Guide · Permit
The Arizona permit test, with practice questions
Everything about the written test for an Arizona instruction permit, and 15 practice questions built from the official driver manual.
The test in one minute
- 30 multiple-choice questions. You need 80% to pass, so at least 24 right.
- Minimum age 15½ for an instruction permit.
- Two ways to take it. Under-18s can take it at home through a parent or guardian’s AZ MVD Now account, or through a participating Arizona professional driving school. Anyone can take it on a touchscreen at an MVD office: 7:30 a.m. to 4:45 p.m., Monday to Friday, with no appointment. Offices don’t test on state holidays or the second Wednesday of each month.
- Fee: $7 for the permit application.
- Eleven languages, including English and Spanish. An audio version is available on request.
- After you pass, MVD checks your vision and takes your photo at an office before issuing the permit.
What to study
Everything on the test comes from the Arizona Driver License Manual. Read the sections on traffic signs, signals, right-of-way, speed limits, parking and sharing the road. Then take ADOT’s official practice tests until you pass them comfortably.
Practice questions
Try to answer each one before you open it. Every answer comes from the Arizona manual.
1 What is the speed limit when approaching a school crosswalk?
15 mph.
2 Unless posted otherwise, what is the speed limit in a business or residential district?
25 mph.
3 How close to a fire hydrant may you park?
No closer than 15 feet.
4 How close to a crosswalk at an intersection may you park?
No closer than 20 feet.
5 How close to a railroad crossing may you park?
No closer than 50 feet.
6 When you must stop for a train, how far from the nearest track should you stop?
No closer than 15 feet.
7 How far before a turn should you signal?
At least 100 feet, about 4 seconds.
8 A school bus ahead has its stop arm out and red lights flashing. What do you do?
Stop before reaching the bus, whichever direction you’re traveling. (There is an exception for divided roadways; learn it in the manual.)
9 What does a flashing red light mean?
The same as a stop sign: stop fully, then go when the way is clear.
10 What does a flashing yellow arrow mean?
You may turn, but slow down and yield: oncoming traffic and pedestrians still have the right-of-way.
11 Two cars reach a four-way stop at about the same time. Who goes first?
Both stop; the driver on the left yields to the driver on the right.
12 What following distance does the Arizona manual recommend?
Use the 3–6 second rule: at least three seconds behind the vehicle ahead, more in bad conditions.
13 You pass a vehicle with flashing lights stopped on the shoulder. What does Arizona’s move-over law require?
Move over one lane if you can safely do so; if you can’t, slow down.
14 Can you hold your phone while driving in Arizona?
No. Holding or supporting a wireless device while driving is illegal; hands-free and voice-to-text use is allowed.
15 A 6-year-old who is 4 feet tall is riding with you. What restraint do they need?
A child restraint system (such as a booster). Children 5 to 8 need one until they are at least 4 feet 9 inches tall.
After you pass: permit rules
- The permit is valid for 12 months.
- A licensed driver aged 21 or older must sit beside you whenever you drive.
- Teens must hold the permit for 6 months (or until 18) before getting a license.
- Before the license, a parent or guardian certifies 30 hours of supervised practice, 10 at night. That drops to 20 hours, 6 at night, after a driver education program, which also waives the road test. See driving lessons & behind-the-wheel training.
Next step: the Arizona driving test.
Rules checked against ADOT’s permit test page, teen permit and license rules, the Arizona Driver License Manual in September 2026. Courts and MVD can change fees and procedures; confirm with them before you pay for anything.
Common questions
- How many questions are on the Arizona permit test?
- 30 multiple-choice questions. You need 80%, so at least 24 correct, to pass.
- Can I take the Arizona permit test online at home?
- If you’re under 18, yes: through a parent or guardian’s AZ MVD Now account, with the parent supervising, or through a participating professional driving school. Otherwise you take it at an MVD office.
- How old do you have to be for a permit in Arizona?
- At least 15 years and 6 months.
- How much is an Arizona instruction permit?
- $7.
Driving schools that can help
Lessons, test prep and road tests across the Valley. See all driving lesson schools.
Jacob’s Driving & Traffic School
15255 N 40th St Suite 155 · Phoenix