Passing
The Test

Where’s the hardest place in the USA to pass your driving test? To find out, we gathered license and test information from each state’s Official Driver Handbook, and asked an expert to assign each element an overall score.
Scroll down to see the results.

How did we work this out?
Learner permit

Learner permit

Requirement in months (aged 18 years+)

Total cost

Total cost

License fee and tests ($)

Knowledge test

Knowledge test

% needed to pass
No. of free attempts before reapplying

Road test

Road test

No. of graded elements
No. of free attempts before reapplying

Find your state
U.S 
State
Learner
permit (over 18 years)
Cost ($)
Knowledge
test
Road
test
Difficulty
score /100
MA Massachusetts
Score
Required
Min. 9 months
5
$50
License: $15 Tests: $35
4
72% to pass
Attempts included: 1
27
16 elements
Maneuvers: 7 Driver behavior: 2 Vehicle control: 3 Adherence: 4 Attempts included: 0
41
77
 
77
MD Maryland
Score
Required
Min. 18 months
10
$9
License: $9 Tests: $0
1
85% to pass
Attempts included: 3
29
15 elements
Maneuvers: 5 Driver behavior: 1 Vehicle control: 5 Adherence: 4 Attempts included: 1
35
75
 
75
SC South Carolina
Score
Required
Min. 6 months
3
$5
License: $3 Tests: $2
1
80% to pass
Attempts included: 0
31
17 elements
Maneuvers: 8 Driver behavior: 2 Vehicle control: 4 Adherence: 3 Attempts included: 3
39
73
 
73
KS Kansas
Score
None
0 months
0
$10
License: $7 Tests: $3
1
80% to pass
Attempts included: 0
31
17 elements
Maneuvers: 7 Driver behavior: 1 Vehicle control: 6 Adherence: 3 Attempts included: 0
40
72
 
72
VA Virginia
Score
None
0 months
0
$4
License: $4 Tests: $0
1
86% to pass
Attempts included: 1
31
17 elements
Maneuvers: 8 Driver behavior: 1 Vehicle control: 6 Adherence: 2 Attempts included: 1
39
71
 
71
KY Kentucky
Score
Required
Min. 6 months
3
$5
License: $5 Tests: $0
1
80% to pass
Attempts included: 1
29
15 elements
Maneuvers: 9 Driver behavior: 1 Vehicle control: 4 Adherence: 1 Attempts included: 1
36
70
 
70
DC District of Columbia
Score
Required
Min. 6 months
3
$26
License: $6 Tests: $20
2
75% to pass
Attempts included: 0
29
13 elements
Maneuvers: 6 Driver behavior: 1 Vehicle control: 2 Adherence: 4 Attempts included: 0
35
69
 
69
OK Oklahoma
Score
Required
Min. 1 months
1
$16
License: $6 Tests: $10
1
80% to pass
Attempts included: 0
31
14 elements
Maneuvers: 6 Driver behavior: 1 Vehicle control: 3 Adherence: 4 Attempts included: 0
36
69
 
69
NM New Mexico
Score
Required
Min. 12 months
7
$5
License: $5 Tests: $0
1
68% to pass
Attempts included: 3
23
16 elements
Maneuvers: 7 Driver behavior: 1 Vehicle control: 5 Adherence: 3 Attempts included: 1
38
68
 
68
AL Alabama
Score
None
0 months
0
$9
License: $9 Tests: $0
1
80% to pass
Attempts included: 1
29
16 elements
Maneuvers: 6 Driver behavior: 1 Vehicle control: 6 Adherence: 3 Attempts included: 1
36
67
 
67
PA Pennsylvania
Score
None
0 months
0
$9
License: $9 Tests: $0
1
83% to pass
Attempts included: 3
28
18 elements
Maneuvers: 6 Driver behavior: 1 Vehicle control: 7 Adherence: 4 Attempts included: 3
38
67
 
67
FL Florida
Score
None
0 months
0
$6
License: $6 Tests: $0
1
80% to pass
Attempts included: 1
29
14 elements
Maneuvers: 9 Driver behavior: 1 Vehicle control: 2 Adherence: 2 Attempts included: 1
36
67
 
67
VT Vermont
Score
Required
Min. 2 months
1
$67
License: $16 Tests: $51
4
80% to pass
Attempts included: 0
31
10 elements
Maneuvers: 6 Driver behavior: 1 Vehicle control: 0 Adherence: 3 Attempts included: 0
30
66
 
66
CA California
Score
Required
Min. 6 months
3
$7
License: $7 Tests: $0
1
83% to pass
Attempts included: 3
28
15 elements
Maneuvers: 4 Driver behavior: 1 Vehicle control: 6 Adherence: 4 Attempts included: 1
34
66
 
66
MS Mississippi
Score
Required
Min. 6 months
3
$6
License: $6 Tests: $0
1
70% to pass
Attempts included: 3
24
15 elements
Maneuvers: 8 Driver behavior: 2 Vehicle control: 4 Adherence: 1 Attempts included: 1
36
64
 
