Where to study

Tests

Driving testsCitizenship testsSchool and university admissionsNursing, medicine and healthEnglish and French testsTeachingMoney, law and insuranceTrades and work licencesPilots, drones, boats and radio

Countries

United StatesCanadaUnited KingdomAustraliaNew Zealand

Nebraska · Permit test

Nebraska permit test and learner’s permit

You can take the written test for a learner’s permit (LPD) from 60 days before your 15th birthday, at any Nebraska DMV driver licensing office. The Nebraska permit test is the Class O written test, and Nebraska DMV’s examiner manual sets it at 25 questions with 5 you can miss, so 20 right is a pass. You also pass a vision test and show proof of who you are, your Nebraska address and your Social Security number. The permit is issued once you’re 15 and lasts one year, for practice with a licensed driver 21 or older in the seat beside you.

  • 25Questions on the Class O written test
  • 20Right answers you need to pass
  • 15Youngest age for a learner’s permit (LPD)
  • $13Learner’s permit fee, security fee included
Where to studyHow the test works

Updated October 2026 · Written from the Nebraska Driver’s Manual (Class O, January 2025)

Key facts

At a glance

Who runs it
The Nebraska Department of Motor Vehicles (DMV), Driver Licensing Services
Where
Any driver licensing office in the state, not only the one in your county
Languages
English and Spanish, written or audio, plus American Sign Language
Other formats
A 24-question non-verbal picture test, if English and Spanish are both hard for you
How long the permit lasts
One year from the date it’s issued
What the permit allows
Practice driving with a licensed driver 21 or older in the seat beside you

How it works

How the Nebraska permit test works at the DMV

Class O written test
20 to pass
To pass you need 20 of 25 right.
  1. You take the written test on a touch-screen testing tablet at a Nebraska DMV driver licensing office, after a vision test that checks how sharp your sight is and your side vision.
  2. Headsets can read each question out loud, and a skip button lets you come back to a question later in the test.
  3. Phones must be off, and all your belongings go on the floor while you test.
  4. A pass stays valid for 6 months, so you can take the written test and come back later for anything else you need.
  5. If you pass, you get an issuance certificate. At the service centers you pay the examiner in the same visit; elsewhere you take the certificate to a county treasurer within 90 days.
  6. You leave with a 30-day receipt, and the card comes by mail in about 20 days. The post office won’t forward it, so give DMV your current address.

Topics

What’s on the test

01

Permits and graduated licensing

Nebraska’s graduated driver licensing (GDL) rules phase in driving for teens, from a school learner’s permit at 14 to a full Class O license at 17.

Key points (4)
  • You can get a learner’s permit (LPD) at 15. You may apply 60 days before your 15th birthday, and it lasts one year.
  • On an LPD or LPE you drive only with a licensed driver who is at least 21, sitting in the seat beside you.
  • A provisional operator’s permit (POP) holder may drive alone from 6 a.m. to midnight, and later only to or from work or a school activity.
  • For the first 6 months of a POP, you may carry only one passenger under 19 who isn’t an immediate family member.
02

Signals, signs and pavement markings

Section 3 of the Nebraska Driver’s Manual covers traffic lights, sign colors and shapes, and the lines painted on the road.

Key points (4)
  • A dark signal, for example in a power outage, is treated as an all-way stop.
  • After a full stop you may turn right on red unless a sign forbids it. A left on red is allowed only from a one-way street onto another one-way street.
  • Orange signs with black letters mark work zones, and fines double there when workers are present.
  • Double solid yellow lines mean no passing either way. You may cross them only to turn left or to get around an obstruction.
03

Right-of-way, speed and passing

The manual’s rules of the road say who goes first, how fast you may drive where no limit is posted, and when you can’t pass.

Key points (4)
  • At an uncontrolled intersection, yield to vehicles coming from your right.
  • Unless signs say otherwise, the limit is 20 mph in business districts, 25 mph in residential districts and 75 mph on rural interstates.
  • When an emergency vehicle uses its siren or lights, pull to the right edge and stop, clear of intersections.
  • You may not pass within 100 feet of an intersection or railroad crossing, or on a hill, curve or bridge where you can’t see ahead.
04

Turning, parking and railroad crossings

How to signal and turn, where you may not park, and what to do at a railroad crossing.

