North Dakota DMV Guide: Permit, License, and Road Test
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Fourteen-year-olds can begin the licensing journey in North Dakota, one of the earliest starting points in the country. The North Dakota Department of Transportation (NDDOT) runs the program, pairing that young entry age with a graduated structure that expands privileges as experience builds. Here is how eligibility, paperwork, testing, and the supervised phase fit together.
Driver license sites across the state differ in hours and scheduling, and fees and document rules get updated, so consult the NDDOT website or your nearest site before making the drive. In a state where the next office can sit many miles down the highway, confirming details first is worth the effort.
14
Permit age
25
Test questions
20 (80%)
To pass
$15
Permit fee
Step by step: getting your North Dakota permit
Step 1: Make sure you are old enough
The instruction permit becomes available at 14 in North Dakota. Starting that young places you squarely in the graduated driver license program, where moving up depends on your age, accumulated supervised practice, and in many cases a driver education course.
Step 2: Handle driver education if it applies
Most applicants on the younger side need to finish, or be signed up for, an approved driver education course. The blend of classroom material and guided wheel time builds a base for the written exam and for what North Dakota roads actually serve up, from strong wind to gravel surfaces.
Step 3: Prepare your documents
Plan to verify your identity, your Social Security number, and a North Dakota address. Applicants under 18 should arrive with a parent or guardian ready to sign. Sort out early whether you want the standard credential or the federally compliant version, as each carries its own checklist.
- A record establishing identity and birth date, such as a birth certificate or a passport
- Confirmation of your Social Security number
- Evidence of a North Dakota address
- A parent or guardian on hand to sign for applicants under 18
Step 4: Take the knowledge test and eye check
The written portion contains 25 questions, with 20 correct, or 80 percent, required to pass. An eyesight screening accompanies it. Drilling sample questions before the appointment means the wording feels routine when the real exam starts.
Step 5: Pay the fee and pick up your permit
Clear both tests, cover the permit fee, and the NDDOT issues your instruction permit. It allows practice driving alongside a qualified supervising adult, which is how you bank the hours the next stage calls for.
What the permit phase looks like
Supervised practice is the entire point of the permit period. North Dakota's graduated program sets a holding period and a target for supervised hours, some after dark, before the road test unlocks the next stage. Make the hours count: long, lightly traveled highways are ideal for building speed management and lane discipline, but seek out city traffic as well so congestion never rattles you later.
Tips for North Dakota new drivers
Wind is a serious variable on the open plains. Learn how a strong crosswind pushes a vehicle around and how to correct smoothly, especially when passing trucks. Winter demands its own apprenticeship, so practice on ice and packed snow with a calm adult beside you, and stock the car with an emergency kit from fall through spring. Be patient behind farm machinery on rural routes and pass only with generous sight lines. Keep the permit with you on every trip and honor each passenger and nighttime restriction your stage imposes.
North Dakota permit and test fees
$15
Learner's permit issuance fee. The knowledge test is a separate $5 per attempt, so the typical first-time total is $20, plus a $5 road test fee later.
Retest: $5 per knowledge test attempt, one attempt allowed per day
Verified in the NDDOT FAQ on the learner's permit page: Knowledge Test $5 per attempt (one attempt per day), Permit $15, Road Test $5. The knowledge test can be taken online through the KnowToDrive program or in person at a Driver License Site. Applicants under 18 need a sponsor's signature.
North Dakota permit restrictions and supervised driving
While you hold the permit
Supervised practice: 50 hours of supervised practice driving in variable conditions (for permit holders age 14-15 who received a permit on or after January 1, 2012)
Hold period: Applicants age 14-15 must hold a learner's permit at least one year; applicants age 16-17 must hold it at least 6 months before full licensure
- Must be accompanied by a supervising driver in the front seat
- May not operate an electronic communication device while driving
- May not have more passengers than the vehicle is designed to carry
- Permit holders under 16 may operate only a vehicle owned by a close relative unless using a dual-control vehicle with a licensed driver trainer
After you upgrade (provisional/intermediate)
- On a restricted Class D license (issued at 15), no driving between sunset or 9 p.m. (whichever is later) and 5 a.m.
- The night limit does not apply when a licensed driver is in the front seat
- The night limit does not apply when driving directly to or from work, an official school activity, or a religious activity
- Drivers under 18 who accumulate six or more points have the permit or license cancelled
Restriction details change. Confirm current rules with the North Dakota Department of Transportation.
North Dakota road test requirements
The state road test evaluates the applicant's ability to safely operate and control the vehicle and follow the rules of the road before full licensure.
What to bring
- Valid North Dakota learner's permit
- Proof of completion of an approved driver education course (for ages 14-15)
- Sponsor or parent signature for applicants under 18
- A properly registered and insured vehicle
Vehicle requirements
- Vehicle must be registered and insured
- Vehicle must be in safe operating condition for the road test
North Dakota driver handbook summary
North Dakota allows a restricted Class D license at age 15 and full licensing at age 16. Younger applicants (ages 14-15) must complete a formal driver education course, hold a learner's permit for a year, and log 50 hours of practice driving in varied conditions, while 16-17 year olds hold the permit at least 6 months. Restricted license holders face a night driving limit tied to sunset or 9 p.m., with exceptions for work, school, and religious activities.
Practice for the North Dakota test
The fastest way to pass is to rehearse real test format. Our North Dakota questions are balanced across the categories the NDDOT tests.
Find a NDDOT office in North Dakota
Most permits are issued in person. Find your nearest NDDOT location before you go, and check whether you need an appointment.
Map results come from Google and may include third-party services. Always confirm the office location, hours, and whether an appointment is required on the official NDDOT website before visiting.
Official North Dakota sources
North Dakota licensing FAQ
How much does the North Dakota permit cost?
$15. Learner's permit issuance fee. The knowledge test is a separate $5 per attempt, so the typical first-time total is $20, plus a $5 road test fee later. Verified in the NDDOT FAQ on the learner's permit page: Knowledge Test $5 per attempt (one attempt per day), Permit $15, Road Test $5. The knowledge test can be taken online through the KnowToDrive program or in person at a Driver License Site. Applicants under 18 need a sponsor's signature. See the full North Dakota fee breakdown and official source on our permit cost page.
What score do I need to pass the North Dakota written test?
The North Dakota knowledge test has 25 questions and you must answer 20 correctly (80%) to pass.
How many supervised driving hours does North Dakota require?
50 hours of supervised practice driving in variable conditions (for permit holders age 14-15 who received a permit on or after January 1, 2012). Confirm the current requirement and any logging rules with the North Dakota Department of Transportation.
How early can I get a North Dakota permit?
Generally at 14. Confirm current rules through the North Dakota Department of Transportation.
What documents are required?
Identity verification, Social Security confirmation, evidence of a North Dakota address, and a guardian's signature for applicants under 18.
Do I need to pass a test?
Yes, a written exam of 25 questions and an eyesight screening.
What will the permit cost?
Your local driver license site can tell you the current fee amount.