64
TN Tennessee
Score
None
0 months
0
$5
License: $5 Tests: $0
1
77% to pass
Attempts included: 1
28
16 elements
Maneuvers: 5 Driver behavior: 1 Vehicle control: 7 Adherence: 3 Attempts included: 1
35
64
 
64
OR Oregon
Score
None
0 months
0
$22
License: $8 Tests: $14
2
80% to pass
Attempts included: 0
31
12 elements
Maneuvers: 5 Driver behavior: 1 Vehicle control: 3 Adherence: 3 Attempts included: 0
31
64
 
64
NJ New Jersey
Score
None
0 months
0
$10
License: $10 Tests: $0
2
80% to pass
Attempts included: 1
29
14 elements
Maneuvers: 6 Driver behavior: 1 Vehicle control: 3 Adherence: 4 Attempts included: 3
33
63
 
63
NC North Carolina
Score
None
0 months
0
$5
License: $5 Tests: $0
1
80% to pass
Attempts included: 3
27
16 elements
Maneuvers: 9 Driver behavior: 1 Vehicle control: 5 Adherence: 1 Attempts included: 3
35
63
 
63
MO Missouri
Score
None
0 months
0
$3
License: $3 Tests: $0
1
80% to pass
Attempts included: 3
27
15 elements
Maneuvers: 8 Driver behavior: 1 Vehicle control: 3 Adherence: 3 Attempts included: 3
35
62
 
62
RI Rhode Island
Score
Required
Min. 12 months
7
$34
License: $8 Tests: $27
2
80% to pass
Attempts included: 1
29
10 elements
Maneuvers: 4 Driver behavior: 1 Vehicle control: 5 Adherence: 0 Attempts included: 0
24
62
 
62
LA Louisiana
Score
None
0 months
0
$6
License: $6 Tests: $0
1
80% to pass
Attempts included: 1
29
13 elements
Maneuvers: 5 Driver behavior: 1 Vehicle control: 4 Adherence: 3 Attempts included: 1
31
62
 
62
IN Indiana
Score
None
0 months
0
$3
License: $3 Tests: $0
0
70% to pass
Attempts included: 1
26
16 elements
Maneuvers: 6 Driver behavior: 1 Vehicle control: 5 Adherence: 4 Attempts included: 3
35
62
 
62
MI Michigan
Score
Required
Min. 1 months
1
$6
License: $6 Tests: $0
1
70% to pass
Attempts included: 2
25
14 elements
Maneuvers: 6 Driver behavior: 1 Vehicle control: 3 Adherence: 4 Attempts included: 1
35
62
 
62
GA Georgia
Score
None
0 months
0
$14
License: $4 Tests: $10
1
75% to pass
Attempts included: 0
29
12 elements
Maneuvers: 7 Driver behavior: 1 Vehicle control: 3 Adherence: 1 Attempts included: 0
31
61
 
61
ND North Dakota
Score
Required
Min. 6 months
3
$14
License: $4 Tests: $10
1
80% to pass
Attempts included: 0
31
10 elements
Maneuvers: 7 Driver behavior: 0 Vehicle control: 3 Adherence: 0 Attempts included: 0
26
61
 
61
MN Minnesota
Score
Required
Min. 6 months
3
$6
License: $6 Tests: $0
1
80% to pass
Attempts included: 2
28
12 elements
Maneuvers: 5 Driver behavior: 1 Vehicle control: 3 Adherence: 3 Attempts included: 2
29
61
 
61
WI Wisconsin
Score
Required
Min. 1 months
1
$19
License: $4 Tests: $15
1
80% to pass
Attempts included: 2
28
12 elements
Maneuvers: 5 Driver behavior: 1 Vehicle control: 3 Adherence: 3 Attempts included: 0
31
61
 
61
ID Idaho
Score
None
0 months
0
$35
License: $8 Tests: $27
2
85% to pass
Attempts included: 0
32
11 elements
Maneuvers: 5 Driver behavior: 0 Vehicle control: 5 Adherence: 1 Attempts included: 0
26
61
 
61
CT Connecticut
Score
Required
Min. 3 months
2
$52
License: $12 Tests: $40
3
80% to pass
Attempts included: 0
31
10 elements
Maneuvers: 4 Driver behavior: 0 Vehicle control: 4 Adherence: 2 Attempts included: 0
25
61
 
61
WV West Virginia
Score
Required
Min. 0.4 months
0
$6
License: $6 Tests: $0
1
76% to pass
Attempts included: 1
28
14 elements
Maneuvers: 4 Driver behavior: 1 Vehicle control: 5 Adherence: 4 Attempts included: 2
31
60
 
60
NH New Hampshire
Score
None
0 months
0
$17
License: $17 Tests: $0
3
80% to pass
Attempts included: 3
27
14 elements
Maneuvers: 5 Driver behavior: 1 Vehicle control: 5 Adherence: 3 Attempts included: 3
30
59
 
