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Can You Take the Permit Test Online? Every State's Answer

Some states let you take the permit test online at home, often with age limits, proctors or fees. See what your state's DMV says.

AP

Alvaro Peña

Founder of GetMyPermit

2 November, 2026
12 min read
Can You Take the Permit Test Online? Every State's Answer

In some states, yes. Alaska, Arizona, Colorado, D.C., Florida, Kansas, Massachusetts, Michigan, New York, North Dakota, Ohio, Oregon, Tennessee, Vermont and Wisconsin all describe an official online (or virtual) permit knowledge test in their handbooks or on their DMV websites, and Iowa points readers to a "Skip the Trip" option for testing at home or school.

The catch: the rules are different everywhere. Some states offer it only to teens, some need a parent or proctor watching, some charge a fee, and some still want you at an office afterward. In many other states, the official sources we checked only describe testing in person, or don't say either way. Below is what each state's own handbook or DMV site says, with links so you can check.

Which states let you take the permit test online at home?

These are the states where an official source describes an online or virtual knowledge test. Where a detail isn't in the source, we say so.

  • Alaska: You can take the knowledge test online at ak.knowtodrive.com, anywhere and anytime, on your own device. It offers multiple languages with audio playback and gives you a pass/fail result right away. The handbook says "fees may apply." Ages, webcam monitoring and ID checks aren't covered in the Alaska handbook.
  • Arizona: Permit Test @ Home is offered only to teens under 18. A parent or legal guardian gives the test after setting up a free AZ MVD Now account, or a participating Arizona Professional Driving School trainer can give it instead.
  • Colorado: The @Home Driving Knowledge Test can be taken anytime, anywhere, on a desktop or laptop with a front-facing camera. Any Coloradan old enough to test for an instruction permit can use it after pre-registering at myDMV.Colorado.gov. If you're younger than 19, an adult older than 19 must act as your proxy, and results are emailed to the proxy. Each attempt costs $6.50 ($5 testing fee plus a $1.50 card fee), plus a separate $11.50 state DMV fee.
  • District of Columbia: Knowledge testing is available virtually or at a Test Proctoring Center, but virtual testing is only for the standard and GRAD (ages 16–20) knowledge tests. You need an appointment, booked at takemydrivingtest.com/dc, and the virtual tests are given by certified professional proctors. You pay the fee whether you pass or fail, and if you fail you wait three full calendar days before retesting.
  • Florida: Any applicant under 18 can take the Class E Knowledge Exam online through approved third-party administrators. Students of all ages can take it in person with a third-party provider. The Florida handbook also says a driver license service center may randomly retest any student before issuing a license.
  • Iowa: The Iowa handbook tells readers to visit iowadot.gov to learn about taking the knowledge test at home or school ("Skip the Trip"). Ages, proctoring and fees aren't in the handbook, so check with your state's DMV.
  • Kansas: The test can be taken at a Full-Service Driver License Center, through an approved driver's education course, or online at ks.knowtodrive.com. The Kansas handbook says to check that site to see if you qualify; eligibility details aren't in the handbook.
  • Massachusetts: The Massachusetts handbook says you can take the learner's permit exam at a service center when you apply, or online at Mass.Gov/RMV. The wording isn't consistent: one line says online is available after you submit your application, another says "after visiting a service center." The exam is offered in multiple languages online and in person.
  • Michigan: The written test is free at Secretary of State offices. You can also take an online version at home on your own computer or laptop for a $6.50 convenience fee. Age limits and proctoring aren't covered in the Michigan handbook.
  • New York: If you're under 18, you have the option to take the permit test online. The official page doesn't describe an online option for applicants 18 and older. More on New York below.
  • North Dakota: You can take the test at a Driver License office (appointment required) or online at nd.knowtodrive.com. Ages and proctoring aren't covered in the North Dakota handbook.
  • Ohio: The test can be taken online through BMV Online Services, with two attempts allowed in a six-month period. In person at a Driver Exam Station or select Deputy Registrar agencies, you get unlimited attempts, one per day. Age limits and proctoring aren't covered in the Ohio handbook.
  • Oregon: You can take the test online at DMV2U.Oregon.gov at any time, or at a DMV office. If you're under 18, a proctor over 21 must supervise. You can test online two times in 24 hours and four times total; after that you have to test at a DMV office (Oregon handbook).
  • Tennessee: Teens 15–17 who have to take the written test can take it online, with a parent or legal guardian proctoring through the Tennessee Proctor Identification (PID) App. The Tennessee handbook describes online testing only for ages 15–17.
  • Vermont: The learner permit test is no longer given in DMV offices. It's an online test at mydmv.vermont.gov with 20 questions, and you need 16 correct to pass. The test fee is $39 (Vermont handbook).
  • Wisconsin: Applicants aged 15 to 17 can take the knowledge test online at knowtodrive.com/wisconsin for a $10 fee; the online test is only for that age group. Testing at a DMV customer service center is free, with no appointment needed (Wisconsin handbook).

