In Partnership with William Jeanes Memorial Library

View instructions
You must obtain a learner's permit before you operate a motor vehicle on public roadways in Pennsylvania. You will need to take and pass the vision, knowledge and road tests to get your driver’s license. The Pennsylvania DMV written test covers the information found in the Pennsylvania Driver's Manual, and includes questions on road rules, traffic laws, road signs and markings, and safe driving practices. The PA DMV written test consists of 18 questions, and you'll need at least 15 correct answers to pass (83%). After passing the DMV knowledge test, the examiner will give you a learner's permit, which is valid for 1 year.
1. A flashing yellow light means:
flashing yellow light
Proceed with caution.
A red light is coming.
Do not proceed until the light has stopped flashing.
You must prepare to stop.
2. If weather requires you to have your lights on, you should use your:
Parking lights.
High beams.
Low beams.
Emergency flashers.
3. This road sign means:
detour right
Slow down. The road ahead changes direction at an extreme angle.
One-way street ahead.
Road construction ahead. Detour to the left.
Blind intersection ahead.
4. You are waiting to turn left at a multilane intersection, and opposing traffic is blocking your view. You should:
Wait until you can see all the lanes you need to cross before going ahead with your turn.
Edge your car into each lane of opposing traffic as soon as it clears.
Accelerate rapidly when the first lane you need to cross is clear.
Wait for the opposing driver to wave you across the intersection.
5. If two vehicles approach an uncontrolled intersection at the same time:
The car that hasn't come to a complete stop yet may enter the intersection first.
Each driver should yield to the vehicle on their right.
There are no specific rules on who has the right-of-way.
The first vehicle to move forward has the right-of-way.
6. The road edge on the right side is marked by a ___________ line.
solid yellow
broken white
solid white
broken yellow
7. Which of the following is true about roundabouts?
They give drivers less time to judge.
Roundabouts are also called 'open intersections' or 'uncontrolled intersections'.
They enhance the driving experience.
They slow vehicle speed.
8. Within how many feet is a driver required to dim the headlights before meeting another vehicle?
100
500
250
400
9. This driver is using hand signals to show that he is about to:
hand signal left turn
Turn left.
Slow down.
Stop.
Turn right.
Next page

Frequently Asked Questions

You are eligible to obtain a learner's permit in Pennsylvania when you reach the age of 16. After 65 hours of supervised driving and the road test, you can apply for a junior license. An unrestricted license (class C) is issued at the age of 18, or for individuals under 18 with a junior license, provided they have maintained a clean record for one year and have completed an approved driver's education course.

Visit one of the Pennsylvania driver license centers to take your DMV written test.

You'll need to bring the following documents:

The DMV written test in Pennsylvania is available in both written and audio formats. It is provided in Arabic, Albanian, Burmese, Chinese (Mandarin), Dari, English, Farsi, French, Greek, Hindi, Italian, Japanese, Korean, Mandingo, Nepali, Pashto, Polish, Punjabi, Russian, Somali, Spanish, Swahili, Ukrainian, Urdu, and Vietnamese. Additionally, if you are deaf or hearing impaired, you have the option to request an interpreter at least two weeks in advance.
To prepare for the DMV written test, read the Pennsylvania Driver's Handbook or use the audio version. Verify your knowledge with the free tests at the end of chapters 2, 3, 4, and sign up for DMV Premium to access all our practice tests. Once your scores are good, you are ready for the real exam.

The DMV written test in Pennsylvania consists of 18 questions covering topics such as road signs, parallel parking, turning, passing a vehicle, yielding the right of way, etc. If you have carefully read the manual and taken various practice tests, you should be able to answer each question without any problem.
You can make up to 3 mistakes on the Pennsylvania DMV written test. To pass, you need to answer at least 15 questions correctly, achieving an 83% accuracy rate. Take your time to read each question accurately.

If you have a learner's permit and are under 18, you are permitted to drive only under the supervision of a licensed driver who is at least 21 years old or a parent/guardian/spouse who is at least 18 with a license. The supervisor must be seated in the front seat. Upon obtaining a junior driver's license:
  • You may not drive between 11 p.m. and 5 a.m., unless accompanied by a parent/guardian or your spouse who is at least 18 years of age. Exceptions apply for volunteering or work activities, but you must present a certificate of authorization.
  • During the first six months, you may transport only one non-sibling passenger under 18, unless supervised by a parent/guardian/spouse who is at least 18 with a license. After six months, unless you have been convicted after a crash, you may drive with a maximum of three passengers under 18 (except for siblings), unless accompanied by a parent/guardian/spouse who is at least 18 with a license. 

A learner's permit in Pennsylvania is valid for one year. If it expires, the renewal cannot be completed online and you are required to complete the Form DL-31 at a Pennsylvania DMV Office. It's important to note that if you haven't taken or successfully completed the road test within three years of your physical examination, you must submit a new permit application and retake the DMV written test.
If you do not pass your DMV written test in Pennsylvania, you must wait until the next business day to make another attempt. Focus on the sections of the manual you have overlooked to have a deep understanding of the road rules.