Kansas DMV Permit Test 2026

Who Can Get an Instruction Permit

Kansas allows teens to apply for an instruction permit starting at age 14 — one of the youngest minimum ages in the country. There is no upper age limit; adults who have never held a license apply through the same process.

If you are under 16, a parent or legal guardian must sign your application giving consent. Their signature is required before the application can be processed. Parents and guardians who sign accept responsibility for the teen driver's actions on the road.

Residency: You must be a Kansas resident to apply. You'll need to provide documents showing your Kansas address at the Division of Vehicles office. New residents moving to Kansas are expected to obtain a Kansas license within 90 days of establishing residency.

Driver education for young teens: If you are under 16, Kansas requires you to complete an approved driver education course before you can apply for a restricted license. You can obtain your instruction permit at 14 without having finished driver's ed, but it must be completed before you advance to the next stage of the graduated licensing system.

Fees and What You Pay For

The Kansas driver's license application fee is $22. This fee covers your instruction permit, your written knowledge test attempts, and your eventual restricted and full driver's license — you pay once at the start of the process, not separately at each stage.

If you exhaust your test attempts and need to reapply, you will pay the $22 fee again. The fee is non-refundable regardless of whether you pass or fail the knowledge test.

Payment: Fees are paid at the Division of Vehicles office in person. Most offices accept cash, check, and credit or debit cards. Confirm payment options with your local office before your visit.

Documents You Need

Kansas uses a point system to verify identity. You must present documents that total at least 4 points. Different document types carry different point values. Common documents include:

Teens under 16: Also bring your parent or guardian's signed consent on the application form. The parent or guardian does not need to come to the office, but their signature must already be on the form.

Bring original documents — photocopies are generally not accepted for identity verification. If you are unsure whether a document qualifies, contact your local Division of Vehicles office before your visit.

Do You Need an Appointment?

Kansas Division of Vehicles offices generally accept walk-in applicants for knowledge tests. You can visit most offices during business hours without a prior appointment and take the test the same day.

Wait times vary by location and time of day. To avoid a long wait, try visiting earlier in the morning or mid-week. Some county offices have limited hours, so check your local office schedule on the Division of Vehicles office locator before heading in.

What Happens at the Division of Vehicles

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

The entire process typically takes 30 to 90 minutes depending on how busy the office is. The knowledge test itself takes most people 15 to 20 minutes.

The Vision Screening

Kansas requires a minimum visual acuity of 20/60 in at least one eye, with or without corrective lenses, to qualify for a license or permit. The vision screening is administered at the office using a standard vision testing device.

If you wear glasses or contact lenses, keep them on during the test. Passing with corrective lenses means your permit will carry a restriction requiring you to wear them while driving.

If your vision does not meet the standard, you will receive a vision report form to take to an eye doctor. Once your doctor completes it, return to the office to continue your application.

When They Take Your Photo

Your photo is taken during document processing at the service counter, before the knowledge test. Come ready to have your picture taken when you arrive. You'll be asked to remove hats and sunglasses (unless worn for religious or medical reasons). The photo will appear on your instruction permit and eventually on your driver's license.

The Written Knowledge Test

The Kansas knowledge test covers traffic laws, road signs, and safe driving practices. All questions are based on the Kansas Driver's Manual. The test is multiple-choice with four answer options per question. There is no time limit.

The 25 questions cover a mix of topics including right-of-way rules, speed limits, traffic signals, road signs, safe following distance, and Kansas-specific driving laws. Road sign identification is included within the main test — there is no separate road signs exam.

Can you take the test online? No — Kansas requires the knowledge test to be taken in person at a Division of Vehicles office. There is no remote online option.

What the Test Looks Like

The test is administered on a computer terminal at the office. Each screen presents one question with multiple answer choices. You select your answer and advance to the next question.

Do you find out if each answer is right or wrong? Typically no — the Kansas knowledge test shows your final result at the end rather than providing per-question feedback during the test. You'll see your total score (number correct) when you finish.

