PermitoNorth Carolina permit test
You need 80% correct to pass the North Carolina knowledge test. We have not yet confirmed the North Carolina question count with the agency. Source: ncdot.gov, checked October 20, 2026.
Test facts
| What | Number | Source | Checked |
|---|---|---|---|
| Questions on the test | Not yet confirmed with the agency | ncdot.gov | |
| Pass mark | 80% | ncdot.gov | |
| Part: Traffic signs | 12 questions, at least 9 correct | ncdot.gov |
North Carolina laws and handbook points
Points from North Carolina law and the North Carolina driver handbook, each taken from one of our North Carolina practice questions with its source. Practice material, not the state test.
Permits and graduated licensing
How long must a teen hold the Level One permit before applying for the Level Two license?
Answer: Nine months. A Level One permit must be held at least nine months before a teen applies for a Level Two limited provisional license. The wait gives time to log the required supervised driving.
Other choices: Three months. Three months is far too short to build the required practice. Twelve months. A full year is longer than the nine months required.
Sources: G.S. 20-11; Driver handbook, Chapter 1: Your License.
Alcohol and drugs
A 20 year old had one beer two hours ago and drives home. Is any rule broken?
Answer: Yes, a driver under 21 may have no alcohol in the body. A driver under 21 may not drive with any alcohol still in the body. The zero rule applies even after the drinking has stopped, if alcohol remains.
Other choices: No, the level is surely under 0.08. The 0.08 limit does not apply to drivers under 21. Yes, but only if the driver is stopped at night. The rule applies at all hours.
Sources: G.S. 20-138.3; Driver handbook, Chapter 2: Alcohol and the Law.
Insurance
Which violation adds the most points to a North Carolina record?
Answer: Passing a stopped school bus. Passing a stopped school bus and aggressive driving are each 5 points. Reckless driving is 4, running a red light is 3, and a child restraint violation is 2.
Other choices: Failure to restrain a child. This adds 2 points. Reckless driving. Reckless driving adds 4 points.
Sources: G.S. 20-16; Driver handbook, Chapter 3: Your Driving Privilege.
Speed and following distance
What is the top speed allowed for a school bus?
Answer: 45 mph. A school bus may not go faster than 45 mph, while a school activity bus may go up to 55 mph.
Other choices: 65 mph. Sixty-five is higher than any bus may go. 35 mph. Thirty-five is the town limit for cars.
Sources: G.S. 20-218; Driver handbook, Chapter 4: Your Driving.
Parking
You are leaving your car for a few minutes near a fire hydrant. How close may you park?
Answer: No closer than 15 feet. North Carolina bars parking closer than 15 feet to a hydrant or fire station entrance. Crews need that room to connect hoses and move trucks.
Other choices: No closer than 5 feet. Five feet would still block the hydrant for firefighters. Any distance if you stay in the car. Staying inside does not remove the rule.
Sources: G.S. 20-162; Driver handbook, Chapter 4: Your Driving.
Right of way
An officer waves traffic through a working signal. Whose direction do you follow?
Answer: The officer's. Follow the officer's signals and not the light or sign. Most officers stop traffic with a raised palm and wave it on with a hand motion.
Other choices: The car ahead's. Other drivers' moves do not matter. The nearest sign's. Signs yield to an officer's direction.
Sources: Driver handbook, Chapter 5: Signals, Signs and Pavement Markings.
Sharing the road
You hear a siren and see an ambulance approaching with lights flashing. What do you do?
Answer: Pull right and stop. When an emergency vehicle approaches with lights and siren, drive to the right-hand edge of the road and stop. Stay stopped until it has passed.
Other choices: Speed up and stay in your lane. Speeding up makes your moves hard to predict. Slow down but keep rolling. You must stop completely.
Sources: G.S. 20-157; Driver handbook, Chapter 4: Your Driving.
Turns and lanes
What must you never do when another driver is passing you?
Answer: Speed up. A driver being passed must help by moving right when the passer honks, and must never increase speed. Speeding up can lead to a charge if a crash happens.
Other choices: Keep your lane. Staying in your own lane is the right thing to do, so it is not something you must avoid. Slow down a little. Easing off is allowed and helpful.
Sources: G.S. 20-149; Driver handbook, Chapter 4: Your Driving.
Pavement markings
What does a skipped yellow line in your lane allow?
