Pennsylvania DMV Practice Test

Pennsylvania study guide

Key facts from the official PennDOT handbook, organized the way the test asks about them. Each one links to its source section.

Road signs, signals & markings

• At a steady red light, you must stop before crossing the marked stop line or crosswalk.Signs, Signals & Markings · Chapter 2: Signals — Red, Yellow, and Green Traffic Lights and Arrows
• You may turn right while the light is red unless a NO TURN ON RED sign is posted.Signs, Signals & Markings · Chapter 2: Signals — Red, Yellow, and Green Traffic Lights and Arrows
• After stopping, you may turn left on red if you are in the left lane turning from a one-way street onto another one-way street.Signs, Signals & Markings · Chapter 2: Signals — Red, Yellow, and Green Traffic Lights and Arrows
• A steady yellow light tells you a steady red light will soon appear.Signs, Signals & Markings · Chapter 2: Signals — Red, Yellow, and Green Traffic Lights and Arrows
• A steady red arrow means you must stop and may not turn in the direction the arrow points.Signs, Signals & Markings · Chapter 2: Signals — Red, Yellow, and Green Traffic Lights and Arrows
• A steady yellow arrow means the movement permitted by the green arrow or flashing yellow arrow is about to end.Signs, Signals & Markings · Chapter 2: Signals — Red, Yellow, and Green Traffic Lights and Arrows
• A steady green arrow means you may turn the way it points, and the turn is 'protected.'Signs, Signals & Markings · Chapter 2: Signals — Red, Yellow, and Green Traffic Lights and Arrows
• A flashing red light has the same meaning as a STOP sign — come to a complete stop.Signs, Signals & Markings · Chapter 2: Signals — Flashing Signals
• A flashing yellow light means CAUTION: slow down, look and proceed with care.Signs, Signals & Markings · Chapter 2: Signals — Flashing Signals
• With a flashing yellow arrow you may turn with caution, but you must first yield to oncoming traffic and pedestrians.Signs, Signals & Markings · Chapter 2: Signals — Flashing Signals
• A non-functioning traffic signal should be treated as though it were a four-way STOP sign.Signs, Signals & Markings · Chapter 2: Signals — Non-Functioning Traffic Lights
• A steady yellow X means you must change lanes because the direction of travel for that lane is about to be reversed.Signs, Signals & Markings · Chapter 2: Signals — Lane Use Control Signals
• A steady red X over a lane means you are not allowed to use the traffic lane.Signs, Signals & Markings · Chapter 2: Signals — Lane Use Control Signals
• The STOP sign is the only octagon-shaped sign you see on the highway.Signs, Signals & Markings · Chapter 2: Signs — Regulatory Signs
• YIELD signs are triangular (3-sided).Signs, Signals & Markings · Chapter 2: Signs — Regulatory Signs
• A SPEED LIMIT sign indicates the maximum legal speed under ideal conditions for that stretch of highway.Signs, Signals & Markings · Chapter 2: Signs — Regulatory Signs
• Warning signs are usually diamond-shaped with black symbols or words on a yellow background.Signs, Signals & Markings · Chapter 2: Signs — Warning Signs
• The NO PASSING ZONE sign is the only pennant-shaped warning sign.Signs, Signals & Markings · Chapter 2: Signs — Warning Signs
• Highway and expressway guide signs are green with white letters.Signs, Signals & Markings · Chapter 2: Signs — Guide Signs
• Service signs are square or rectangular and blue with white letters or symbols.Signs, Signals & Markings · Chapter 2: Signs — Guide Signs
• Work zone signs are normally diamond-shaped like warning signs, but orange with black lettering.Signs, Signals & Markings · Chapter 2: Signs — Work Zone Signs
• The SCHOOL sign is the only pentagon-shaped sign used on the roadway.Signs, Signals & Markings · Chapter 2: Signs — SCHOOL
• You should treat the crossbuck sign as a YIELD sign.Signs, Signals & Markings · Chapter 2: Signs — Railroad Crossbuck Sign
• Yellow lines divide traffic traveling in opposite directions.Signs, Signals & Markings · Chapter 2: Pavement Markings
• Solid white lines divide lanes of traffic traveling in the same direction.Signs, Signals & Markings · Chapter 2: Pavement Markings
• You may pass if the broken line is on your side of the road and safe conditions exist.Signs, Signals & Markings · Chapter 2: Pavement Markings
• Passing by traffic traveling in either direction is not allowed on roads marked with a double solid yellow centerline.Signs, Signals & Markings · Chapter 2: Pavement Markings

