US DMV data · state by state
What we know about permit-test pass rates in every state
All 51 jurisdictions have test-profile data on the map. 26 have at least one pass-rate figure, including 7 scoped official state publications and 21 historical NHTSA snapshots.
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.
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
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.
51 of 51 jurisdictions have data for this view
- Official state figure
- Historical state records
- Historical administrator estimate
- Federal test profile only
OR
Oregon
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, 2019–2025.
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% |
Oregon reports test attempts, not unique applicants or first attempts. A person who fails and later passes appears in both outcomes.
Oregon data through 2025
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.
These changes affect comparability across years. The published figures alone cannot show how much either change influenced the pass rate.
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
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