Is the online permit test only for teens?

It depends on the state, and the sources don't always say. Here's what they do say:

  • Arizona: Only for teens under 18 (source).
  • Wisconsin: Only for ages 15 to 17 (source).
  • Florida: The online exam is described for applicants under 18; students of all ages can test in person with a third-party provider (source).
  • New York: The online option is described for applicants under 18. The official page doesn't describe one for applicants 18 and older (source).
  • Tennessee: The handbook describes online testing only for teens 15–17 (source).
  • Colorado: Open to any Coloradan old enough to test for an instruction permit; under-19s need an adult proxy (source).
  • D.C.: Virtual testing covers the standard and GRAD (ages 16–20) knowledge tests (source).
  • Oregon: Under-18s testing online need a proctor over 21 (source).

For the other online states in the list above, the handbook doesn't give age rules for the online test. Check with your state's DMV before you plan on it.

Can you take the permit test online in California?

Not confirmed, because California's own pages disagree. A DMV press release says the online knowledge exam started in 2022 for eligible people over 18 and was expanded in September 2023 to applicants under 18. That release said the online test needed a computer or laptop with a webcam, couldn't be taken on a tablet or phone, ran 8 a.m. to 4 p.m. Monday through Friday, was offered in 35 languages, and allowed two online attempts.

But the current Instruction Permits page lists "Take the knowledge test(s)" as part of the DMV office visit, and the current Teen Driver Roadmap says teens take the written test during their office visit. The California handbook says testing options become available after you complete your application at dmv.ca.gov/dl.

One thing that's clear: California's eLearning no-fail online course is only for eligible Class C license renewals. First-time license applicants don't qualify. If you're in California, start your application on the DMV site and see which test options it offers you.

Can you take the permit test online in NY?

Yes, if you're under 18. Here's how it works, according to the New York DMV:

  • After you pass online, you make an appointment at a DMV office.
  • The DMV needs three business days to review your results and ID documents. If you visit sooner, you have to retake the test in the office.
  • Class D permit tests are given in 20 languages.

New York also has the Online Knowledge Test Application (OKTA) at participating high schools, for students at least 15 years and 11 months old. It's offered in English and Spanish, at least one school staff member monitors it, and students who fail can retake it as many times as the school allows (New York handbook).

How does an online permit test work?

You don't just open a website and click through. The states that describe their setup use some mix of camera monitoring, ID checks and a supervising adult:

  • Oregon: You need a desktop or laptop with a keyboard, mouse and webcam; phones and tablets can't be used. A photo is taken at the start, and random photos are taken during the test to confirm it's you. One proctor can supervise only two tests in 24 hours. The test is available in several languages, with or without audio (source).
  • Colorado: A desktop or laptop with a front-facing camera, plus pre-registration at myDMV.Colorado.gov (source).
  • Tennessee: The parent or guardian proctors through the PID App, and the proctor is checked against their state Safety Department record (source).
  • Arizona: A parent or legal guardian gives the test through a free AZ MVD Now account (source).
  • D.C.: Certified professional proctors run the virtual test, by appointment (source).

If your state offers an online test but its handbook doesn't describe the equipment or monitoring, read the instructions on the state's testing site before you start.

What happens after you pass online?

Passing online doesn't always mean you're done. These are the steps the official sources describe:

  • Colorado: Bring your confirmation to a DMV appointment to get the permit (source).
  • D.C.: Visit a DC DMV Service Center within 14 business days with your documents, or you have to retest (source).
  • Kansas: Bring your passing results to the office instead of testing there (source).
  • Massachusetts: If you pass online but can't print the permit, call 857-368-8110 and the RMV mails it in 5–7 business days (source).
  • New York: Make a DMV office appointment. The DMV needs three business days to review your results, and if you visit sooner you retake the test in the office (source).
  • North Dakota: Make an appointment at a Driver License office to get your permit (source).
  • Ohio: Buy the permit (TIPIC) at a Deputy Registrar License Agency within 60 days (source).

For the other online states, the sources we used don't spell out the next step. Check with your state's DMV so you know what to bring.

States where the official sources describe in-person testing or don't say

In these states, the handbook or DMV page we checked doesn't describe an official online test. That doesn't always mean one doesn't exist, so check with your state's DMV if you're hoping to test from home.

