Connecticut Driver License: Permits, Tests, Driver Education and Teen Restrictions

30 questions with the correct answer and an explanation for each. Topic: Permits, Tests, Driver Education and Teen Restrictions. Free, no account needed.

1. What is the minimum age to apply for a learner's permit?

Answer: A — 16

A learner's permit requires being at least 16 years old.

2. A learner's permit holder never upgrades to a license. How long does the permit stay valid before it expires on its own?

One year
Two years
Eighteen months
Three years

Answer: B — Two years

The permit lasts until licensing or two years, whichever comes first.

3. Someone who has never held a Connecticut license and has no valid out-of-state license wants to get licensed. What must they complete before licensing?

A 2-hour parent training class
A 4-hour defensive driving seminar
An 8-hour Safe Driving Practices course at a Connecticut commercial driving school
A 30-hour classroom driver education program

Answer: C — An 8-hour Safe Driving Practices course at a Connecticut commercial driving school

Anyone in that situation must complete the 8-hour Safe Driving Practices course at a Connecticut commercial driving school before licensing.

4. A Class D license holder with no restrictions wants to drive a commercial vehicle. Is this permitted under that license?

Only if the driver is over 21
Yes, Class D covers all vehicle types including commercial ones
Only with a motorcycle endorsement
No, commercial vehicles require the CDL

Answer: D — No, commercial vehicles require the CDL

Class D allows driving any motor vehicle except a commercial one; commercial vehicles need the CDL.

5. A permit applicant answers 19 of 25 knowledge test questions correctly. What is the result?

A pass, but only for the vision portion
A fail, since at least 20 correct answers are needed
A conditional pass pending a retake of 5 questions
A pass, since 19 is a majority

Answer: B — A fail, since at least 20 correct answers are needed

The 25-question knowledge test requires at least 20 correct answers to pass.

6. A driver has 20/40 vision without lenses in both eyes. Does this meet the minimum vision standard for licensing?

Yes, but only for a learner's permit, not a full license
No, 20/40 is only acceptable with corrective lenses
Yes, every license class requires at least 20/40 with or without lenses
No, 20/20 is required

Answer: C — Yes, every license class requires at least 20/40 with or without lenses

Every license class requires at least 20/40 vision, with or without lenses.

7. An applicant is blind in one eye. What visual field is required in the other eye to qualify for a license?

At least 140 degrees
At least 80 degrees
At least 100 degrees
At least 60 degrees

Answer: C — At least 100 degrees

Someone blind in one eye needs 20/40 vision in the other eye with a field of at least 100 degrees.

8. A licensed driver who requires corrective lenses drives without wearing them. What is the consequence described?

Automatic suspension of the vehicle's registration
A warning only for a first offense
No consequence as long as vision is otherwise adequate
A citation, since driving without lenses your license requires can bring one

Answer: D — A citation, since driving without lenses your license requires can bring one

Driving without lenses your license requires can bring a citation.

9. A 17-year-old permit holder wants to practice driving accompanied by someone who is not a licensed driving instructor. What must that instructing person meet?

At least 18 years old with two years of licensing
At least 25 years old with a clean lifetime driving record
Any adult with a valid license, regardless of experience
At least 20 years old, licensed four or more consecutive years, no suspension in the previous four years

Answer: D — At least 20 years old, licensed four or more consecutive years, no suspension in the previous four years

The qualified instructing person must be at least 20, licensed four or more consecutive years, and unsuspended in the previous four years.

10. A 16-year-old permit holder is riding with friends who are not licensed instructors, parents, or qualified trainers, and no commercial or driver-education instructor is present. Is this allowed?

Yes, as long as there are only two friends
Yes, if the permit is more than six months old
Yes, on weekends only
No, this violates the permit passenger limits

Answer: D — No, this violates the permit passenger limits

A 16- or 17-year-old permit holder may carry no passengers except a licensed instructor or a qualified instructing person, with parents allowed to ride along.

11. A 16-year-old is completing driver training through a commercial driving school. How many classroom hours and behind-the-wheel hours does that program provide at minimum?

20 classroom hours and 20 behind-the-wheel hours
15 classroom hours and 50 behind-the-wheel hours
30 classroom hours and 40 behind-the-wheel hours
40 classroom hours and 30 behind-the-wheel hours

Answer: C — 30 classroom hours and 40 behind-the-wheel hours

Commercial and secondary school courses provide 30 hours of classroom instruction and at least 40 hours behind the wheel.

12. A teen graduates from a full commercial driving school program and receives a CS-1 certificate. How long after getting the permit must they wait before taking the road test?

90 days
180 days
120 days
60 days

Answer: C — 120 days

Graduates of the full training program wait 120 days after the permit is issued before the road test, while other applicants wait 180 days.

13. A parent wants to serve as the home-training instructor for their 16-year-old. What minimum age and licensing history must they have?

Any age, as long as currently licensed
20 years old, four unsuspended years of licensing
18 years old, licensed two years
25 years old, five years of licensing

Answer: B — 20 years old, four unsuspended years of licensing

A home training instructor must be at least 20 with four unsuspended years of licensing.

14. A parent or guardian of a teen permit holder is required to complete what training on the laws for drivers under 18 and the dangers of teen driving?

A 30-hour classroom program alongside the teen
A 4-hour online course
A 2-hour parent training class
No training is required of parents

Answer: C — A 2-hour parent training class

A parent or guardian must complete the two-hour parent training class.

15. An 8-hour safe driving course for a home-trained applicant must include how many hours specifically on the effects and dangers of alcohol and drugs?

The entire eight hours
Six hours
Four hours
Two hours

Answer: C — Four hours

The course must include at least four hours on the medical and physiological effects of alcohol and drugs.