Answer: Passing with care. On a two-lane road, a skipped yellow line in your lane means passing with care is permitted. Make sure the road ahead is clear before you start the pass.
Other choices: Passing on the shoulder. Passing on the shoulder is not allowed, because the shoulder is not a travel lane. Passing at any speed. Care is required, not just any speed.
Sources: G.S. 20-150; Driver handbook, Chapter 5: Signals, Signs and Pavement Markings.
Traffic signals
You face a flashing yellow left arrow while oncoming cars have a green light. What may you do?
Answer: Turn left after yielding. A flashing yellow arrow allows a turn once you have yielded to oncoming traffic and pedestrians. A solid green arrow gives a protected turn.
Other choices: Wait for a solid green arrow. You may turn once it is clear. Turn left first, because of the arrow. The arrow does not give priority over oncoming cars.
Sources: G.S. 20-158; Driver handbook, Chapter 5: Signals, Signs and Pavement Markings.
- Questions in this list were last updated .
What the North Carolina question bank covers
Questions in Permito’s North Carolina bank, by topic. The counts describe the bank, not the state test.
| Topic | Questions in the bank |
|---|---|
| Road signs | 359 |
| Right of way | 62 |
| Safe driving | 58 |
| Turns and lanes | 54 |
| Sharing the road | 52 |
| Speed and following distance | 46 |
| Alcohol and drugs | 45 |
| Pavement markings | 39 |
| Traffic signals | 36 |
| Permits and graduated licensing | 33 |
| Parking | 24 |
| Emergencies | 21 |
| Insurance | 17 |
Where these numbers come from
Each number was read on the agency page linked beside it. Where the agency publishes none, we say so instead of guessing.
Practice
- Try the North Carolina practice questions. Questions with the answer, the explanation and the source.
- Compare all states
Road signs
Sign questions are part of the North Carolina bank too. The road sign reference shows every sign Permito teaches, with its name and what it means. See all road signs.
Common questions
How many questions are on the North Carolina permit test?
We have not yet confirmed the question count with the agency, so we do not list one. The agency’s page is ncdot.gov.
What score do I need to pass the North Carolina permit test?
You need 80% correct. Source: ncdot.gov, checked October 20, 2026.
Is the North Carolina test split into parts?
Yes. Traffic signs: 12 questions, at least 9 correct. Source: ncdot.gov, checked October 20, 2026.
Why does Permito not show every number other sites list?
Numbers copied from site to site are often out of date, so we show only numbers seen on the agency’s own page.
Where do these numbers come from?
From the agency page at ncdot.gov, which we checked on October 20, 2026. Permito is not part of any government agency.
Are the practice questions on Permito from the North Carolina test?
No. They are our own practice questions, written from the North Carolina driver handbook and vehicle code. Permito is not affiliated with any DMV or government agency.
A 17 year old wants to call a friend on a hands-free headset while driving. What does the law say?
It is not allowed, except for emergency calls. Drivers under 18 may not use a mobile phone while driving. The exceptions are calls for help in an emergency and calls to a parent, guardian or spouse. Sources: G.S. 20-137.3; Driver handbook, Chapter 4: Your Driving.
After a DWI suspension, what alcohol limit applies to the first restored license?
0.04. On the first restoration after a DWI, the alcohol limit on the license is 0.04. A second or later restoration carries a limit of 0.00. Sources: G.S. 20-17.8; Driver handbook, Chapter 2: Alcohol and the Law.
You are in a crash with another car and no one is hurt. What must you share with the other driver?
Name, address and insurer. After a crash, stop and give your name, address, license number, tag number and insurer to the others. Get the same details from them. Sources: G.S. 20-166; Driver handbook, Chapter 4: Your Driving.
You pick a sign on the road. The car ahead passes it, and you reach it one second later. What does that mean?
You are following too closely. Leave at least two seconds between the car ahead passing a mark and you reaching it. In rain, at night or in heavy traffic, leave more time. Sources: G.S. 20-152; Driver handbook, Chapter 4: Your Driving.
A delivery driver wants to stop for ten minutes beside a hydrant, leaving the engine running. Is that parking?
Yes, the car is standing, and the 15 foot rule applies. North Carolina bars a car from parking or standing within 15 feet of a hydrant. A short stop with the engine on is still standing. Sources: G.S. 20-162; Driver handbook, Chapter 4: Your Driving.
Practice the rest in the app
Many more North Carolina questions, mock exams and an explanation for every answer. Free to start, no account.
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