Virginia · Driver License

Virginia Permit Practice Test

The Virginia permit test is administered by Virginia Department of Motor Vehicles. This free practice test covers the 10 areas the Virginia Driver's Manual teaches, from traffic signals and lane controls to driver privileges penalties and responsibilities, with 100 questions written for Virginia and every answer explained. Pick 25, 50, or 100 questions and start; there is no sign-up.

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At a glance

The official Virginia permit test in numbers

Questions on the official exam
40 questions total, in two parts: 10 road sign questions (part one) and 30 general knowledge questions (part two)Checked September 2026
Passing score
All 10 road sign questions must be answered correctly in part one, and at least 24 of 30 general knowledge questions (80%) in part twoChecked September 2026
Fee
$3 learner's permit fee plus the yearly cost of a driver's license ($4 per year; $32 for the standard 8-year license) — no separate knowledge exam feeChecked September 2026
If you fail
Under 18: must wait a full 15 days after failing; 18 or older: may test only once per day; after three failures (any age) must complete the classroom portion of a Virginia-approved driver training program before a fourth attemptChecked September 2026
Exam languages
26 languages: English, American Sign Language (ASL), Amharic (Ethiopian), Arabic, Chinese/Mandarin, Chinese/Mandarin (Traditional), Dari, Farsi, French, German, Haitian Creole, Italian, Japanese, Korean, Kurdish, Mongolian, Nepali, Pashto, Punjabi, Russian, Spanish, Thai, Twi (Akan), Turkish, Urdu, VietnameseChecked September 2026
Minimum age
15 years and 6 months to apply for a learner's permit (which requires passing the knowledge exam)Checked September 2026
Online testing
No at-home/online option for the general public. The exam is taken on a computer at DMV customer service centers, or remotely only through DMV's proctored web-based Remote Testing program at participating high schools (for students)Checked September 2026

Every row above is checked against the state's own published information, and rechecked when the state changes a rule. The practice test below is how you get ready for those numbers.

Free practice test

Take the Virginia permit practice test

The Virginia bank holds 100 questions written for the Virginia Driver's Manual (April 2026), 10 of them illustrated with a sign, signal, marking, or road scene. Choose a Quick check of 25, a Practice run of 50, or the Full challenge of 100 in free Exam Mode. Explanations wait until the end, and your running score stays visible. No sign-up is required and your test is saved on this device. Premium Coaching Mode adds explanations after each answer.

Start the Virginia practice test
Sample questions

Six questions from the Virginia bank, with the rule behind each answer

Sample 1 · Traffic Signals And Lane Controls

A steady red light allows a right turn and no sign prohibits it. What must you do before turning?

  1. Stop completely and yield before making the safe turnCorrect
  2. Slow to walking speed and turn without stopping
  3. Turn first and check for pedestrians afterward
  4. Wait for a driver behind you to sound a horn

Why: A right turn at a steady red signal requires a complete stop and yielding to pedestrians and other traffic, and it is prohibited by a No Turn on Red sign or a right-pointing red arrow. Therefore, the supported response is "Stop completely and yield before making the safe turn".

Sample 2 · Pavement Markings And Rail Crossings

Traffic is stopped beyond a railroad crossing and there is no room for your whole vehicle. What should you do?

  1. Wait before the tracks until enough space exists beyond themCorrect
  2. Enter the crossing and stop between the rails
  3. Follow the vehicle ahead onto the tracks
  4. Drive around the crossing gate on the shoulder

Why: A driver must not start across railroad tracks without enough open space to clear the tracks completely and fit on the far side. Therefore, the supported response is "Wait before the tracks until enough space exists beyond them".

Sample 3 · Roundabouts Lanes Passing And Turns

Who has the right-of-way when you enter an interstate from a ramp?

  1. Traffic already on the interstateCorrect
  2. The entering vehicle in every situation
  3. The vehicle nearest the ramp shoulder
  4. Whichever driver sounds a horn first

Why: A driver entering an interstate from an entrance ramp must yield to vehicles already traveling on the highway. Therefore, the supported response is "Traffic already on the interstate".

Sample 4 · Space Cushion And Sharing The Road

On a dry road at 40 mph, what following interval does the manual's table recommend?

  1. 5 seconds
  2. 8 seconds
  3. 3 secondsCorrect
  4. 1 second

Why: On a dry surface at 35 to 45 mph, the manual's following-distance table calls for a three-second interval. Therefore, the supported response is "3 seconds".

Sample 5 · Distraction Impairment Crashes And Animals

Which navigation-device use fits the manual while your vehicle is moving?

  1. Entering a new address at every intersection
  2. Reading messages while the navigation app runs
  3. Viewing a mounted route without holding the device or entering informationCorrect
  4. Holding the phone at eye level while typing a destination

Why: Drivers may not hold a wireless device while driving except for a driver emergency or when lawfully parked or stopped; navigation is allowed only without holding the device or entering information while driving. Therefore, the supported response is "Viewing a mounted route without holding the device or entering information".

Sample 6 · Driver Privileges Penalties And Responsibilities

Which description correctly distinguishes suspension from revocation?

  1. Both terms mean only a warning letter
  2. Revocation applies only to vehicle registration
  3. Suspension is temporary, while revocation ends the privilege and requires reapplicationCorrect
  4. Suspension permanently cancels the privilege, while revocation lasts one day

Why: A suspension withdraws driving privilege temporarily, whereas a revocation terminates the privilege and requires reapplication after the revocation period. Therefore, the supported response is "Suspension is temporary, while revocation ends the privilege and requires reapplication".

