Kentucky Driver License: The License, the GDL, Tests, Renewal and Points

30 questions with the correct answer and an explanation for each. Topic: The License, the GDL, Tests, Renewal and Points. Free, no account needed.

1. A driver operates a combination vehicle rated at 30,000 pounds, towing a unit that weighs 12,000 pounds. Which license class is required?

Class C
Class B
Class D
Class A

Answer: D — Class A

A combination rated 26,001 pounds or more whose towed unit exceeds 10,000 pounds is Class A.

2. A single commercial vehicle weighing 22,000 pounds is built to carry 20 passengers including the driver. Which license class covers it?

Class C
Class A
Class D
Class B

Answer: A — Class C

A single vehicle under 26,001 pounds built to carry more than 16 people including the driver falls under Class C.

3. What is the minimum age to apply for the basic operator's license that most Kentuckians hold?

Answer: D — 15

The Class D applicant must be a resident at least 15.

4. Which of these applicants is not eligible for a license?

Someone who is 16 years old
Someone who cannot understand highway warnings and directions in English
Someone renewing after active military service
Someone with a corrective-lens restriction

Answer: B — Someone who cannot understand highway warnings and directions in English

Anyone who cannot understand highway warnings and directions in English is not eligible.

5. A motorized bicycle has an automatic transmission, a 50cc engine and a top speed of 28 mph. What is the maximum speed a vehicle can reach and still qualify as a moped?

25 mph
35 mph
30 mph
40 mph

Answer: C — 30 mph

A moped is rated at a top speed of no more than 30 mph.

6. A 16-year-old wants to ride a moped legally without applying for a separate Class E license. What must they already hold?

A completed RideSmartKY rider course
A School Compliance Verification Form under the No Pass/No Drive law
A learner's permit, driver's license, motorcycle permit or motorcycle license
A passing State Police skills test for the moped

Answer: C — A learner's permit, driver's license, motorcycle permit or motorcycle license

Riding a moped at 16 requires already holding one of these other credentials; otherwise the rider must apply for a Class E license, which needs no skills test.

7. An 18-year-old with no other driving credential wants to apply for a motorcycle instruction permit. What is the minimum age requirement that lets them apply directly?

Answer: B — 18

Anyone with a valid intermediate license, or anyone at least 18, may apply for a motorcycle instruction permit.

8. In the standard licensing process, what must an applicant complete before an instruction permit is issued?

The road skills test
A vehicle inspection
A certified Practice Driving Log
A vision screening and a written test

Answer: D — A vision screening and a written test

After the application, the vision screening and written test come first, then the instruction permit is issued.

9. After the application is filed at a Regional Driver Licensing Office, which agency administers the vision, written and road skills tests?

Kentucky Transportation Cabinet
Office of Vocational Rehabilitation
Kentucky State Police
Department of Motor Vehicles

Answer: C — Kentucky State Police

The Kentucky State Police administers all tests after the Cabinet office intake.

10. A parent signs the permit application for their 16-year-old. What legal effect does this signature have?

It requires the parent to ride along on every trip
It transfers the parent's driving record to the teen
It is a formality with no legal effect
It makes the parent jointly liable for damages caused by the teen's driving

Answer: D — It makes the parent jointly liable for damages caused by the teen's driving

The signature accepts responsibility and makes the signer jointly liable for damages.

11. A 15-year-old has just received a learner's permit. How long must the permit be held before scheduling the road test for an intermediate license?

120 days
365 days
90 days
180 days

Answer: D — 180 days

Permit holders aged 15 to 20 hold the permit at least 180 days, and the road test is scheduled after 180 days.

12. Before advancing to an intermediate license, a teen permit holder must complete a certified Practice Driving Log. How many total hours are required, and how many of those at night?

40 hours, 6 at night
100 hours, 20 at night
60 hours, 10 at night
50 hours, 8 at night

Answer: C — 60 hours, 10 at night

The Practice Driving Log must total at least 60 hours, with 10 of them at night.

13. A 17-year-old with an intermediate license wants to drive two unrelated friends, both under 20, to a movie. Is this allowed?

No, no passengers under 18 are allowed at all
Yes, any number of unrelated passengers is allowed
Yes, up to three unrelated passengers are allowed
No, only one unrelated passenger under 20 may ride along

Answer: D — No, only one unrelated passenger under 20 may ride along

The intermediate driver keeps the one-unrelated-passenger-under-20 limit while under 18.

14. An intermediate license holder wants to drive home from a friend's house at 1 a.m. with no emergency, school or work reason. Is this permitted?

Yes, the curfew only applies to permit holders
No, driving is restricted between 12 a.m. and 6 a.m. without good cause
No, driving is restricted between 10 p.m. and 5 a.m.
Yes, as long as no licensed adult is required

Answer: B — No, driving is restricted between 12 a.m. and 6 a.m. without good cause

The intermediate driver may not drive between 12 a.m. and 6 a.m. without good cause such as an emergency, school or work.

15. A 19-year-old with an intermediate or permit-stage credential is tested for alcohol. What BAC level triggers a violation under the zero-tolerance standard for drivers under 21?

