Division of Motor Vehicles (DMV)
Rhode Island Permit Test (2026)
Study for the official DMV Computerized knowledge exam with free practice tests written from the state's own rules — plus the verified facts below: how many questions, the passing score, and what it costs.
Rhode Island permit test: quick facts
- Questions on the exam
- 40
- Passing score
- Check your state's official site
- Minimum permit age
- 16
- Fee
- Limited permit (under age 18): $13.50; instruction permit (age 18 and older): $8.50. Both amounts include a $3.50 technology surcharge per the DMV permit fee table; card payments add a third-party processing fee.
- If you fail
- Applicants who fail the knowledge exam must wait at least 8 days before retaking it, and retakes are by reservation at DMV headquarters in Cranston.
- Online testing
- In person only
- Languages
- Computerized exam offered in English, Spanish, and Portuguese; a printed foreign-language knowledge exam in other languages can be scheduled in advance (the applicant brings someone to translate before and after the test).
How it works
Step 1
Take Practice Test 1 like the real thing — no notes, one question at a time.
Step 2
Read every explanation, especially for questions you missed. That's where the learning happens.
Step 3
Repeat with Test 2 and the road signs test until you pass comfortably every time.
Free Rhode Island practice tests
Rhode Island Practice Test 1
30 questions — signs, rules, and state law
Rhode Island Practice Test 2
30 fresh questions, no repeats from Test 1
Rhode Island Road Signs Test
25 questions on signs, shapes, and signals
New-driver rules in Rhode Island
Rhode Island issues a limited instruction permit at 16; applicants under 18 must first complete a 33-hour classroom driver education course (no online courses accepted) and pass the computerized knowledge exam. The permit must be held at least six months, with a parent-certified 50 hours of supervised practice including 10 at night, before the road test. The limited provisional license that follows bars unsupervised driving from 1:00 a.m. to 5:00 a.m. (with work, volunteer fire/rescue/EMS, and limited school-athletics exceptions) and, for its first 12 months, allows no more than one passenger under 21 who is not immediate family or a household member.
Verified 2026-08-18 · Source: DMV
Rhode Island permit test FAQ
How many questions are on the Rhode Island permit test?
The official Rhode Island Computerized knowledge exam has 40 questions, according to the DMV (verified 2026-08-18).
How old do you have to be to get a learner's permit in Rhode Island?
You can apply for a learner's permit in Rhode Island at 16, according to the DMV (verified 2026-08-18).
How much does the Rhode Island permit cost?
Limited permit (under age 18): $13.50; instruction permit (age 18 and older): $8.50. Both amounts include a $3.50 technology surcharge per the DMV permit fee table; card payments add a third-party processing fee. — as listed by the Division of Motor Vehicles (DMV), verified 2026-08-18. Always confirm current fees on the official site.
What happens if you fail the Rhode Island permit test?
Applicants who fail the knowledge exam must wait at least 8 days before retaking it, and retakes are by reservation at DMV headquarters in Cranston. (per the DMV, verified 2026-08-18).
Can you take the Rhode Island permit test online?
No. The Rhode Island Computerized knowledge exam is administered in person through the Division of Motor Vehicles (DMV), not online.
What languages is the Rhode Island permit test offered in?
Computerized exam offered in English, Spanish, and Portuguese; a printed foreign-language knowledge exam in other languages can be scheduled in advance (the applicant brings someone to translate before and after the test). (per the DMV, verified 2026-08-18).
Who runs the permit test in Rhode Island?
Driver licensing in Rhode Island is handled by the Division of Motor Vehicles (DMV). The official site is https://dmv.ri.gov/.
Where can I read the official Rhode Island driver handbook?
The official Rhode Island driver handbook is published by the DMV at https://dmv.ri.gov/media/966/download?language=en. It is the source our practice questions are grounded in.