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Idaho Permit Study Guide

Taking the Idaho DMV permit test does not have to be intimidating.  Read this study guide, and take the permit practice test to help make the process easy.

Idaho requires anyone who drives on its roads to hold a license. Residents of the state must be at least 15 years old to receive a learner's permit, which they can earn by passing the written knowledge test.  Applicants will want to read and study the official Idaho Driver's Manual. It is filled with vital information every driver must learn before getting behind the wheel, and that will be found on the permit test.

Taking the Written Test

Idaho's written driving test is 40 questions long, and applicants may miss no more than six questions to get a passing grade. Since the passing score is 85%, many people do not pass on the first try. Thus, it is even more crucial to be prepared by studying for the test.  The state doesn't allow any type of guides or written cheat sheets during the test.

A failing grade on the written skills test means that a teen must wait at least three days to take the test again. Test takers must pay a separate fee each time they attempt the written test.

Required Knowledge for the Written Test

Idaho tests its new drivers on a variety of common details of driving that include traffic laws, highway signs, traffic signals, pavement markings and standard vehicle equipment.  The state driver’s manual is the ultimate study tool for both the written test and the driving skills test.  Applicants should read the state manual in its entirety, however there are certain sections of particular importance to test takers.

  • First off, new drivers need to understand the rules surrounding the instruction permit (section 1-3) for which they are applying, as well as the Graduated Driver’s License program (section 1-4).
  • Otherwise, most of the knowledge test deals with actual traffic laws, safe driving strategies and driving situations.  Therefore applicants will want to pay particular attention to Chapter 2 on Traffic Laws
  • There will be questions on the knowledge test asking to identify road signs by shape and color, so read Chapter 3 thoroughly.
  • Chapters 4-7 provide lots of information on safe driving strategies that all drivers should know.  Reading through these chapters will help applicants pass the test, and become safer drivers.
  • The Idaho knowledge test also asks about required equipment for a vehicle, so know the information in Chapter 9 as well.

Other chapters are mostly administrative in nature, and not as likely to be found on the knowledge test.

The manual features valuable study questions at the end of each chapter to help drivers retain vital information. Applicants shouldn't take the written test until they can answer all of the study questions correctly.  The online Idaho permit practice test will also help test takers get a feel for how the test questions are structured, as well as the type of questions that will be on the actual knowledge test.

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Review Your Handbook

Idaho Driver Handbooks & Manuals

Before you take a practice test make sure you've reviewed the Idaho drivers handbook. You will be tested on this content!