A 4-minute lesson from the Pennsylvania course. Read the rules and examples, follow the handbook page references, and check your understanding before you move on.
You must hold a learner's permit before you drive any motor vehicle in Pennsylvania. To get a full license you pass three tests: Vision, Knowledge and Road. The permit comes first, and you earn it by passing the Knowledge Test at a Driver License Center.
Know the rule
You cannot apply for a learner's permit before your 16th birthday.
If the examiner can't tell whether your DL-180 meets medical standards, your permit may be delayed and you may need more medical exams. A condition that seriously impairs driving may require a dual control permit and a certified instructor.
The Knowledge Test covers traffic signs, Pennsylvania driving laws and safe driving practices. It is offered in written and audio format in English and many other languages on request.
You may take the Knowledge Test only once on any day, no matter which location. If you fail, you may retake it the following business day; the examiner returns your forms, so keep them safe.
If any information on your permit is wrong, bring proof of the correct information to the examiner. Before driving in another state on your permit, check with your insurer and that state's DOT.
You fail the Knowledge Test on a Monday morning and want to try again that afternoon at a different center. You can't: the limit is one attempt per day at any location. Come back Tuesday (the next business day) with the forms the examiner returned to you.
Check your understanding
Read the question, decide on an answer, then open it to check the explanation. These are Roadwise study questions based on the source handbook.
How long is a Pennsylvania Non-Commercial Learner's Permit Application (DL-180) valid from the date of the physical examination?
1 year
6 months
2 years
18 months
Answer: 1 year
The DL-180 is valid for one year from the date of the physical exam.