Permit test pass rates by state
A permit test pass rate is the share of reported knowledge-test attempts that pass within a stated group and period. All 51 jurisdictions have test-profile data on the map; 26 have at least one rate figure, including 7 scoped official state publications and 21 historical NHTSA snapshots.
Key figures
- 51
jurisdictions with a federal test profile
- 26
with at least one published pass-rate figure
- 49
with a passing-score threshold
- 43
with a stated retest wait
Explore every state
Select any of the 51 jurisdictions to inspect its test profile and rate evidence. Every jurisdiction has profile data; 26 have a rate figure, while 25 currently have profile data only.
The nationwide profiles and historical rates come from a 2011 NHTSA report using information collected mainly in 2007–08. The additional official state figures use different years and applicant groups, so none of these values form a current, comparable state ranking.
- Official state figure
- Historical state records
- Historical administrator estimate
- Federal test profile only
51 of 51 jurisdictions have data for this view
Choose a metric, then click a state to inspect its test profile and available pass-rate evidence. Use the state menu for small states or keyboard navigation.
Oregon
OR
Federal knowledge-test profile
Test-format information collected mainly in 2007–08
- Questions
- 35
- Passing score
- 80%
- Estimated time
- 16 min
- Wait after failure
- 1 day
- Languages
- 6 languages
- Delivery
- Computer, Paper, Audio assistance, Oral
Source: NHTSA study
Official state pass-rate figure
42%
Data year: 2025
Evidence: all reported knowledge-test attempts
Source: Oregon DMV
NHTSA historical snapshot
Derived pass rate
54%
Reported failure rate
46%
Data year: 2007
Evidence: State records
Source: NHTSA study
The official state figure and NHTSA snapshot use different periods or applicant groups and should not be read as a like-for-like trend.
Oregon annual knowledge-test trend
Oregon Class C knowledge-test results, 19–25.
Pass rate (%)
| Year | All tests pass rate | English tests pass rate |
|---|---|---|
| 2019 | 66% | 65% |
| 2020 | 66% | 67% |
| 2021 | 54% | 60% |
| 2022 | 45% | 51% |
| 2023 | 41% | 49% |
| 2024 | 40% | 50% |
| 2025 | 42% | 50% |
What the state series shows
24pp
The published overall rate fell
Oregon’s reported rate across all test languages moved from 66% in 2019 to 42% in 2025. This is an Oregon trend, not a national one.
15pp
English tests moved less
The English-language rate moved from 65% to 50%. Changes in the mix of test languages can therefore move the overall rate.
197,792
Attempts, not people
That is the number of Class C test attempts Oregon reported in 2025. It cannot tell us how many people passed on their first try.
The test changed during the series
Oregon flags two changes that matter when interpreting the downward movement.
2022
The fourth-failure wait was removed
Oregon DMV removed the 28-day waiting period that previously followed a fourth failed attempt.
Oct 2023
Online testing and revised questions arrived
Oregon began offering online testing and says all test questions were revised and newly translated.
Where the permit test evidence comes from
A test profile describes the format, such as the number of questions or the passing score. Pass rate evidence describes the results of a group of applicants. A jurisdiction can have a detailed profile and still lack a published rate in the report.
Knowledge test pass rate evidence by jurisdiction
| Evidence category | Jurisdictions |
|---|---|
| State source | 7 |
| Historical only | 19 |
| No rate | 25 |
All-state data table
Search and compare the full federal test profile alongside every available pass-rate figure and evidence label.
