Permit Test Prep With a Pass Guarantee, State by State

The short version: Every state sets its own permit age and its own drivers ed rules. Below is what each state actually requires right now, plus how to study for the test itself with Aceable's Ace Mode test prep. Pass your first try, or get your money back. (Looking for exact question counts and passing scores? See how many questions are on the permit testDmv How Many Questions On Permit Test Aceable.comDmv How Many Questions On Permit Test Aceable.com for that.)

Nobody wants to walk out of the DMV without a permit. About 1 in 3 first-time test takers do exactly that, usually because they studied the wrong things, or didn't study at all.

Aceable's Ace Mode test prep fixes that by showing you exactly what you have aced, what's fair, and what's still weak, so your study time goes where it actually matters instead of rereading pages you already know. Every course is built around your state's real test, and it comes with a Pass Or Your Money Back guarantee.

Here's the age and drivers ed picture in every state, and where to go to get ready for the test itself.

Permit Requirements by State

Every state falls into one of four buckets when it comes to drivers ed and your permit. Find your state below, then head to the prep course for the test itself.

Drivers ed is required to get your permit

No way around it in these states, the course comes before the permit.

California (15.5), if you're under 17.5
Delaware (16)
Florida (15), the state's Driver Education Traffic Safety (DETS) course
Idaho (14.5), for anyone under 17
Louisiana (15)
Maine (15), for anyone under 18
Michigan (14 years 9 months)
Minnesota (15), classroom instruction before you can test, under 18
New Mexico (15)
North Carolina (15), 30 hours classroom, 6 behind the wheel. As of October 2025, a separate Driving Eligibility Certificate or diploma proof is no longer required.
Rhode Island (16), a 33-hour course completed before you apply
Texas (15), a state-approved course before you can apply
Wisconsin (15)

Drivers ed is required, but for your next step, not the permit itself

You can get the permit without it. You'll need it before you move up.

Arkansas (14 to 15), before an intermediate license
Hawaii (15.5), before a provisional license
Iowa (14), before you can move up to an intermediate license
Maryland (15 years 9 months), before a provisional license
Massachusetts (16), before a Junior Operator License: 30 hours classroom, 12 behind the wheel, 6 observation
Nevada (15.5), before a full license, not the instruction permit
New York (16, or 15 years 11 months through an approved school program), a 5-Hour Pre-Licensing Course or a full Driver Education course before your road test
Ohio (15.5), before a full license, not the TIPIC permit
South Carolina (15), before a conditional license
South Dakota (14), before a restricted minor's permit
Utah (15), before your license if you're under 19
Vermont (15), before a junior driver's license
Virginia (15.5), before your license if you're under 18
Wyoming (15), before an intermediate license, or to get an unrestricted license at 16.5 instead of 17

One exception worth flagging: New Hampshire doesn't issue a formal learner's permit at all, the only state that doesn't. Teens can start supervised driving at 15.5 with no permit or test required, then must complete an approved drivers ed course before applying for the Youth Operator License at 16.

Prep courses: state-specific pages for NevadaNevada Permit Test Prep Course Drivers Ed and OhioOhio Knowledge Test Prep Course Drivers Ed; everyone else on this list routes to the national permit test prep courseNational Permit Test Prep Course Drivers EdNational Permit Test Prep Course Drivers EdNational Permit Test Prep Course Drivers EdNational Permit Test Prep Course Drivers EdNational Permit Test Prep Course Drivers Ed.

Drivers ed is optional, but it unlocks an earlier permit age

Skip it and you'll just wait longer.

Colorado: 15 with drivers ed, 15.5 with a shorter awareness course, 16 without either
Illinois: 15 with drivers ed, 17.25 without
Indiana: 15 with drivers ed, 16 without
Mississippi: 14 if enrolled in drivers ed, 15 without
Montana: 14.5 with drivers ed, 16 without
New Jersey: 16 if enrolled in a behind-the-wheel course, 17 without
Oklahoma: as early as 15 with drivers ed, 17 without by the time you'd reach full privileges
Washington: 15 with drivers ed, 15.5 without

Prep courses: IllinoisIllinois Drivers Ed and OklahomaOklahoma Permit Test Prep Course Drivers Ed have their own pages; everyone else on this list routes to the national permit test prep courseNational Permit Test Prep Course Drivers EdNational Permit Test Prep Course Drivers EdNational Permit Test Prep Course Drivers EdNational Permit Test Prep Course Drivers EdNational Permit Test Prep Course Drivers Ed.

Drivers ed is not required

These states will let you test with no class at all, though a few knock hours off your supervised driving if you take one anyway.

Alabama (15)
Alaska (14)
Arizona (15.5), reduces supervised hours only
Connecticut (16), shortens your holding period only
District of Columbia (16); DC proposed a mandatory drivers ed rule in 2016 but suspended it indefinitely, so it isn't currently required
Georgia (15)
Kansas (14), the written test or a drivers ed certificate satisfies this requirement, neither is mandatory on its own
Kentucky (15, lowered from 16 by a law signed in March 2025)
Missouri (15)
Nebraska (15), reduces supervised hours only
North Dakota (14)
Oregon (15), doubles your supervised hours without it
Pennsylvania (16), though completing a course can help you reach an unrestricted license sooner
Tennessee (15), but you'll need a signed proof-of-school-attendance form (SF-1010) under 18
West Virginia (15), reduces supervised hours only

Prep courses: GeorgiaGeorgia Permit Test Prep Course Drivers Ed has its own page; everyone else on this list routes to the national permit test prep courseNational Permit Test Prep Course Drivers EdNational Permit Test Prep Course Drivers EdNational Permit Test Prep Course Drivers EdNational Permit Test Prep Course Drivers EdNational Permit Test Prep Course Drivers Ed.

Ages and drivers ed requirements sourced from each state's DMV, DOT, or Secretary of State site, cross-checked against the Governors Highway Safety Association's state GDL data (via IIHS and state highway safety offices). This covers all 50 states and DC as of the publish date; state legislatures do amend these rules from time to time (Kentucky's 2025 change is a good example), so it's worth a periodic spot-check rather than a one-and-done fact-find.

Common Questions

Does Aceable still offer free permit test prep?

No. Permit test prep now runs through Ace Mode, a paid, state-specific study tool with a Pass Or Your Money Back guarantee.

How much does it cost?

It depends on your state, generally between $9.99 and $19.99. Your state's course page shows the exact price before you enroll.

How many questions are on my state's permit test?

That varies by state too. See how many questions are on the permit testDmv How Many Questions On Permit Test Aceable.comDmv How Many Questions On Permit Test Aceable.com for the exact count and passing score where you live.

Do I still need to take drivers ed?

That depends entirely on your state and your age. Check the table above, requirements range from none at all to a full classroom-and-behind-the-wheel program.