FL1/57
Your broken-down car gets Move Over protection too
Florida's Move Over law also protects disabled vehicles showing hazard lights, flares, signs or visibly present people — not just police and tow trucks.
Driver's license guide · 50 states + DC · 8 languages
Your driver's license, state by state
Requirements, documents, fees, the written test and the road test, each with the state's official source.
- Learner's permit
- Practice driving
- Road test
- Driver's license
In every state guide
Not affiliated with any state agency
Practice for the written test
Practice the permit test in English, with help in your language. The first 50 questions are free.
Guides for all 50 states and DC
- ALAlabama
- AKAlaska
- AZArizona
- ARArkansas
- CACalifornia
- COColorado
- CTConnecticut
- DEDelaware
- DCDistrict of Columbia
- FLFlorida
- GAGeorgia
- HIHawaii
- IDIdaho
- ILIllinois
- INIndiana
- IAIowa
- KSKansas
- KYKentucky
- LALouisiana
- MEMaine
- MDMaryland
- MAMassachusetts
- MIMichigan
- MNMinnesota
- MSMississippi
- MOMissouri
- MTMontana
- NENebraska
- NVNevada
- NHNew Hampshire
- NJNew Jersey
- NMNew Mexico
- NYNew York
- NCNorth Carolina
- NDNorth Dakota
- OHOhio
- OKOklahoma
- OROregon
- PAPennsylvania
- RIRhode Island
- SCSouth Carolina
- SDSouth Dakota
- TNTennessee
- TXTexas
- UTUtah
- VTVermont
- VAVirginia
- WAWashington
- WVWest Virginia
- WIWisconsin
- WYWyoming
Driving news
What is changing for new drivers
Connecticut's free work-zone course is now required
Maine now provides free interpreters for written tests
Connecticut Mobile ID arrives November 18
Pennsylvania now fines drivers who hold a phone
Washington will require driver training at 18 from 2027
What Ohio asks of new drivers aged 18 to 20
Maryland's driver education gets its first full update since 2017
Washington adds a safety course for new drivers under 25
Florida's permit test is in English only: how to prepare
Virginia changes the first-license route for ages 18 to 20
Mississippi will require driver's education for new drivers
Colorado will require driver education for permit applicants under 21
Test yourself: 20 questions
What each guide covers
Every step, from the documents to the road test
All 50 states and DC have a guide: every step in order on one page, and eleven pages that go deeper. Each one is written from the state's official sources and says when it was last updated.
- OverviewEvery step to your license, in order
- RequirementsAge, tests and what each step needs
- DocumentsWhat to bring to the office
- AppointmentsHow to book the test or the visit
- Office locationsWhere to go in your state
- FeesWhat each step costs
- Test formatQuestions, pass mark, languages, retakes
- Road testWhat the examiner checks
- Road signsShapes, colors, signals and markings
- Teen permitAges, practice hours and limits under 18
- Adult first licenseThe steps at 18 and over
- Driver handbookYour state's official handbook
Did you know?
Driving in America gets weird fast.
Real rules, test quirks and driving oddities from around the country. No internet myths — every card links to an official source.
NY2/57
Red means extra-red in NYC
In New York City, turning on red is generally forbidden unless a sign specifically says you may do it. The rest of New York is less strict.
CA3/57
Motorcycles can legally ride between lanes
California officially allows lane splitting — motorcycles may move between rows of stopped or moving traffic when it is done safely.
TX4/57
Texas law can allow 85 mph 🤠
Texas law lets the Transportation Commission set an 85 mph speed limit where an engineering study finds that speed safe and reasonable.
IL5/57
Do not cut the funeral convoy
In Illinois, drivers must yield to a funeral procession and may not drive between its vehicles. Local authorities can even impound a vehicle that recklessly interferes.
NJ6/57
Step away from the gas pump
New Jersey still bans self-service gasoline. At a retail gas station, a trained attendant pumps it for you.
IA7/57
Permit at 14 — and the test can happen at home
Iowa lets teens get an instruction permit at 14, and a parent can administer the knowledge test at home on an approved computer.
