Practice permits, restrictions for new drivers and points: 28 questions based on the West Virginia Driver's Licensing Handbook, 28 of them on West Virginia's own rules.
17
A Level 2 holder who is at least 17 and has been conviction-free for the previous 12 months can get Level 3 without more testing.
Source: West Virginia Code §17B-2-3a, W. Va. Code §17B-2-3a(e); handbook Level 3 License GDL, PDF p. 22
Enrolling in a driver improvement program
On the first conviction a Level 2 holder must enroll in an approved driver improvement program; a second conviction leads to revocation.
Source: West Virginia Code §17B-2-3a, W. Va. Code §17B-2-3a(d)(2)(G)-(H); handbook PDF p. 21
12
At six points the DMV sends a warning letter; at 12 points the license is subject to suspension.
Source: West Virginia Driver's Licensing Handbook, Chapter II, Point System, PDF p. 28
20/40 or better
You pass with 20/40 or better using both eyes, with or without ordinary glasses or contacts, if there is no serious visual defect.
Source: West Virginia Driver's Licensing Handbook, Chapter IV, Vision Screening, PDF p. 34
5 a.m. to 10 p.m.
Level 1 holders may operate a vehicle only between 5 a.m. and 10 p.m., even when supervised.
Source: West Virginia Code §17B-2-3a, W. Va. Code §17B-2-3a(c)(2)(B)
19
The exam has at least 25 questions on traffic rules, signs and pavement markings, and 19 of 25 must be answered correctly.
Source: West Virginia Driver's Licensing Handbook, Chapter IV, Knowledge Examination, PDF p. 34
$25
A GDL violation is a misdemeanor fined $25 the first time, $50 the second and $75 after that.
Source: West Virginia Code §17B-2-3a, W. Va. Code §17B-2-3a(f)
Six months
The adult permit lasts six months; if it expires, both the vision and knowledge tests must be taken again.
Source: West Virginia Code §17B-2-5, W. Va. Code §17B-2-5(a); handbook Regular Instruction Permit, PDF p. 19
Within 20 days
State law requires written notice to the DMV within 20 days; telling the Post Office does not update your DMV record.
A licensed driver aged 21 or older
The supervisor must be licensed, at least 21, alert and unimpaired, and the only other person in the front seat (a driving instructor on duty also qualifies).
Source: West Virginia Code §17B-2-3a, W. Va. Code §17B-2-3a(c)(2)(A)
We wrote these practice questions from the facts in the West Virginia Driver's Licensing Handbook (Driver's Licensing Handbook, cover dated 'Revised 07/2026' (Drivers_Licensing_Handbook.pdf on webapps.transportation.wv.gov, 90 PDF pages, PDF created 2026-08-04; the file linked from the DMV's Driver's Licensing Handbooks page, dmv.wv.gov/driver-services/drivers/drivers-licensing-handbooks; the older 'Procedures on Driver's Licenses' page still links a 07/2022 web version, which was not used), read 2026-11-10. Page numbers cited are PDF pages; the printed page number is the PDF page minus 10 (PDF p. 34 = printed p. 24). Many pages use embedded fonts whose text extracts as shifted glyph codes; the text in sources/WV/handbook.txt was decoded by shifting those codes back, and some closing parentheses are lost, but the wording is otherwise intact. Every legal rule used in questions was checked against the West Virginia Code on code.wvlegislature.gov (read 2026-11-10; section texts saved in sources/WV/code_*.txt), and questions follow the statute. Out-of-date or inconsistent handbook statements and how they were handled: (1) distracted driving (PDF pp. 27-28) describes a hands-free rule with fines of $100, $200 and $300 plus three points; §17C-14-15 as amended in 2023 bans holding or supporting a device and sets fines of up to $100, up to $200 and, for a third conviction within 24 months, up to $350 with three points and a possible 90-day suspension; questions use the statute; (2) the DUI penalty chart (PDF p. 32) is out of date: §17C-5-2 (amended through the 2026 session; the only 2026 amendment, HB 4712, 'Baylea's Law', Acts 2026 ch. 103, took effect June 12, 2026 per the Legislature's bill status page and changes only the felony for deliberate-disregard DUI causing death in subsection (b)(1), which no question tests) sets revocation of six months for a first DUI under 0.15 (chart: 15 days), one year at 0.15 or more (chart: 45 days), one year with a passenger under 16 (chart: 60 days), 10 years for a second offense (chart: 1 year), a felony of two to five years for a third (chart: 1 to 3 years), and for drivers under 21 at 0.02 to under 0.08 a 60-day suspension for a first offense and one year or until 21 for a second (chart: 30 days; 60 days or until 18); questions use the statute and do not test the injury and death tiers; (3) under-21 alcohol: PDF pp. 31 and 32 describe zero tolerance for any measurable alcohol, but the definitions (PDF p. 9) and §17C-5-2(j) set the under-21 offense at 0.02 percent; the no-measurable-alcohol rule is used only for Level 1 and Level 2 GDL holders (§17B-2-3a); (4) refusal (PDF p. 32: revocation for one year and up to life; PDF p. 10: at least one year): §17C-5-7a(e) revokes, after a court finding, for one year or 45 days plus a year of test and lock for a first refusal, 10 years after one earlier refusal revocation and life after more; §17C-5-4(e) warns of at least 45 days and up to life; refusing only a blood test cannot cause revocation (§17C-5-4(d)); questions use the statute; (5) crash reporting: PDF p. 26 says report within five days, but §17C-4-6 requires immediate notice by the quickest means for injury, death or apparent damage of $1,000 or more; questions use the statute; (6) the no-passing list (PDF p. 59) bans passing within 100 feet of a bridge, viaduct, tunnel or underpass; §17C-7-6(a)(3) applies only when the view is obstructed, so no question states the flat bridge rule; (7) following distance: the three-to-four second rule (PDF pp. 57, 61) conflicts with the truck safety chart's two-second rule in dry conditions (PDF p. 63), so following_seconds is left open; (8) the 70 mph interstate maximum (PDF p. 52) is not in §17C-6-1, which only says interstate limits may not be below 55 mph; the 70 mph question cites the handbook; (9) the move-over law (§17C-14-9a: lane change or 15/25 mph for any stationary vehicle with emergency, amber or hazard lights, flares or a warning sign) is missing from the handbook; questions cite the statute; (10) the fee chart (PDF p. 25) lists a $5.00 Level 1 permit fee while PDF p. 20 and §17B-2-3a(c)(1)(D) give $7.50; not tested. Rules matched between handbook and statute: GDL levels (§17B-2-3a), school zone 15 mph and 125 feet (§17C-6-1), parking distances (§17C-13-3), school bus stop and first-offense fine (§17C-12-7), seat belts (§17C-15-49), child seats (§17C-15-46), dimming at 500 and 200 feet (§17C-15-21), insurance minimums (§17D-4-2), biennial inspection (§17C-16-4). edition) and from official sources on road signs. Every answer links to its source, so you can check it and read more.
DMV Decoded is an independent guide, not a government agency. This practice test is not connected to the West Virginia Division of Motor Vehicles, and your actual test will have different questions. Study the handbook, and check the agency's website for current rules.