The Utah DLD Test is the written knowledge test given at a Driver License Division office. It is taken by people applying for a learner permit, a driver license or a commercial license. This page gives you free practice sets on licensing, points, REAL ID and CDL topics, worked questions with explanations, a study plan and answers to common questions.
Numbers in brackets link to the official sources listed under Sources & last verified. Dates that have passed are removed automatically.
| Item | Detail | Source · Verified |
|---|---|---|
| Number of questions (CDL general knowledge) | 50 questions[1] | Utah Department of Public Safety Driver License Division · Oct 27, 2026 |
| Number of questions (First-time applicants (never licensed)) | 50 questions, closed book[2] | Utah Department of Public Safety Driver License Division · Oct 27, 2026 |
| Number of questions (Learner permit) | 50 questions, closed book[5] | Utah Department of Public Safety Driver License Division · Oct 27, 2026 |
| Number of questions (Previously licensed applicants) | 25 questions, open book[2] | Utah Department of Public Safety Driver License Division · Oct 27, 2026 |
| Time limit | Untimed (generally 30–45 minutes)[3] | Utah Department of Public Safety Driver License Division · Oct 27, 2026 |
| Passing score | 80% or better[3] | Utah Department of Public Safety Driver License Division · Oct 27, 2026 |
| Passing score (CDL written tests) | 80%[1] | Utah Department of Public Safety Driver License Division · Oct 27, 2026 |
| Exam fee (Class D license (age 21+)) | $52.00[4] | Utah Department of Public Safety Driver License Division · Oct 27, 2026 |
| Exam fee (Class D license (under 21)) | $39.00[4] | Utah Department of Public Safety Driver License Division · Oct 27, 2026 |
| Exam fee (Learner permit) | $19.00[4] | Utah Department of Public Safety Driver License Division · Oct 27, 2026 |
| Retake fee (CDL written test) | $26.00 after two attempts[1] | Utah Department of Public Safety Driver License Division · Oct 27, 2026 |
| Retake policy | Up to 3 attempts within 12 months per fee; 2 tests per day[3] | Utah Department of Public Safety Driver License Division · Oct 27, 2026 |
| Retake policy (Same-day / appointment) | Two tests per day; retest by appointment[2] | Utah Department of Public Safety Driver License Division · Oct 27, 2026 |
| Validity (Learner permit) | 18 months[5] | Utah Department of Public Safety Driver License Division · Oct 27, 2026 |
| Delivery | In-person at Driver License Division office[5] | Utah Department of Public Safety Driver License Division · Oct 27, 2026 |
| Eligibility (Learner permit) | At least 15 years of age[5] | Utah Department of Public Safety Driver License Division · Oct 27, 2026 |
According to Utah Department of Public Safety Driver License Division, “The general written knowledge test is 50 questions.”[1]
The written knowledge test is part of getting a Utah license. The Utah Department of Public Safety Driver License Division gives it in person at a Driver License Division office. To apply for a learner permit you must be at least 15 years of age. The fee is $19.00 for a learner permit, $52.00 for a Class D license at age 21 or older, and $39.00 for a Class D license under age 21.
The format depends on your history. Someone who has never been licensed takes a closed-book test of 50 questions. Someone who was previously licensed takes an open-book test of 25 questions. The learner permit test is also 50 questions, closed book. The CDL general knowledge test is 50 questions as well, and all commercial tests are closed-book and multiple choice.
You need a score of 80% or better to pass. The test is not timed, though it generally takes 30 to 45 minutes. Your fee covers up to 3 attempts within 12 months, and you can test 2 times in one day. If you need to retest, you schedule an appointment, and a second fee is required after the allowed failures. For the CDL written test, a second test fee of $26.00 applies after 2 attempts. Test scores and permits are valid for 18 months.
Fees and rules can change, so check the Driver License Division website before you go.
Prepare for the Utah DLD Test exam with our free practice test modules. Each quiz covers key topics to help you pass on your first try.
