Pennsylvania Driver License: Learner's Permit and Licenses

25 questions with the correct answer and an explanation for each. Topic: Learner's Permit and Licenses. Free, no account needed.

1. A 15-year-old wants to apply for a Pennsylvania learner's permit. What is the earliest age at which they can apply?

Answer: A — 16

An applicant cannot apply before turning 16.

2. How long before someone's 16th birthday can a health care provider complete the physical examination required for a learner's permit application?

6 months
12 months
3 months
9 months

Answer: A — 6 months

The physical exam can be completed no earlier than six months before the applicant's 16th birthday.

3. How long is a completed learner's permit application valid, counting from the date of the physical examination?

2 years
6 months
18 months
1 year

Answer: D — 1 year

The application is valid for one year from the physical examination date.

4. A 17-year-old applying for a learner's permit has a parent who cannot come to the Driver License Center to sign the required consent form. What must happen instead?

The applicant must wait until turning 18
An older sibling may sign in the parent's place
The requirement is waived if the applicant is over 16
The parent's signature must be notarized

Answer: D — The parent's signature must be notarized

If the consenting parent or guardian cannot come along, their signature must be notarized.

5. A 20-year-old applying for a first learner's permit needs to show proof of residency. How many separate documents are required?

Two
Three
One
Four

Answer: A — Two

An applicant over 18 must present two proofs of residency.

6. An applicant at the Driver License Center brings a photocopy of their birth certificate as proof of date of birth. Will this be accepted?

Yes, photocopies are accepted for proof of date of birth
Yes, if notarized
No, only original proof of date of birth and identity is accepted
Yes, if accompanied by a second photo ID

Answer: C — No, only original proof of date of birth and identity is accepted

Only original proof of date of birth and identity is accepted; photocopies are not.

7. What information does the law require on a license application to help prevent license fraud?

Fingerprints and a witness signature
Social Security number, height and eye color
Blood type and weight
Mother's maiden name

Answer: B — Social Security number, height and eye color

The law requires Social Security number, height and eye color to prevent fraud.

8. A 17-year-old wants ORGAN DONOR printed on their license at renewal. What is additionally required because they are under 18?

Written consent from a parent or guardian
A statement from their physician
Nothing, they can authorize it themselves
They must wait until turning 18

Answer: A — Written consent from a parent or guardian

Applicants under 18 need a parent's or guardian's written consent for the organ donor designation.

9. An applicant fails the standard vision test at the Driver License Center. What happens next?

They receive a form for an eye care professional to complete before continuing
They must reapply after one year
The application is denied outright
They are automatically restricted to daylight driving with no further testing

Answer: A — They receive a form for an eye care professional to complete before continuing

A failed vision test results in a Report of Eye Examination to be completed by an eye care professional.

10. A visitor enters the United States holding a valid foreign driver's license. How long may they drive on it in Pennsylvania?

6 months
Indefinitely as long as it remains valid at home
90 days
Up to one year from entering, or until the license expires, whichever comes first

Answer: D — Up to one year from entering, or until the license expires, whichever comes first

A foreign license is valid for up to one year from entry or until it expires, whichever is first.

11. Licenses issued by which countries transfer to a Pennsylvania license after only a vision test?

France, Germany, Korea and Taiwan
Mexico, Canada, the UK and Japan
Only Canada
Any country, as long as the visitor holds an international driving permit

Answer: A — France, Germany, Korea and Taiwan

France, Germany, Korea and Taiwan have reciprocity requiring only a vision test.

12. Someone moves to Pennsylvania and holds a valid driver's license from another state. Within how many days must they obtain a Pennsylvania license and surrender the old one?

30 days
180 days
90 days
60 days

Answer: D — 60 days

A new resident must get a Pennsylvania license and surrender the old one within 60 days of moving.

13. A licensed 20-year-old who is not a parent or guardian offers to supervise a permit holder under 18 during practice driving, seated in front. Is this allowed?

Yes, any licensed driver over 18 may supervise from the front seat
Yes, once a parent has signed the DL-180TD consent form
No, a supervising driver who is not a parent, guardian, person in loco parentis or spouse must be at least 21
No, only a parent or guardian may supervise

Answer: C — No, a supervising driver who is not a parent, guardian, person in loco parentis or spouse must be at least 21

A non-parent supervising driver must be at least 21; a parent, guardian, or spouse may supervise starting at 18.

