The Kentucky permit test, explained

The short answer

In Kentucky you take the written and vision tests with the Kentucky State Police from age 15, and you need at least 80 percent to pass the written test. A parent or legal guardian listed on your birth certificate signs the application, and the permit costs $15, or $18 as a REAL ID.

Source: Graduated Driver Licensing Program, Kentucky Transportation Cabinet

In Kentucky the State Police give the tests, and you book every written and road test with them.

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This text was written with AI help, checked against the Kentucky Transportation Cabinet’s DRIVE pages and approved by Fri Vei AS. Last updated .

Checked against the Kentucky Transportation Cabinet · Report a mistake

Drivoku is not connected to the Kentucky Transportation Cabinet (KYTC) or the Kentucky State Police (KSP). Every fact below links to the KYTC DRIVE page it comes from, checked on November 4, 2026.

The Kentucky permit test at a glance

Kentucky learner’s permit and written test
Minimum age15 (KYTC)
Number of questionsNot on the KYTC pages we read
Passing scoreAt least 80 percent
WhereA Kentucky State Police testing center, by appointment
Permit fee$15, or $18 as a REAL ID
Held forAt least 180 days, and until you are 16, before the intermediate license

How many questions are on the Kentucky permit test?

We could not find the number on the KYTC pages we read. The DRIVE page on graduated licensing says you must score at least 80 percent on the written test. You take it together with a vision test, and all written and road tests are booked with the Kentucky State Police. On test day you bring your documents to a regional office.

What to bring

From the DRIVE graduated licensing page:

  • A parent or legal guardian who is listed on your birth certificate, to sign the application.
  • Form TC 94-200, the Kentucky High School Compliance Verification Form, issued by your school.
  • The permit fee: $15, or $18 for a REAL ID.
  • Your identity documents. We have not checked KYTC’s document list, so read it on DRIVE before you go.

Rules for teen drivers in Kentucky

Kentucky, like every state, uses graduated driver licensing. From the DRIVE pages on graduated licensing and permit restrictions under 18:

  • With the permit: a licensed driver aged 21 or older sits in the front passenger seat at all times. At most one unrelated passenger under 20. No driving from midnight to 6 a.m. unless there is a good reason, such as an emergency, a school activity or work.
  • Before the intermediate license: hold the permit for at least 180 days, be at least 16, log at least 60 hours of supervised driving, 10 of them at night, and complete the required driver education course. A moving violation restarts the 180 days.
  • Full license: from 17, after 180 days with the intermediate license.

What Drivoku covers for Kentucky

Our free permit practice test and the questions below cover road rules and signs that apply in every state, with signs from the national sign manual. They do not cover Kentucky’s own laws; the Kentucky Driver’s Manual has those.

Practice five questions every state shares

Five shared road rules

Answer one question at a time. You see the answer and the reason after each one. Nothing you pick is saved or sent anywhere.

Question 1 of 5

  1. Right-of-way

    A car ahead has stopped at a marked crosswalk to let a pedestrian cross. You approach from behind, and the next lane is open. What must you do?

    • Pass in the open lane after sounding your horn
    • Pass slowly if the pedestrian is hidden from view
    • Wait behind the stopped car Right
    • Pass once your own lane appears clear

    The right answer is C: Wait behind the stopped car

    WhyNever overtake a vehicle stopped at a crosswalk to let a pedestrian cross.

    Source: UVC § 11-502(d) Pedestrians’ right of way in crosswalks (model law)

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  2. Speed and space

    On a clear, dry highway you drive so slowly that a long line of cars builds up behind you, though no hazard or law requires it. What does the law say?

    • You may drive any slow speed you choose
    • You must match the fastest car's speed
    • Do not block the normal flow of traffic Right
    • You must pull over and stop completely

    The right answer is C: Do not block the normal flow of traffic

    WhyDo not drive so slowly that you impede normal traffic, unless the slow speed is needed for safety or to obey the law.

    Source: UVC § 11-805 Minimum speed regulation (model law)

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  3. Lanes

    You are on a road with four lanes and two-way traffic, with a center line between the directions. When may you cross that center line?

    • To pass a slower car ahead of you
    • Whenever your side of the road is busy
    • To make a safe, permitted left turn into a driveway, alley, or private road Right
    • To use the oncoming lanes as a shortcut past traffic

    The right answer is C: To make a safe, permitted left turn into a driveway, alley, or private road

    WhyOn a four-lane two-way road, never drive left of center to pass; turning left into a driveway is allowed.

    Source: UVC § 11-301(c) Drive on right side of roadway - exceptions (model law)

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  4. Alcohol and drugs

    What happens when you mix alcohol with another drug before you drive?

    • They cancel each other's effects
    • Only the alcohol matters
    • There is no added risk
    • The effects can get stronger Right

    The right answer is D: The effects can get stronger

    WhyMixing alcohol with other drugs can amplify the impairing effects of each, making driving more dangerous.

    Source: NHTSA: Drug-Impaired Driving, Many Substances Can Impair Driving

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  5. Highways

    You are on a divided highway with a grassy median between the two roadways, and you miss your turn. What may you do?

    • Cross the median where the grass is low
    • Drive the wrong way briefly to an opening
    • Use the next crossover marked for emergency vehicles only
    • Continue to an opening or intersection where crossing is permitted, and turn only when safe Right

    The right answer is D: Continue to an opening or intersection where crossing is permitted, and turn only when safe

    WhyStay on your roadway until you reach a permitted crossing, and turn only when safe.

    Source: UVC § 11-311 Driving on divided highways (model law)

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45 free questions on this website and 379 in the app, checked against the MUTCD, the Uniform Vehicle Code and Texas law, with the reason for every answer. About the app

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Keep going with the 25-question permit practice test and the road signs quiz. Other states: permit test by state.

Common questions

What score do you need on the Kentucky permit test?

At least 80 percent on the written test.

Where do you take the Kentucky permit test?

With the Kentucky State Police. All written and road tests are booked with them.

How much is a learner’s permit in Kentucky?

$15, or $18 as a REAL ID.

How many hours of practice do you need in Kentucky?

At least 60 hours of supervised driving, 10 of them at night, before the intermediate license.

Sources

(2)
  1. Graduated Driver Licensing Program, Kentucky Transportation Cabinet
  2. Under 18 permit restrictions, Kentucky Transportation Cabinet