New Jersey permit test: 50 questions, 40 to pass

Drivoku is not connected to the New Jersey Motor Vehicle Commission (MVC). Every fact below links to the MVC page it comes from, checked on November 3, 2026.

The New Jersey permit test at a glance

New Jersey permit and knowledge test
Minimum age	16 for a special learner’s permit, if you are enrolled in a behind-the-wheel driver training course (MVC)
Number of questions	50 (MVC)
Passing score	40 of 50, or 80 percent
Where	An MVC testing center, by appointment through the NJ MVC portal, with a vision test (MVC). On the special learner’s permit at 16 you take the knowledge test at your driving school (MVC)
If you fail	Retest in 7 days
Supervised driving	6 months (3 if you are over 21), and for under-21s at least 50 hours, 10 in darkness
Time limit	2 years from the permit to finish the steps to a probationary license

How many questions are on the New Jersey permit test?

Fifty. The MVC says that in a testing center you get 50 questions and must answer 40 of them correctly, which is 80 percent (MVC sample knowledge test). You can miss 10. The MVC’s online sample test is shorter, so do not judge your readiness by its length alone. Study the New Jersey Driver Manual, which the MVC recommends.

If you fail, you can retest in 7 days (MVC: first license).

What to bring

The MVC’s first license page links its 6 Point ID Verification flyer, which lists the documents it accepts. Use it to pick your documents before the appointment.

From permit to license in New Jersey

New Jersey, like every state, uses graduated driver licensing. From the MVC’s first license page:

Get your permit by appointment. From then on you have 2 years to reach the probationary license, or you need a new permit.
Pass the knowledge and vision tests.
On the special learner’s permit at 16, first complete 6 hours of behind-the-wheel lessons with a licensed driving instructor in a dual-control car; the MVC then validates the permit for practice driving (MVC: young adult drivers).
Practice with a supervising driver aged 21 or older who has a valid New Jersey license and at least 3 years of driving experience, and who sits in the front seat. Only one other passenger may ride, unless a parent or guardian is in the car. Phones and other wireless devices are banned, even hands-free.
Under 21: drive at least 50 hours, 10 of them in darkness, and bring form BA-CSD signed by a parent, guardian or supervising driver. The MVC began this rule for permits issued on or after February 1, 2025 (MVC news release).
Take the road test after 6 months of supervised driving (3 months if you are over 21). If you fail, retest in 14 days. You cannot get the license before you are 17.
Drive on the probationary license for one year without supervision, then upgrade to a basic license online.

What Drivoku covers for New Jersey

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. New Jersey’s own laws and the details of its permits are not in our questions, so read the New Jersey Driver Manual as well.

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

Distraction

You drop something on the floor while driving. What should you do?
- Wait to pick it up until you stop safely Right
- Reach down quickly while watching the road
- Look down and grab it in one quick move
- Stop in the middle of the lane to get it
The right answer is A: Wait to pick it up until you stop safely

WhyWait to retrieve a dropped object until you can pull over and stop safely; reaching distracts you.

Source: NHTSA: Distracted Driving, What Is Distracted Driving?

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Seat belts and child safety

Every rear seat in your car allows a correct car-seat installation. Which spot is unsafe for a rear-facing child safety seat?
- The middle seat in the back row
- Front seat, facing an active air bag Right
- Behind the driver's seat
- Beside a rear-side window
The right answer is B: Front seat, facing an active air bag

WhyA rear-facing seat must never go in front of an active air bag, whose force can seriously injure a child.

Source: NHTSA: Air Bags, The Topic — Protection

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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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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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Traffic signals

A steady green arrow points left while the circular light is red. A pedestrian is still crossing directly in your intended turning path. What must you do?
- Turn left now; the arrow gives you the right-of-way
- Turn left and stop inside the crosswalk
- Go straight instead, since the arrow is on
- Yield to the pedestrian, then turn when safe and permitted Right
The right answer is D: Yield to the pedestrian, then turn when safe and permitted

WhyA green arrow allows the left turn, but you must still yield to pedestrians in the crosswalk.

Source: MUTCD Section 4A.03 Meanings of Steady Vehicular Signal Indications

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Your topics

SignsKnow it
Learner and provisional licensesOn the way
Right-of-wayStamped

Each topic's level is free in the app. Pro lets you practice every topic as much as you want.

In the app, questions you miss come back until you get them right. 5 questions a day are free.

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

Out now on iPhone and Android.

Then take the 25-question permit practice test and the road signs quiz, and check how many you can miss in other states on the pass mark page.

Common questions

How many questions can you miss on the New Jersey permit test?

Ten. The test has 50 questions and you need 40 right.

Can you get a permit at 16 in New Jersey?

Yes, a special learner’s permit, if you are enrolled in a behind-the-wheel driver training course.

How many practice hours does a New Jersey permit holder need?

Under 21, at least 50 hours, 10 of them in darkness, certified on form BA-CSD. It applies to permits issued on or after February 1, 2025.

How soon can you retake the New Jersey knowledge test?

After 7 days.

Sources

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The New Jersey permit test, explained