Driving Tests

Utah Written Knowledge Test: 50 Questions and the 80% Pass Mark

informational·how to guide·Published July 29, 2026

How many questions are on the Utah permit test, and what score do you need?

If you were never licensed, the Utah written knowledge test has 50 questions and is closed book. The Utah Driver Handbook sets the pass mark at 80% or better, which is 40 correct answers out of 50. The test is not timed and usually takes 30 to 45 minutes. If you held a license before, you take a 25-question open-book test.

Where this information comes from

This guide follows the Utah Driver License Division (DLD) page on the written knowledge test, the Utah Driver Handbook 2026 (Section 6) and the learner permit law, Utah Code 53-3-210.5. It also uses the DLD pages on the learner permit, the practice test, the regular license, the Driving Privilege Card and the Traffic Safety and Trends Exam, and Utah Code 53-3-105 and 53-3-206. This guide is current as of 2026. Confirm the rules with the Utah Driver License Division (dld.utah.gov) before you drive.

Utah permit test: 50 questions or 25 questions?

Utah permit test: 50 questions or 25 questions?
Your license history	Questions	Open or closed book	Trends Exam needed?
Never licensed anywhere	50	Closed book	Yes, online, after you apply for the permit
Licensed before, for example in another state or country	25	Open book	No

Can you use the handbook during the Utah test?

Only on the open-book test. The 50-question test for people who were never licensed is closed book, so you answer without the handbook. If you show a driver license from another state or country when you apply for a Utah license, you take the 25-question open-book test, and you may also need to pass a driving skills test.

What the Utah written knowledge test covers

Every question is based on the Utah Driver Handbook.
The test checks that you have a basic understanding of Utah laws and safe driving practices.
It measures only a sample of what you know, so study the whole handbook before the test.

What happens at your Utah permit test appointment

1
Apply and book
Submit the learner permit application and schedule an appointment at a Driver License office.
2
Check in and show your documents
Check in at the front desk with your appointment confirmation number. You take a photo, take a number and present your documents to the examiner.
3
Take the eye test
The vision guideline for a Class D license is 20/40 vision in at least one eye and a visual field of at least 90 degrees.
4
Pay the fee and get a signature
The learner permit application fee is $19 (U.S. dollars) as of 2026, and it is not refundable. If you are under 18, a parent or legal guardian signs for financial responsibility.
5
Take the written knowledge test
You take the 50-question closed-book test at the office.
6
Get your permit
When you pass, you get the learner permit the same day.

What happens if you fail the Utah permit test?

You fail, and the office can fit in a second test

You can take two written knowledge tests in one day, so you may test again on the same day.

You fail and must come back on another day

Schedule a retake written test appointment. Under Utah Code 53-3-210.5, one learner permit application and fee give you not more than three attempts within one year.

You fail three times

You may pay another fee for three more attempts. The guide to Utah permit test cost and retakes covers the fees.

Is the Utah Traffic Safety and Trends Exam the same test?

No. The Traffic Safety and Trends Exam is a separate test, and it is only available online. It has four short videos and 40 questions, and you need 100% to pass. You can register only after you apply for your learner permit, because you need the permit number. You can retake it as many times as you need, and you must pass it before DLD issues your permanent license. It is for applicants who were never licensed anywhere in the world. The question on what a permit holder must do about the Trends Exam tests this.

Languages for the Utah written knowledge test

Audio and text: Arabic, French, Korean, Mandarin Chinese, Portuguese and Spanish.
Text only: Dari, Somali, Swahili, Tagalog, Tongan, Ukrainian and Vietnamese.
These languages are for applicants for a regular or limited-term license. Driving Privilege Card tests are in English only.
If your language is not on the list, you may use a DLD-approved interpreter, and you pay the interpreter's costs.

How to practice for the Utah permit test

The DLD has a 30-question practice test. It shows the format and style of the questions on the official test, and it gives you a score and feedback. You can take it as often as you like. Its questions do not cover every question on the real test, so study the handbook too. Our free Utah Class D practice tests are in English only.

Key takeaways

If you were never licensed, you take a 50-question closed-book test. If you held a license before, you take a 25-question open-book test.
The pass mark is 80% or better, which is 40 correct answers out of 50. The test is not timed.
You take the test at a Driver License office and get the learner permit the same day if you pass. One fee gives not more than three attempts within one year.
The online Traffic Safety and Trends Exam is a separate test with a 100% pass mark.
Next step: practice on the free Utah Class D practice test.

Utah written knowledge test: common questions

How many questions can I miss on the Utah permit test?

On the 50-question test, you can miss up to 10 questions. The handbook pass mark is 80% or better, which is at least 40 correct answers, so 39 correct answers is a fail. The practice question about a first-time test with 39 of 50 correct tests this rule.

Can I take the Utah permit test online?

No. You take the 50-question written knowledge test at a Driver License Division office, at your appointment. The Traffic Safety and Trends Exam is the test that is only available online, and it is a different exam that you take after you apply for the permit.

How long are my Utah permit test results valid?

Written knowledge test scores and learner permits are valid for 18 months. The handbook says that if you renew your entry-level learner permit or let it expire, you must take the written knowledge test again.

How old do I have to be to take the Utah permit test?

You must be at least 15 years old to apply for a learner permit, and you take the written knowledge test when you apply. You must be 16 before you can get your first Class D license.

What do I need to bring to the Utah permit test?

Bring documents that prove your identity, Social Security number and Utah address. A non-U.S. citizen also needs proof of lawful presence. Documents must be originals or copies certified by the agency that issued them; photocopies and faxes are not accepted. The guide to what to bring for a Utah learner permit lists the documents that count.