Idaho DMV Permit Practice Test

The Idaho knowledge test is your gateway to a supervised instruction permit (SIP). Idaho's ITD administers a 40-question multiple-choice test, and you must answer 34 of them correctly — that's an 85% pass bar, one of the highest in the country. If you fail, ITD does not tell you which questions you missed, so you're studying blind for the retake. Come prepared the first time.

• ✓
  40-question test, 85% to pass (34/40)Both under-18 and adult applicants take the same 40-question test and need 34 correct. At 85%, Idaho's bar is the second-highest in the nation — most states pass at 80%. Getting 7 wrong fails you.
• ✓
  Permit fee: $21.50 totalThe learner's permit costs $15 plus a $6.50 administrative fee — $21.50 total. Bring cash or a card; fees are non-refundable if you fail.
• ✓
  What to bring to the ITD officeBring proof of identity (birth certificate or passport), proof of Idaho residency (utility bill, bank statement), your Social Security number, and parent or guardian signature if you're under 18.
• ✓
  Driver education required under age 17If you're under 17, you must complete a state-approved driver training program before getting a permit: 30 classroom hours, 6 hours of in-car observation, and 6 hours behind the wheel. There is no waiver.
• ✓
  All 491 test questions are 4-option A/B/C/DEvery question in the Idaho bank offers four answer choices. Don't stop reading at option C — the correct answer is frequently D ('All of the above') on multi-condition questions.
• ✓
  Signs are image-based on the real testIdaho road-sign questions show you the actual sign graphic and ask what it means. The ITD test does not spell out the sign's name — you have to recognize the shape and color from memory.
• ✓
  No retake cooldown disclosed, but failing is expensiveITD doesn't publish a mandatory waiting period, but each attempt requires a new fee. The 85% bar makes preparation time far cheaper than multiple retakes.

Traffic laws and safety dominate the Idaho test — together they account for over 70% of the 491-question bank. Road signs come in third. Nail the number-heavy categories (following distance, signal distance, BAC limits) and you've locked in the highest-yield questions before you read a single sign.

• ✓
  Category split: traffic_laws 196 Q, safety 148 Q, road_signs 90 QTraffic laws (196), safety (148), and road signs (90) together make up 438 of 491 bank questions. Drugs/alcohol (29), vehicle rules (18), and parking (10) fill the rest. Focus your energy in that order.
• ✓
  Signal at least 100 feet before turning or changing lanesIdaho law requires signaling a minimum of 100 feet before any turn, lane change, or pulling away from a curb. On a freeway, signal at least 5 seconds in advance. (Q17506, Q17914)
• ✓
  Stop no closer than 15 feet from railroad tracksWhen a crossing signal is flashing or a gate is lowering, stop your vehicle no closer than 15 feet from the nearest rail. Do not proceed until the signal stops and the crossing is clear. (Q17702)
• ✓
  3-second minimum following distanceIdaho requires a minimum 3-second following gap between your front bumper and the vehicle ahead under normal conditions. In bad weather, heavy traffic, or behind large vehicles, increase that gap further. (Q17792)
• ✓
  BAC 0.08% or higher = DUI if you're 21+Drivers 21 and older are legally impaired at a blood alcohol concentration of 0.08% or higher. Below 0.08% you can still be convicted of DUI if your driving is visibly impaired. (Q17932)
• ✓
  Headlights required when visibility drops to 500 feet or lessTurn on your headlights any time you cannot see ahead at least 500 feet — fog, rain, dusk, overcast days. Dim to low beam within 1,000 feet of oncoming traffic and within 500 feet of a vehicle you're following. (Q17747, Q17821)
• ✓
  Yield to the right at uncontrolled intersectionsWhen two vehicles reach an uncontrolled intersection at the same time, the driver on the left must yield to the driver on the right. (Q17526, Q17737)
• ✓
  Bicycle rights: full lane width, pass with careBicyclists are entitled to a full lane and have the same rights as motor vehicle drivers. When passing a bicyclist on a two-lane road, wait for a clear gap, then pass leaving as much space as possible. (Q17771, Q17848)
• ✓
  Idaho bike-lane rule: no parking on crosswalks or marked bike lanesYou may not park on a crosswalk or in a marked bicycle lane. When parking at a curb, your wheels must be within 12 inches of the edge. (Q17743)

These are the categories that sink first-time Idaho test-takers most often — multi-vehicle intersections, school bus rules, hill parking direction, and BAC framing. Each bullet is backed by a real bank question; if you can answer these correctly, you've patched the biggest holes.

