In New Jersey, all new drivers, regardless of age, must go through the state’s Graduated Driver License (GDL) Program. They must obtain a learner’s permit before applying for a probationary driver’s license. Requirements for a learner’s permit include passing a vision test and an official knowledge (permit) test on driving theory. You must take the permit test at an MVC licensing center, not online. If you’re under 18, you must provide signed consent from a parent or guardian. If you’re 16 years old, you must also complete an approved behind-the-wheel driver training course before applying for the learner’s permit.
The official knowledge (permit) test includes questions on traffic signs and signals, New Jersey traffic laws and regulations (including DUI laws), safe driving practices, and sharing the road with other road users. All questions on the knowledge test are based on information in the official New Jersey MVC driver’s 2025 handbook (New Jersey MVC Handbook (NJ Driver's Manual) 2025). The MVC currently publishes versions of this manual in four languages, of which we currently offer two for your convenience: English and Spanish. These versions of the manual can be easily downloaded from this webpage in PDF format.
You should study this manual, but consider doing even more to be sure of passing the permit test. Our permit test preparation program goes beyond the official driver’s handbook by providing a graduated series of practice tests accompanied by our AI assistant. It can give you hints and explanations and answer your questions to help you understand the theory underlying the test questions.
We have also created an audiobook of the English version of the official driver’s manual. It’s formatted as a downloadable series of twelve MP3 files, one for each chapter of the handbook: The New Jersey Driver License System, New Jersey Driver Testing, Driver Responsibility, and so on. The longest chapter is Chapter 10: Motorcycle Manual, whose running time is 1 hour, 15 minutes, and 11 seconds. (However, you probably won’t need to know most of that chapter to pass a knowledge test on car driving.) The total running time of this audiobook is approximately 5 hours, 49 minutes, and 52 seconds, so you may be able to get through the whole thing in several days.
In addition to the official handbook, we also offer our own permit test study guide (available elsewhere on this website) to help prepare you for the day of your New Jersey knowledge test. It covers how to be at your best before and during the test, what documents to take with you, frequently missed test questions, and how to take multiple-choice tests.