Arizona MVD Permit Test 2026

Who Can Get a Learner's Permit

To apply for a Graduated Instruction Permit (learner's permit) in Arizona, you must be at least 15 years and 6 months old. There is no upper age limit — adults of any age who have never held a license can apply through the same process.

For Applicants Under 18: You will need the consent of a parent or guardian. Their signature must be notarized or witnessed by an MVD agent at the office. The parent or guardian assumes liability for the minor's driving until they turn 18.

Arizona Residency: You must be an Arizona resident. If you are visiting or attending school from out of state/country, you may use your valid home license, but if you establish residency (work, vote, place children in school), you must apply for an Arizona license immediately. Arizona does not have a specific timeframe like some states — the requirement kicks in when you establish residency.

Driver's Education: Arizona does not require driver's education to get a permit. However, completing an approved driver education program can substitute for the 30 hours of supervised driving practice requirement, which can speed up your path to a full license.

Applying Online with MVD Now

The Arizona MVD strongly encourages you to start your application online through AZ MVD Now. You can complete your Driver License/ID application online before you even visit an office. This saves significant time at the counter and lets you enter your information at your own pace.

After completing the online application, you'll receive a confirmation number. Bring this number to your MVD appointment — the clerk can pull up your application instantly without you having to fill out paper forms.

Travel ID vs. Standard ID: Arizona offers a “Voluntary Travel ID” which complies with federal REAL ID standards. A REAL ID-compliant credential is now required for domestic flights and entering certain federal buildings. It is highly recommended to apply for the Travel ID credential when you get your permit. The Travel ID costs $25, while a standard credential is $12. If you skip it now, you'll have to return later and pay again.

You do not pay online. All fees are collected at the MVD office. The MVD accepts cash, check, money order, and credit/debit cards (Visa, Mastercard, Discover, American Express).

Fees and What You Pay For

The fee for an Instruction Permit is $7.00. This is one of the lowest permit fees in the country.

If you are upgrading to a Travel ID (REAL ID), the credential fee is $25 for the Travel ID card. A standard (non-Travel) ID credential costs $12. These fees are in addition to the $7 permit fee.

What the $7 covers: The permit application fee covers your initial application and up to 3 attempts at the written knowledge test within a 12-month period. There is no separate fee per test attempt during this window.

After 3 failures: If you fail the written test 3 times within 12 months, you must submit a new application and pay the $7 fee again to get 3 more attempts.

Documents You Need at the MVD

What you bring depends on whether you're applying for a standard permit or a Travel ID (REAL ID) permit. For a Travel ID (recommended), you need all of the following:

If you're applying for a standard (non-Travel ID) permit, the requirements are lighter — you'll need identity and SSN verification, plus just one proof of residency. That said, most people opt for Travel ID since it's only $13 more and avoids a return trip later.

Teens: If you're under 18 and don't have residency documents in your own name, your parent or guardian can prove residency, and you can use their address. Your parent must accompany you to sign the application at the MVD.

Use the Document Checklist: Arizona offers an online Document Checklist Tool that helps you verify exactly what you need to bring based on your situation.

Do You Need an Appointment?

Yes, appointments are strongly recommended for MVD office visits in Arizona. While some offices accept walk-ins, wait times can be significant. With an appointment, you'll typically be seen within minutes of your scheduled time.

You can schedule an appointment online through AZ MVD Now Appointments. Appointments are free and usually available within a few days to a week, depending on your location.

Third-Party Providers: Arizona also has Authorized Third Party (ATP) providers — private businesses licensed to handle MVD services. These can sometimes offer faster appointments and shorter wait times, though they may charge a small convenience fee on top of the standard MVD fees.

What Happens at the MVD

Here's what a typical MVD visit looks like, in order:

The entire process typically takes 45 minutes to 1.5 hours, depending on how busy the office is and whether you have an appointment.

The Vision Screening

The MVD vision screening happens at the service counter. The clerk will ask you to look into a small viewing machine and read a line of letters or numbers. It tests your visual acuity — essentially, whether you can see well enough to drive safely.