Showing 51 of 51 jurisdictions
| State | Questions | Passing score | Test time | Retest wait | Languages | Delivery | NHTSA-study pass rate | Official state figure | Evidence |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Alabama AL | 30 | 80% | 18 min | Same day | 14 languages | Computer, Audio assistance | – | – | Federal test profile only; no pass-rate figure in the cited sources |
| Alaska AK | 20 | 80% | 25 min | 1 day | 1 languages | Computer | – | – | Federal test profile only; no pass-rate figure in the cited sources |
| Arizona AZ | 30 | 80% | 25 min | 1 day | 2 languages | Computer | – | 78% (1991) | Official state publication · applicants taking the standard written test · Arizona DOT |
| Arkansas AR | 25 | 80% | 25 min | 1 day | 2 languages | Computer, Paper, Audio assistance | 53.4% (2007) | – | State records · NHTSA study |
| California CA | 46 | 85% | 30 min | 7 days | 32 languages | Paper, Audio assistance | 57.3% (2005) | – | State records · one day of records; applicants under 18 · NHTSA study |
| Colorado CO | 25 | 80% | 23 min | Half day | 2 languages | Paper | 68.2% (2007) | – | State records · NHTSA study |
| Connecticut CT | 16 | 75% | 18 min | 7 days | 17 languages | Computer, Paper, Oral | 70% (year not stated) | – | Administrator estimate · NHTSA study |
| Delaware DE | 30 | 80% | 40 min | 7 days | 2 languages | Computer | – | – | Federal test profile only; no pass-rate figure in the cited sources |
| District of Columbia DC | 20 | 75% | 20 min | 1 day | 4 languages | Computer, Audio assistance | – | 51% (FY 2015/16) | Official state publication · REAL ID learner-permit applicants · pass rate derived from the published failure rate · DC Council / DC DMV |
| Florida FL | 20 | 75% | 13 min | Half day | 3 languages | Computer, Paper, Audio assistance | 41.9% (2007) | 64.0% (FY 2016/17) | Official state publication · first attempts for the Class E knowledge test · FLHSMV |
| Georgia GA | 20 | 75% | – | 1 day | – | – | – | 68.0% (2022) | Official state publication · road-rules portion of the knowledge exam · Georgia DDS |
| Hawaii HI | 30 | 80% | 30 min | 7 days | 9 languages | Paper | – | – | Federal test profile only; no pass-rate figure in the cited sources |
| Idaho ID | 40 | 85% | 25 min | 3 days | 7 languages | Computer, Paper | – | – | Federal test profile only; no pass-rate figure in the cited sources |
| Illinois IL | 35 | 80% | 13 min | 1 day | 5 languages | Computer, Paper, Oral | 91.8% (2007) | – | State records · NHTSA study |
| Indiana IN | 50 | 80% | 45 min | – | – | – | – | – | Federal test profile only; no pass-rate figure in the cited sources |
| Iowa IA | 35 | 80% | 25 min | Same day | 8 languages | Computer, Paper, Oral | – | – | Federal test profile only; no pass-rate figure in the cited sources |
| Kansas KS | 25 | 80% | 18 min | 1 day | – | – | – | – | Federal test profile only; no pass-rate figure in the cited sources |
| Kentucky KY | 30 | 80% | 30 min | 1 day | – | – | 70% (2007) | – | Administrator estimate · NHTSA study |
| Louisiana LA | 30 | 80% | 13 min | 1 day | 1 languages | Computer, Paper, Audio assistance, Oral | – | – | Federal test profile only; no pass-rate figure in the cited sources |
| Maine ME | 20 | 80% | 25 min | Same day | 1 languages | Paper | 65% (year not stated) | – | Administrator estimate · NHTSA study |
| Maryland MD | 20 | 85% | 10 min | 1 day | 5 languages | Computer, Paper, Oral | 47.3% (2007) | – | State records · applicants under 18 · NHTSA study |
| Massachusetts MA | 20 | 70% | 25 min | Same day | 26 languages | Computer, Paper, Oral | 80% (2007) | – | Administrator estimate · NHTSA study |
| Michigan MI | 80 | 70% | 75 min | 1 day | 1 languages | Paper | – | – | Federal test profile only; no pass-rate figure in the cited sources |
| Minnesota MN | 40 | 80% | 18 min | 1 day | – | Computer, Paper, Audio assistance | 54% (2007) | – | State records · NHTSA study |
| Mississippi MS | 20 | 80% | 35 min | 1 day | 2 languages | Computer, Paper, Audio assistance | 40% (year not stated) | – | Administrator estimate · NHTSA study |
| Missouri MO | 25 | 80% | 15 min | – | – | – | 38.6% (2007) | – | State records · NHTSA study |
