We are independent & ad-supported. We may earn a commission for purchases made through our links.

Advertiser Disclosure

Our website is an independent, advertising-supported platform. We provide our content free of charge to our readers, and to keep it that way, we rely on revenue generated through advertisements and affiliate partnerships. This means that when you click on certain links on our site and make a purchase, we may earn a commission. Learn more.

How We Make Money

We sustain our operations through affiliate commissions and advertising. If you click on an affiliate link and make a purchase, we may receive a commission from the merchant at no additional cost to you. We also display advertisements on our website, which help generate revenue to support our work and keep our content free for readers. Our editorial team operates independently from our advertising and affiliate partnerships to ensure that our content remains unbiased and focused on providing you with the best information and recommendations based on thorough research and honest evaluations. To remain transparent, we’ve provided a list of our current affiliate partners here.

What is a DMV Practice Test?

Tricia Christensen
By
Updated May 17, 2024
Our promise to you
WiseGEEK is dedicated to creating trustworthy, high-quality content that always prioritizes transparency, integrity, and inclusivity above all else. Our ensure that our content creation and review process includes rigorous fact-checking, evidence-based, and continual updates to ensure accuracy and reliability.

Our Promise to you

Founded in 2002, our company has been a trusted resource for readers seeking informative and engaging content. Our dedication to quality remains unwavering—and will never change. We follow a strict editorial policy, ensuring that our content is authored by highly qualified professionals and edited by subject matter experts. This guarantees that everything we publish is objective, accurate, and trustworthy.

Over the years, we've refined our approach to cover a wide range of topics, providing readers with reliable and practical advice to enhance their knowledge and skills. That's why millions of readers turn to us each year. Join us in celebrating the joy of learning, guided by standards you can trust.

Editorial Standards

At WiseGEEK, we are committed to creating content that you can trust. Our editorial process is designed to ensure that every piece of content we publish is accurate, reliable, and informative.

Our team of experienced writers and editors follows a strict set of guidelines to ensure the highest quality content. We conduct thorough research, fact-check all information, and rely on credible sources to back up our claims. Our content is reviewed by subject matter experts to ensure accuracy and clarity.

We believe in transparency and maintain editorial independence from our advertisers. Our team does not receive direct compensation from advertisers, allowing us to create unbiased content that prioritizes your interests.

A DMV practice test or Department of Motor Vehicles practice test can come in several forms. The DMV is operated by each state and each state can have slightly different rules or features, so it’s first important to look for practice tests in the state in which the person will be driving. These may be for basic driver’s license permit exams or for reviews when people must take the driver’s test again. Tests may also be available for different types of licenses, including for commercial or industrial classes of licenses.

Under many circumstances, a state department will feature a DMV practice test online or that can be downloaded and taken, and then checked against provided answers. These tests may not be the exact length of permit tests taken at the DMV. In fact some only have about ten sample questions and might not ask enough to be a good representative of what will be on a written test.

Since a DMV practice test from the department can fall short in this area, there are some other options for people preparing to take the written test. Unfortunately, these are usually not free. Whether purchased in book or online form, they are likely to cost some money. Sometimes people can register on certain websites and take as many tests as they want, or other times they’ll only get one test for registration. About the only time a DMV practice test is free is if it is taken as part of a free driving class, as might be offered through a high school.

Some caution must be exerted on the issue of registering for or taking a DMV practice test from a source that is not the DMV. Rules can change, which means new laws can be enacted or other laws become obsolete, and rules are specific to state. A company that doesn’t have a good reputation or isn’t well known may not give accurate tests. Many of them do, but it’s wise to do some investigation before signing up for tests, to make certain any tests taken are like what the DMV gives.

One of the vital means for studying for a DMV practice test or the real exam is getting all materials that the DMV provides on the subject. In most cases, the preparation booklets given by the DMV are the source of information for all questions asked. While taking the few sample tests from the local DMV can test how well knowledge has been acquired, when people find themselves not doing well, it’s time to go back and study the booklet.

This is probably more important than taking a DMV practice test. If needed, study with friends, parents, or those with good driving records. Take notes, make up questions, and really work on mastering the material before the real test is taken. When people do study, they often do very well on the test, allowing them to either retain their licenses or to begin the process of obtaining a first license. It should also be noted that many written tests can be taken more than once if they’re not passed the first time, though sometimes people must wait a certain time period before retesting.

WiseGEEK is dedicated to providing accurate and trustworthy information. We carefully select reputable sources and employ a rigorous fact-checking process to maintain the highest standards. To learn more about our commitment to accuracy, read our editorial process.
Tricia Christensen
By Tricia Christensen , Writer
With a Literature degree from Sonoma State University and years of experience as a WiseGEEK contributor, Tricia Christensen is based in Northern California and brings a wealth of knowledge and passion to her writing. Her wide-ranging interests include reading, writing, medicine, art, film, history, politics, ethics, and religion, all of which she incorporates into her informative articles. Tricia is currently working on her first novel.

Discussion Comments

Tricia Christensen

Tricia Christensen

Writer

With a Literature degree from Sonoma State University and years of experience as a WiseGEEK contributor, Tricia...
Read more
WiseGEEK, in your inbox

Our latest articles, guides, and more, delivered daily.

WiseGEEK, in your inbox

Our latest articles, guides, and more, delivered daily.