New Mexico practice tests
The New Mexico MVD knowledge test covers traffic signs, signals and pavement markings, the rules of the road and safe driving, and you pass with a score of 70 percent or better. The MVD does not publish how many questions the test has. You take it at an MVD field office or at an MVD-contracted driver education school, and teens enrolled in driver education can apply for an instructional permit from age 15. Our free New Mexico practice sets use our own practice size of 20 questions with 14 correct (70 percent) to pass, and every answer comes from the New Mexico Driver Manual, so you can check what you know before the real test.
- 20 questions
- 14 to pass
The test in New Mexico
Every figure links to the page it was read from, with the date it was checked. Formats change; the source wins over this table.
| What | Figure | Source · checked |
|---|---|---|
| Knowledge test | Question count not publishedThe MVD's pages and the Driver Manual do not say how many questions the non-commercial knowledge test has, so 20 questions is our own practice size. The test covers the material in the Driver Manual: signs, signals and markings, rules of the road and safe driving. Signs are part of the same test, not a separate part. | New Mexico MVD Driver Procedures Manual, Chapter 11: Road and Written Test Requirementschecked 2026-11-01 |
| To pass | 70% or betterThe MVD Driver Procedures Manual says all Class D and M written test scores must be 70% or better to pass. Our practice sets use the same rule: 14 of 20 correct. | New Mexico MVD Driver Procedures Manual, Chapter 11: Road and Written Test Requirementschecked 2026-11-01 |
| Time limit | Not statedThe MVD does not publish a time limit. Its license page says offices typically do not allow the written test to be started after 3 p.m., so applicants have enough time to finish. Our sets have no time limit. | New Mexico MVD: Apply for a New Driving Credentialchecked 2026-11-01 |
| Where you take it | An MVD field office, or an MVD-contracted driver education schoolThe learner's permit page says the knowledge exam may also be given by an MVD-contracted driver education school; those schools are authorized to give written and road tests. | New Mexico MVD: Apply for a Learner's Permitchecked 2026-11-01 |
| Retakes and results | Up to twice a week (even twice the same day); scores valid five yearsFrom the MVD's notice on knowledge (written) examination changes. | New Mexico MVD: Knowledge (Written) Examination Changeschecked 2026-11-01 |
| Languages | English, Spanish, Tagalog, Italian, German, French, Vietnamese and ChineseThe MVD says there are currently no plans to add more languages. | New Mexico MVD: Knowledge (Written) Examination Changeschecked 2026-11-01 |
| Minimum age | 15 for an instructional permit; 15 and a half for a provisional licenseTo get the permit you must be enrolled in or have completed a Traffic Safety Bureau approved driver education course that includes a DWI component, pass the vision and knowledge tests, and have a parent or guardian sign the application. | New Mexico MVD: Apply for a Learner's Permitchecked 2026-11-01 |
| Instructional permit rules | Supervisor 21 or older, licensed at least 3 years, in the seat beside youHold the permit at least six months, plus 30 days for each traffic violation conviction while on the permit. Complete 50 hours of supervised practice, including 10 at night, certified by a parent or guardian, and keep a clean record for the 90 days before you apply for the provisional license. | New Mexico MVD: Apply for a Learner's Permitchecked 2026-11-01 |
| Provisional license restrictions | No driving midnight to 5 a.m.; no more than one passenger under 21 who is not immediate familyBoth limits are lifted when a licensed driver aged 21 or older is in the vehicle. The curfew has exceptions for school, work, religious activities, family or medical need and medical emergencies, with a signed statement. You hold the provisional license for at least 12 months (plus 30 days per traffic violation conviction) before an unrestricted license, with no violations in the last 90 days and none pending. | New Mexico MVD: Apply for a Learner's Permitchecked 2026-11-01 |
| Fee: instructional permit | $10.00As listed on the MVD's learner's permit page. | New Mexico MVD: Apply for a Learner's Permitchecked 2026-11-01 |
| Fee: first license | $18.00 provisional license; $18.00 (4-year) or $34.00 (8-year) unrestricted licenseAs listed on the MVD's learner's permit page. | New Mexico MVD: Apply for a Learner's Permitchecked 2026-11-01 |
| What to bring | Proof of identity and age, two proofs of New Mexico residency and, for REAL ID, proof of identification numberTeens also bring proof of driver education enrollment or completion (a referral card from an approved school). Vision must be at least 20/40 in one eye, with or without glasses. First-time applicants aged 18 to 24 must complete the None for the Road DWI awareness course. | New Mexico MVD: Apply for a Learner's Permitchecked 2026-11-01 |
| Manual edition | New Mexico Driver Manual, version 11.19.19The English manual linked from the MVD's driver's license manuals page on the check date. Where newer MVD pages differ (exam retakes, languages), we follow the newer pages. | New Mexico Driver Manual (version 11.19.19), PDFchecked 2026-11-01 |
Full tests
- Test 120 questions · untimed · pass 14difficulty 1 of 6
- Test 220 questions · untimed · pass 14difficulty 2 of 6
- Test 320 questions · untimed · pass 14difficulty 3 of 6
- Test 420 questions · untimed · pass 14difficulty 4 of 6
- Test 520 questions · untimed · pass 14difficulty 5 of 6
- Test 620 questions · untimed · pass 14difficulty 6 of 6
Handbook chapters
- Chapter 1: The driver licenseNew Mexico's graduated driver licensing system: the instructional permit at 15, the provisional license at 15 and a half, the unrestricted license, the knowledge test, renewals, fees and how you can lose your license.
- Chapter 2: Traffic control devicesNew Mexico traffic lights and arrows, warning, regulatory, work area and guide signs, railroad crossings, pavement markings, reversible lanes, reserved and HOV lanes and shared center lanes.
- Chapter 3: Rules of the roadNew Mexico seat belt and child restraint law, lane use, passing and turning rules, right-of-way, emergency vehicles, school buses, traffic circles, speed limits, parking rules and traffic points.
- Chapter 4: Basic driving and communicatingStarting, steering and stopping, scanning ahead and at intersections, the 10-second look-ahead, checking blind spots, backing up, using headlights and high beams, the horn, emergency signals and turn signals.
- Chapter 5: Adjusting to road conditions and trafficSlowing for curves, gravel, wet roads, snow and ice, hydroplaning, wildlife on New Mexico roads, keeping pace with traffic, merging and exiting, slow vehicles, trouble spots, stopping distances and the four-second sight distance rule.
- Chapter 6: Sharing spaceThe three-second following rule and when to use four seconds, keeping space behind and beside you, the four-second gap for merging, crossing traffic, and how to judge a safe pass on New Mexico two-lane roads.
- Chapter 7: Sharing the roadBicycles as vehicles in New Mexico, the five-foot passing guideline, sharrows, helmets for minors, large trucks and RVs, stopping distances, wide turns, the No Zone, and sharing the road with motorcycles.
- Chapter 8: Be in shape to driveVision rules, fatigue, alcohol and New Mexico DWI law, the 0.08 and 0.02 limits, test refusal, drink equivalents, other drugs, health conditions, emotions and cell phones.
- Chapter 9: Emergencies, collisions and insuranceBrake failure, blowouts, engine and headlight failure, a stuck gas pedal, stopping and turning quickly with and without ABS, skids, protecting yourself in a crash, what to do at a crash scene, and New Mexico's minimum insurance.