| Montana MT | 33 | 81% | 20 min | – | – | – | – | – | Federal test profile only; no pass-rate figure in the cited sources |
| Nebraska NE | 25 | 80% | 10 min | 1 day | 2 languages | Computer | 50% (2007) | – | Administrator estimate · NHTSA study |
| Nevada NV | 50 | 80% | – | Same day | 2 languages | Computer, Paper, Audio assistance | 58.4% (2006) | – | State records · applicants under 20 · NHTSA study |
| New Hampshire NH | 30 | 80% | 30 min | 10 days | 1 languages | Paper, Oral | 75% (2007–2008) | – | Administrator estimate · NHTSA study |
| New Jersey NJ | 50 | 80% | 35 min | – | 10 languages | Computer, Oral | – | ≤50% (2022) | Official state publication · all knowledge tests covered by the state statement · New Jersey MVC |
| New Mexico NM | 25 | 75% | – | – | – | – | – | – | Federal test profile only; no pass-rate figure in the cited sources |
| New York NY | 20 | 70% | – | 1 day | – | – | 77.5% (2007) | – | Administrator estimate · NHTSA study |
| North Carolina NC | 25 | 80% | 25 min | 1 day | 9 languages | Computer, Paper | – | 67% (FY 2012/13) | Official state publication · driver-education students taking the DMV test · pass rate derived from the published failure rate · North Carolina General Assembly |
| North Dakota ND | 25 | 80% | 25 min | 1 day | 7 languages | Computer | – | – | Federal test profile only; no pass-rate figure in the cited sources |
| Ohio OH | 40 | 75% | 25 min | 1 day | 7 languages | Computer, Audio assistance | – | – | Federal test profile only; no pass-rate figure in the cited sources |
| Oklahoma OK | 20 | 75% | 25 min | 1 day | 2 languages | Computer, Paper, Audio assistance, Oral | – | – | Federal test profile only; no pass-rate figure in the cited sources |
| Oregon OR | 35 | 80% | 16 min | 1 day | 6 languages | Computer, Paper, Audio assistance, Oral | 54% (2007) | 42% (2025) | Official state publication · all reported knowledge-test attempts · Oregon DMV |
| Pennsylvania PA | 18 | 83% | 15 min | 1 day | 2 languages | Computer, Audio assistance, Oral | – | – | Federal test profile only; no pass-rate figure in the cited sources |
| Rhode Island RI | – | – | 25 min | – | – | – | – | – | Federal test profile only; no pass-rate figure in the cited sources |
| South Carolina SC | 30 | 80% | 35 min | 1 day | 9 languages | Computer, Paper | – | – | Federal test profile only; no pass-rate figure in the cited sources |
| South Dakota SD | 25 | 80% | 10 min | 1 day | – | – | – | – | Federal test profile only; no pass-rate figure in the cited sources |
| Tennessee TN | 30 | 80% | 45 min | 7 days | 4 languages | Computer, Paper, Oral | 50% (year not stated) | – | Administrator estimate · NHTSA study |
| Texas TX | 30 | 70% | 15 min | – | 2 languages | Computer, Paper | – | – | Federal test profile only; no pass-rate figure in the cited sources |
| Utah UT | 50 | 80% | 30 min | Half day | 1 languages | Computer, Paper | – | – | Federal test profile only; no pass-rate figure in the cited sources |
| Vermont VT | 20 | 80% | 10 min | 1 day | 4 languages | Computer, Paper | 70% (year not stated) | – | Administrator estimate · NHTSA study |
| Virginia VA | 25 | 80% | – | 15 days | 2 languages | Computer, Audio assistance | – | – | Federal test profile only; no pass-rate figure in the cited sources |
| Washington WA | 25 | 80% | 25 min | Half day | – | Computer | – | – | Federal test profile only; no pass-rate figure in the cited sources |
| West Virginia WV | 25 | 76% | 18 min | 7 days | 3 languages | Computer | – | – | Federal test profile only; no pass-rate figure in the cited sources |
| Wisconsin WI | – | – | 45 min | – | 8 languages | Computer | 71.7% (2007) | – | State records · NHTSA study |
| Wyoming WY | 25 | 80% | 23 min | Half day | 1 languages | Computer, Paper, Oral | – | – | Federal test profile only; no pass-rate figure in the cited sources |
The test-format fields reproduce NHTSA Table 1 and are historical, not current DMV requirements. NHTSA pass rates are calculated as 100% minus its reported failure rate. Official state figures retain their published scope, and two are likewise derived from published failure rates. A dash means the cited source did not contain that value.