Key points (4)
  • Signal at least 100 feet before you turn or move left or right.
  • Don’t park within 15 feet of a fire hydrant, 20 feet of a crosswalk at an intersection or 30 feet of a stop sign or signal.
  • Facing uphill next to a curb, turn your wheels away from the curb. In every other case, turn them toward the curb or road edge.
  • When you must stop for a train, stop at the stop line, or 15 to 50 feet from the nearest rail.
05

Interstates, night and bad weather

Section 5 of the manual covers interstate driving, headlights and driving in rain, fog and wind.

Key points (4)
  • The minimum speed on the interstate is 40 mph, and slower traffic keeps right.
  • Headlights must be on from sunset to sunrise. Driving with only parking lights on is against the law.
  • Dim your high beams within 200 feet of a vehicle you’re following, and when you meet oncoming traffic.
  • Keep at least 3 seconds behind the vehicle ahead, and add a second for each problem such as rain or heavy traffic.
06

Sharing the road

Section 6 of the manual covers people on bikes and on foot, school buses, snowplows and large trucks.

Key points (4)
  • Leave at least three feet when you pass a person on a bike, and keep that space until you’re past.
  • When a school bus shows amber lights, slow to 25 mph and get ready to stop. Stop for red lights and the stop arm.
  • Traffic coming the other way doesn’t have to stop for a school bus on a road divided by a median.
  • Stay at least 100 feet behind a snowplow or maintenance vehicle that’s working, except to pass.
07

Alcohol, distraction and points

Nebraska’s alcohol limits, the texting law and the point system that can cost you your license.

Key points (4)
  • Under 21, the alcohol limit is .02. For everyone it’s .08, and .04 in a commercial vehicle.
  • Refusing a chemical test brings one year of administrative license revocation.
  • Using a handheld device to read, type or send a written message while moving is against the law and adds 3 points.
  • 12 points in two years means your license is revoked for six months.

Road signs

Nebraska road signs from the Driver’s Manual

The Nebraska Driver’s Manual teaches signs by color and shape: an octagon always means stop, a triangle yield, a pentagon a school zone. The list also includes the deer crossing sign and the orange triangle on slow farm equipment.

  • Red octagon with white border and the word STOP in whiteStop at the stop line. With no line, stop before the crosswalk
  • STOP sign with a red ALL WAY plaque beneath itAll-way stop: by courtesy, the first driver to stop goes first. If in doubt, yield to the right
  • Downward-pointing red triangle with white center and the word YIELD in redYield: slow down or stop to let crossing or merging traffic go first
  • Red circle with a white horizontal bar on a white square, reading DO NOT ENTERDo not enter: marks a one-way street or an expressway ramp you must not drive into
  • White sign reading SLOWER TRAFFIC KEEP RIGHTSlower traffic keep right, so faster drivers can pass on the left
  • Yellow pennant pointing right reading NO PASSING ZONENo passing zone: a yellow pennant on the left side of the road
  • Yellow diamond with three black arrows forming a counter-clockwise circleRoundabout ahead: slow down and yield to traffic already in it, on your left
  • Yellow diamond with a black leaping deerDeer crossing: deer can cross anywhere in Nebraska, so stay alert
  • Fluorescent yellow-green pentagon with two children walkingSchool: the five-sided shape marks school zones and crossings
  • Round yellow sign with a black X and two letters RRailroad crossing ahead: be ready to stop if a train is coming
  • White X-shaped crossbuck reading RAILROAD CROSSINGCrossbuck: if you must stop, stop 15 to 50 feet from the nearest rail
  • Fluorescent orange triangle with a red reflective borderSlow-moving vehicle: shown on vehicles going 25 mph or less, such as farm equipment

