Pennsylvania permit test 2026: questions, passing score and retakes
Updated October 2026
This page sums up how the Pennsylvania PennDOT written knowledge test works, what it covers and how to prepare for it. The numbers below are the ones we use across Road Ready PA. Confirm them with the official source before your test.
Test format
18questions on the real test
15/18correct answers to pass (83%)
Next business dayyou may retest
What the test covers
We group the questions into eight topics, each with free practice questions and explanations:
A few state-specific questions from our free sets, with answers and explanations.
1. What is the typical maximum speed limit on Pennsylvania's interstates and limited-access highways?
55 mph everywhere
✓ 65 mph, though some rural interstate and turnpike sections are posted at 70 mph
75 mph statewide
There is no posted maximum; drivers set a safe speed
Why: Most Pennsylvania interstates are posted at 65 mph, but PennDOT has raised the limit to 70 mph on select rural stretches of interstate and the Pennsylvania Turnpike.
2. In Pennsylvania, what blood alcohol concentration (BAC) triggers a violation for a driver under 21?
0.08% or higher, the same as for adult drivers
✓ 0.02% or higher
0.10% or higher
Any amount detected, with no numeric threshold
Why: Pennsylvania's zero-tolerance law sets the BAC limit at just 0.02% for drivers under 21, far below the 0.08% limit that applies to drivers 21 and older.
3. What are Pennsylvania's minimum liability insurance requirements?
$10,000 / $20,000 / $5,000
✓ $15,000 / $30,000 / $5,000
$25,000 / $50,000 / $10,000
There is no minimum requirement
Why: Pennsylvania requires minimum liability coverage of $15,000 per person / $30,000 per accident for bodily injury, plus $5,000 for property damage.
4. How are school zone speed limits typically set in Pennsylvania?
They are a fixed 25 mph in every school zone statewide, with no exceptions
✓ They are reduced when children are present and are typically posted locally based on traffic studies, often around 15 mph
There is no reduced speed limit near schools
They only apply on weekends
Why: Pennsylvania doesn't set one fixed statewide school zone number; local authorities post a reduced limit, commonly around 15 mph, based on traffic engineering studies, and it applies when children are present.
5. In Pennsylvania, when is a driver permitted to make a right turn at a red light?
Never; right turns on red are illegal statewide
✓ After coming to a complete stop and yielding to traffic and pedestrians, unless a sign prohibits it
Only between 9 a.m. and 5 p.m.
Only if a police officer is directing traffic
Why: Pennsylvania allows right turns on red after a full stop and yielding to cross traffic and pedestrians, except where a posted sign specifically prohibits the turn.
6. What restriction applies to Pennsylvania drivers under 18 who hold a junior license regarding wireless devices?
They may use any wireless device as long as it's hands-free
✓ They are prohibited from using any interactive wireless communication device while driving, even hands-free, during their junior license period
The restriction only applies to texting, not phone calls
There is no restriction beyond what applies to adult drivers
Why: Pennsylvania junior license holders under 18 may not use any interactive wireless communication device, including hands-free calling, while driving — a stricter rule than the general texting ban that applies to all drivers.
How to prepare
Read the official Pennsylvania driver handbook, available on the PennDOT site: pa.gov.
Work through practice mode one topic at a time and read the explanation for every question you miss.
Then use the exam simulator and keep going until you pass it consistently.
Document requirements, fees, age rules and appointment booking differ by situation and change over time. Check them on the official PennDOT site before you go: pa.gov.