North Dakota NDDOT Permit Test FAQ

You must be at least 14 years old to apply for a North Dakota instruction permit. Applicants under 18 must have a parent or legal guardian sign approval and sponsorship on the application. Ages 14–15 must hold the permit for 12 months (or until age 16, but no less than 6 months) before taking the road test. Ages 16–17 must hold the permit for 6 months (or until age 18) before the road test.

Permit holders under age 16 must complete a minimum of 50 hours of supervised driving in variable conditions — including rural areas, urban areas, gravel/dirt roads, night driving, and winter conditions. The supervising driver must have a valid license, be at least 18 years old, have at least 3 years of driving experience, and sit in the seat beside the permit holder. This supervised driving is in addition to the formal driver's education requirement.

A 15-year-old with a restricted Class D license is restricted to driving family vehicles only (parent's, guardian's, grandparent's, sibling's, aunt's, or uncle's). They may not drive without a parent, legal guardian, or a person at least 18 years old between the later of sunset or 9:00 PM and 5:00 AM. Exceptions: driving directly to or from work, an official school activity, or a religious activity. At age 16, the restricted license transitions to an unrestricted license.

North Dakota uses the term DUI (Driving Under the Influence). The legal limit is 0.08% BAC for drivers 21 and older. For drivers under 21, the limit is 0.02%. A BAC of 0.18% or greater on a first offense triggers an extended 180-day suspension (vs. 91 days for standard first offense). First conviction carries a minimum $500 fine. A BAC of 0.16% or greater increases the fine to at least $750 and adds a mandatory 2-day imprisonment requirement (p.36).

Refusing a chemical test (blood, breath, urine, or saliva) results in license revocation for 180 days to 3 years under North Dakota's implied consent law. By accepting your North Dakota driver's license, you have already consented to such testing. The exact revocation period depends on prior offenses. A temporary restricted license may be issued after serving 30 days of the suspension (or 14 days if participating in the 24/7 Sobriety Program).

Key North Dakota speed limits: 20 mph near railway crossings (obstructed view), near intersections (obstructed view), and in school zones during school hours. 25 mph in business or residential districts. 55 mph on gravel/dirt roads and paved county/township highways with no posted limit. 65 mph on rural paved 2-lane highways if posted. 70 mph on paved divided multi-lane highways. 80 mph on rural Interstate highways.

No. Anyone operating with an instruction permit AND licensed drivers under age 18 are prohibited from using electronic communication devices while driving. This includes using a device to talk, compose, read, or send electronic messages. Exceptions are limited to: obtaining emergency assistance, preventing a crime about to be committed, or when someone's life or safety is in danger. The penalty is a 2-point entry on the driving record.

North Dakota uses the three-second rule. Pick a mark on the road, and when the vehicle ahead passes it, count — if you reach the mark before "one-thousand-and-three," you're following too closely. Use 4 or more seconds when roads are slippery, following motorcycles, hauling a heavy load, following large vehicles that block your view, or when the driver behind you wants to pass.

Use headlights from sunset to sunrise and at any other time necessary for safe driving. You must also use headlights during inclement weather when visibility is less than 1,000 feet due to rain, snow, sleet, hail, smoke, or fog. Dim high beams at least 500 feet before meeting oncoming traffic and within 300 feet when following another vehicle.