About the West Virginia DMV written test
The West Virginia knowledge test (often searched as the West Virginia permit test) checks that new drivers understand road signs, traffic laws and safe driving habits before getting a learner's permit. The questions come from the official West Virginia driver handbook published by the West Virginia Division of Motor Vehicles.
West Virginia applicants for a learner's permit take a knowledge test based on the West Virginia Drivers Licensing Handbook, and teens under 18 enter the three-level Graduated Driver Licensing program. This page offers practice questions built around West Virginia's own speed limits, parking distances, point rules and teen driving restrictions.
West Virginia permit test quick facts
- Minimum permit age
- You can get a Level 1 GDL instruction permit at age 15; applicants 18 or older who have never been licensed use a regular Class E instruction permit that is valid for 180 days.
- Vision screening
- You need at least 20/40 vision in one eye.
- Permit fee
- The knowledge test costs $7.50 per attempt, and the Level 1 permit itself has a $0 permit fee.
- Adult BAC limit
- 0.08% for drivers 21 and older; 0.02% for drivers under 21.
- Seat belt law
- Drivers, front-seat passengers and back-seat passengers under 18 must buckle up; children under 8 need a child restraint unless they are at least 4 feet 9 inches tall.
Rules and fees change. Confirm current details with the West Virginia Division of Motor Vehicles before you test.
What West Virginia drivers should know
- School zones: 15 mph during arrival, dismissal and recess; the zone extends 125 feet beyond school property.
- Stop 15 to 50 feet from the nearest rail at a railroad crossing when required to stop.
- Give bicyclists at least 3 feet of clearance when passing.
- Level 1 and Level 2 GDL drivers may not use a wireless device while driving, except to call 9-1-1.
- 12 points makes a license subject to suspension; points stay for 2 years.
Topics covered in our West Virginia practice tests
- Road signs and signals: shapes, colors, pavement markings and traffic lights.
- Rules of the road: right-of-way, speed, turns, passing, parking and school zones.
- Safe driving: following distance, night and weather driving, distractions and emergencies.
- Alcohol and drugs: impaired driving, BAC and penalties.
- Sharing the road: pedestrians, bicycles, motorcycles and large trucks.
How to pass the West Virginia permit test
- Read the official West Virginia driver handbook, paying close attention to numbers (distances, speeds, BAC limits).
- Take Practice Test 1 in study mode and read every explanation.
- Work through Tests 2 to 5, then the topic tests for your weakest areas.
- Use the Exam Simulator and aim for 80% or higher on several attempts in a row.
- Bring the documents your state requires and book your test with the DMV.