New Mexico Permit Test: 70% Pass Mark, Where to Take It and Retakes
What score do you need to pass the New Mexico permit test?
You need 70% or better on the New Mexico knowledge (written) test, says the MVD procedure manual. Take it at an MVD field office or at an MVD-contracted driver education school. State offices typically do not give the written test after 3 p.m. If you fail, MVD procedure lets you take the test up to twice a week, with a six-month wait after a third failure.
Where the New Mexico permit test facts come from
The pass mark, retest and score rules come from the New Mexico Motor Vehicle Division (MVD) Driver Procedures Manual, chapters 2, 3 and 11, and its knowledge exam policy page. The permit steps come from the MVD learner's permit page, the MVD driver's license page and the MVD driver education page. The limit of three attempts per application comes from the text of 2019 Senate Bill 278. The study app comes from a 2021 MVD news release. The procedure manual pages date from 2016 and 2017, so some details may have changed. This guide is current as of 2026. Confirm the rules with the New Mexico MVD (mvd.newmexico.gov) before you drive.
Where to take the New Mexico knowledge test
| Place | What happens there | Good to know |
|---|---|---|
| MVD field office | You complete the permit application, then take the vision test and the knowledge exam. | State offices typically do not give the written test after 3 p.m., so that you have time to finish. |
| MVD-contracted driver education school | The school may give the knowledge exam. The MVD accepts its certificate of completion in place of the written test at the office. | The school must hold a license from the Traffic Safety Bureau (TSB) of the New Mexico Department of Transportation and a contract with the MVD. |
How a teen takes the New Mexico permit test, step by step
- 1Check your age
You must be at least 15. Under 18, your first New Mexico license comes through the Graduated Licensing System, and the instructional permit is its first stage.
- 2Enroll in driver education
Get proof that you finished or are enrolled in a state-approved driver education program, and a referral card from a TSB-approved driver education school.
- 3Go to an MVD field office with your documents
Bring proof of identity, age and New Mexico residency. The guide to the documents to bring lists them for a REAL ID and a Standard Driver's License.
- 4Sign the application and pass the vision test
You and a parent or guardian complete and sign the instructional permit application. Then you pass a vision test.
- 5Pass the knowledge exam and pay the fee
Score 70% or better on the MVD Knowledge Exam, hand in the referral card and pay the $10.00 instructional permit fee. Our free question on which tests a teen must pass for a permit checks this step.
If you fail the New Mexico knowledge test
New Mexico law on retakes: three attempts per application
The text of 2019 Senate Bill 278 changed Section 66-5-9(A) of New Mexico law. A complete application with the fee gives you not more than three attempts to pass within six months from the date of application.
The MVD texts give two start dates for the six-month wait after a third failure. A 2016 MVD policy counts from the date of your first exam. A 2017 procedure chapter counts from the date of application, as the 2019 bill text does. Ask the MVD which date applies to you.
How to study for the New Mexico knowledge test
The MVD lists the New Mexico Driver Manual as the material to study to pass the knowledge test. You can download it in English or in Spanish from the MVD website. In 2021 the MVD also released a free practice exam app for phones and other mobile devices, on the Apple App Store and Google Play.
Then test yourself on our free New Mexico Class D practice questions, which are in English only, and review each answer you miss. To learn the rules that start once you hold the permit, read about the New Mexico instructional permit.
Key takeaways
- You need 70% or better to pass the New Mexico Class D knowledge (written) test.
- Take the test at an MVD field office or at an MVD-contracted driver education school. State offices typically do not give it after 3 p.m.
- MVD procedure allows up to two tries in a Sunday-to-Saturday week and sets a six-month wait after a third failure.
- Under MVD policy, a passed knowledge test score stays valid for five years.
- Next step: practice on the free New Mexico Class D practice test.
New Mexico permit test: common questions
How many times can you retake the permit test in New Mexico?
Under MVD procedure, you may take the knowledge test up to twice in one week, from Sunday to Saturday, even twice on the same day. After a third failure, you wait six months. The 2019 law text gives each complete application not more than three attempts within six months.
How long is a passed New Mexico permit test score good for?
MVD policy says that a passed knowledge (written) exam score for a non-commercial license stays valid for five years. Non-commercial licenses include the regular Class D license for cars. If you passed the test at an MVD-contracted driver education school, the MVD accepts the school's certificate of completion at the field office.
Can I take the New Mexico permit test at my driver's ed school?
Yes, if your school has a contract with the MVD. Many schools that the Traffic Safety Bureau licenses also hold an MVD contract, and these schools may give the written and road tests. Ask your school if it has an MVD contract before you plan your test day.
Do adults have to take the permit test in New Mexico?
Yes. If you are 18 or older and apply for your first New Mexico driver's license, you must pass the written test and an eye exam. The same 70% pass mark applies, because it covers all Class D written tests.
Do I need the written test if I have a license from another state or country?
Not with a current license from another U.S. state: the MVD does not ask for the written test. With a current license from another country, you must take the written test. In both cases, you must pass an eye exam.
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