Arizona requires a minimum visual acuity of 20/40 in at least one eye (with or without corrective lenses). If you wear glasses or contact lenses, keep them on during the test. If you pass the screening with corrective lenses, your permit and license will have a “B” restriction noting that you must wear them while driving.

If you cannot meet the 20/40 standard, the MVD will give you a form (Form 40-1300) to take to your eye doctor for a more detailed exam. You can return to the MVD with the completed form to continue your application.

Photo and Thumbprint

Your photo is taken during the application process, typically after your documents are verified and fees are paid. This happens before you take the written test — so come prepared to have your picture taken when you arrive.

The photo will appear on your temporary paper permit, your permanent permit card, and eventually your driver license. You'll be asked to remove glasses, hats, and head coverings (unless worn for religious reasons) for the photo.

Arizona also captures a digital thumbprint as part of the application process. This is stored securely and used for identity verification purposes.

The Written Knowledge Test

The Arizona Knowledge Test consists of 30 multiple-choice questions based on the Arizona Driver License Manual. It is a multiple-choice test with four answer options per question. There is no time limit, so you can take as long as you need.

Topics covered include:

Arizona does not have a separate road signs test — road sign identification questions are mixed into the main exam. The test is available in English and Spanish.

What the Test Looks Like

At the MVD, you'll take the test on a touchscreen computer terminal. The interface shows one question at a time with four answer choices. You tap your answer to select it and then confirm to move to the next question.

Do they tell you if your answer is right or wrong? Yes. After you submit each answer, the screen will immediately tell you whether you got it correct or incorrect. If you got it wrong, it will show you the correct answer before moving on to the next question. This real-time feedback helps you track your progress.

Can you skip questions? No — the Arizona MVD test does not allow you to skip questions or go back to previous ones. Each question must be answered before you can proceed to the next. Take your time and think through each question before submitting your answer.

Early termination: The test may end early if you either lock in a passing score (enough correct answers that the remaining questions don't matter) or if you've gotten too many wrong to recover. If you get 7 wrong answers, the test will stop because passing is no longer possible.

Passing Score and Results

Unlike some states, Arizona uses the same test for both teens and adults:

When the test ends, the screen will clearly show whether you passed or failed. If you passed, you'll return to the service counter where the clerk will process your permit.

Test questions are randomized from a large question bank, so each test attempt will have different questions. This is why studying the entire handbook is important — you can't predict exactly which topics will appear.

Permit Test @ Home

Arizona offers a unique Permit Test @ Home program that allows eligible teenagers (ages 15.5 to 17) to take the written knowledge test online at home with a parent or guardian proctoring.

Benefits: Taking the test at home lets you study until you feel ready, reduces stress, and saves time at the MVD office. You can take the test during regular business hours and retake it if needed (same rules apply — wait until next business day).

Adults: The Permit Test @ Home is currently only available for teenagers. Adults (18+) must take the written test in person at an MVD office or Authorized Third Party provider.

After You Pass

When the test screen shows “Pass,” you'll return to the service counter. The MVD clerk will print out a paper temporary permit for you on the spot. This interim document is your official instruction permit — it's valid immediately and allows you to start driving that same day, provided you follow the permit rules.

Your permanent permit card, which looks like a standard Arizona ID with your photo, will arrive by mail in approximately 2 to 3 weeks. Until it arrives, carry the paper temporary permit with you whenever you drive.

Can you start driving immediately? Yes — but only with a supervising driver. You cannot drive alone with an instruction permit. You must always be accompanied by a licensed driver who is at least 21 years old and who must sit in the front passenger seat.

Unique Arizona Fact: Arizona driver licenses (once you get the full license) do not expire until age 65. However, while you hold an instruction permit, it is only valid for 12 months — you must pass your road test within that window.

If You Don't Pass

If you fail the written test, you must wait until the next business day before you can retake it. Unlike some states that require a 7-day wait, Arizona's waiting period is relatively short.

