The Florida DMV test, and how to pass it
Also for CDL: air brakes and combination. Both are federal, so they are the same test in every state.
The Florida Class E knowledge exam is 50 multiple-choice questions and you need 40 correct to pass, which is 80 percent. Both figures are published by the Florida Department of Highway Safety and Motor Vehicles and were last checked in September 2026.
Source: FLHSMV, Class E Knowledge Exam and Driving Skills Test, checked September 9, 2026. FLHSMV.
The format, and where each number comes from
| Questions | 50FLHSMV, Class E Knowledge Exam and Driving Skills Test, checked September 9, 2026 |
| Correct to pass | 40FLHSMV, Class E Knowledge Exam and Driving Skills Test, checked September 9, 2026 |
| Pass mark | 80%FLHSMV, Class E Knowledge Exam and Driving Skills Test, checked September 9, 202640 out of 50 is exactly 80 percent, so the two figures agree. That is not true in every state. |
| Learner permit age | 15 for a Class E learner licence; 16 for a full Class E licenceFlorida Statutes s. 322.1615(1) and s. 322.05(1), checked September 9, 2026 |
| Supervised hours | 50 hours, of which at least 10 must be at nightFLHSMV graduated licensing requirements, checked September 9, 2026Certified by a parent, legal guardian or other responsible licensed adult aged 21 or over. |
| Retakes | No published waiting period and no published cap on attemptsFlorida Statutes s. 322.12(1); FLHSMV Class E Knowledge Exam page, checked September 9, 2026What the statute does fix is the fee: a re-examination carries a charge, so retakes cost money rather than time. |
What Florida asks that other states do not
Florida writes a subject quota into law: at least 25 questions in the Class E bank must address bicycle and pedestrian safety, which no other state does. Around that sit rules that are genuinely local. A helmet is optional at 21 and over, but only with at least $10,000 in medical coverage, and eye protection stays mandatory for everyone. Drivers under 21 face a 0.02 alcohol limit and a six month suspension rather than the 0.08 that applies to adults. Curfews are set by exact age, 11 p.m. to 6 a.m. at 16 and 1 a.m. to 5 a.m. at 17. The minimum insurance is $10,000 of personal injury protection plus $10,000 of property damage, with no bodily injury liability required at all, which surprises drivers arriving from other states.
| Alcohol limit under 21 | 0.02, six month suspension |
| Helmet | Optional at 21+ with $10,000 medical cover |
| Passing a bicycle | At least 3 feet |
| Minimum insurance | $10,000 PIP plus $10,000 property damage |
| Points | 12 in 12 months brings a 30 day suspension |
Our Florida paper carries 30 questions on rules like these, plus 70 on the parts that do not change between states, such as federal sign shapes and right of way.
What the exam covers
These are the sections of the Official Florida Driver License Handbook, revision 08/2023 that the knowledge exam is drawn from, in the handbook’s own order.
- Your driving privilege. Licence classes, permit rules, points, suspensions and what Florida can take away.
- Before you drive: you. Alcohol and drugs, implied consent, zero tolerance under 21, tiredness and distraction.
- Before you drive: your vehicle. Insurance minimums, equipment the law requires, bumper heights and vehicle condition.
- Traffic controls. Signs, signals and markings, including turning on red and what each colour means.
- Driving safety. Speed limits, following distance, lights, seat belts, child restraints and phones.
- Special driving situations. Parking rules, school zones, curfews, golf carts and Florida weather.
- Handling emergencies. Crashes, breakdowns, the Move Over law and what the law requires you to do.
- Sharing the road. Cyclists, pedestrians, motorcycles, mopeds, school buses and large vehicles.
Source: Official Florida Driver License Handbook, revision 08/2023. Read the official handbook.
Common questions
How many questions are on the Florida permit test?
The Florida Class E knowledge exam has 50 questions and you need 40 correct to pass.
How old do you have to be to get a learner permit in Florida?
15 for a Class E learner licence; 16 for a full Class E licence.
How many supervised driving hours does Florida require?
50 hours, of which at least 10 must be at night. Certified by a parent, legal guardian or other responsible licensed adult aged 21 or over.
How many times can you retake the Florida permit test?
No published waiting period and no published cap on attempts. What the statute does fix is the fee: a re-examination carries a charge, so retakes cost money rather than time.
Other states: all US permit practice tests.
Sources: Florida Department of Highway Safety and Motor Vehicles; Official Florida Driver License Handbook, revision 08/2023. Checked 9 September 2026. Original practice questions, not the official examination questions, and not affiliated with or endorsed by FLHSMV.