Why one national chart would mislead
The US has a shared model for driver testing, but states still control the exam and the data around it.
01
Licensing is state-run
Each state and DC operates its own licensing agency. The federal government does not administer one national noncommercial permit test.
02
The tests are not identical
Question banks, test length, passing scores, languages, waivers and retake rules differ. AAMVA provides a model system, but state agencies implement their own versions.
03
The denominators do not match
A state may report every attempt, first attempts only, selected age groups, separate languages or nothing at all. Combining those figures would not create a comparable national rate.
Testing framework: AAMVA Noncommercial Model Driver Testing System
Frequently asked questions
Can I calculate a national permit test pass rate from this table?
The records cover different periods, populations and test components. A national estimate would require comparable attempt counts and pass counts across jurisdictions.
What does Oregon's overall Class C rate count?
It counts reported attempts across languages. If a person fails once and passes on a retake, both results appear in the totals.
Can I average Oregon's overall and English rates?
The overall figure already includes English attempts. Use the English rate to describe that subset and the overall rate for the full group.
What does no rate mean for a state?
No rate in this report means its sources do not provide a figure for that state. The historical test profile can still show the format that NHTSA documented.
Can I use the NHTSA profiles for current test requirements?
Use the profile for historical context. For a test you plan to take, check the current rules and handbook published by your licensing agency. Oregon Driver Manual testing guide
What if a state reports just the road rules portion?
Read the figure as the result for that portion and its stated population. For a full exam pass rate, look for results that cover all the parts of the exam.
How to read this data
The table includes every state and DC. Its all-state test profiles describe information collected mainly in 2007–08, while the rate evidence combines scoped official state publications, historical records and administrator estimates. Oregon remains the only complete current annual series and is a state case study, not an estimate for the United States.
Oregon explicitly counts test attempts. A person taking the test twice can contribute one failure and one pass, so the figures are not first-time pass rates.
State figures should only be compared when their time period, applicant group, test type and counting method match. Most public figures do not meet all four conditions.
Sources: Oregon DMV driver statistics · NHTSA driver-testing study · Machine-readable JSON
Update history
Separated state pass rates, historical evidence and gaps in coverage.
The coverage chart groups the 50 states and DC by the evidence available in this edition. Seven jurisdictions have a state-published rate, 19 have historical rate evidence only, and 25 have a test profile without a rate in the report.
The Oregon example now explains the two denominators in its 2025 Class C table. The 42% overall pass rate covers 197,792 attempts, including the 140,625 attempts taken in English. The 50% English rate uses that smaller group. Repeat tests count as additional attempts in both groups.
Published the state-by-state knowledge test report.
The first edition paired state-published results with historical profiles from NHTSA's study of young novice drivers. The map showed which source and period sat behind a rate, while keeping test-format information available for jurisdictions with a profile only.
Oregon's Class C series ran from 2019 to 2025 and presented overall and English-language results separately. Its annual figures offered one state's trend alongside the differently dated records from other jurisdictions.