Road signs/No U-Turn Sign
No U-Turn Sign: what it means and what to do
A no U-turn sign means you may not make a complete turn to go back the way you came.
What it looks like
A white square with a black U-turn arrow inside a red circle and slash.
What to do
- Keep going and make your turn somewhere the road allows it, such as at the next intersection or by going around the block.
- Do not use a driveway or side street to complete the same turn in a way the sign was posted to prevent.
Quick check: No U-Turn Sign
Two questions to test what you just read.
What does the no u-turn sign mean?
On the permit test
Tests show the red circle and slash and ask what it prohibits; the arrow inside tells you which turn.
Where it shows up on state tests
4 questions across our state banks show this sign. Here is how many each bank has, and what each state's own test rules say about road signs.
| State | Questions showing it | What the state says about signs |
|---|---|---|
| Arizona | 1 | No separate sign section published. |
| New York | 1 | 4 of the 20 questions are about road signs, and at least 2 of those 4 must be correct — even with 14 right overall. |
| Virginia | 1 | Part one is 10 traffic-sign questions and you must answer all 10 correctly before part two opens. |
| Washington | 1 | No separate sign section published. |
How it differs from similar signs
| Sign | How to recognise it | What it means |
|---|---|---|
| No U-Turn Sign | White square sign with a U-turn arrow inside a red circle with a slash | A no U-turn sign means you may not make a complete turn to go back the way you came. |
| No Left Turn Sign | White square sign with a left-turn arrow inside a red circle with a slash | A no left turn sign means left turns are prohibited at this intersection. |
| No Right Turn Sign | White square sign with a right-turn arrow inside a red circle with a slash | A no right turn sign means right turns are prohibited at this intersection. |
| Do Not Enter Sign | Red circle with a white horizontal bar reading DO NOT ENTER | A do not enter sign means you must not drive onto that road or ramp in the direction you are heading. |
See them side by side
Common questions
You may not turn around to go the opposite way at that location. The slash across the arrow is the standard 'not allowed' symbol.
That the action shown inside the circle is prohibited. The same symbol is used for no left turn, no right turn and no U-turn.
All road signs Practice your state’s permit test free
Sources, checked 2026-10-08: Pennsylvania Driver's Manual (PUB 95), Chapter 2: Signals, Signs and Pavement Markings; Manual on Uniform Traffic Control Devices (FHWA). Written in our own words; follow your state’s manual for the exact wording.