US driving theory test practice

Kansas DMV Cheat Sheet

A condensed study guide for the Kansas DOR written knowledge test — test logistics, plus the Kansas-specific rules most likely to differ from what you already know. This isn't a substitute for the official Kansas driver's manual, or for practicing the real questions. Looking for the core rules and signs that apply everywhere, not just Kansas? Check the general driving theory cheat sheet instead.

25Questions
80%To Pass
$1.50 re-exam fee per retestFee
4Attempts

Kansas-Specific Rules

Minor & Provisional Licensing

  • A Farm Permit is available to a 14-year-old (under 17) who lives on or works on a farm of at least 20 acres -- a separate track from the standard Instruction Permit, requiring signed affidavits.
  • A 14- or 15-year-old Farm Permit holder may drive only for farm-related work and a direct route to and from school; no non-sibling minor passengers and no wireless device use except for emergencies.
  • The Class C or M Instruction Permit is available at age 14 and expires in one year, renewable only by retaking and passing the written exam.
  • An Instruction Permit holder may only drive with a licensed adult at least 21 years old, with at least one year of driving experience, in the front seat, and no one else may sit up front.
  • Moving up to a Restricted License requires holding the Instruction Permit at least one year; a 15-year-old applicant also needs 25 hours of supervised driving plus an approved driver's education course.
  • A 16-year-old applying for a Restricted License instead needs 50 hours of supervised driving with 10 at night, and is not required to complete driver's education.
  • A 15-year-old Restricted License holder may drive only for job/farm work, direct school travel, religious activities, or with a licensed adult in the front seat -- no non-sibling minors and no phone use except emergencies.
  • A 16-year-old Restricted License holder may drive any time from 5 a.m. to 9 p.m., plus school activities, religious activities, and job/farm work, and may carry one non-sibling minor passenger.
  • After a 16-year-old has held the Restricted License for six months, all age-related driving restrictions are removed, even before they reach the Unrestricted License's own minimum age of 17.
  • The Unrestricted Driver's License has a minimum age of 17; an applicant under 18 still needs a parent/guardian affidavit for at least 50 hours of driving experience, including at least 10 hours at night.

Licensing Procedure & Testing

  • The knowledge test is 25 multiple-choice questions, untimed but usually 15-20 minutes, requiring an 80% score to pass.
  • Applicants get four chances to pass each of the knowledge and driving tests; after a fourth failure of either, they must wait a minimum of six months before retesting.
  • The knowledge exam can be completed online at ks.knowtodrive.com, letting applicants bring in passing results instead of testing in person.
  • The vision standard is at least 20/40 in one eye; applicants who don't meet it can submit an eye exam form from a licensed ophthalmologist or optometrist completed within 90 days.
  • A new Kansas resident who drives must obtain a Kansas license within 90 days of becoming a resident.
  • A license expired more than one year requires full retesting (vision, written, and driving) to renew; a smaller $1.00 penalty applies to a merely expired license.
  • Online driver's education courses don't satisfy Kansas requirements -- only an accredited school district program or an approved private school with 8 hours classroom plus 6 hours behind-the-wheel instruction qualifies.

DUI & Alcohol Laws

  • The standard illegal BAC is .08, but Kansas's Zero Tolerance law allows arrest of a driver under 21 for alcohol impairment at just .02% BAC.
  • Vision is measurably impacted starting at a BAC of just .02 for all drivers, well below the .08 legal limit.
  • Refusing a chemical test carries an escalating mandatory suspension under Kansas's implied consent law: one year for a first refusal, two for a second, three for a third, and ten for a fourth.
  • A first alcohol-related conviction can bring a $750-$1,000 fine, a minimum of 48 hours in jail or 100 hours community service, license suspension, and a mandatory ignition interlock device.
  • A fifth BAC result of .08 or greater, or a fifth test refusal, results in permanent revocation of driving privileges.

Rules of the Road

  • Default speed limits unless posted otherwise: 30 mph in an urban district, 75 mph on a designated separated multilane highway, 65 mph on a state/federal highway, 55 mph on a county/township road.
  • You must stop for a stopped school bus even across double yellow lines, a center turn lane, a multi-lane highway, or at an intersection, regardless of which side the bus is on -- the only exception is a physical median or barrier.
  • A turn or lane-change signal must be given at least 100 feet before the actual move.
  • On a double solid yellow centerline, a passing driver must return to their lane before coming within 200 feet of an oncoming vehicle.
  • U-turns are prohibited on a curve, near the top of a hill, or anywhere a driver can't be seen by others for at least 500 feet.
  • Kansas bans writing, sending, or reading a text or email while driving, but simply talking or dialing a phone call is not itself illegal.
  • The seatbelt law is a primary violation -- an officer may stop a vehicle solely for an unrestrained adult in front or an unrestrained child anywhere in the vehicle.
  • Approaching a stationary emergency vehicle from the rear on a road with two or more lanes each way requires moving to a non-adjacent lane, or reducing speed if that's not possible.
  • Parking is banned within 15 feet of a fire hydrant, more than 12 inches from a curb, within 50 feet of a railroad crossing, or within 30 feet of a traffic signal, stop sign, or flashing beacon.

Child Passenger Safety & Vehicle Equipment

  • Children under age 4 need a child safety seat; children 4 to 8 need a car seat or booster unless taller than 4 feet 9 inches or over 80 pounds, in which case a seatbelt is enough; children 8 and older need only a seatbelt.
  • All children under age 14 must be secured in the rear seat with an appropriate safety restraint while the vehicle is in motion.
  • A legal moped/motorized bicycle in Kansas has a motor of no more than 3.5 brake horsepower, no more than 130cc, an automatic transmission, and a max design speed of 30 mph.
  • Headlights must be turned on whenever the windshield wipers are in use.

Crashes, Insurance & License Actions

  • Failing to maintain continuous liability insurance triggers a mandatory indefinite license suspension, not just a fine.
  • Three moving violations within a twelve-month period can lead to license suspension.
  • Revocation -- a more serious action than suspension -- applies to offenses like vehicular homicide, hit-and-run, reckless driving, a felony committed with a vehicle, eluding police, aggravated vehicular homicide, and vehicular battery.
Want the core rules and road signs that apply everywhere, not just Kansas?General cheat sheet →

Rules and fees change — always confirm current details with Kansas DOR before your exam. Cheat sheet v1.0, last checked 2026-08-03.