• ✓
  Uncontrolled intersection: left yields to right, alwaysAt a 4-way or T-intersection with no signs or signals, if two cars arrive at the same time, the car on the left yields to the car on the right — no exceptions, no negotiating. Many students get this backwards. (Q17526, Q17737)
• ✓
  Left turn: yield to everyone in the intersectionWhen turning left, you must yield to oncoming traffic AND to pedestrians and bicyclists already in the intersection. The green light gives you permission to enter, not to go. (Q17523)
• ✓
  School bus: stop if lights are flashing, periodWhen a school bus is stopped with its stop arm extended and lights flashing, you must come to a complete stop — whether you're behind the bus or approaching from the front. Do not proceed until the signal stops. (Q17567, Q17583)
• ✓
  Hill parking: uphill with curb = wheels away from curbParking uphill next to a curb: turn your front wheels AWAY from the curb (to the left). If brakes fail, the car rolls into the curb and stops. Parking downhill: turn wheels TO the right (toward the curb/edge). Students flip these constantly. (Q17881, Q17887)
• ✓
  BAC framing: 0.08% is the legal threshold, not a 'safe' levelThe test loves the distinction: being below 0.08% does not mean you're safe to drive — you can still be convicted of DUI if impairment is visible. The 0.08% number is the per se limit, not a green light. (Q17932, Q17535)
• ✓
  'All of the above' is frequently correct — read all four optionsIdaho's bank uses 4-option questions extensively. On multi-condition safety and traffic-law questions (lane changes, passing, following distance), the correct answer is often 'All of the above.' Read every option before choosing. (Q17518, Q17689)
• ✓
  Bicyclists obey traffic laws — and can be ticketedIdaho's unusual bike law: bicyclists don't have to stop at stop signs, but they must yield to vehicles already at a controlled intersection. The test asks this directly. Do not assume bikes follow identical rules to cars. (Q17944)

Idaho's 85% pass bar means you can't afford to wing it. Three focused study loops — reading, drilling, and listening — give you the best shot at clearing 34/40 on your first attempt.

• ✓
  Loop 1: read the Idaho Driver's Manual end to endStart with the official Idaho Driver's Manual from ITD. Every question on the test traces back to this handbook. Pay extra attention to the numbered rules: distances in feet, seconds, and BAC percentages are high-yield.
• ✓
  Loop 2: drill all 491 practice questions in category orderWork through the full 491-question bank on this site — traffic laws first (196 Q), then safety (148 Q), then road signs (90 Q). Take the free 40-question practice exam at least twice until you're consistently hitting 36+ correct.
• ✓
  Loop 3: listen along on YouTube the night beforeRun our Idaho ITD practice test video in the background while you do something else — 150 real Q&A pairs read aloud by two voices. Passive audio review cements the answer patterns before you sleep.
• ✓
  Sleep beats late-night crammingA rested brain retrieves answers faster under test pressure. Aim for a full night's sleep after your last study session; staying up past midnight to cram costs more than it gains at 85%.
• ✓
  Study road signs visually, not verballyThe ITD test shows you the sign image, not its name. Drill signs by looking at the shape and color first — octagon = stop, diamond = warning, pentagon = school zone — before reading any caption.
• ✓
  Read all four options before answeringIdaho uses 4-option A/B/C/D questions throughout. On safety and traffic-law questions, option D is frequently 'All of the above' and is the correct answer. Committing to option B before reading D is a common trap.

Idaho's GDL system is stricter than most. The Supervised Instruction Permit (SIP) phase requires 50 hours of logged driving over at least 6 months, plus a midnight curfew and passenger cap that stay in place until you hit 17 — or until 6 months of clean driving, whichever comes first.

• ✓
  Supervisor must be 21+, licensed, in the front seat beside youEvery supervised drive requires a licensed driver who is at least 21 years old seated in the front passenger seat next to you. A parent in the back seat does not count.
• ✓
  Hold the SIP for at least 6 months before the road testYou cannot take the driving skills test until you have held your SIP for a minimum of 6 calendar months, regardless of how many hours you've logged.
• ✓
  Log 50 hours total — at least 10 at nightIdaho requires 50 hours of supervised driving before the skills test. At least 10 of those 50 hours must be driven after dark. Keep a signed log; ITD can ask to see it.
• ✓
  Provisional curfew: no unsupervised driving midnight–5 AMOnce you have a provisional license, you cannot drive alone between midnight and 5 AM. Exceptions exist for school activities, sports, employment, and volunteer work — but you must be able to document the reason.
• ✓
  Passenger cap: max 1 unrelated under-17 passenger in the first 6 monthsDuring the first 6 months of your provisional license, you may carry no more than one passenger under 17 who is not related to you by blood, adoption, or marriage. Family members are exempt.
• ✓
  Restrictions lift at age 17 OR after 6 violation-free months — whichever comes FIRSTIdaho removes the curfew and passenger restrictions at age 17 OR after 6 months of violation-free driving, whichever milestone you reach first. You do not have to wait until 17 if you log clean months faster.