What is on the test

The 10 topics the Virginia permit practice test covers

These are Virginia's own topic areas, from traffic signals and lane controls to driver privileges penalties and responsibilities, each with 10 questions. Under each one are two questions from the bank, shown without their answers; the practice test explains every one of them.

  1. Traffic Signals And Lane Controls10 questions
    • When may a Virginia driver make a left turn while facing a steady red light?
    • You intend to turn in the direction of a steady red arrow. Which action follows the manual?
  2. Signs And Work Zones10 questions
    • The attached octagonal STOP sign appears at an intersection. What action does its shape require?
    • You approach the attached triangular YIELD sign. What is the correct response?
  3. Pavement Markings And Rail Crossings10 questions
    • Your car stalls on railroad tracks and a train is approaching. Which escape direction does the manual describe?
    • According to the April 2026 manual, what fine is stated for a handheld-device conviction in a highway work zone?
  4. Speed Stopping And Right Of Way10 questions
    • No sign states another limit in a Virginia residential area. What maximum does the manual list for a passenger vehicle?
    • What default maximum does the manual give for a passenger vehicle on an unpaved road?
  5. Roundabouts Lanes Passing And Turns10 questions
    • What must you do before entering a Virginia roundabout?
    • You are circulating in the correct lane and are ready to leave a roundabout. What signal should you use?
  6. Space Cushion And Sharing The Road10 questions
    • On a dry highway at 60 mph, what following interval does the manual's table recommend?
    • Your normal following interval was suitable on dry pavement, but heavy rain begins. What adjustment should you make?
  7. Parking Lighting And Hazardous Conditions10 questions
    • How close must a legally parked vehicle be to the curb under the manual's general rule?
    • How should you point the front wheels when parking uphill next to a curb?
  8. Distraction Impairment Crashes And Animals10 questions
    • You develop heavy eyelids and miss an exit. Which response does the manual recommend?
    • Which method is not a reliable substitute for sleep when you are drowsy?
  9. Seat Belts Child Safety And Vehicle Equipment10 questions
    • Who must wear a safety belt in a passenger vehicle under the manual's rule?
    • Who is responsible for ensuring that a 16-year-old passenger is properly restrained?
  10. Driver Privileges Penalties And Responsibilities10 questions
    • What consequence does the manual state for 18 demerit points within 12 months?
    • A driver must attend a clinic after a first qualifying violation committed under age 18. What happens if the clinic is not completed within 90 days?
How to prepare

A study plan for the Virginia permit test

1

Find out where you stand

Take a free Quick check of 25 in Exam Mode. Review the explanations after finishing; each explains a rule from the Virginia manual. Premium Coaching Mode lets you review as you go.

2

Study the topics you missed

Your account's Study tab ranks the 10 topics by your results. Read that chapter of the Virginia Driver's Manual, then take another Quick check to confirm the gap has closed.

3

Rehearse the real thing

Take the Full challenge of 100 in exam mode. Aim for 80 percent or better twice in a row; at that point you are answering from the rules, not from memory of the questions.

Questions

Virginia permit practice test questions

Is this the official Virginia permit test?

No. DMV Exam Pass is an independent study service and is not affiliated with Virginia Department of Motor Vehicles. The questions are written in the style of the exam to prepare you for it; the official test is taken with the agency.

What does the Virginia permit practice test cover?

The 100 questions are spread evenly across 10 topics: Traffic Signals And Lane Controls, Signs And Work Zones, Pavement Markings And Rail Crossings, Speed Stopping And Right Of Way, Roundabouts Lanes Passing And Turns, Space Cushion And Sharing The Road, Parking Lighting And Hazardous Conditions, Distraction Impairment Crashes And Animals, Seat Belts Child Safety And Vehicle Equipment, and Driver Privileges Penalties And Responsibilities. Every test you take draws from all of them, so a weak area shows up quickly.

How many questions are in the practice test, and how long does it take?

The Virginia bank holds 100 questions. A Quick check of 25 takes about ten minutes, a Practice run of 50 about twenty, and the Full challenge of 100 about forty. You can pause any time.

Are these the real questions from the Virginia exam?

No. Nobody outside the agency has the real questions, and we do not use, claim, or advertise leaked or exact exam questions. These are independently written questions that test the same rules, so what you learn transfers to whatever the real test asks.

Which handbook should I study for the Virginia permit test?

The Virginia Driver's Manual (April 2026), published by Virginia Department of Motor Vehicles. Every question here is written for it, and each explanation names the rule, so when you miss a question you know which chapter to read.

What is the difference between coaching mode and exam mode?

Premium Coaching Mode shows whether each answer was right, and why, before you move on; it is for learning. Free Exam Mode holds the explanations and the correct choices until the end and still shows your running score; it is for checking readiness. Both draw from the same bank, and scoring happens on our servers, so no answer key is loaded in your browser.

Does the practice test include road signs and pictures?

Yes. 10 of the 100 questions are illustrated with a sign, signal, marking, or road scene, the way the permit test presents them.

Is the Virginia practice test free, and do I need an account?

It is free, with no sign-up. An optional account saves your progress across devices and shows which topics need work.

Can I pause and come back later?

Yes. A test in progress is saved on this device and offered again when you return. With an account, it is saved to your account as well, so you can continue on another device.

What score should I aim for before test day?

Aim for 80 percent or better on a Full challenge in exam mode, more than once. The official passing score is set by the agency; scoring consistently above 80 here means you are answering from the rules rather than from luck.