Three States, Three Different Tests
The written (knowledge) test is not the same everywhere. California asks 46 questions of teens and 36 of adults and wants 83%; Texas asks 30 and wants 70%; Florida asks 50 and wants 80%. The retake rules, fees, learner-permit ages and even the alcohol limit for drivers under 21 all differ. This page puts the numbers side by side, each taken from the state's current official driver handbook, so you can see exactly what your state requires — and what changes if you move.
The Knowledge Test Itself
| Item | California | Texas | Florida |
|---|---|---|---|
| Official name | Class C knowledge test | Class C knowledge exam | Class E Knowledge Exam |
| Number of questions | 36 (18 and older); 46 (under 18) | 30 | 50 |
| Passing score | 83% — 30 of 36, or 38 of 46 | 70% — 21 of 30 | 80% — 40 of 50 |
| Questions you can miss | 6 (adult) / 8 (under 18) | 9 | 10 |
| Time limit | None published | None published | 60 minutes |
| Attempts | 3 per application, then reapply | 3 within the 90-day application window, then reapply and pay again | Unlimited; $10 per written retest |
| Waiting period between attempts | Minors: 7 days (not counting the day of the failure); none published for adults | None published | None published |
| Where you take it | DMV office; eLearning alternative for renewals | DPS office, or inside an approved driver education course | Driver license or tax collector office; approved online providers for under-18s |
| Source material | California Driver's Handbook | Texas Driver Handbook (DL-7) | Florida Class E Driver License Handbook |
Two things stand out. Florida is the only one of the three with a published clock, and Texas is the only one where a driver education course can replace the office exam entirely — its Less Tears More Years Act requires driver education for everyone under 25, and approved courses administer the knowledge exam themselves.
Fees, Ages and the Learner Stage
| Item | California | Texas | Florida |
|---|---|---|---|
| Application fee (includes the test) | $46 original Class C | $16 under 18; $33 for 18 and older (valid eight years) | $48 learner's or first Class E license |
| Retest fee | Included in the application's 3 attempts | Included within the 90-day window | $10 per written retest |
| Minimum age for a learner permit | 15½ | 15 | 15 |
| Required before the permit | Driver education (under 17½) | Classroom driver education; VOE form if under 18 | TLSAE course (every first-time driver); vision and knowledge exams |
| Learner holding period (under 18) | 6 months | 6 months | 12 months or until 18, whichever first |
| Supervised practice required | 50 hours, 10 at night | Behind-the-wheel driver education plus the Impact Texas Drivers (ITD) course before the driving test | 50 hours, 10 at night, with no moving-violation convictions for 12 months |
| Supervising driver | Licensed adult 25 or older | Licensed driver 21 or older with at least one year of experience | Licensed driver 21 or older |
| Provisional / intermediate license from | 16 | 16 | 16 |
The Rules the Tests Ask About — Compared
| Rule | California | Texas | Florida |
|---|---|---|---|
| Legal limit, 21 and over | 0.08% BAC | 0.08 BAC | 0.08 BAL |
| Under-21 limit | 0.01% | Any detectable amount | 0.02 (automatic six-month suspension) |
| Minimum insurance | 30/60/15 liability | 30/60/25 liability | $10,000 PIP + $10,000 property damage liability |
| Following distance taught | 3 seconds | 2 seconds at 30 mph or less; 4 seconds above | 4 seconds |
| Dim high beams | 500 ft oncoming / 300 ft following | 500 ft / 300 ft | 500 ft / 300 ft |
| No parking within … of a hydrant | 15 ft | 15 ft | 15 ft |
| Default residential speed | 25 mph | 30 mph (urban district) | 30 mph |
| Default highway speed | 65 mph (55 on two-lane undivided) | 70 mph numbered highways; 60 un-numbered | 55 mph; 70 on limited-access highways |
| School bus, oncoming traffic exempt when | Divided highway or two or more lanes each way | Different road, or controlled-access loading zone | Raised barrier or unpaved median at least 5 ft wide |
| Left turn on red | One-way onto one-way only | One-way onto one-way only | One-way onto one-way only |
For the reasoning behind each of these — and the traps the questions set — see the eight rules most drivers get wrong.
Moving Between These States
- Into California: a valid out-of-state license lets you skip the driving test but not the knowledge test — you take the 36-question exam when you transfer.
- Into Texas: adults 18 and over surrendering a valid out-of-state license skip both the knowledge and driving exams; under-18s still complete driver education.
- Into Florida: the knowledge and driving-skills exams are waived for holders of a valid license from any U.S. state, but the TLSAE course is still required unless you held a license from another state, country or jurisdiction.
Practice for Your State
Each bank is written from that state's handbook and mirrors its format — 46 questions at 83%, 30 at 70%, 50 at 80% — so a passing practice score means something. Start with the free set: California questions and answers, Texas questions and answers, Florida questions and answers. State guides: California, Texas, Florida.
Frequently Asked Questions
Which state has the easiest DMV written test?
By the numbers, Texas: 30 questions with 70% to pass, so you can miss 9. Florida allows 10 misses out of 50 (80%), and California allows only 6 out of 36 or 8 out of 46 (83%). The content is comparable; the pass bar is what differs.
How many questions are on the DMV written test in California, Texas and Florida?
California: 36 for adults and 46 for applicants under 18. Texas: 30. Florida: 50.
How much does the written test cost?
It is included in the license application fee: $46 in California, $16 (under 18) or $33 (adults) in Texas, and $48 in Florida, where each written retest costs a further $10.
Is there a time limit on the DMV written test?
Florida gives 60 minutes for its 50 questions. California and Texas do not publish a time limit; most people finish in 20–30 minutes.
How many times can I retake the written test?
California: three attempts per application, then reapply (minors wait seven days between attempts). Texas: three attempts within the 90-day application window, then a new application and fee. Florida: no published cap; each retest costs $10.
Do I have to retake the written test if I move to another state?
It depends on where you move. California requires the knowledge test for transfers; Texas and Florida waive it for adults with a valid license from another U.S. state (Florida still requires the TLSAE course unless you were licensed elsewhere).
What is the under-21 alcohol limit in each state?
California 0.01%, Texas any detectable amount, Florida 0.02 — all far below the 0.08 adult limit, and all triggering an automatic suspension.
Sources
- California Driver's Handbook and DMV Licensing Fees, California DMV; question counts and allowed errors from the DMV Research and Development Branch's evaluation of the Class C knowledge tests.
- Texas Driver Handbook DL-7, Texas DPS, revised January 2026 — Chapter 1 (licensing, fees, exams), Chapters 3, 6, 7 and 10.
- Florida Class E Driver License Handbook, FLHSMV — licensing requirements, fee schedule, Class E Knowledge Exam, insurance, alcohol.