These are practice questions written for this site, not questions from the real exam. Each explanation shows why the right answer is right and why the others are wrong.
Question: What is the maximum number of points an adult driver (21 and older) can accumulate in a 3-year period before facing license suspension in Utah?
Answer: B. 200 points
Explanation:
The correct answer is 200 points. In Utah, an adult driver aged 21 or older who reaches 200 points within a 3-year period faces license suspension. That is the threshold the question asks about.
150 points is wrong because it sits below the suspension line, so it does not describe when suspension begins. 100 points is wrong for the same reason, and it is even further below the limit. 250 points is wrong because suspension is triggered at 200, not at a higher figure; waiting until 250 would mean the limit had already been passed.
The rule to remember: points are counted over a rolling time window, and reaching the stated limit inside that window, not the end of it, is what triggers action on your license. Check the current handbook for how points are assigned.
Question: What is the purpose of a REAL ID-compliant card?
Answer: B. To access federal facilities, military bases, and board domestic flights.
Explanation:
The correct answer is that a REAL ID-compliant card is used to access federal facilities, military bases and board domestic flights. The REAL ID Act set minimum security standards for state-issued licenses and identification cards, and those federal purposes are where the standard applies.
It is not a national driver's license, so that option is wrong: the card is still issued by a state. It does not replace a passport for international travel, because passports remain the document for that. It has nothing to do with tax filing without a Social Security Number, so that option is wrong too.
The rule to remember: REAL ID is about meeting federal identity standards for specific federal uses. It is not a new kind of license, and it is not a travel document for other countries.
Question: What additional testing is required for a Utah CDL applicant who needs an air brakes endorsement?
Answer: A. A separate air brakes knowledge test and a pre-trip air brake inspection during skills test
Explanation:
The correct answer is a separate air brakes knowledge test plus a pre-trip air brake inspection during the skills test. An air brakes endorsement is not covered by the general exam alone, so it adds both a written part and a demonstration part.
Only a vision test is wrong because a vision check does not show you understand air brake systems. An additional road skills test on a specific air brake vehicle is wrong because the requirement is an inspection demonstrated during the skills test, not a separate road test on a particular vehicle. No additional testing is wrong because the General Knowledge test does not include air brake content.
The rule to remember: each endorsement can bring its own knowledge test, and some also bring a skills component.
Start with the official Driver Handbook, since the written test is built from it. Read a section, then practise the matching set here while the material is fresh. Begin with driver license requirements, then move to graduated driver licensing if you are a younger applicant.
Next, work through the topic sets that match your situation: driving record and points, REAL ID compliance, identification cards and vehicle registration. If you plan to drive commercially, add the commercial driver license set.
After each set, read the explanation for every question you missed and find the same point in the handbook. Write down the rule in your own words. Keep a short list of weak topics and return to them on later days instead of rereading everything. Before test day, take a mixed run from the main practice test without the handbook open, and check the Driver License Division site for current requirements and what to bring.
It depends on your history. Someone who has never been licensed takes a closed-book test of 50 questions. A previously licensed applicant takes an open-book test of 25 questions. The learner permit test and the CDL general knowledge test are each 50 questions.
You need 80% or better. The same 80% applies to the commercial driver license written tests, which are closed-book and multiple choice. The test is not timed, but it generally takes 30 to 45 minutes to finish.
Your fee allows up to 3 attempts within 12 months, and you can test 2 times in one day. If you need to retest, schedule an appointment. After the allowed failures, a second fee is required. For the CDL written test, that second fee is $26.00.
You must be at least 15 years of age to apply for a learner permit. The permit fee is $19.00, and you must pass a 50-question closed-book test. Test scores and permits are valid for 18 months.
A Class D license costs $52.00 at age 21 or older and $39.00 under age 21. A learner permit costs $19.00. Fees can change, so confirm the current amounts on the Driver License Division fees page before you visit.
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