Virginia DMV Knowledge Exam Languages: Spanish, Arabic and More
In which languages can I take the Virginia knowledge exam?
The Virginia DMV offers the knowledge exam in 26 languages: English, American Sign Language (ASL) and 24 more, including Spanish, Arabic, Korean, Urdu and Vietnamese. If DMV offers your language, you cannot bring a translator. Oral exams are available by request. The road skills test is in English, but you may bring your own translator or ASL interpreter.
Where the Virginia exam language facts come from
The language list and the oral exam come from the Virginia DMV page on the knowledge exam. The translator rules come from the DMV road skills test page, the DMV driver privilege card page and the Virginia Driver's Manual (DMV 39, April 2026). The Spanish study material is on the DMV Driver's Manual page. This guide is current as of 2026. Confirm the rules with the Virginia Department of Motor Vehicles (dmv.virginia.gov) before you drive.
The full list of Virginia knowledge exam languages
The DMV offers the Driver, CDL and Motorcycle knowledge exams in these languages: English, American Sign Language (ASL), Amharic (Ethiopian), Arabic, Chinese/Mandarin, Chinese/Mandarin (Traditional), Dari, Farsi, French, German, Haitian Creole, Italian, Japanese, Korean, Kurdish, Mongolian, Nepali, Pashto, Punjabi, Russian, Spanish, Thai, Twi (Akan), Turkish, Urdu and Vietnamese. That is 26 in all. If your language is on this list, you take the exam in that language, not with a translator.
Virginia DMV language help at a glance
| What you want | What the DMV allows |
|---|---|
| Take the knowledge exam in my language | Yes, if it is one of the 26 languages on the DMV list |
| Hear the exam questions | Ask for an oral exam at any DMV customer service center |
| Bring a translator to the knowledge exam | Only if DMV does not offer your primary language |
| Study in Spanish | El Manual de Conductor de Virginia and the Guía de Estudio Para Conductores |
| Take the road skills test in another language | The test is in English; you may bring your own translator or ASL interpreter |
How the Virginia knowledge exam works, and the oral option
The exam is multiple choice. You take it on a computer at a DMV customer service center or in a classroom at a participating high school. Part one has 10 road sign questions, and you must answer all 10 correctly. Part two has 30 general knowledge questions, and you need 24 correct to pass. Oral exams are available by request at all DMV customer service centers, and the Driver's Manual says an audio version of the exam is available. For the full exam steps, read our guide to the Virginia knowledge exam.
Can you bring a translator to the Virginia knowledge exam?
Is the Virginia driver's manual in Spanish?
Yes. DMV publishes El Manual de Conductor de Virginia en español, and the exam questions come from the Virginia Driver's Manual. The interactive manual has practice test questions in English and in Spanish. For more practice, DMV offers the Spanish study guide, Guía de Estudio Para Conductores. The Driver's License Study Guide has all of the content of the print manual and many practice questions. Learn the manual and the study guide before you go to the DMV.
How to prepare for the knowledge exam in your language
- 1Find your language
Check the list of 26 languages. If your language is not on it, use the translator rule above and bring your own translator.
- 2Study the manual
Read the Virginia Driver's Manual or El Manual de Conductor de Virginia. Use the interactive manual or the study guide for practice questions.
- 3Learn the road signs first
Part one needs all 10 road sign answers correct. Our free question about 9 of 10 correct road sign answers shows what one miss means.
- 4Know the part two target
You need 24 correct of the 30 general questions. Our free question about 23 correct general answers shows why 23 is not enough.
Can you use a translator or ASL interpreter on the Virginia road skills test?
Our free Virginia practice test is in English only
Our free Virginia passenger practice test is in English only. It has 5 tests and 100 questions. They are practice questions for learning, not DMV exam questions. To study in Spanish, use El Manual de Conductor de Virginia and the Guía de Estudio Para Conductores. After you pass the knowledge exam, our guide to the Virginia road skills test covers the next step.
Virginia DMV test languages: common questions
Can I take the Virginia permit test in Spanish?
Yes. Spanish is one of the 26 languages on the DMV list for the knowledge exam, the test you must pass to get a Virginia learner's permit. You can also study in Spanish with El Manual de Conductor de Virginia. Because DMV offers Spanish, you cannot bring a translator to the knowledge exam.
Is the Virginia DMV test available in Arabic?
Yes. Arabic is on the DMV list of 26 languages for the Driver, CDL and Motorcycle knowledge exams. Dari, Farsi, Pashto, Urdu and Kurdish are on the list too. Because DMV offers these languages, you take the exam in your language and you cannot use a translator.
Can I take the CDL or motorcycle knowledge exam in my language?
Yes. The DMV language list applies to the Driver, CDL and Motorcycle knowledge exams. The one exception is the CDL HAZMAT knowledge exam, which is available only in English. If you need the HAZMAT exam, prepare to take it in English.
Can I take the Virginia road skills test in Spanish?
No. All road skills tests are in English. You may bring your own translator, such as a family member or friend, who is at least 18 and holds an unexpired U.S. driver's license. The translator rides in the back seat and translates each instruction before the maneuver. DMV does not provide a translator.
Does the Virginia DMV offer the exam in sign language?
Yes. American Sign Language (ASL) is on the DMV list for the knowledge exam. For the road skills test, you may bring your own ASL interpreter who is at least 18 and holds an unexpired U.S. driver's license. The interpreter sits in the front seat. VDDHH can help you arrange one.
Key takeaways
- The Virginia DMV offers the knowledge exam in 26 languages: English, American Sign Language and 24 more, including Spanish and Arabic.
- If DMV offers your language, you cannot bring a translator to the knowledge exam. Oral exams are available by request.
- Study in Spanish with El Manual de Conductor de Virginia and the Guía de Estudio Para Conductores.
- The road skills test is in English. You may bring your own translator or ASL interpreter who is at least 18 and holds an unexpired U.S. driver's license.
- Next step: practice on the free Virginia passenger practice test, which is in English only.
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