Road signs/Slow-Moving Vehicle Emblem
Slow-Moving Vehicle Emblem: what it means and what to do
The slow-moving vehicle emblem is a warning on the back of a vehicle that travels slowly on public roads, such as farm equipment or construction machinery. Slow down and pass only when it is safe.
What it looks like
A fluorescent orange triangle with a red reflective border, mounted on the rear of the vehicle. Unlike other signs, it travels with the vehicle.
What to do
- Slow down as soon as you see the emblem. These vehicles are often much slower than your speed.
- Keep a safe distance behind and watch for wide loads.
- Pass only where passing is allowed and you can see far enough ahead to finish the pass.
On the permit test
Tests show the orange triangle and ask what it means or what you should do on seeing it.
Where it shows up on state tests
9 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. |
| California | 1 | No separate sign section published. |
| Illinois | 1 | 15 of the 35 questions are traffic-sign identification; the other 20 are multiple-choice or true/false. |
| Indiana | 1 | Two components — road signs, and traffic rules and laws — and you need 80% on each. |
| Missouri | 1 | A separate road sign test is part of the driver exam and comes before the driving test. |
| Tennessee | 1 | No separate sign section published. |
| Texas | 1 | No separate sign section published. |
| 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 |
|---|---|---|
| Slow-Moving Vehicle Emblem | Orange triangle with a red reflective border, the slow-moving vehicle emblem | The slow-moving vehicle emblem is a warning on the back of a vehicle that travels slowly on public roads, such as farm equipment or construction machinery. |
| Do Not Pass Sign | White rectangular sign reading DO NOT PASS | A do not pass sign means you may not pass other vehicles travelling in your direction on that stretch of road. |
| No Passing Zone Sign | Yellow pennant-shaped sign reading NO PASSING ZONE | A no passing zone sign marks the start of a stretch where passing is prohibited, because you cannot see far enough ahead to pass safely. |
| Road Work Ahead Sign | Orange diamond sign reading ROAD WORK AHEAD | A road work ahead sign means workers or equipment are on or near the road ahead. |
See them side by side
Common questions
It is the slow-moving vehicle emblem. The vehicle is travelling slowly, for example farm or construction equipment, so slow down.
Operators of slow vehicles such as farm and construction equipment on public roads, on the rear of the vehicle.
All road signs Practice your state’s permit test free
Sources, checked 2026-10-08: New Jersey Driver Manual (rev. 09/25); Manual on Uniform Traffic Control Devices (FHWA). Written in our own words; follow your state’s manual for the exact wording.