59
AK Alaska
Score
None
0 months
0
$19
License: $4 Tests: $15
1
80% to pass
Attempts included: 1
29
12 elements
Maneuvers: 6 Driver behavior: 0 Vehicle control: 5 Adherence: 1 Attempts included: 0
29
59
 
59
TX Texas
Score
None
0 months
0
$15
License: $4 Tests: $11
1
72% to pass
Attempts included: 3
24
14 elements
Maneuvers: 6 Driver behavior: 1 Vehicle control: 5 Adherence: 2 Attempts included: 0
34
59
 
59
DE Delaware
Score
Required
Min. 6 months
3
$5
License: $5 Tests: $0
1
80% to pass
Attempts included: 1
29
10 elements
Maneuvers: 6 Driver behavior: 0 Vehicle control: 3 Adherence: 1 Attempts included: 1
25
59
 
59
HI Hawaii
Score
Required
Min. 6 months
3
$15
License: $5 Tests: $10
1
80% to pass
Attempts included: 0
31
8 elements
Maneuvers: 2 Driver behavior: 1 Vehicle control: 2 Adherence: 3 Attempts included: 0
23
58
 
58
WY Wyoming
Score
None
0 months
0
$10
License: $10 Tests: $0
2
80% to pass
Attempts included: 3
27
12 elements
Maneuvers: 5 Driver behavior: 0 Vehicle control: 4 Adherence: 3 Attempts included: 1
29
57
 
57
MT Montana
Score
None
0 months
0
$5
License: $5 Tests: $0
1
82% to pass
Attempts included: 3
28
13 elements
Maneuvers: 6 Driver behavior: 1 Vehicle control: 4 Adherence: 2 Attempts included: 3
29
57
 
57
IA Iowa
Score
Required
Min. 6 months
3
$4
License: $4 Tests: $0
1
80% to pass
Attempts included: 1
29
10 elements
Maneuvers: 2 Driver behavior: 1 Vehicle control: 4 Adherence: 3 Attempts included: 1
24
57
 
57
ME Maine
Score
None
0 months
0
$15
License: $5 Tests: $10
1
80% to pass
Attempts included: 0
31
9 elements
Maneuvers: 3 Driver behavior: 1 Vehicle control: 2 Adherence: 3 Attempts included: 0
25
57
 
57
IL Illinois
Score
None
0 months
0
$8
License: $8 Tests: $0
1
80% to pass
Attempts included: 3
27
13 elements
Maneuvers: 5 Driver behavior: 0 Vehicle control: 4 Adherence: 4 Attempts included: 3
29
57
 
57
UT Utah
Score
None
0 months
0
$6
License: $6 Tests: $0
1
80% to pass
Attempts included: 3
27
13 elements
Maneuvers: 5 Driver behavior: 2 Vehicle control: 4 Adherence: 2 Attempts included: 3
29
57
 
57
NV Nevada
Score
None
0 months
0
$31
License: $5 Tests: $26
2
80% to pass
Attempts included: 0
31
7 elements
Maneuvers: 6 Driver behavior: 0 Vehicle control: 1 Adherence: 0 Attempts included: 0
21
54
 
54
AZ Arizona
Score
Required
Min. 1 months
1
$5
License: $5 Tests: $0
1
80% to pass
Attempts included: 3
27
12 elements
Maneuvers: 3 Driver behavior: 1 Vehicle control: 5 Adherence: 3 Attempts included: 3
25
53
 
53
CO Colorado
Score
Required
0 months
0
$5
License: $5 Tests: $0
1
80% to pass
Attempts included: 1
29
10 elements
Maneuvers: 3 Driver behavior: 1 Vehicle control: 6 Adherence: 0 Attempts included: 1
21
52
 
52
NE Nebraska
Score
None
0 months
0
$5
License: $5 Tests: $0
1
80% to pass
Attempts included: 3
27
11 elements
Maneuvers: 4 Driver behavior: 1 Vehicle control: 4 Adherence: 2 Attempts included: 3
24
52
 
52
NY New York
Score
None
0 months
0
$20
License: $10 Tests: $10
2
70% to pass
Attempts included: 2
25
10 elements
Maneuvers: 1 Driver behavior: 1 Vehicle control: 6 Adherence: 2 Attempts included: 0
23
49
 
49
AR Arkansas
Score
None
0 months
0
$5
License: $5 Tests: $0
1
80% to pass
Attempts included: 1
29
7 elements
Maneuvers: 2 Driver behavior: 0 Vehicle control: 2 Adherence: 3 Attempts included: 1
19
49
 
49
OH Ohio
Score
None
0 months
0
$7
License: $7 Tests: $0
1
75% to pass
Attempts included: 3
25
9 elements
Maneuvers: 5 Driver behavior: 0 Vehicle control: 4 Adherence: 0 Attempts included: 3
19
45
 
45
SD South Dakota
Score
None
0 months
0
$9
License: $9 Tests: $0
1
80% to pass
Attempts included: 3
27
6 elements
Maneuvers: 4 Driver behavior: 0 Vehicle control: 2 Adherence: 0 Attempts included: 3
14
42
 
42
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