Driving Tests

NC DMV Permit Test: Written, Signs and Vision Tests and the Passing Score

informational·how to guide·Published October 16, 2026

What tests do you take for the NC learner permit, and what score passes?

To get a North Carolina learner permit, you pass three tests: knowledge, signs and vision. You must pass each test separately. The knowledge test is on a computer, and you need 80 percent correct. The state rule for a regular Class C license sets the signs pass mark at 9 of 12 signs. For the vision test, 20/40 or better in at least one eye gives an unrestricted license.

Where the permit test rules come from

The pass marks are in the North Carolina Division of Motor Vehicles (NCDMV) rule 19A NCAC 03B .0201. The NCDMV Driver License Tests page and interpreter services page describe the tests and the language help. The North Carolina Driver Handbook (2026) and the NCDMV Level 1 permit, adult driver, handbooks and appointments pages add the details for permit applicants. This guide is correct as of 2026. Confirm the rules with the North Carolina DMV (ncdot.gov/dmv) before you drive.

The three NC permit tests at a glance

The three NC permit tests at a glance
Test	What it checks	What passes
Knowledge test	Traffic laws and safe-driving practice, on a computer	80 percent of the questions answered correctly
Signs test	Regulatory and warning signs: you name each sign by color and shape and explain it	9 of 12 signs for a regular Class C license
Vision test	Whether you can identify letters or symbols from a set distance	20/40 or better in at least one eye for an unrestricted license

Which permit tests do teens and adults take?

You are 15 to 17 (teen Level 1 limited learner permit)

Pass the written, sign and vision tests. A parent or guardian must be present for the tests. Anyone else who takes you needs written consent from a parent or guardian. Before you schedule, you must have a Driver's Education Certificate from your driver education course. Since October 1, 2026, you no longer need a Driving Eligibility Certificate for the permit.

You are 18 or older (adult learner permit)

Apply in person at a driver license office. The required testing is vision, traffic signs and knowledge of motor vehicle laws.

The knowledge test: 80 percent to pass

The knowledge test is a computer test on the rules of the road. Its questions are about traffic laws and safe driving practices. You must answer 80 percent of the questions correctly to pass. Study the North Carolina Driver Handbook, then check what you know with the free practice questions on this site. They are in English only, and they are not the real test questions.

Can you take the permit test in another language or with help?

Other languages: NCDMV lists the written knowledge test as offered in different languages. Ask your driver license office which languages it offers.
Oral test: available on request for the knowledge test.
Audio test: if reading is hard for you, ask for it. You listen to the questions through earphones.
Language interpreter: if you are not fluent in English, request one online or through the NCDMV Call Center at (919) 715-7000, 8 a.m. to 5 p.m.
ASL interpreter: for customers who are deaf, hard of hearing or have speech disabilities. Request it the same way.
Spanish handbook: the Manual de Manejo de Carolina del Norte is on the NCDMV handbooks page.

The signs test: 9 of 12 signs

The signs test covers regulatory and warning signs. For each sign, you identify it by its color and shape and explain what it means. Under the state rule for a regular Class C license, you pass when you identify 9 of 12 road signs correctly. All the information for the signs test is in the North Carolina Driver Handbook. The free question on what you must do in the traffic-sign test shows the task.

The vision test: 20/40 and corrective lenses

Your vision is checked when you apply in person for a learner permit, an original license or a renewal. The test checks whether you can identify letters or symbols from a set distance. Vision of 20/40 or better in at least one eye gives an unrestricted license. If your acuity is less than 20/40 in either eye or in both eyes together, your license gets a restriction that requires corrective lenses. With that restriction, you must wear the lenses at all times while driving. Driving without them has the same penalty as driving without a license. The question on driving without your glasses tests this rule.

Do you need an appointment for the permit test?

You want to walk in

Every driver license office takes walk-in customers from opening to closing time, or until the office is full. Check in with your cell phone at the office. You can wait in your vehicle or at a nearby business, and a text asks you to come in when there is room in the lobby.

You want to book a time

Book online up to seven days ahead. New times come out each weekday. Confirm within 15 minutes, or the system releases the time. For a teen permit, choose Teen Driver - Learner Permit. Aim to arrive 5 to 10 minutes early, and no more than 15 minutes early. If you arrive 15 or more minutes late, the appointment is cancelled.

What if you fail a permit test?

For a regular Class C license, NCDMV lets an applicant who fails the knowledge test or the driving test retake that test in seven calendar days. For the teen Level 1 permit tests, ask the driver license office when you can come back and which tests you must take again. Use the time before your next visit to study the part that you missed, with the handbook and the practice questions. The question on passing one test but failing another shows how separate test results work.

What to bring, and when the permit arrives

A teen brings one document that proves identity and date of birth, a Social Security card or one document that proves the Social Security number, one document that proves North Carolina residency, and the Driver's Education Certificate. An adult brings the same identity, Social Security and North Carolina address documents, plus proof of legal presence if not born in the U.S. The guide to NC learner permit documents lists which papers count. A teen's Level 1 permit comes by mail within 20 business days. An adult gets a Temporary Driving Certificate to use until the permit arrives.

Key takeaways

The permit needs a knowledge test, a signs test and a vision test, and you must pass each one separately.
Pass marks: 80 percent on the knowledge test and 9 of 12 signs on the Class C signs test. Vision of 20/40 or better in at least one eye gives an unrestricted license.
A teen needs a parent or guardian at the tests, or written consent from one. Every driver license office takes walk-ins.
Ask for an oral or audio test if you need one. Request an interpreter online or at (919) 715-7000.
Next step: practice on the free North Carolina Class C practice test.

NC permit test: common questions

Is the NC permit test on a computer?

Yes. The knowledge test is an automated computer test about the rules of the road, and you need 80 percent correct to pass. If reading is hard for you, ask for the audio version and hear each question through earphones. The signs test and the vision test are separate, and you must pass each one.

Can I get an oral permit test in North Carolina?

Yes. Oral tests are available on request for the written knowledge test, so ask for one at the driver license office. If you are not fluent in English, you can also request a language interpreter before your visit, online or through the NCDMV Call Center at (919) 715-7000 from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m.

Does a parent have to come to the NC permit test?

For a teen Level 1 permit, yes. A parent or guardian must be present for the written, sign and vision tests. If another person takes you, that person must bring written consent from your parent or guardian. Adults 18 or older apply in person at a driver license office.

Do I need glasses for the NC vision test?

Your vision is checked when you apply in person for a learner permit. You need 20/40 or better in at least one eye for an unrestricted license. If your acuity is below 20/40 in either eye, or in both eyes together, the license shows a corrective lens restriction. You must then wear the lenses at all times while driving.

Where can I study the road signs for the NC permit test?

Start with the North Carolina Driver Handbook, which has all the information for the signs test. The NCDMV handbooks page also lists separate Regulatory Signs and Warning Signs documents. For each sign, learn its color, its shape and its meaning, because you must explain each sign that you see. Then check yourself with free practice questions.