Nevada DMV Permit Practice Test

The Nevada DMV knowledge test stands between you and an instruction permit. Study the Nevada Driver's Manual, which covers everything from sign meanings to right-of-way rules. Know what you're walking into before you sit down.

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  Under-18 and adult exam25 questions for everyone. Pass at 80% — that's 20 correct.
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  Application fee$22.50 for an instruction permit. Pay at any Nevada DMV office when you apply.
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  What to bringProof of identity, Social Security number, and Nevada residency documents. Teens under 18 also need a parent or guardian signature on the application.
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  Driver ed required under 18Most first-time drivers under 18 must complete a DMV-approved driver education course before getting a full license. It is not required to get the instruction permit. At 18 or older, driver ed is not required.
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  Test formatThe test has 25 multiple-choice questions and you need 20 correct (80%) to pass. Read each question and every option before you answer.
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  Don't study signs aloneStudy the traffic laws closely, including right-of-way, turning, and passing rules. Don't spend all your prep time on signs alone.

The handbook covers traffic laws, safety responses, road signs, drugs and alcohol, parking, and vehicle rules. Know them cold.

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  Road signsShape, color, and meaning of regulatory, warning, and guide signs. Know the keep-right sign, the intersection-ahead sign, and advisory speed signs.
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  Right-of-way at intersectionsAt a four-way stop, first to arrive goes first. If two vehicles arrive simultaneously, the one on the left yields to the one on the right.
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  Signal distance — city vs. highwaySignal at least 100 feet before a turn on city streets and at least 300 feet before a turn on open highways. Know both numbers.
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  Railroad crossingsWhen flashing signals warn of an approaching train, stop no closer than 15 feet from the nearest rail.
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  Following distanceAt 40 mph or slower, stay at least 2 seconds behind the vehicle in front of you. Increase that gap in poor conditions, behind large vehicles, or at highway speeds.
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  BAC limit — 21 and older0.08% BAC is the legal limit. At or above this level, driving is a DUI.
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  Alcohol impairment below the legal limitDriving skill and judgment are harmed by alcohol well below 0.08%. Alcohol impairs you regardless of the legal limit.
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  Chemical test refusalIf an officer suspects DUI, you cannot refuse blood, breath, or urine testing. Refusal results in license revocation.
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  Speed limitsSpeed limits mark the maximum under ideal conditions. Nevada law requires reducing speed when weather, visibility, or road conditions make it unsafe to drive at the posted limit.

These categories are easy to get wrong. If you only have time to drill a few topics, drill these.

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  Three-car right-of-way at four-way stopsFirst to arrive goes first. When two cars arrive at the same time, left yields to right. When three arrive simultaneously, it gets tricky — keep yielding to whoever is on your right.
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  School bus — two-lane vs. multilane roadsOn a two-lane highway, traffic in BOTH directions must stop when red lights flash. On a divided highway (a physical barrier or dividing section separates the roadways), only traffic going the same direction as the bus must stop.
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  Hill parking — downhillTurn your wheels toward the road edge (right). If brakes fail, the car rolls away from traffic and into the curb or shoulder.
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  Hill parking — uphill with a curbTurn your wheels away from the curb (left). The curb acts as the stopper if the car rolls backward.
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  Impairment is not the same as the legal limit0.08% is when it becomes illegal — not when it becomes dangerous. Alcohol harms driving skills at any amount.
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  Reading "All of the above""All of the above" can be the correct answer when every listed option is true. Read every option before locking in an answer.
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  Bicycle passing — slow down, give spacePass a bicyclist the same way you'd pass any vehicle: signal, check for oncoming traffic, and leave as much space as possible. Don't crowd them. When there's oncoming traffic AND a cyclist ahead, wait for the car to clear before passing the bike.

Reading the handbook once may not be enough. A simple plan is three loops: read once, drill once, listen once. That's it.

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  Loop 1 — read the handbook (or this guide)Download the Nevada Driver's Manual free from dmv.nv.gov. Read once, don't try to memorize. This guide pulls the key points into bullets.
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  Loop 2 — drill the practice examsTake the free 40-Q exam below cold. Anything under 32/40 → focus on the categories you missed and retake.
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  Loop 3 — listen along on YouTubePlay the Nevada Road Signs or Traffic Laws videos the day before your test. It makes a useful last review.
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  Sleep beats crammingMemory consolidates overnight. A full sleep the night before is worth more than two extra hours of late-night studying.
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  Study signs visuallyNever read sign descriptions in text only. Look at the actual shape and color, because that is what you will see on the road.
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  Read every option before pickingWrong answers can sound plausible, so read every option before you pick — don't skip any.

Passing the knowledge test gets you an instruction permit — not a license. Nevada's graduated licensing rules include a 10 PM curfew until age 18, 50 supervised hours, and a 6-month passenger limit.

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  Permit supervisor ruleA licensed driver age 21 or older with at least 1 year of licensed experience must sit with you. No solo driving on a permit — ever.
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  Minimum permit holdYou must hold the instruction permit for at least 6 months before you can take the road test.
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  Supervised practice hours50 total hours required, including at least 10 hours in darkness. Log them carefully — your parent or guardian signs off on the hours.
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  Night-driving curfewYou cannot drive between 10 PM and 5 AM until you turn 18, except when driving to or from a scheduled event such as school or work (proof may be required).
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  Passenger restriction — first 6 monthsNo passengers under age 18 during your first 6 months with your license — except immediate family members.
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  When the restrictions endThe passenger limit ends after the first 6 months with your license. The 10 PM to 5 AM curfew stays in effect until you turn 18.