West Virginia Driver's License
West Virginia Knowledge Test — 25 questions, must answer 19 correct (76%) to pass
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📋 What to Bring
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Proof of identity, SSN & residency
One proof of identity, one proof of Social Security number, and two proofs of West Virginia residency (a REAL ID 'For Federal Use' card needs the same documents and costs $10 more)
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Application & fee
Complete the application and pay the fee at any DMV regional office; the knowledge test fee is $7.50 per attempt
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School Driver Eligibility Certificate & parent consent (if under 18)
Applicants under 18 need a valid School Driver Eligibility Certificate and a parent/guardian signature (form DMV-DS-23P) and must move through the Graduated Driver's License (GDL) program
📅 How to Schedule
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Study the handbook and practice
Read the West Virginia Driver's Licensing Handbook and take practice tests covering signs, traffic laws, DUI rules, and safe driving.
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Visit a DMV regional office
Bring your documents and fee to any WV DMV regional office. No phones or electronic devices are allowed in the exam room, and only the applicant may be present.
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Pass the vision and knowledge tests
Pass a vision screening (at least 20/40 in one eye) and the automated 25-question knowledge test (19 to pass). The test is timed; unanswered questions count as wrong. Then hold your instruction permit and pass the road skills test to be licensed.
💡 Test Day Tips
- •The West Virginia knowledge test has 25 questions; you must answer 19 correctly (76%) to pass, and the test is timed.
- •The legal BAC limit is 0.08 for drivers 21 and over; West Virginia has zero tolerance for drivers under 21, who lose their license for any measurable alcohol. Refusing the chemical (Breathalyzer) test revokes your license for one year up to life.
- •West Virginia uses a point system: points stay on your record for two years, 6 or more points brings a caution letter, and 12 points can suspend your license. An approved 8-hour defensive driving class removes 3 points, once every 12 months.
- •Young drivers go through the Graduated Driver's License program: Level 1 (instruction permit) at 15, Level 2 (intermediate) at 16, and Level 3 at 17. Level 1 and 2 drivers may not drive between 10 p.m. and 5 a.m. (with limited exceptions) and have passenger limits.
- •West Virginia requires liability insurance with minimums of $25,000 for one injury/death, $50,000 for two or more, and $25,000 for property damage. Using a handheld wireless device while driving is prohibited — only hands-free use is allowed.
📚 Driver Handbook
All practice questions are based on the chapters below. Click any chapter to read it on the official DMV website.
🎯 Practice by Topic
Driver's License Information
Who must be licensed and who is exempt, REAL ID vs. Not-For-Federal cards and required proof documents, the Graduated Driver's License (GDL) Levels 1–3 with their ages and restrictions, instruction and motorcycle permits, license classes, color-coding by age, Drive for Five, designations, and the fee schedule.
Driver Responsibilities
School attendance for minors, reporting unsafe drivers and re-examination, crash reporting, compulsory West Virginia liability insurance and minimum coverage, the wireless-device/texting law, the point system, license compacts, fraudulent use, and mandatory revocation.
Driving Under The Influence
West Virginia's DUI laws: the legal drinking age and zero tolerance for drivers under 21, blood-alcohol limits, implied consent and chemical testing, the DUI penalty tiers, the interlock program, and the dangers of drowsy driving.
Examination Procedures And Requirements
What to expect on the West Virginia driver's exam: the vision screening, the knowledge-test format, the vehicle and equipment check, illegal equipment, and the automatic-failure actions on the road test.
Traffic Control Devices
Traffic signs by shape and color and their meanings, regulatory/warning/guide and construction signs, railroad crossing signs and signals, traffic lights and flashers, lane-use and crosswalk signals, and pavement markings.
Traffic Laws And Rules Of The Road
The core rules of the road: speed limits and the basic speed law, signaling, turning, backing and parking (including prohibited-parking distances and parking on hills), following distance, passing, right-of-way, school-bus rules, headlight use, and sharing the road with pedestrians, motorcycles, bicycles, trucks and slow vehicles.
Driving On Interstates
Interstate driving: route and exit numbering, planning ahead, entering using the acceleration lane and merging, exiting and deceleration lanes, interstate speeds, stopping rules, adverse conditions, and work zones.
Defensive Driving
Defensive driving: avoiding bad driving habits, maintaining concentration, handling rain and hydroplaning, flooding, snow and ice, high winds, fog and other adverse conditions, managing fatigue and emotions, and using seat belts, air bags and child restraints.
Emergency Situations
Handling driving emergencies: blowouts, brake failure, an overheating engine, skids, a stuck gas pedal, wheels off the road, steering or headlight failure, a vehicle fire, stalling on railroad tracks, the Good Samaritan Law, what to do after a crash, and the West Virginia Courtesy Patrol.