When you come back for a retake, do you redo everything? No. You do not need to redo the vision test, photo, document verification, or pay again. Simply check in at the MVD, let them know you're there for a retest, and they'll direct you to the testing area. The $7 you already paid covers up to 3 attempts within 12 months.

What if you fail all 3 attempts? If you don't pass after three tries within 12 months, you'll need to submit a new application and pay the $7 fee again to get 3 more attempts. There is no additional waiting period beyond the standard next-business-day rule after your third failure.

The test questions are pulled from a large question bank, so you will get a different set of questions on each attempt. Studying the Arizona Driver License Manual thoroughly and taking practice tests is the best way to prepare for a retake.

Permit Rules and Restrictions

Your Graduated Instruction Permit is valid for 12 months from the date of issue. Within those 12 months, you need to complete the required practice hours and pass the road test to get your Class G license.

You must carry your permit with you every time you drive. It serves as your legal authorization to operate a vehicle. If you're pulled over and don't have it, you could receive a citation.

While driving with a Graduated Instruction Permit:

International License Holders

If you hold a valid driver license from another country, you can drive in Arizona as a visitor — Arizona recognizes foreign licenses for visitors. An International Driving Permit (IDP) is recommended as a translation document but is not legally required.

However, if you become an Arizona resident (meaning you live here, work here, or intend to stay), you must apply for an Arizona driver license. Your foreign license does not transfer — you'll need to go through the full process: application, documents, fee, vision test, written knowledge test, and road test. There is no exemption from the written test for international license holders.

The good news is that as an adult (18+), you can go directly for the full license — you don't have to hold a learner's permit for any minimum period. You can take the written test and schedule your road test on the same visit if appointments are available.

Out-of-State Transfers

If you have a valid driver license from another U.S. state, the process is simpler. Arizona typically waives both the written and road tests for drivers transferring from other states with a valid license. You'll still need to:

Your old state's license will be surrendered and invalidated. Arizona will issue you a new Arizona license, typically valid until you turn 65 (one of the longest validity periods in the nation).

Note: If your out-of-state license is expired, suspended, or from a state that Arizona doesn't have reciprocity agreements with, you may be required to take the written and/or road tests.

The Driver License Manual

The Arizona Driver License Manual is the official study guide for the written test. Every question on the exam is based on information in this manual. It covers Arizona traffic laws, right-of-way rules, road signs and signals, safe driving practices, alcohol and drug laws, and special driving situations.

The manual is available for free online as a webpage and as a downloadable PDF. You can also pick up a printed copy at any MVD office. It's published in 2 languages: English and Spanish.

The manual is approximately 80-100 pages. Most people can read through it in a few hours. Pay special attention to the chapters on right-of-way rules, road signs, and Arizona-specific laws (like the state's strict DUI laws and child restraint requirements) — these topics frequently appear on the test.

Practice Tests

Taking practice tests is one of the most effective ways to prepare. They help you identify gaps in your knowledge and get comfortable with the question format before the real test.

Official MVD practice tests: The Arizona MVD offers free sample knowledge tests on their website. These give you a feel for the type and difficulty of questions you'll encounter, though the actual test pulls from a larger pool.

DMV Question Bank practice tests: For more thorough preparation, you can take Arizona MVD practice tests on DMV Question Bank. The question bank covers all topics from the Arizona Driver License Manual and simulates the real test experience, including the same question format, scoring, and instant feedback. It's a good way to test yourself repeatedly until you're consistently scoring above 90%.

A common study strategy is to read through the manual once, then take practice tests to see where you're weak. Go back and re-read the sections you missed questions on, then test again. Repeat until you can consistently pass with room to spare.

Behind-the-Wheel Requirements

After getting your permit, the next step is preparing for the road test. Arizona's requirements are the same for both teens and adults in terms of the test itself, but the practice requirements differ.

Class G License Restrictions (Teens, first 6 months): After passing the road test, teen drivers receive a Class G Graduated License with these restrictions:

Quick Reference

Official Links