Connecticut learner’s permit requirements

Everything here comes from Connecticut Department of Motor Vehicles pages, handbooks or state law, and each fact links to its source. Where Connecticut doesn’t publish something, we say so rather than guess.

Last checked September 22, 2026.

At a glance

Minimum age
16 years
To pass the knowledge test
20 of 25 correct (80%)
Fees
$59 total

The knowledge test and your permit

Test format
25 questionsSources 123
Passing score
20 of 25 correct (80%)Sources 123
Time limit
None published
Permit and test fees
$59 totalTeens and adults pay a $40 testing fee (which also covers the later road test) plus $19 for the learner's permit; a failed knowledge test means paying $40 again, and the license itself is $84 later.Sources 123
Minimum age for a permit
16 yearsLearner's permit at 16 (16-17 with parental consent); adult learner's permit at 18+. Permit issued after the 25-question knowledge test and vision test.Sources 531
Supervised driving
40 hoursSources 531
Hold your permit
4 months minimumSources 531
Test languages
35 languagesAlbanian, Arabic, Chinese, English, French, Italian, Polish, Portuguese, Russian, Spanish, Vietnamese, Amharic, Armenian, Bosnian, Chinese (Simplified), Croatian, Dari, German, Greek, Haitian Creole, Hindi, Japanese, Khmer, Korean, Nepali, Pashto, Farsi, Portuguese (Brazilian), Punjabi, Romanian, Somali, Thai, Turkish, Ukrainian, UrduSources 123
Take it online
No, in personSources 123
If you fail
If you fail the knowledge test you must wait seven days and pay $40 to reschedulea failed vision test can be rescheduled immediately.Sources 123
Vision standard
At least 20/40 in the better eye with or without corrective lenses for all license classes140 degrees binocular peripheral field (DMV test page); if blind in one eye, other eye 20/40 with visual field of at least 100 degrees (driver's manual).Sources 531

From permit to full license

  • Learner's permit at 16. 16-17 year olds must complete either commercial/secondary school driver education (30 hours classroom + 40 hours behind-the-wheel, including an 8-hour safe driving practices course and a 2-hour parent class) and hold the permit 120 days, or home training with a qualified trainer (30 hours of course study: 22 hours classroom-type training + the 8-hour safe driving course with 2-hour parent class, plus 40 hours behind-the-wheel) and hold the permit 180 days, before the road test.
  • The handbook adds that school-trained teens need at least 8 of their behind-the-wheel hours from a commercial driving school to qualify for the 120-day wait.
  • Newly licensed 16-17 year olds: first 6 months only a parent/guardian, instructor, or one licensed adult 20+ (4+ years licensed) may ride along; months 7-12 add immediate family only; curfew 11 p.m.-5 a.m. except work, school, religious, medical, or Safe Ride; no cell phone use even hands-free.

Before you go

Rules and fees change. Confirm appointments, documents and current fees on the official Connecticut Department of Motor Vehicles website: portal.ct.gov.

Sources

  1. portal.ct.gov: take knowledge vision test
  2. portal.ct.gov: adult learners permit
  3. portal.ct.gov: drivers manual english
  4. cga.ct.gov: chap 246
  5. portal.ct.gov: teen drivers license

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