MD8/57
One earbud? Maybe. Two? Nope.
Maryland's driver manual says you may not drive with earplugs, headsets or earphones in both ears at the same time.
GA9/57
Your road-test examiner can be somewhere else
Georgia allows some non-commercial road tests to be run virtually with a dual-facing camera while an adult passenger rides with the applicant.
PA10/57
Clear the snow off your car — even before it flies off
Pennsylvania can fine a driver for failing to remove snow or ice from the vehicle even if it has not yet fallen off and hit anyone.
OH11/57
Ohio ditched the front plate
Most Ohio passenger vehicles only need one license plate now — on the rear. If you choose to display one on the front too, the plates must match.
NC12/57
Tiny fender-bender? Move the cars.
North Carolina's Fender Bender Law says vehicles in minor, non-injury crashes should be moved to the shoulder to keep traffic flowing.
MI13/57
To turn left, first turn right
A 'Michigan Left' can forbid the normal left turn. You go through or turn right, then make a U-turn at a median crossover. Michigan has used them since the 1960s.
WA14/57
Washington says: left on red? Sometimes.
After a complete stop, Washington allows a left turn on red onto a one-way street if there is no 'No Turn on Red' sign and traffic is clear.
AZ15/57
Dust storm? Turn your lights OFF
Arizona's official advice sounds backwards: after pulling fully off the road in a dust storm, turn off every light — even the flashers — so other drivers do not follow your lights into you.
MA16/57
Your road-test sponsor has a quota
Massachusetts requires a qualified sponsor for a Class D road test — and one person may not sponsor more than three applicants in a year without RMV approval.
VA17/57
Radar detector? Nope.
Virginia makes it illegal to drive with a radar detector in use — and the state law also prohibits selling radar-detection devices in Virginia.
CO18/57
Snow gets serious fast in Colorado
When Colorado activates its Passenger Vehicle Chain Law, every vehicle — yes, every vehicle — must have chains or an approved alternative traction device before the road is simply closed.
TN19/57
Mom can proctor your DMV test
Tennessee lets 15–17-year-olds take the knowledge test at home with a parent or guardian as proctor. At 30 minutes, the parent must scan a QR code to re-authenticate.
IN20/57
Funeral escorts can flash red lights
Indiana law allows lead and funeral-escort vehicles to use flashing red lights to gain right-of-way at intersections and protect the procession.
WI21/57
Your online test may photograph you
Wisconsin's online teen knowledge test randomly takes webcam photos to confirm identity. You also get only two online attempts before DMV makes you come in.
MN22/57
Do NOT be 'Minnesota nice' here
MnDOT literally tells drivers not to merge early in heavy traffic. Use both lanes all the way to the merge point, then take turns like a zipper.
MO23/57
Missouri promises: no trick questions
The official Missouri Driver Guide actually says there are 'no trick questions' on the written test. Nice of them to put that in writing.
OR24/57
City U-turn? Often nope.
Oregon bans U-turns between intersections in a city and at signal-controlled intersections unless a sign specifically permits the turn.
NV25/57
Take the written test from home
Nevada lets you take the Class C written test online with a front-facing camera. No appointment, no DMV waiting room — but no phone or touchscreen either.
KY26/57
Bad grades can cost a teen their driving privilege
Kentucky's No Pass/No Drive law can suspend a 15–17-year-old's driving privilege for dropping out or being declared academically deficient.
AL27/57
At 16, one non-family friend is enough
Alabama's Stage II rules say a 16- or 17-year-old may not carry more than one passenger who is not a parent, guardian or family member.
CA28/57
Dog in the pickup bed? Secure the passenger.
California requires pets carried in an open truck bed to be secured so they cannot fall, leap out or be thrown from the vehicle.
TX29/57
Texas has an 'adult' driver-license form at 17 years 10 months
Texas DPS labels its adult driver-license or ID application for people who are 17 years and 10 months old or older — two months before 18.
