DMV Test in Arabic: Which States Offer It?

Which states offer the test in Arabic?

The knowledge test (also called the written or permit test) is the first step for most newcomers. No federal rule sets its language. Each state decides, and some have changed their policy recently.

The table shows what we found on each state's official site. Where we couldn't confirm, we wrote "check." Sending you to an appointment on bad information would cost you a week or more.

Michigan: the most Arabic-friendly option

Michigan, home to Dearborn and its large Arab community, states on the Secretary of State's Arabic-language services page that all its offices offer translated driver knowledge tests in languages including Arabic and Chaldean. The new-drivers page adds that the test is available in English and several foreign languages, in written and audio formats.

Applicants 18 and older can take the test online for $6.50, or free at a branch office by appointment (as of September 2026). The online version requires a computer with a keyboard, mouse and a webcam that takes random photos during the test. We found nothing confirming the online version comes in Arabic, so if you want Arabic, the branch office is the safe bet.

The test has two parts: Operator, about 45 minutes, and Signs, about 15 minutes. A passing result stays valid for one year. For what comes after you pass, see our US driver's license guide.

New York and New Jersey: Arabic, with conditions

New York: The DMV's permit test page says the Class D test (regular passenger cars) is given in 20 languages, including Arabic. The DMV also offers free language assistance at 1-518-486-9786, and Arabic is one of the 12 languages it supports.

New Jersey: According to the MVC's knowledge test page, the written test comes in Arabic among 13 languages, but the oral test is English and Spanish only. The process: visit a testing center with your 6 Points of ID, buy an examination permit, then schedule the knowledge test online.

Note that New Jersey's driver manual is published in only four languages, and Arabic isn't one. You can test in Arabic, but you'll study from an English (or other-language) manual.

Texas and Florida: what if it's English only?

Texas offers the knowledge test in English or Spanish only. You may bring someone to translate, but only to help you talk with the specialist before and after the test, never during it. On the road test, the examiner may use hand signals if you don't speak English. Florida announced on January 30, 2026 that starting February 6, 2026, all license exams, knowledge and skills, including oral exams, would be given in English only and without interpreters. Florida's Class E knowledge exam has 50 multiple-choice questions on traffic laws and signs.

That's a hurdle, not a wall. The test covers a limited set of topics, and the vocabulary repeats. A practical plan:

1. Study the official handbook in English: one chapter at a time, writing every new term and its Arabic meaning in a notebook.
2. Learn sign vocabulary first: nearly every state expects you to read signs in English.
3. Take official practice tests: many state sites publish free sample questions.
4. Read questions out loud: it speeds up recognizing recurring structures like "What should you do when…?"

Terms that show up on every test

These words trip up Arabic speakers most. Learn them as-is, because you'll see them on real road signs too:

How do I book the test?

1. Go to your state's official "new license" page: avoid third-party booking sites that add fees.
2. Gather your documents: identity, lawful presence, Social Security number if you have one, and proof of address.
3. Choose the language when booking or on arrival: and confirm it with the clerk before the test starts.
4. Ask about an interpreter if you need one: in Michigan, a volunteer interpreter must be approved by the office and is not allowed to charge you.

Common mistakes

• Relying on old information: anyone who tested in Arabic in Florida before 2026 will tell you it's available. It isn't anymore.
• Paying for a "guaranteed pass" or a "guaranteed interpreter": nobody can guarantee a result, and Michigan's volunteer interpreters can't charge at all.
• Ignoring English signs: even if you test in Arabic, the road and the road test are in English.
• Assuming both tests use the same language: the road test's language may differ from the written test's. Ask about each one.

What next?

Once you pass the knowledge test, you'll need an insured car to practice and take the road test. Read our guide to car insurance with no US driving history. If you're thinking about driving trucks, the language rules there are stricter; see our CDL truck license guide.

Frequently asked questions

Official sources we reviewed

• Michigan SOS — Arabic language services ↗
• New York DMV — Prepare for the permit test ↗
• New Jersey MVC — Knowledge test ↗
• FLHSMV — Exams administered in English only ↗