The Delaware knowledge test has 30 questions and you need 24 correct (80%) to pass. Ten of those 30 are road sign questions, so a third of your score rides on signs alone. This free practice test pulls 30 questions at random from our Delaware bank, explains every answer as you go, and lists everything you missed at the end. No sign-up, no payment, unlimited retakes.
Delaware Permit Practice Test
What the real Delaware test looks like
Delaware issues permits through the Division of Motor Vehicles. The knowledge test is taken in person and is computer based, alongside a vision screening.
- Questions: 30 multiple choice
- Passing score: 24 correct, or 80%
- Signs questions: 10 of the 30
- Minimum age: 16, which is a year older than many states
- Source material: the official Delaware Driver Manual
The test covers highway signs, traffic signals, pavement markings, rules of the road, motor vehicle law and safe driving practice.
A third of the test is signs
This is the most useful thing to know about the Delaware exam and almost nobody tells you. Ten of the thirty questions are signs. That is 10 marks available from a section you can learn completely in an afternoon, because the shape and color system is logical rather than something you have to memorize one sign at a time.
Get all ten and you only need 14 of the remaining 20 to pass. Lose five of them and you are already close to failing before you reach the road rules.
Driving in Delaware is not one thing
Delaware is small but the driving varies more than you would expect, and the manual reflects it.
In the north you have Wilmington city traffic and the I-95 corridor, one of the busiest stretches of highway on the east coast, with heavy merging, tight interchanges and constant lane changes. In the south you have Sussex County farm roads with slow-moving agricultural equipment. In between, the summer beach run to Rehoboth and Dewey turns Route 1 into a queue for months. The exam asks about merging, following distance, passing and right of way partly because all of them show up in daily Delaware driving.
Before you go to the DMV
Some Delaware requirements are reported differently by different sources, so it is worth checking rather than trusting any study site, including this one.
What is consistent: applicants under 18 must complete a certified Delaware driver education course, need a parent or guardian present to sign, and must log 50 hours of supervised driving including 10 at night before the road test. You will need proof of identity, legal presence, your Social Security number and two documents proving Delaware residency. Initial permits cannot be applied for online.
If you fail
Delaware is stricter than most states here. Rather than coming back the next business day, you are commonly required to wait ten days before retaking the knowledge test. Confirm the current rule at your office, but plan on the assumption that a failure costs you a week and a half rather than a day.
That is a good reason to be genuinely ready rather than optimistic. Aim for 90% or better in practice before you book.
Frequently asked questions
How many questions are on the Delaware permit test?
30 multiple choice questions, of which 10 are road signs. You need 24 correct to pass.
How old do I have to be?
16 for a Level One Learner's Permit. Delaware does not issue permits at 15, unlike several neighboring states.
Is there a time limit?
No time limit is imposed on the knowledge test, so read each question properly rather than rushing.
Is this practice test free?
Yes. No account, no email, no payment, unlimited retakes.
Since a third of the real exam is signs, drill that section separately with the Delaware road signs test.
For requirements, documents, age rules and the full Delaware process, see our Delaware permit guide.
Disclaimer: Pass The Permit is an independent study resource and is not affiliated with, endorsed by, or connected to the Delaware Division of Motor Vehicles or any government agency. These are original practice questions, not actual exam questions. Always confirm current requirements with the official Delaware Driver Manual and the Delaware DMV.