Arizona MVD Permit/Cheat sheet
Arizona DMV cheat sheet: every number on the permit test
30 questions; 80% (24 correct) to pass, per ADOT MVD's permit test page. The manual itself does not state the test length.
- 23 numbers
- 5 sections
- 5 rules people get wrong
Memorise these first
- 15 mphApproaching a school crosswalk, and in school crossing zones with portable signs
- 3 secondsMinimum following distance for most driving; 3 to 6 seconds in poor conditions, 6 or more on slippery roads
- 15 feetNo parking near a fire hydrant
Speed Limits
Essential- 15 mph
- Approaching a school crosswalk, and in school crossing zones with portable signs
- 25 mph
- Any business or residential district
- 55 mph
- Open highways or city freeways
BAC & Alcohol
Zero Tolerance- 0.08% / 0.04%
- DUI blood alcohol level / in a commercial vehicle
- 0.15% / 0.20%
- Extreme DUI levels
- 12 months
- License loss for refusing a chemical test (24 months for a second refusal within 84 months)
Fines & Penalties
Enforced- 3 seconds
- Minimum following distance for most driving; 3 to 6 seconds in poor conditions, 6 or more on slippery roads
- 100 feet
- Signal this far before a turn (about 4 seconds); no passing within this distance of a railroad crossing, street crossing, or a bridge, tunnel or underpass with a blocked view
- 3 feet
- Minimum clearance when passing a bicyclist
Speed limits (unless posted)
- 15 mph
- Approaching a school crosswalk, and in school crossing zones with portable signsSpeed limits (p. 31); School crossing zones (p. 33)
- 25 mph
- Any business or residential districtSpeed limits (p. 31)
- 55 mph
- Open highways or city freewaysSpeed limits (p. 31)
- 65 mph
- Designated open highwaysSpeed limits (p. 31)
- 75 mph
- Rural freewaysSpeed limits (p. 31)
Distances
- 3 seconds
- Minimum following distance for most driving; 3 to 6 seconds in poor conditions, 6 or more on slippery roadsBraking and stopping (p. 42)
- 100 feet
- Signal this far before a turn (about 4 seconds); no passing within this distance of a railroad crossing, street crossing, or a bridge, tunnel or underpass with a blocked viewSignaling (p. 21); Do not pass (p. 22)
- 3 feet
- Minimum clearance when passing a bicyclistSharing the road with a bicyclist (p. 40)
- 500 / 300 feet
- Stay this far behind a fire department vehicle / a police vehicle responding to an emergencyFollowing emergency vehicles (p. 30-31)
- 500 / 200 feet
- Use high beams only when no vehicle approaches within 500 feet; use low beams within 200 feet of a vehicle you followNight driving (p. 45)
- 15 feet
- Stop no closer than this to the nearest rail at a railroad crossing when signals activateRailroad crossing sign (p. 34)
Parking
- 15 feet
- No parking near a fire hydrantProhibited parking (p. 25)
- 20 feet
- No parking within this distance of a crosswalk at an intersectionProhibited parking (p. 25)
- 50 feet
- No parking near a railroad crossingProhibited parking (p. 25)
Alcohol and penalties
- 0.08% / 0.04%
- DUI blood alcohol level / in a commercial vehicleDUI penalties (p. 51)
- 0.15% / 0.20%
- Extreme DUI levelsExtreme DUI (p. 51)
- 12 months
- License loss for refusing a chemical test (24 months for a second refusal within 84 months)DUI penalties (p. 51)
- 2 years
- License suspension for a driver under 21 with any impairing trace of alcohol or drugsUnder 21 zero tolerance (p. 47)
- 8 points
- Within 12 months requires Traffic Survival School or risks suspension; DUI, reckless, racing and aggressive driving are 8 points eachSuspension and traffic school; Violation points (p. 49)
Permits and licenses
- 15 years 6 months
- Minimum age for a graduated or motorcycle instruction permit (18 for an operator permit)Instruction permit (p. 10)
- 12 months
- Validity of a graduated or operator permit (a motorcycle permit is valid 7 months)Instruction permit (p. 10)
- 6 months
- Time to hold a permit before a graduated license; also the first restricted period for Class GGraduated license (p. 11)
- 10 days
- Time to notify MVD of a name or address changeName and address changes (p. 6)
Second read
Rules people get wrong
- School buses: stop regardless of your direction unless a physical barrier divides the road. Painted striping alone does not count as a division.
- A flashing red light is a stop sign; a flashing yellow light means slow down and proceed with caution.
- When a signal is out, treat the intersection as a 4-way stop; if two drivers arrive together, the one on the left yields.
- In a dust storm, pull completely off the road, turn your lights off and take your foot off the brake. Never cross a flooded wash.
- The Move Over Law applies to any vehicle with flashing lights pulled to the side, including tow trucks and private vehicles.
Take it with you
Save it as one poster
Knowing the numbers is half of it. Can you apply them?
The real test asks these as scenarios. Take the 20 free Arizona questions — each answer explains the rule and cites the handbook section. If you want the full bank and timed practice tests, it’s a one-time $8.99.