IA30/57
14½ and driving alone… sort of
Iowa can give a qualified 14½-year-old a Special Minor's Restricted License for solo trips to school, work, activities or farm work, generally within 25 miles.
GA31/57
Move over for the garbage truck, too
Georgia's Move Over rule covers more than police and ambulances. It also protects active sanitation and utility service vehicles using warning lights or cones.
PA32/57
Yes, a left turn on red can be legal
Pennsylvania State Police confirms that after stopping, you may turn left on red when both the street you leave and the street you enter are one-way, unless a sign forbids it.
NC33/57
A funeral procession can keep rolling through the intersection
North Carolina says that once the lead vehicle legally enters an intersection, the rest of the funeral procession may continue without stopping, even when cross traffic has green.
SC34/57
Six points can bench a teen driver for six months
In South Carolina, a driver under 17 who reaches six or more points before holding the license for a full year can get a six-month suspension.
LA35/57
A permit at 14 — but only with the driving-school instructor
Louisiana can issue a Temporary Instructional Permit from age 14, but that TIP only lets the student drive while accompanied by a licensed driving-school instructor.
OK36/57
Fourteen and driving — but don't head for Oklahoma City
Oklahoma's Farm Driving Permit can start at 14. For ages 14–15 it can cover farm work and certain school trips, but no interstates, turnpikes or cities over 100,000 people.
AR37/57
Under 16 and driving alone — but only inside a tiny bubble
Arkansas can grant a hardship age waiver to a minor after at least six months of driving experience. The waiver won't allow driving before 6 a.m., after 9 p.m. or farther than 30 miles one way.
UT38/57
Utah has a driving test where 99% is still a fail
First-time regular Class D applicants must also pass Utah's online Traffic Safety and Trends Exam with a perfect 100% score. You can retake it as often as needed before licensing.
CT39/57
In Connecticut, the parent gets homework too
For a 16- or 17-year-old teen-driver path, a parent or guardian has to attend a mandatory two-hour training class covering teen-driving laws, risky behavior and coaching skills.
NM40/57
In New Mexico, “barely one drink” can wreck a teen license
New Mexico warns drivers under 21 that a BAC of just .02% can trigger a six-month license revocation — a much lower threshold than the adult .08% limit.
KS41/57
Kansas can put a 14-year-old behind the wheel for farm work
Kansas has a farm permit for ages 14–15 that does not require an instruction permit first. It can cover trips tied to farm work and direct school travel, with strict passenger and wireless-device limits.
DE42/57
Delaware can suspend a teen permit for breaking its GDL rules
Violating Level One Learner's Permit restrictions is treated as driving without a license: Delaware lists a two-month suspension for the first offense and four months for later offenses.
RI43/57
Fail the Rhode Island knowledge test? Your next try is not tomorrow
Rhode Island requires applicants who fail the knowledge exam to wait at least eight days before retaking it.
NE44/57
Nebraska has a school-driving permit for some 14-year-olds
A School Permit can be issued from age 14 years and 2 months to eligible students who live outside a city of 5,000+ or attend school outside one, allowing unsupervised trips to and from school.
WV45/57
West Virginia's first teen permit has a daytime-only clock
A Level 1 driver age 15–17 must have a licensed adult 21+ in the front seat and may drive only from 5:00 a.m. to 10:00 p.m.
ID46/57
Fail Idaho's knowledge test? The DMV makes you sleep on it
Idaho requires a three-day wait after a failed knowledge test before you can retake it — and you pay the knowledge-test fee again.
MT47/57
Montana can put a teen behind the wheel at 14½
Students in a state-approved traffic-education program can receive a driver-ed learning permit at age 14½ — earlier than Montana's regular teen learner-permit route.
SD48/57
South Dakota lets teens start learning at 14
The state issues an instruction permit from age 14, but the teen generally keeps it 275 days — or 180 days after approved driver education — before the next licensing stage.
ND49/57
North Dakota's official knowledge test can be taken from home
NDDOT allows the Rules of the Road knowledge test through its official online platform; after passing online, you still visit a Driver License office to receive the permit.