  • Alabama: The handbook says automated testing is available to all knowledge test applicants but says nothing about an online or at-home test (handbook).
  • Arkansas: The test is taken by appointment with an examiner; no online test is mentioned (handbook).
  • Connecticut: DMV offices give the test by appointment only; you schedule and pay online. The handbook is the December 2019 edition (handbook).
  • Delaware: You apply in person at a DMV office; no online test is mentioned (handbook).
  • Georgia: Knowledge exams are given walk-in at every DDS Customer Service Center; no online test is mentioned (handbook).
  • Hawaii: Online testing isn't in the handbook (handbook).
  • Idaho: The handbook doesn't say whether the test is online or in person (handbook).
  • Illinois: Online testing isn't in the handbook (handbook).
  • Indiana: The exam is computer-based at a BMV branch; arrive at least 30 minutes before closing (handbook).
  • Kentucky: All testing is done by Kentucky State Police, by appointment, at regional offices (handbook).
  • Louisiana: The exam is given on a computer in most offices; the 2013 handbook doesn't mention online testing. Check with your state's DMV.
  • Maine: Written exams are given on a scheduled basis at Motor Vehicle branch offices (handbook).
  • Maryland: The test is taken at an MVA location: 25 questions with a 20-minute limit (handbook).
  • Minnesota: The Class D written test is taken at exam stations by appointment (handbook).
  • Mississippi: The test is a computerized exam with a headset; online testing isn't in the handbook (handbook).
  • Missouri: The Missouri State Highway Patrol gives the exam at its testing locations (handbook).
  • Montana: The written and vision tests are taken at the driver exam station (handbook).
  • Nebraska: The handbook mentions only an online practice test, not an online official test (handbook).
  • Nevada: The test is given on automated equipment or on paper (handbook).
  • New Hampshire: The automated knowledge test is taken on a touch-screen monitor; online testing isn't in the handbook. Check with your state's DMV.
  • New Jersey: The test is taken at MVC Licensing Centers (handbook).
  • New Mexico: The handbook doesn't cover online or in-person testing (handbook).
  • North Carolina: The handbook doesn't say whether the test can be taken online; appointments are made at skiptheline.ncdot.gov (handbook).
  • Oklahoma: You apply and test at a Driver Testing Facility run by Service Oklahoma (handbook).
  • Pennsylvania: The 2021 handbook describes the test only at Driver License Centers (handbook).
  • Rhode Island: The computerized test is taken through the CCRI driver education course or at the DMV main office in Cranston (handbook).
  • South Carolina: You can test at any SCDMV branch or, for a first-time Class D beginner's permit, with approved third-party testers at driver training schools (handbook).
  • South Dakota: You apply at any exam station; online testing isn't in the handbook (handbook).
  • Texas: Applicants under 25 must take a driver education course, and finishing certain courses means you don't take the Class C knowledge exam at the driver license office. Whether those course exams are online isn't in the handbook (handbook).
  • Utah: The knowledge test is described as part of the office appointment. A separate Traffic Safety and Trends Exam is offered only on the DLD website and requires 100% (handbook).
  • Virginia: The exam is given on a computer; whether it can be taken online isn't in the handbook (handbook).
  • Washington: You can test at an approved driver training school or on a computer at a licensing office; the 2019 guide doesn't mention online testing. Check with your state's DMV.
  • West Virginia: Automated testing is given at all locations (handbook).
  • Wyoming: The test uses an "Automated Testing System"; online testing isn't in the handbook (handbook).

Online practice tests are not the official test

A lot of people search "take permit test online" and land on practice tests. Those are study tools, not the official test, and several states say so directly:

  • Idaho: Practice tests on other websites don't accurately represent Idaho's test; only ITD's sample questions on itd.idaho.gov do (handbook).
  • Nebraska: Practice exam questions are different from the ones on the actual test (handbook).
  • Wisconsin: Practice quiz questions aren't the same as the official test questions and don't cover every question on it (handbook).
  • D.C.: The online practice test is for information only and doesn't contain actual DC DMV test questions (source).
  • Arkansas: Arkansas State Police says it isn't associated with third-party websites that offer practice tests (handbook).
  • Iowa: The handbook warns that other websites sell information the DOT gives away free (handbook).
  • Georgia: The handbook warns that fake DMV websites charge for materials, and says official Georgia sites end in .gov (handbook).

Start with your state's official handbook. Practice tests are still a good way to find out what you don't know yet before you sit the real thing. GetMyPermit has state-specific practice tests so you can drill the topics you keep missing. Just remember that passing a practice test isn't passing the permit test.

Sources

Free permit practice test for your state

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