Vision, knowledge and road tests

Key points

1. To qualify for a license you must have at least 20/40 vision in one eye.

   Source: PDF page 19

   “To qualify for a driver's license in WV you must have at least 20/40 vision in one (1) eye.”
   West Virginia Driver's Licensing Handbook, PDF page 19

2. If you need glasses or contacts to reach 20/40, your license will carry a corrective lenses restriction.

   Source: PDF page 34

   “If you require glasses or contact lenses to have a vision level of 20/40 or better, your driver's license will show a restriction code for “corrective lenses.””
   West Virginia Driver's Licensing Handbook, PDF page 34

3. The knowledge test has at least 25 questions on traffic rules, regulations, signs and markings from the handbook.

   Source: PDF page 34

   “The knowledge examination has at least 25 questions based on the basic knowledge, traffic rules, regulations, signs, and markings found in the handbook.”
   West Virginia Driver's Licensing Handbook, PDF page 34

4. You must answer 19 of the 25 questions correctly, and unanswered questions when time runs out count as wrong.

   Source: PDF page 34

   “You must answer 19 out of the 25 questions correctly to pass the test. There is a time limit on the test and any questions not answered in the prescribed time will be considered incorrect.”
   West Virginia Driver's Licensing Handbook, PDF page 34

5. Only the applicant taking the test is allowed in the exam room.

   Source: PDF page 19

   “Only the applicant taking the test is allowed in the exam room.”
   West Virginia Driver's Licensing Handbook, PDF page 19

6. First time applicants must complete a short DUI awareness course after passing the road skills test.

   Source: PDF page 35

   “The DMV requires that all first-time applicants for a driver's license or motorcycle-only West Virginia driver's license complete a short DUI awareness course given upon passing the road skills test.”
   West Virginia Driver's Licensing Handbook, PDF page 35

7. The test vehicle needs a valid inspection sticker and proof of insurance before the road test.

   Source: PDF page 35

   “A valid inspection sticker and proof of insurance on the vehicle is required before the vehicle can be used for the road skills test.”
   West Virginia Driver's Licensing Handbook, PDF page 35

8. If you fail the knowledge or road skills test, you may not be tested twice within 1 week.

   Source: PDF page 36

   “Applicants who fail either the knowledge or road skills test may not be tested twice within a period of one (1) week,”
   West Virginia Driver's Licensing Handbook, PDF page 36

Numbers to know

3 questions from the West Virginia practice test

1. 1. How many questions must be answered correctly to pass the West Virginia knowledge test?

   1. 15 of 25
   2. 18 of 25
   3. 24 of 25
   4. 19 of 25
   Show answer

   19 of 25. Passing requires 19 correct answers out of 25. The nearby numbers are deliberate traps: 18 is one short, while 24 demands nearly a perfect score that the handbook does not require. The choice “15 of 25” is also below the stated threshold. Think of the result as a minimum count, not a percentage guessed from the number of questions. The handbook also warns that unanswered questions within the allotted time count as incorrect, so an applicant should keep moving through the test and submit an answer to every item before time expires.

2. 2. Who may be in the room during a West Virginia knowledge test?

   1. The applicant and one support person
   2. The applicant and a DMV employee who reads every question
   3. Any applicant who has a phone turned off
   4. Only the applicant taking the test
   Show answer

   Only the applicant taking the test. The handbook limits the exam room to the applicant who is taking the test. That means a friend, parent, or other support person cannot sit in the room as a companion. The choice “The applicant and one support person” adds a support person, but the rule does not create that exception. A DMV employee may administer the test, yet the employee is not a second applicant or a personal helper. Before entering, leave phones and other electronics outside and expect to take the examination alone. This distinction is especially useful when a young applicant arrives with a parent, because the parent may provide consent for a permit without joining the testing room.

3. 3. What vision is required to qualify for a West Virginia driver's license?

   1. 20/20 vision in both eyes
   2. At least 20/70 in each eye
   3. No vision requirement
   4. At least 20/40 vision in one eye
   Show answer

   At least 20/40 vision in one eye. To qualify for a driver's license in West Virginia you must have at least 20/40 vision in one eye. Perfect 20/20 vision is not required, and the standard is met with one eye. If you need corrective lenses to reach 20/40, the license will carry a restriction requiring them. The vision and knowledge tests are given by driver examiners at DMV locations, and no phones, smart glasses or other electronic devices are allowed in the exam room.

Source: the West Virginia Driver's Licensing Handbook, Chapter IV: Examination Procedures And Requirements. This lesson is a plain English summary, not the law itself; where it differs, the manual and the statute govern. Last checked 2026-09-27.