0.02
0.05
0.08
0.00

Answer: A — 0.02

Drivers under 21 are subject to zero tolerance at 0.02 BAC.

16. A teen has held an intermediate license for 180 days and completed the graduated licensing education course. What additional requirement must be met before the full license is issued?

Passing a second road test
Reaching age 16
Reaching age 18
Reaching age 17

Answer: D — Reaching age 17

The full license requires the education course, 180 days on the intermediate license, and reaching age 17.

17. A driver whose permit was issued at age 16 must complete an approved driver training program. What are the deadlines for enrolling and for finishing?

Enroll and finish before the 18th birthday
Enroll before the road test and finish before the intermediate license
Enroll before the intermediate license and finish within 30 days of the 18th birthday
Enroll before the 18th birthday and finish before the full license

Answer: D — Enroll before the 18th birthday and finish before the full license

Enrollment must come before the 18th birthday; completion must come before the full license is issued.

18. A 22-year-old first-time applicant and a 19-year-old first-time applicant each receive instruction permits on the same day. How long must each hold the permit before taking the road test?

180 days for the 22-year-old, 30 days for the 19-year-old
30 days for both
30 days for the 22-year-old, 180 days for the 19-year-old
180 days for both

Answer: C — 30 days for the 22-year-old, 180 days for the 19-year-old

Applicants 18 to 20 hold the permit 180 days, while applicants 21 and over hold it only 30 days.

19. An 18-year-old receives an instruction permit. How long is it valid, and what happens if it is not renewed within a year of expiring?

Valid 2 years; no penalty for late renewal
Valid 3 years; the written and vision tests must be repeated
Valid 3 years; the permit becomes permanently void
Valid 1 year; only the road test must be repeated

Answer: B — Valid 3 years; the written and vision tests must be repeated

The permit is valid three years and renewable, but if not renewed within one year of expiring the written and vision tests are repeated.

20. An applicant's vision tests below 20/40, uncorrected and without lenses. What happens next?

Automatic failure with no recourse
Immediate approval with a restriction
Automatic enrollment in the Bioptic Driving Program
Referral to a vision specialist, after which 20/60 or better allows testing

Answer: D — Referral to a vision specialist, after which 20/60 or better allows testing

Anyone below 20/40 is referred to a specialist, and after that referral applicants seeing 20/60 or better may test.

21. What minimum score must an applicant achieve on the written knowledge test to pass?

85 percent
70 percent
75 percent
80 percent

Answer: D — 80 percent

The written test is passed at 80 percent.

22. During a road test, an applicant fails to follow the examiner's instructions on two separate occasions. What is the result?

A warning only
Automatic disqualification
A point deduction on the score sheet
The test is paused and resumed later

Answer: B — Automatic disqualification

Failing to follow instructions twice disqualifies the applicant.

23. For a vehicle to pass inspection before the road test, how far must its high beams reveal a person on the road?

500 feet
350 feet
250 feet
100 feet

Answer: B — 350 feet

High beams must reveal a person at 350 feet (low beams at 100 feet).

24. A person moves to Kentucky and establishes residency. Within how many days must they obtain a Kentucky license?

10 days
30 days
60 days
15 days

Answer: B — 30 days

A new resident must get a Kentucky license within 30 days of establishing residence.

25. A new Kentucky resident holds an out-of-state license that expired 8 months ago. What must they do to get a Kentucky license?

Retake all three tests
Provide a certified Driver History Record and retake the written and eye exams
Wait until it has been expired a full year before applying
Transfer without testing, since it expired less than a year ago

Answer: D — Transfer without testing, since it expired less than a year ago

An out-of-state license that is valid or expired less than one year transfers without testing; only one expired more than a year needs the Driver History Record plus written and eye exams.

26. A non-citizen newly admitted to the US holds a valid foreign license and International Driver Permit from a reciprocity country. How long may they drive on these credentials from the date of admission?

2 years
30 days
90 days
1 year

Answer: D — 1 year

Non-citizens may drive up to one year from admission on a valid foreign license and International Driver Permit if their country has reciprocity.

27. A driver received their license at age 19. When does this license expire?

90 days after the 21st birthday
On the 21st birthday
31 days after the 21st birthday
90 days after the 18th birthday

Answer: A — 90 days after the 21st birthday

A license issued under 21 expires 90 days after the 21st birthday.

28. A driver 21 or older wants to renew their license as early as possible before it expires. How far in advance can they renew?

3 months
6 months
12 months
9 months

Answer: B — 6 months

At 21 and older the license may be renewed up to six months early.

29. A driver under 18 accumulates points from several convictions within a two-year span. At how many points may suspension follow a hearing?

10 points
6 points
12 points
7 points

Answer: D — 7 points

Accumulating 12 points (7 if under 18) within two years may bring suspension after a hearing.

30. A driver's probation with State Traffic School attendance has just ended. When may that driver be placed on probation again?

1 year after the previous probation ended
2 years after the previous probation ended
6 months after the previous probation ended
Immediately, with no waiting period

Answer: B — 2 years after the previous probation ended

A driver on probation is not eligible again until two years after the previous probation ended.