North Dakota Permit Test Cheat Sheet (2026)

The North Dakota rules and numbers to know for the DOT knowledge test, on one page. Every line was checked against the official North Dakota driver's handbook. It is a study sheet: you cannot use notes during the real test.

The North Dakota test at a glance

Questions on the test
Not published by the DOT
To pass
a pass mark the DOT does not publish (our practice tests use 80%)
Time limit
We found no published time limit for the North Dakota knowledge test.
Minimum permit age
14 years old
Hold the permit for
12 months if starting at age 14 (NDDOT: hold a valid learner's permit at least one year; 6 months only for permits issued before Jan 1, 2012)
Alcohol limit under 21
0.02% BAC

North Dakota rules and numbers

From the official North Dakota handbook (2025-2027); PDF page numbers in brackets.

Road signs

  • Slow-moving vehicle sign: vehicle goes 25 mph or less. [p.16]

Rules of the road

  • North Dakota: 55 mph default on gravel and two-lane county or township roads. [p.24]
  • North Dakota: residents can get a restricted license at age 15. [p.10]
  • Rural Interstate: 80 mph maximum unless posted otherwise. [p.24]
  • Paved divided multi-lane highway: 70 mph unless posted otherwise. [p.24]
  • Business or residential district: 25 mph unless posted otherwise. [p.24]
  • Railroad crossing with a blocked view of the track: 20 mph maximum. [p.24]
  • Passing a school at recess or arrival/dismissal times: 20 mph. [p.24]
  • No parking within 10 feet of a fire hydrant. [p.30]
  • No parking on or within 10 feet of a crosswalk at an intersection. [p.30]
  • No parking within 15 feet of a stop sign, flashing beacon, or signal. [p.30]
  • Parallel parking: wheels within one foot of the right-hand curb. [p.29]
  • Buses and fuel trucks stop 15 to 50 feet from railroad tracks. [p.22]
  • Finish passing at least 200 feet before meeting oncoming traffic. [p.25]
  • No passing within 100 feet of an intersection, railroad crossing, or tunnel. [p.25]
  • No U-turns near a hilltop or curve where you cannot see 500 feet. [p.24]
  • Stopped school bus: wait until it moves, the driver waves you on, or lights stop. [p.24]
  • Stranded car with hazards on Interstate: move to a non-adjacent lane or slow down. [p.36]
  • Driving onto an officially closed road: $250 fine. [p.31]
  • Report crashes with injury, death, or $4,000+ combined damage. [p.31]
  • Work zone speeding with workers present: $80 minimum fee. [p.17]
  • Passing a bicyclist: leave at least 3 feet. [p.37]
  • Permit supervisor: licensed, age 18+, with 3+ years of driving experience. [p.7]
  • Restricted license at 15: supervised from sunset or 9 p.m. (later) to 5 a.m. [p.10]
  • 12 or more points on your record leads to license suspension. [p.44]

Safe driving & emergencies

  • North Dakota: texting while driving is banned for all drivers; $100 fine. [source]
  • North Dakota: Class D drivers under 18 may not use a phone while moving. [source]
  • Stuck on tracks: get out, walk toward the train and away at a 45-degree angle. [p.22]
  • Dim high beams 500 feet before meeting traffic; 300 feet when following. [p.29]
  • Use headlights when weather cuts visibility below 1,000 feet. [p.28]
  • Studded snow tires are allowed October 15 to April 15. [p.32]
  • Under 8: car seat or booster unless at least 57 inches tall. [p.38]

Alcohol & drugs

  • North Dakota: the BAC limit for drivers under 21 is 0.02. [p.40]
  • Refusing a chemical or roadside breath test: revoked 180 days to 3 years. [p.40]
  • Open alcohol containers must be kept in the trunk. [p.41]

Rules learners miss most

The rules behind the most-missed questions on our practice tests. Some details, such as parking distances, can differ by state - your handbook has the final word.

  • At 60 mph a car travels about 88 feet per second.
  • Measure following distance in seconds, counted from a fixed roadside object.
  • A yellow curb signals a stopping or parking limit - check signs and local rules.
  • Uncontrolled T-intersection: the terminating road yields to the through road.
  • Uphill with a curb: turn wheels away from the curb; downhill: toward it.
  • KEEP RIGHT: pass to the right of the island, median or obstruction.
  • Point of no return: past it you cannot stop safely on yellow, so proceed.
  • Zipper merge: use both lanes up to the merge point, then alternate.
  • In heavy rain use low beams, slow down and increase following distance.
  • Parallel park close to and parallel with the curb, within your state's limit.
  • Yellow pennant on the left side of the road: a no-passing zone begins.
  • Car with skid marks: the road is slippery when wet.
  • Diamond-shaped signs are warning signs.
  • 4-way stop tie: the driver on the left yields to the driver on the right.
  • ABS keeps wheels from locking in hard braking so you can still steer.
  • A round yellow sign warns of a railroad crossing ahead.
  • Merging onto a highway: yield to traffic already on the highway.
  • An upward-pointing pentagon marks a school zone or school crossing.
  • Steady yellow: the light is about to turn red - stop if you can do so safely.
  • Basic speed law: never drive faster than is safe for conditions, even under the limit.
  • Use high beams on open roads; dim them for oncoming or followed vehicles.
  • Arrows pointing up and down warn of two-way traffic ahead.
  • Orange diamond signs warn of construction and work zones.
  • Adult (21+) BAC limit is 0.08% in most states.
  • Implied consent: by driving you agree to chemical tests if arrested for DUI.

Now test yourself

Reading rules is a start; answering questions is what makes them stick.

FlashcardsPractice test 1North Dakota mock test