Test day

What to bring for your Nebraska learner’s permit

  • One proof of US citizenship or lawful status, such as a certified US birth certificate or a valid US passport
  • Two documents from different sources showing your Nebraska home address. Under 21, a parent’s or guardian’s documents count
  • Your full Social Security number, or a valid I-94 in a valid foreign passport if you don’t have one
  • A completed data form, unless you booked online, which fills it in for you
  • Your glasses or contact lenses, if you wear them
  • Money for the fee. Some county treasurers don’t take checks, so bring cash if you’re not sure

Before you go

  1. Read the Nebraska Driver’s Manual. Nebraska DMV says over 32% of first-time applicants fail the written test.
  2. Try Nebraska DMV’s online practice test and the sample test at the back of the manual.
  3. Check your documents against DMV’s Document Verification Requirements list. Photocopies and faxes aren’t accepted.
  4. Check the hours of your county’s office. Some smaller offices are open only on certain days.
  5. In Bellevue, Grand Island, Lincoln, Norfolk or Omaha, book an appointment online. Walk-in help there is limited.
  6. Avoid the busiest times: after 3 p.m., when schools are out, and the days before and after a holiday.
Nebraska DMV: schedule an appointmentAppointments are for the service centers in Bellevue, Grand Island, Lincoln, Norfolk and Omaha. Other driver licensing offices serve people during their posted hours.

Study options

Where to study

Nebraska DMV’s own study tools are free: the January 2025 Nebraska Driver’s Manual, an online practice test that DMV says draws on the same pool of questions as the real test, and a printed sample test at the back of the manual. Apps and websites add more practice, and DMV-approved driver safety schools teach teens the full course.

OptionPriceFree to useLinks
Official and free
Nebraska Driver’s ManualOfficial · PDF and audioNebraska DMV’s manual for the car permit and Class O written tests. The English edition is dated January 2025, the Spanish one December 2021, and the audio files follow the 2019 edition, so the English PDF is the one to trust where they differ.
FreeThe whole manual, with a sample test and answer key at the back
English manual (PDF) ↗Spanish manual (PDF) ↗Audio manual ↗
Nebraska DMV Online Practice Drivers ExaminationOfficial · webDMV says its questions and answers come from the same pool as the test given at its offices. DMV also posts the AAA sample test from the back of the manual as a separate PDF, and says those questions differ from the real test.
FreeAs many random questions as you choose, with the manual page for each answer
Practice test ↗AAA sample test (PDF) ↗
Motorcycle and CDL manuals and CDL practice testOfficial · PDF and webThe car manual doesn’t cover these tests. The Motorcycle Operator Manual is dated September 2024, and DMV has used its newer CDL manual since March 16, 2026.
FreeBoth manuals, and an online practice test for the CDL general knowledge test
Motorcycle manual (PDF) ↗CDL manual (PDF) ↗CDL practice test ↗
The Parent’s Supervised Driving ProgramParent guide · print, web and appNebraska DMV gives it to every teen under 16 who applies for a learner’s permit. It’s made by Safe Roads Alliance, a nonprofit, and its site says it has a version for each state. It fits the 50-hour practice that a POP or school permit needs without a course.
Free from DMVStep-by-step lessons for parents teaching a teen to drive
Program website ↗
Apps and websites
ZutobiWeb and app · all statesSays it has 600+ Nebraska questions in short lessons with videos, written to follow the Nebraska Driver’s Manual. The app has 4.7 stars from about 239,000 App Store ratings.
3-day free trial, then Zutobi PLUS (App Store prices from $4.99)A 3-day trial of the full app
Nebraska permit course ↗App Store ↗
DMV GenieApp · all statesCar, motorcycle and CDL practice in one app; pick Nebraska when you start. Some features need Premium, and some plans renew weekly. It has 4.8 stars from about 184,000 App Store ratings.
Free to download, Premium in the app from $9.99 (App Store listing)Practice tests and six guided lessons for new car learners
App Store ↗
DMV-Permit-Test.comWebsiteDescribes the real Nebraska test as 25 questions with 20 right to pass, which matches DMV’s examiner manual. Each question has a short explanation, and there’s a Spanish section.
Free tests, optional Premium20 Nebraska car practice tests, plus motorcycle, CDL and road sign tests
Nebraska practice tests ↗
In person
DMV-approved driver safety schoolsCourse · high schools and driving schoolsTeach teens, typically 14 to 16, and give the written and drive tests themselves. Passing waives those tests for a school permit or POP. DMV lists the schools, instructors and the high schools where they teach.
Set by each schoolNot listed
Driver safety schools ↗
DMV-certified driver training schoolsLessons · adults and new driversFor people 18 and older or anyone who wants more practice. Tests passed here don’t waive DMV tests, but finishing a course lets you retest after three failed Class O or Class M drive tests. DMV’s list was revised March 18, 2026.
Set by each schoolNot listed
Driver training schools ↗

