New Mexico Taxation and Revenue Department, Motor Vehicle Division

The New Mexico written test, explained

People say written test, MVD paperwork says knowledge test. Same exam. Nobody hands you a pencil anymore: you answer on a screen. What matters is the scoring, and here it is with nothing rounded off.

25
Questions
New Mexico MVD Driver Procedures Manual, Chapter 11, Section E: Written Test Requirements, verified 2026-08-28
18
Correct to pass
70% or better to pass; MVD publishes no question count
New Mexico MVD Driver Procedures Manual, Chapter 11, Section E: Written Test Requirements, verified 2026-08-28

What the questions cover

Everything comes back to the New Mexico Motor Vehicle Code, NMSA 1978 Chapter 66: traffic signals and signs, right of way, speed rules, passing and lane use, parking, alcohol limits, and the licensing rules that apply to new drivers. The exam is multiple choice with one correct answer per question.

How to prepare without wasting evenings

Reading rules is passive; retrieval is what sticks. Take a full-length run in the real format, read the explanation on every miss, and let the review deck bring your weak spots back tomorrow. Most people are consistently passing practice runs within a week of short daily sessions.

Take the free New Mexico practice test