WY50/57
Wyoming has a hardship driving permit for some 14-year-olds
A Restricted Learner's Permit can be available at ages 14–15 for specific hardship situations such as living far from school or needing to drive for work or a family business.
MS51/57
In Mississippi, some 17-year-olds can get the permit and license the same day
Applicants age 17 or older do not have to hold the learner permit for 12 months and may obtain the permit and Class R license on the same day if all requirements are met.
ME52/57
Maine moose can be strangely hard to see at night
MaineDOT warns that moose are so tall their eyes often do not reflect car headlights the way deer eyes do — so the huge animal may actually be harder to spot.
VT53/57
Vermont's billboard-light roads are backed by state law
Vermont law broadly prohibits outdoor advertising visible to the traveling public, with specific exceptions — one reason its highways look unusually uncluttered.
NH54/57
New Hampshire skips the learner permit entirely
For ordinary practice driving, New Hampshire does not issue a learner permit; legal supervised practice can begin at 15½ under the state's rules.
AK55/57
Alaska lets you start the permit stage at 14
At age 14, an Alaskan can already qualify for an instruction permit — one of the earliest starting ages in the country.
HI56/57
Hawaii lets you take the permit knowledge test from home statewide
With a desktop or laptop, internet and webcam, eligible applicants can take Hawaii's written learner-permit test online from almost anywhere.
DC57/57
A DC learner permit has its own daily driving clock
With a DC learner permit, permitted driving hours are 6 a.m. to 9 p.m. — the clock matters even when the supervising driver is with you.
1 / 57
How it works
A road trip through your state, one mile a day
Every state in the game has its own route. In Florida you drive from Key West to Tallahassee and study for the exam on the way.
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Pick your state and language
Tell us where you take the test, the language you learn best in, and your test date. Your route and a daily plan follow from them.
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Each mile is a short mission
A mission is 8 to 10 questions, and the ones you miss come back until you know them. A finished mile gets a postmark, and a little driving every day builds your streak.
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Each city is a postcard
Reach a city and its postcard goes into your album, with a fun fact about the place. Toll plazas on the way are practice exams in your state's format.
Learn in your language
The rules in your language. The questions in English, or in our translation.
In some states that also give their knowledge test in your language, the questions and the practice exams come in our own translation, with the English one tap away. Elsewhere they stay in English, and everything around them speaks your language.
- Translation on tap. In a mission, tap Translation to see the question and the answers in your language, in smaller type under the English.
- Explanations in your language, with a switch to read them in English.
- Practice exams in English, or in our translation in some states that also give their knowledge test in your language.
Our own questions, checked against official sources
Written from official sources
Every question is our own, written from each state's official handbook and traffic laws, and says where its rule comes from.
Sources on every page
Every guide page lists the official sources it is written from and says when it was last updated, so you can check any rule yourself.
Independent
Road to Permit is not affiliated with or endorsed by any state motor vehicle agency or government agency, and it never promises a pass. For official rules we link to the state's own pages.
Questions people ask
Who is Road to Permit for?
Anyone getting a learner's permit or a driver's license in the US: teens and their parents, adults learning to drive, and people moving to a new state. If you learn better in another language, Road to Permit speaks seven more.
Is Road to Permit an official DMV app?
No. Road to Permit is an independent study app made by Cloud Connected. It is not affiliated with or endorsed by any DMV or government agency. For the official rules, we link to each state's own pages.
Which languages can I learn in?
The app speaks English, Spanish, Brazilian Portuguese, Polish, Haitian Creole, Russian, Ukrainian and Hebrew. The questions are in English, or in our own translation in some states that also give their knowledge test in your language, and explanations, buttons and guides come in your language.
What is free?
The first 50 questions of your state's course, five missions or more that start with road signs and signals, in your browser, and every guide on this site. The full course is in the app.
Will it make sure I pass?
No one can promise that. Road to Permit shows how much of the exam material you know and schedules practice exams in your state's format, so you can judge when you are ready.
Pick your state. Mile 0 is waiting.
Start in your browser, no account needed.
Start practicing
The first 50 questions are free.
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