Traffic laws & licensing

• The knowledge test has 18 multiple-choice questions, and you must answer 15 correctly to pass.Permits & Licensing · Chapter 1: Testing — Knowledge Test
• The test measures your knowledge of traffic signs, Pennsylvania's driving laws and safe-driving practices.Permits & Licensing · Chapter 1: Testing — Knowledge Test
• You may apply for a learner's permit when you are 16 years of age or older.Permits & Licensing · Chapter 1: Applying for a Learner's Permit
• Your learner's permit is valid for one year from the issue date printed on your initial permit.Permits & Licensing · Chapter 1: Junior Learner's Permit Information
• You may only drive under the supervision of a licensed driver who is at least 21, or a parent, guardian, person in loco parentis or spouse who is 18 or older.Permits & Licensing · Chapter 1: Junior Learner's Permit Information
• You must wait the mandatory six months from your permit issue date before the road test.Permits & Licensing · Chapter 1: Applying for a Learner's Permit
• Drivers under 18 must complete at least 65 hours of skill-building, including at least 10 hours at night and 5 hours in bad weather.Permits & Licensing · Chapter 1: Applying for a Learner's Permit
• Vehicles traveling in either direction may use the center lane only to make left turns.Right-of-Way · Chapter 2: Pavement Markings
• You must turn on your vehicle's headlights, not just the daytime running lights, in work zones.Speed Limits & Work Zones · Chapter 3: Special Circumstances and Emergencies — Work Zones
• Fines are doubled for certain violations in active work zones, including speeding.Speed Limits & Work Zones · Chapter 3: Special Circumstances and Emergencies — Work Zones
• The maximum speed limit in Pennsylvania is 70 mph.Speed Limits & Work Zones · Chapter 3: Managing Speed
• In school zones, the speed limit is 15 mph when the lights on the school zone sign are flashing or during the posted times.Speed Limits & Work Zones · Chapter 3: Managing Speed
• Even within the posted limit, you can be ticketed for driving too fast for conditions.Speed Limits & Work Zones · Chapter 3: Managing Speed
• Do not park within 15 feet of a fire hydrant.Parking · Chapter 3: Parking
• Do not park within 20 feet of a crosswalk at an intersection.Parking · Chapter 3: Parking
• Do not park within 30 feet of any flashing signal, stop sign, yield sign or traffic control device at the side of a roadway.Parking · Chapter 3: Parking
• Do not park within 50 feet of the nearest rail at a railroad crossing.Parking · Chapter 3: Parking
• Park as close to the curb as you can, but no more than 12 inches away.Parking · Chapter 3: Parking
• When parking downhill, turn your steering wheel so your wheels are completely to the right.Parking · Chapter 3: Parking
• If two vehicles reach the intersection at the same time, the driver on the left yields to the driver on the right.Right-of-Way · Chapter 3: Negotiating Intersections
• Drivers turning left must yield to oncoming vehicles going straight ahead.Right-of-Way · Chapter 3: Negotiating Intersections
• Drivers entering a roundabout must yield the right-of-way to drivers already in the circle.Right-of-Way · Chapter 3: Negotiating Intersections
• A vehicle entering a public highway from an alley, private road or driveway must wait until the main road is clear.Right-of-Way · Chapter 3: Negotiating Intersections

Safe driving

• When the flashing DON'T WALK begins, pedestrians already in the street should finish crossing.Sharing the Road · Chapter 2: Signals — Pedestrian Signals
• You must stop at least 10 feet away from the bus, whether you are behind it or coming toward it.Sharing the Road · Chapter 3: Special Circumstances and Emergencies — School Buses
• If you are driving on the opposite side of a divided highway (barriers, guide rails, trees or a median), you do not have to stop.Sharing the Road · Chapter 3: Special Circumstances and Emergencies — School Buses
• Failure to stop results in a 60-day suspension, five points on your record and a fine.Sharing the Road · Chapter 3: Special Circumstances and Emergencies — School Buses
• The Steer Clear Law requires motorists to move into a lane not adjacent to an emergency response area, or reduce speed if unable to move over.Crashes & Emergencies · Chapter 3: Special Circumstances and Emergencies — Steer Clear Law
• Pull over and stop; start driving again after the emergency vehicle passes, keeping at least 500 feet away from it.Crashes & Emergencies · Chapter 3: Special Circumstances and Emergencies — Emergency Vehicles and Situations
• When approaching or passing a bicycle, slow down to a safe speed.Sharing the Road · Chapter 3: Special Circumstances and Emergencies — Sharing the Road With Pedestrians, Bicyclists, and Motorcyclists
• A 4-second following distance lets you steer or brake to avoid a hazard safely when the pavement is dry.Safe Driving Habits · Chapter 3: Managing Space
• Without at least 8 feet of space on at least one side, allow more space in front by increasing following distance.Safe Driving Habits · Chapter 3: Managing Space
• If someone is following too closely, move over to the right lane if possible.Safe Driving Habits · Chapter 3: Managing Space
• Signal three to four seconds before your turn.Safe Driving Habits · Chapter 3: Turning, Merging, and Passing
• You may not pass within 100 feet of or while crossing any intersection or railroad grade crossing.Safe Driving Habits · Chapter 3: Turning, Merging, and Passing — You May Not Pass If
• On two-lane, two-way streets, make left turns from as close to the centerline as possible.Safe Driving Habits · Chapter 3: Turning, Merging, and Passing — Left and Right Turns
• Children under 4 must be buckled into a federally approved child passenger restraint system.Seat Belts, Lights & Equipment · Chapter 5: Laws and Related Issues — Child Restraint Law
• Children 4 and older but under 8 must be buckled into a federally approved child booster seat.Seat Belts, Lights & Equipment · Chapter 5: Laws and Related Issues — Child Restraint Law
• Passengers age 8 or older but under 18 must wear seat belts no matter where they are riding.Seat Belts, Lights & Equipment · Chapter 5: Laws and Related Issues — Seat Belt Law
• Violating the anti-texting law is a primary summary offense carrying a $50 fine.Safe Driving Habits · Chapter 5: Laws and Related Issues — Anti-Texting Law

Common mistakes

• Stopping too close to a school bus. Pennsylvania requires at least 10 feet, whether you're behind it or facing it.Chapter 3: Special Circumstances and Emergencies — School Buses
• Treating a dark traffic signal like a green light. A non-working signal is a four-way STOP.Chapter 2: Signals — Non-Functioning Traffic Lights
• Using daytime running lights in work zones. Pennsylvania requires your actual headlights to be on.Chapter 3: Special Circumstances and Emergencies — Work Zones

Test types

Pennsylvania permit test FAQ