Prices and ratings checked October 2026.

Explore

Everything else, in one place

Where to learnRoad testDriver’s manualDriver’s licenseDriving lawsDrivers edCDLEn español

Your license

Driving recordLost licenseState ID

Offices and help

DMV formsDMV offices

FAQ

Common questions

How many questions are on the Nebraska permit test?

25. Nebraska DMV’s examiner manual lists the Class O written test at 25 questions with 5 you can miss, and it says every written test needs at least 80% to pass. If reading in English or Spanish is hard, you can ask for the non-verbal picture test instead, which has 24 questions and allows 4 misses.

Can I take the Nebraska permit test online?

No. You take it on a testing tablet at a driver licensing office. State law (§ 60-4,114) allows the knowledge test to be given remotely if an agent approved by the DMV director proctors it, but Nebraska DMV’s pages don’t offer a remote test. What it has online is a free practice test, on the where-to-learn page.

What happens if I fail the written test?

You can’t retake it the same day. For your first three tries there’s one day between tests, and the fourth is set 7 days after the third, though staff may shorten these waits. If you fail six times, you wait 90 days from the last test or finish a DMV-approved driver training course before you test again. You get a Return for Services form explaining why, so bring it back with you.

Can I take the Nebraska DMV test in Spanish or another language?

The written test and its audio version come in English, Spanish and American Sign Language. If you start in Spanish, you can switch back and forth to English, but a test started in English stays in English. If your first language is neither, you can ask for the non-verbal picture test, and you may use a paper or electronic foreign-language dictionary once an examiner has checked it for notes.

Do I need driver’s ed to get a Nebraska permit?

Not for the learner’s permit (LPD). You only pass the vision and written tests. Driver’s ed matters at the next step: a DMV-approved driver safety course can waive the written and drive tests for a school permit or a provisional operator’s permit (POP), and the other route is a 50-hour driving log signed by a licensed adult.

Do new Nebraska residents take the permit test?

Not if you’re 18 or older and hand in a valid license from another state: you take the vision test, and staff decide whether you also drive. If you can’t hand in the old license, you take the written and drive tests. With a license that expired less than a year ago, you take the written test and the drive test may be waived. Under 18, you must meet all the POP rules. New residents must switch to a Nebraska license within 30 days.

Is anything changing for Nebraska drivers?

LB972, the 2026 DMV bill, took effect on July 18, 2026. It lets drivers 21 or older whose license expires before their 72nd birthday renew a Class O or Class M license online or in person without the old limit of two online renewals in a row, as long as they renew in person at least once every 16 years. DMV’s renewal pages still show the old limit; the driver’s license page explains what to do. It didn’t change the permit stages or the written test. A new license design arrived in March 2026, and older cards stay valid until they expire. From July 1, 2027, insurers must send SR-22 proof of insurance to DMV electronically.

Sources: Nebraska DMV · Nebraska Legislature and 10 more. Checked October 2026.

Rules and fees can change, so check the official site before your test.

Related

Related exams

Missouri DMV Permit TestDriving testsColorado DMV Permit TestDriving testsIowa DMV Permit TestDriving testsKansas DMV Permit TestDriving testsCalifornia DMV Permit TestDriving testsNew York DMV Permit TestDriving testsPermit tests in other states