16. An 18-year-old applicant, never before licensed anywhere, gets a permit. How long must they hold it before taking the road test?

30 days
180 days
90 days
120 days

Answer: C — 90 days

An applicant 18 or older holds the permit at least 90 days before the road test.

17. Where does the person instructing a permit holder sit while training, and what is their role?

In the front passenger seat, alert and ready to take control, sharing responsibility for safe operation
Anywhere in the vehicle, as long as they hold a valid license
In the back seat, observing without intervening
In the driver's seat, controlling the pedals

Answer: A — In the front passenger seat, alert and ready to take control, sharing responsibility for safe operation

The instructing person sits in the front passenger seat, alert and ready to take control, sharing responsibility for safe operation.

18. An applicant shows up for the road test in a vehicle they rented, and they do not yet hold a valid license. Can they use the rented vehicle for the test?

No, without a valid license you cannot test in a rented vehicle
Yes, any rental is acceptable if insured
Yes, as long as a licensed adult accompanies them
No, rentals are never allowed regardless of licensing status

Answer: A — No, without a valid license you cannot test in a rented vehicle

Without a valid license, an applicant cannot test in a rented vehicle, though a long-term leased vehicle may qualify if properly insured.

19. What must an applicant pay, and when, for the driver's license at the road test?

A $100 fee, paid at permit issuance
A $50 fee, paid before the test begins
No fee if the CS-1 certificate is presented
An $84 fee, paid after passing

Answer: D — An $84 fee, paid after passing

The $84 license fee is payable after passing the road test.

20. A 17-year-old has held their first Connecticut license for four months. Under the passenger restriction in effect during this period, who may ride along besides a licensed driving instructor?

Parents or a guardian at least one of whom is licensed, or one person at least 20 with four consecutive unsuspended years of licensing
Any friend under 18
Immediate family only, with no exceptions
No passengers of any kind

Answer: A — Parents or a guardian at least one of whom is licensed, or one person at least 20 with four consecutive unsuspended years of licensing

For the first six months, a newly licensed teen may carry only a licensed driving instructor, a licensed parent/guardian, or a qualified 20-plus-year person, with parents allowed to accompany.

21. A 17-year-old has held their Connecticut license for eight months. Can a friend who is not immediate family ride along yet?

Yes, friends are allowed after six months
No, friends are never allowed for teen drivers
No, friends may not ride until the license is a year old
Yes, but only one friend at a time

Answer: C — No, friends may not ride until the license is a year old

During the second six months only immediate family may be added as passengers; friends may not ride until the license is a year old.

22. A 17-year-old with a Connecticut license wants to drive to a late shift at their part-time job, arriving home at 11:30 p.m. Is this allowed under the curfew?

Yes, but only if a parent rides along
No, the curfew applies with no exceptions
No, only school activities are exempt
Yes, employment is an exception to the 11 p.m.–5 a.m. curfew

Answer: D — Yes, employment is an exception to the 11 p.m.–5 a.m. curfew

The curfew bars driving from 11 p.m. to 5 a.m. unless traveling for employment, school, religious activities, medical necessity, or as a Safe Ride Program driver.

23. A 17-year-old licensed driver wants to use a hands-free phone mount to take a call while driving. Is this permitted?

No, but texting hands-free is allowed
No, cell phone use is barred for permit holders and 16-/17-year-old licensed drivers even hands-free
Yes, but only for calls under one minute
Yes, hands-free devices are always allowed

Answer: B — No, cell phone use is barred for permit holders and 16-/17-year-old licensed drivers even hands-free

Permit holders and 16- and 17-year-old licensed drivers may not use a cell phone or mobile electronic device even hands-free.

24. A 17-year-old just earned a motorcycle endorsement. For how long after receiving it are they barred from carrying a passenger on the motorcycle?

One year
Until turning 18
Six months
Three months

Answer: C — Six months

A teen may not carry a passenger on a motorcycle for six months after receiving the endorsement.

25. A car has five seat belts. Can a 17-year-old licensed driver legally carry six passengers if seating space allows?

Yes, if a parent is also present
No, the limit is always four passengers regardless of seat belts
No, passengers may not exceed the number of seat belts in the vehicle
Yes, as long as everyone fits comfortably

Answer: C — No, passengers may not exceed the number of seat belts in the vehicle

Permit holders and 16- and 17-year-old licensed drivers may not carry more passengers than the vehicle has seat belts.

26. Someone wants to join the organ and tissue donor registry when renewing their license. What fee applies?

No fee
$84, same as the license fee
$15
$30

Answer: A — No fee

Joining the organ and tissue donor registry is free; a fee applies only for ordering a duplicate card after changing your choice.

27. A registered donor changes their mind and wants a new card reflecting the change. What does this cost?

$50
$84
Nothing, it is free
$30 for a duplicate card

Answer: D — $30 for a duplicate card

Changing your donor choice on a valid card means ordering a duplicate for $30.

28. A driver updates their voter registration while renewing a license. About how long until the registrar confirms it?

About three weeks
About one week
About two months
Immediately, at the DMV counter

Answer: A — About three weeks

The registrar confirms voter registration updates within about three weeks.

29. Someone develops a medical condition that may affect their ability to drive safely. How far in advance should they contact Driver Services before applying for a limited license?

One year
Four months
Two months
One month

Answer: B — Four months

Anyone with a condition affecting driving should contact Driver Services at least four months before applying.

30. A limited license restricts a driver to daylight hours only. What are the exact boundaries of that daylight window?

Sunrise to sunset exactly
7 a.m. to 7 p.m. year-round
Half an hour before sunrise to half an hour after sunset
One hour before sunrise to one hour after sunset

Answer: C — Half an hour before sunrise to half an hour after sunset

A limited license may restrict driving to daylight, defined as half an hour before sunrise to half an hour after sunset.