14. What limits how many passengers a junior learner's permit holder may carry?

No more than two passengers under any circumstance
No more passengers than there are seat belts
No more than one passenger, unless family
No limit as long as a licensed adult supervises

Answer: B — No more passengers than there are seat belts

Drivers under 18 may never carry more passengers than seat belts.

15. A junior license holder wants to drive home at midnight from a late shift at their after-school job, without a parent present. Under what condition is this permitted?

Only on weekends
Never, junior license holders cannot drive between 11 p.m. and 5 a.m. under any circumstance
Only if driving fewer than 10 miles
Only if a notarized affidavit or certificate from the employer is kept with the license

Answer: D — Only if a notarized affidavit or certificate from the employer is kept with the license

Employment during restricted hours is allowed only with a notarized affidavit or certificate from the employer kept with the license.

16. A junior license holder who got their license two months ago wants to drive with two unrelated 16-year-old friends and no adult present. Is this allowed?

Yes, but only if the friends are also junior license holders
No, junior license holders may never carry passengers under 18 who are not immediate family
No, only one non-family passenger under 18 is allowed until six months have passed
Yes, up to three non-family passengers under 18 are always allowed

Answer: C — No, only one non-family passenger under 18 is allowed until six months have passed

Only one non-family passenger under 18 is allowed until the first six months pass, after which the limit rises to three.

17. A junior license holder accumulates six points on their driving record. What is the consequence?

A 30-day suspension
A written warning only
A mandatory 90-day suspension
Automatic downgrade to a learner's permit

Answer: C — A mandatory 90-day suspension

Six or more points triggers a mandatory 90-day suspension for a junior license holder.

18. A driver operates an 11,000-pound truck towing a 15,500-pound trailer. Which license class is required?

Class M
Class B
Class C
Class A

Answer: D — Class A

This combination exceeds 26,001 pounds with a towed vehicle over 10,000 pounds, requiring Class A.

19. A driver operates a large motor home weighing 30,000 pounds, with no trailer attached. Which license class applies?

Class B
Class A
Class M
Class C

Answer: A — Class B

A single vehicle over 26,000 pounds, such as a large motor home, requires Class B.

20. A Class C license holder wants to ride a motor-driven cycle with an automatic transmission and a 50 cc engine. Do they need a separate license?

Yes, a learner's permit for motorcycles is required first
No, but a special endorsement is needed
No, a Class C license already covers this vehicle
Yes, a Class M license is required

Answer: C — No, a Class C license already covers this vehicle

Any Class C holder may drive a motor-driven cycle with an automatic transmission of 50 cc or less.

21. Someone takes their motorcycle skills test on a motor-driven cycle instead of a full motorcycle. What restriction is added to their license?

A restriction limiting them to daylight hours
Restriction "8", no motorcycles
No restriction is added
Restriction "9", no two-wheeled motorcycles

Answer: B — Restriction "8", no motorcycles

Testing on a motor-driven cycle adds restriction "8", which excludes motorcycles.

22. A test-taker answers 14 of 18 questions correctly on the knowledge test. Do they pass?

Yes, that exceeds 75% correct
Yes, since more than half were correct
No, at least 15 correct answers are required
No, at least 16 correct answers are required

Answer: C — No, at least 15 correct answers are required

The knowledge test requires at least 15 correct answers out of 18.

23. During a road test, a driver parks in a space 24 feet long and 8 feet wide but needs four adjustments to get fully inside without touching a line or curb. Does this pass the parallel parking portion?

Yes, since the car ended up fully inside the space
No, because self-parking features are never allowed
No, more than three adjustments fails the maneuver
Yes, as long as no curb was touched

Answer: C — No, more than three adjustments fails the maneuver

Parallel parking must be completed in one attempt with no more than three adjustments.

24. A driver under 18 fails the road test. How long must they wait before retaking it?

Thirty days
Six months
Seven days
One day

Answer: C — Seven days

A driver under 18 who fails the road test must wait seven days to retake it.

25. A driver under 18 has already failed the road test twice on the same permit. How many total chances do they get per permit before it expires?

Four
Unlimited until age 18
Two
Three

Answer: D — Three

A permit holder gets three chances at the road test before the permit expires.