, under 30 mph. The manual cites insurance minimums of $25,000 for property and $50,000 for personal injury.

Neighboring states

Iowa · South Dakota · Wyoming · Colorado · Kansas · Missouri

Nebraska permit test FAQ

What's the difference between Nebraska's LPE, SCP, LPD and POP?

The LPE (14) is a school learner's permit. The SCP (14 yrs 2 mos) is a school permit for rural students. The LPD (15) is the standard learner's permit. The POP (16) is the provisional license that lets you drive unsupervised with limits.

How many questions are on the Nebraska permit test?

The January 2025 Class O manual doesn't say, and doesn't give a pass score. It does include practice exams starting on page 76.

Do I have to take the written test again for each permit?

Not always. The written test is waived if you've held a valid LPE, SCP or LPD within the past year. A vision test is required for every permit.

When is the best time to visit a Nebraska driver licensing office?

The manual suggests avoiding late afternoons after 3 p.m., school breaks and the days around holidays.

When will I get my Nebraska permit card?

It's mailed to your principal address and can take up to 20 days.

Can a Nebraska permit holder use a phone?

No interactive wireless device use while the vehicle is moving. The first offense is a $200 fine plus points.

Sources: Nebraska Driver's Manual, Class O (PDF); Nebraska DMV. Not affiliated with the Nebraska DMV.