North Carolina permit test 2026: questions, passing score and retakes
Updated October 2026
This page sums up how the North Carolina NCDMV written knowledge test works, what it covers and how to prepare for it. The numbers below are the ones we use across Road Ready NC. Confirm them with the official source before your test.
Test format
25questions on the real test
20/25correct answers to pass (80%)
7 dayswait before retesting
What the test covers
We group the questions into eight topics, each with free practice questions and explanations:
A few state-specific questions from our free sets, with answers and explanations.
1. What is the maximum speed limit allowed on North Carolina's interstate highways?
55 mph
60 mph
✓ 70 mph
80 mph
Why: North Carolina permits speed limits of up to 70 mph on certain interstates and freeways, though the posted limit can be lower depending on the road.
2. Under North Carolina's zero-tolerance law, what amount of alcohol can result in a conviction for a driver under 21?
Only a blood alcohol concentration of 0.08% or higher
✓ Any measurable amount of alcohol in their system
Only if they are visibly impaired
There is no special rule for drivers under 21
Why: North Carolina's zero-tolerance law makes it illegal for anyone under 21 to drive with any measurable amount of alcohol in their system; a reading of 0.01-0.07 can trigger a one-year license suspension and a fine, while 0.08 or above brings a full adult DWI charge.
3. What are North Carolina's current minimum liability insurance requirements?
$25,000 / $50,000 / $25,000
$30,000 / $60,000 / $25,000
✓ $50,000 / $100,000 / $50,000
There is no minimum requirement
Why: Effective July 2025, North Carolina raised its minimum liability limits to $50,000 bodily injury per person / $100,000 per accident, with a comparable amount for property damage; drivers must also carry uninsured/underinsured motorist coverage.
4. How does North Carolina set speed limits in school zones?
There is one fixed statewide school zone speed of 15 mph
✓ Local authorities may set reduced limits near schools, but state law sets a floor of 20 mph - limits cannot go lower than that
School zone limits only apply on weekends
School zones have no special speed limit at all
Why: North Carolina law lets local authorities establish reduced speed limits near schools, enforced during school session days and hours, but the limit cannot be set below the state's 20 mph floor; speeding in a school zone is a $250 infraction.
5. In North Carolina, when is a driver permitted to turn right on a red light?
Never - right turns on red are illegal everywhere in the state
✓ After coming to a complete stop, yielding to pedestrians and cross traffic, unless a sign prohibits it
Only between 6 a.m. and 10 p.m.
At any time, without stopping, as long as no other cars are visible
Why: Unless a posted sign says otherwise, NC drivers may turn right on red only after stopping completely and yielding to pedestrians and vehicles with the right-of-way.
6. What is the rule on cell phone use for North Carolina drivers under age 18?
They may use a phone hands-free only
✓ They are prohibited from using a mobile phone at all while driving, even hands-free, with limited exceptions
They may text but not make calls
There is no special restriction for drivers under 18
Why: North Carolina bans all cell phone use, including hands-free calls, for drivers holding a limited learner's or provisional license, with narrow exceptions such as emergencies.
How to prepare
Read the official North Carolina driver handbook, available on the NCDMV site: ncdot.gov.
Work through practice mode one topic at a time and read the explanation for every question you miss.
Then use the exam simulator and keep going until you pass it consistently.
Document requirements, fees, age rules and appointment booking differ by situation and change over time. Check them on the official NCDMV site before you go: ncdot.gov.