Take your time on each question. There is no time limit, so read carefully before selecting your answer. Once you advance past a question, you generally cannot go back.

Passing Score and Results

The Kansas knowledge test has 25 questions. You must answer at least 20 correctly to pass — an 80% passing threshold. You can miss up to 5 questions. The same passing standard applies to both teens and adults.

Your result will be displayed on screen at the end of the test. If you pass, the clerk will process your permit. If you do not pass, the clerk will explain the next steps for retesting.

All questions count equally. There is no partial credit, so aim to answer every question correctly.

After You Pass

When you pass the knowledge test, the clerk will issue your instruction permit. You may receive a temporary paper permit before leaving the office, with your permanent plastic card arriving by mail within a few weeks. Carry your permit whenever you drive — it is your legal authorization to operate a vehicle with a supervising driver.

Can you start driving immediately? Yes — you can drive the same day you receive your permit, as long as a supervising driver is with you. The supervising driver must be at least 21 years old, hold a valid Kansas driver's license, and sit in the front passenger seat.

Driving at night: With an instruction permit (before receiving a restricted license), there are no nighttime curfew restrictions — you can drive at any hour as long as your supervising driver is present. Curfew restrictions only apply after you receive your restricted license.

If You Don't Pass

If you fail the knowledge test, you must wait at least one day before retaking it. You cannot retest the same day.

When you return for a retake, you do not need to redo your documents, photo, or vision test. Simply check in at the office and let them know you are there for a retest.

Maximum attempts: After three failed attempts, you will need to submit a new application and pay the $22 fee again before you can test. Study the Kansas Driver's Manual thoroughly and take practice tests before your next attempt.

Each attempt draws from the question bank, so you are likely to see different questions each time. Focus on understanding the concepts rather than memorizing specific questions.

Instruction Permit Rules & Restrictions

Your Kansas instruction permit is valid for one year from the date issued. You must carry it whenever you drive. If it expires before you receive your restricted license, you will need to retake the knowledge test to get a new permit.

While driving with an instruction permit:

Moving to a restricted license: After holding your instruction permit for at least one year and reaching age 16, you can apply for a restricted license — provided you have also completed the required supervised driving hours and, if under 16, driver education.

Restricted license rules (ages 16–17):

Out-of-State Transfers

If you hold a valid driver's license from another state, the Kansas transfer process is straightforward. Visit a Division of Vehicles office, present your out-of-state license, identity and residency documents, and pay the applicable fee.

Kansas may waive the knowledge test for out-of-state license holders with a valid, unexpired license from another U.S. state. If your license has been expired for an extended period, a test may still be required. The clerk will determine what is needed based on your specific situation.

A vision screening is required regardless of your prior license status. Your old state's license will be surrendered when Kansas issues your new one.

The Driver's Manual

The Kansas Driver's Manual is the official study guide for the knowledge test. Every question on the exam is based on information in this manual. It covers Kansas traffic laws, right-of-way rules, road signs, safe driving practices, and the graduated licensing system.

The manual is available as a free downloadable PDF from the Kansas Department of Revenue website. You can also pick up a printed copy at any Division of Vehicles office. It is published in 2 languages: English, Spanish.

Read through the entire manual before testing. Pay close attention to right-of-way, road signs, and Kansas-specific laws — these topics appear most frequently on the test.

Practice Tests

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

DMV Question Bank practice tests: Take free Kansas DMV practice tests on DMV Question Bank. The questions cover all topics from the Kansas Driver's Manual and simulate the real test format. Aim to consistently score above 90% before heading to the office.

A solid study approach: read the manual once, take a practice test to identify your weak areas, go back and review those sections, then test again. Repeat until you are consistently passing with a comfortable margin.

Behind-the-Wheel Requirements

After receiving your instruction permit, the next step is building supervised driving experience. Requirements differ between teens and adults.

Driving skills test: When ready, schedule your driving skills test at a Division of Vehicles office. Passing the skills test along with all other requirements earns you your restricted or full driver's license.

Quick Reference

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