Louisiana DMV Permit Practice Test

The Louisiana OMV knowledge test is the first checkpoint on the road to your learner's permit. The Louisiana Class D & E Drivers Guide is the official study material, so know its rules before you walk in.

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  Under-18 exam40 questions. Pass at 32 correct (80%). Same passing threshold applies at every age.
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  Adult first-time exam40 questions. Pass at 32 correct (80%). Louisiana uses the same test format for all applicants.
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  Application fee$32.25 permit fee. Certain OMV field offices add a small service fee; check the OMV for the current amount.
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  Bring with youProof of identity (birth certificate or passport), Social Security card, and proof of Louisiana residency. Have all documents ready before you queue.
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  Ages 15–17? Driver ed is requiredYou must complete a state-approved driver education course — 30 hours of classroom instruction plus 8 hours of behind-the-wheel training — before you can get your permit.
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  What the handbook coversThe Louisiana Class D & E Drivers Guide covers city driving, rural highways, interstates, and heavy-traffic merging scenarios. Right-of-way and following distance are key topics to know.
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  80% required — no roundingYou need at least 32 correct out of 40. One extra wrong answer beyond 8 is an automatic fail. Know your signs cold.

Traffic laws make up a large part of the Louisiana handbook. Road signs, parking, and safety round out the rest. Focus your first hour on right-of-way, following distance, and sign meanings.

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  Road signsFlashing red lights = treat as a stop sign. Traffic signal ahead signs, school zone end markers, and stop-sign intersections with no painted line.
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  Right-of-way & turningWhen two vehicles reach an uncontrolled intersection at the same time, yield to the car on your right. Turning left across oncoming traffic: yield to all oncoming vehicles before turning.
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  Signaling — early enough for others to knowLouisiana law requires signals before turns, lane changes, and pulling away from a curb. Signal early enough that others can react — signaling only at the last moment is not enough.
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  Railroad crossingsIf a train is approaching, bring your vehicle to a halt at least 15 feet but no more than 50 feet short of the closest rail. Flashing signals mean stop and look, and you should never follow the vehicle ahead through.
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  Following distanceMinimum 3 seconds under normal conditions; allow more in poor weather. Never follow a responding emergency vehicle closer than 500 feet.
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  BAC limit (21+)0.08% or higher is illegal for drivers 21 and over. Being under the legal limit does not mean you're safe — even small amounts impair concentration, perception, judgment, and memory.
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  Chemical test refusalRefusing an alcohol analysis test results in license suspension. Refusal is not a legal escape route.
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  Speed limits — read the signPosted limits show the maximum legal speed under ideal conditions. A 'Reduced speed, 35 mph' sign takes effect immediately at that sign, not at the next intersection. Driving far below the limit when traffic is moving faster can also be dangerous.

These rules are easy to mix up. Know each one cold, not just in rough terms.

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  Three-car right-of-way scenarios'Yield to the right' is the easy part. It gets harder when a third car arrives or when one driver has already entered the intersection. Always yield before entering — not while in it.
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  School bus rulesStop in BOTH directions when a school bus displays flashing red lights on a two-lane highway. Stay stopped until the bus starts moving again or its red lights stop flashing. Required stop distance: at least 30 feet.
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  Hill parking — downhillTurn your wheels toward the right (toward the road edge / curb) so the car rolls away from traffic if the brake fails.
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  Hill parking — uphill with a curbTurn wheels away from the curb. The curb acts as the stopper.
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  Impairment vs. legal BAC limit0.08% is the legal limit for 21+, not the safety threshold. Impairment begins at the first drink. 'Legally drunk' and 'impaired' are not the same thing — know both.
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  'Always' and 'never' rulesRead 'always' and 'never' statements carefully — most rules have exceptions. A genuine Louisiana 'never': you may never pass another vehicle by driving on the shoulder.
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  Bicycle passingWhen passing a cyclist on a road without a bike lane, slow down and wait until no traffic is approaching, then pass while leaving sufficient space. Cutting past with oncoming traffic present is the wrong move.

Reading the handbook once may not be enough. Try three loops: read once, drill once, listen once.

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  Loop 1 — read the handbookDownload the Louisiana Class D & E Drivers Guide (Form DPSMV2052) free from the OMV website. Read once at a normal pace — don't try to memorize. This guide compresses the key content into bullets.
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  Loop 2 — drill the practice examsTake the free 40-Q exam below cold. Under 32/40 → focus on the categories you missed and retake. Keep retaking until you clear 32/40 every time.
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  Loop 3 — listen along on YouTubePlay the Louisiana full-test Q&A video in the background the day before your test. Hearing the questions read aloud can help them stick.
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  Sleep beats crammingMemory consolidates overnight. Getting a full night's sleep before the test is better than cramming late.
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  Study signs visuallyNever read sign descriptions in text only — look at the actual shape and color. On the road you recognize a sign by how it looks, not by a written description.
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  Read every option before pickingRead every option before committing. Wrong answers can sound plausible, so don't stop at the first one that seems right.

Passing the knowledge test gets you a Louisiana learner's permit — not a full license. Louisiana's GDL rules include a performance-based exit: the full Class E license requires age 17 and 12 consecutive violation-free months on the intermediate license.

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  Permit supervisionYou must be accompanied at all times by a licensed parent, guardian, or adult age 21+, or by a licensed sibling age 18 or older. No solo driving on a learner's permit — ever.
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  Minimum permit hold time180 days (about 6 months) before you can upgrade to an intermediate license, and you must be at least 16. The 180-day hold no longer applies once you turn 17.
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  Supervised practice hoursAt least 50 hours total, with at least 15 of those hours driven at night. Your parent or guardian must sign a statement to OMV confirming them, so log them accurately.
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  Night curfew (under 17 on intermediate license)Driving is off limits from 11:00 PM until 5:00 AM unless a licensed parent, guardian, adult 21+, or sibling 18+ is riding along.
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  Passenger restriction (intermediate license)Between 6:00 PM and 5:00 AM, you may not transport more than one passenger under age 21 who is not an immediate family member, unless a licensed driver age 21 or older is in the front seat.
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  When restrictions liftBoth age and record count. To get full Class E privileges you must be at least 17 and have 12 consecutive months on the intermediate license with no at-fault crashes and no moving, seat belt, curfew, drug, or alcohol violations. A violation can lead OMV to extend your intermediate license by 30 to 180 days.
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  Cell phone ruleLouisiana law (R.S. 32:59) bans holding a phone, texting and social media use while driving, for every driver. Treat any phone use behind the wheel as off limits.