The knowledge test trips up many first-time applicants. Here's exactly what to study and how to walk in prepared.
The Arizona MVD knowledge test is 30 questions. You must score at least 80% to pass — 24 correct out of 30, meaning you can miss no more than 6.
Applicants under 18 must have held an Arizona instruction permit for at least 6 months before taking the graduated driver license (Class G) road test, and must have completed either an MVD-approved driver education program or 30 hours of supervised driving practice (including at least 10 hours at night), or 20 hours of supervised practice (6 at night) plus Traffic Survival School or a Defensive Driving course.
Arizona offers Permit Test @ Home through AZMVDNow.gov, so first-time instruction-permit applicants may take the written test online. Road tests require an appointment at AZMVDNow.gov.
Applicants with a current valid out-of-state license may be exempt from the driver education and instruction permit requirements.
Legal BAC is 0.08% for drivers 21+; 0.04% in a commercial vehicle. Arizona is a zero-tolerance state for drivers under 21 — any measurable alcohol means license suspension. Extreme DUI applies at 0.15% BAC or higher.
1st DUI: at least 10 consecutive days in jail, license suspension of at least 90 days, fine of at least $1,250, interlock device. 2nd DUI: at least 90 days jail, fine of at least $3,000, license revoked 12 months. Aggravated DUI: up to 2 years in prison, 1-year revocation.
Instruction permit at 15 years 6 months; permit valid 12 months; must hold at least 6 months. Class G issued at 16 to under 18. First 6 months: no driving midnight–5 a.m. and no more than 1 passenger under 18 (siblings and supervised driving exempted).
Use the 3-second rule; increase to 3–6 seconds in poor conditions. On slippery roads, double the following distance to 6 seconds or more. Most rear-end crashes are caused by following too closely.
15 mph approaching a school crosswalk; 25 mph in a business or residential district; 55 mph on open highways or city freeways; 65 mph on designated open highways; 75 mph on rural freeways. Fines double in work zones.
Signal at least 100 feet (about 4 seconds) before turning. Right on red is allowed after a complete stop unless a sign prohibits it. Left on red is allowed from a one-way street onto another one-way street (after stop and yield) unless signs prohibit.
Stop for any school bus with flashing lights and an extended stop-arm regardless of your direction of travel. The only exception is on a divided roadway with a physical barrier — striping alone is not a physical separation.
Use headlights (not parking lights) from sunset to sunrise and any time visibility is reduced by rain, dust or glare. Use low beams within 200 feet of a vehicle you are following and within 500 feet of an oncoming vehicle. Use low beams only in fog.
No parking within 15 feet of a fire hydrant, 20 feet of a crosswalk at an intersection, 50 feet of a railroad crossing, on a bridge or in a tunnel. Stay at least 500 feet behind a fire department vehicle responding to an emergency and 300 feet behind a police vehicle.
Children under 5 must be in a child restraint system. Children 5 to under 8 must remain in a child restraint until they reach 4 feet 9 inches tall. Every front-seat occupant must be properly belted. The driver is responsible for all passengers under 16.
You need 80% (24 out of 30 correct) on the Arizona MVD knowledge test. Aim for 90%+ on your practice runs here so you walk in with a solid margin of safety.
Memorize BAC limits, speed limits, distances, signal distance, following distances, and suspension periods. These specific numbers appear on virtually every Arizona test.
The Weak Spots mode saves every question you got wrong. Replay it until you're hitting 90%+ before going to the MVD office.
Download the Arizona Driver License Manual (Revised March 2026) at azdot.gov/mvd. Every question comes directly from this manual.
Dust storms: pull aside, stay alive — fully off the road, off the brake, lights off. Motorcycle lane filtering is allowed only when the speed limit is 45 mph or less and the motorcycle stays at 15 mph or below.
Sign questions are visual — shape, color, and meaning all matter. Use the Road Signs Quiz mode to practice all signs before test day.
Free, no signup · Questions verified against the official state driver manual