Test Info
Can You Take the Permit Test Online? State-by-State List (2026)
5 min readFact-checked against official state and federal sources
Reviewed by Chad HenryAfter 25 years of teaching driver education
Short answer: it depends on your state
A growing number of states let you take the permit knowledge test at home, but most still require you to test in person, and the online states nearly always attach conditions: an age limit, an approved third-party provider, a webcam proctor, or a cap on attempts. The table below is built from each state agency's own website.
| State | Online test? | Details |
|---|---|---|
| Alabama | No | The knowledge test must be taken in person. |
| Alaska | Yes | An online knowledge test option is available. |
| Arizona | Yes | An online knowledge test option is available. |
| Arkansas | No | The knowledge test must be taken in person. |
| California | No | The knowledge test must be taken in person. |
| Colorado | Not published - ask the DMV | |
| Connecticut | No | The knowledge test must be taken in person. |
| Delaware | No | The knowledge test must be taken in person. |
| Florida | Not published - ask the DHSMV | |
| Georgia | No | The knowledge test must be taken in person. |
| Hawaii | Yes | An online knowledge test option is available. |
| Idaho | No | The knowledge test must be taken in person. |
| Illinois | No | The knowledge test must be taken in person. |
| Indiana | No | The knowledge test must be taken in person. |
| Iowa | Partially | Online testing is available only in some cases (see the official site). |
| Kansas | Yes | An online knowledge test option is available. |
| Kentucky | No | The knowledge test must be taken in person. |
| Louisiana | No | The knowledge test must be taken in person. |
| Maine | No | The knowledge test must be taken in person. |
| Maryland | No | The knowledge test must be taken in person. |
| Massachusetts | Yes | An online knowledge test option is available. |
| Michigan | Partially | Online testing is available only in some cases (see the official site). |
| Minnesota | Partially | Online testing is available only in some cases (see the official site). |
| Mississippi | No | The knowledge test must be taken in person. |
| Missouri | No | The knowledge test must be taken in person. |
| Montana | No | The knowledge test must be taken in person. |
| Nebraska | No | The knowledge test must be taken in person. |
| Nevada | Yes | An online knowledge test option is available. |
| New Hampshire | No | The knowledge test must be taken in person. |
| New Jersey | No | The knowledge test must be taken in person. |
| New Mexico | Not published - ask the MVD | |
| New York | Yes | An online knowledge test option is available. |
| North Carolina | No | The knowledge test must be taken in person. |
| North Dakota | Yes | An online knowledge test option is available. |
| Ohio | Yes | An online knowledge test option is available. |
| Oklahoma | Yes | An online knowledge test option is available. |
| Oregon | Yes | An online knowledge test option is available. |
| Pennsylvania | No | The knowledge test must be taken in person. |
| Rhode Island | Not published - ask the DMV | |
| South Carolina | Not published - ask the DMV | |
| South Dakota | No | The knowledge test must be taken in person. |
| Tennessee | Partially | Online testing is available only in some cases (see the official site). |
| Texas | Partially | Online testing is available only in some cases (see the official site). |
| Utah | No | The knowledge test must be taken in person. |
| Vermont | Yes | An online knowledge test option is available. |
| Virginia | No | The knowledge test must be taken in person. |
| Washington | No | The knowledge test must be taken in person. |
| West Virginia | Yes | An online knowledge test option is available. |
| Wisconsin | Partially | Online testing is available only in some cases (see the official site). |
| Wyoming | Not published - ask the DOT |
What "partially" usually means
Where a state is marked *Partially*, online testing exists but not for everyone. The common patterns are:
- Teens only, through driver education - the driver-ed provider gives the knowledge test as part of the course.
- Adults only - some states offer an online test to applicants 18 and older and route teens through driver's ed.
- Limited attempts - several states allow only one or two online attempts before you must test in person.
Rules that apply to almost every online test
- You usually still visit the agency afterwards. In most states passing online does not give you a permit by itself; you still go in person for identity documents, a vision screening and the photo.
- A parent is often required to supervise or certify an online test for applicants under 18.
- No notes, no second screen. Many online tests are proctored through your webcam, and breaking the rules can void your result.
Prepare the same way either way
The questions are the same online and in person - they all come from the state handbook. Practise with a free state practice test until you are scoring well above the pass mark, and if you like studying on paper, download the free PDF for your state.
How many questions you can miss in every state · What to bring to the permit test