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Free Virginia DMV Permit practice questions

Tap an answer to see if you are right, and why. 20 questions across 11 topics, mostly Licensing gdl (3), and 1 has a road sign to read.

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Questions last updated October 7, 2026 · Original practice questions written from the Virginia Driver's Manual (Virginia DMV, April 2026 revision) and checked against its text; not official Virginia DMV questions. Not affiliated with the Virginia DMV.

The real test

10 signs (all correct) + 30 questions (24 to pass).

Part 1 · signs
Part 2 · rules

Need 10 of 10 in each partMiss 0 per part

0 of 20 answeredTap an answer to check it

  1. Licensing gdl

    In Virginia's two-part knowledge exam, how many of the ten part-one sign questions must you answer correctly before part two opens?

    The answer

    Answer: A. Part one is a ten-question traffic-sign check, and a single miss ends the attempt before the general-knowledge questions appear. Part two is scored separately at 80 percent. Because signs are all-or-nothing, learn each sign by color, shape and meaning rather than hoping to guess a few.

    Source: Virginia Driver's Manual — Section 1: Two-part knowledge exam (p. 3)

  2. Traffic signals markings

    At a red light with no sign or red arrow against it, you may turn right in Virginia only after you:

    The answer

    Answer: B. A right turn on red is legal in Virginia, but only after a full stop at the stop line. You must then yield to pedestrians and traffic, including less visible motorcycles, bicycles and mopeds. A posted No Turn on Red sign or a red right arrow cancels the option entirely.

    Source: Virginia Driver's Manual — Section 2: Traffic signals, Red light (p. 5)

  3. Intersections turns

    Two vehicles from different directions reach an intersection with no signs or signals at the same moment. Who goes first?

    The answer

    Answer: C. When arrivals tie at an uncontrolled intersection, the driver on the left yields so the driver on the right goes first. If one vehicle arrives clearly earlier, that vehicle goes first instead. The same left-yields-to-right rule applies when a signal is dark and the intersection is treated as an all-way stop.

    Source: Virginia Driver's Manual — Section 3: Yielding the right-of-way (p. 16)

  4. Speed space

    On a dry road at 50 mph, the manual's space-cushion rule says to keep a following distance of at least:

    The answer

    Answer: D. Following distance grows with speed. The manual gives two seconds under 35 mph, three seconds from 35 to 45 mph, and four seconds from 46 to 70 mph on dry pavement. Count from when the vehicle ahead passes a fixed mark, and add seconds for bad weather, heavy traffic or poor pavement.

    Source: Virginia Driver's Manual — Section 3: Maintaining a space cushion (p. 19)

  5. Alcohol drugs

    For drivers age 21 or older, what blood alcohol content (BAC) meets the legal definition of driving under the influence in Virginia?

    The answer

    Answer: A. A driver 21 or older is legally under the influence at 0.08 percent BAC or above. You can also be convicted below 0.08 if your driving is actually impaired. Impairment from any drug can bring the same penalties as alcohol, so the safest plan is deciding not to drive before you start drinking.

    Source: Virginia Driver's Manual — Section 3: Drunk and drugged driving (p. 24)

  6. Passing schoolbus

    A school bus on a two-lane highway has flashing red lights and an extended stop sign. Drivers approaching from either direction must:

    The answer

    Answer: B. With flashing red lights and an extended stop sign, you must stop whether you approach from the front or behind, on a highway, private road or school driveway. Remain stopped until all persons are clear and the bus moves. The only exception is when you travel the opposite way on a road divided by a median or barrier.

    Source: Virginia Driver's Manual — Section 3: Stopping for school buses (p. 15)

  7. Road signs

    STOP

    A red octagon sign always means:

    The answer

    Answer: C. The eight-sided octagon is reserved for stop. Come to a complete stop at the sign, stop line, crosswalk or curb, and wait for vehicles and pedestrians to clear. Even in fog where only the shape is visible, an octagon tells you to stop before you can read it.

    Source: Virginia Driver's Manual — Section 2: Sign shapes (p. 6)

  8. Licensing gdl

    Which supervising driver may sit beside a Virginia learner's permit holder?

    The answer

    Answer: D. A permit holder must drive with a licensed driver age 21 or older in the front passenger seat who is alert and able to help. The supervisor can be 18, 19 or 20 only if a legal guardian or a brother, sister, half- or step-sibling. Anyone else under 21 does not qualify.

    Source: Virginia Driver's Manual — Section 6: Learner's permit (p. 31)

  9. Special conditions

    When must you use your headlights in Virginia besides sunset to sunrise?

    The answer

    Answer: A. Virginia requires headlights in inclement weather when visibility falls to 500 feet, and whenever your windshield wipers run because of bad weather. Using headlights at all times, even by day, also makes you easier to see. Heavy fog calls for low beams because high beams reflect back at you.

    Source: Virginia Driver's Manual — Section 3: Lights (p. 22)

  10. Sharing road

    When passing a bicyclist on a Virginia road, how much clearance must you leave?

    The answer

    Answer: B. State law requires at least three feet when passing a person riding a bicycle, moped or similar device, and you must slow down. If the lane is too narrow to give that space, change lanes to pass. Bicyclists may ride in the center of a lane when it is too narrow to share.

    Source: Virginia Driver's Manual — Section 3: Sharing the road, Bicycles (p. 20)

  11. Occupant safety

    Under Virginia law, who must wear a safety belt?

    The answer

    Answer: C. Virginia requires safety belts for the driver and every passenger, in the front and back. A driver carrying anyone under 18 must make sure that person is secured in a belt, booster seat or child seat wherever they sit. Belts double your chances of surviving a crash.

    Source: Virginia Driver's Manual — Section 4: Seat belts (p. 26)

  12. Parking

    You may not park within how many feet of a fire hydrant in Virginia?

    The answer

    Answer: D. The manual lists a 15-foot no-parking zone around a fire hydrant. Other limits include 20 feet from an intersection, 50 feet from a railroad crossing and 15 feet from the entrance of a fire, ambulance or rescue station. Memorize the numbers, because the test asks you to tell them apart.

    Source: Virginia Driver's Manual — Section 3: Parking (p. 22)

  13. Special conditions

    Flashing lights are activated at a railroad crossing. You must:

    The answer

    Answer: A. When crossing lights begin to flash, stop and do not proceed until every train has passed, the tracks are clear and the lights have stopped. Never drive around a lowered gate. At multi-track crossings a second train may be coming from the opposite direction after the first one passes.

    Source: Virginia Driver's Manual — Section 2: Railroad crossings (p. 9)

  14. Intersections turns

    When entering a roundabout, you must yield to:

    The answer

    Answer: B. Entering traffic yields to pedestrians and to vehicles already in the roundabout, and every approach is marked with a yield sign. Once inside, drive counterclockwise, stay in your lane until your exit and use your right turn signal to exit. Glance over your shoulder for vehicles in blind spots.

    Source: Virginia Driver's Manual — Section 3: Roundabouts (p. 16)

  15. Alcohol drugs

    A driver under 21 has a BAC of at least 0.02 but less than 0.08 percent. What can the driver be convicted of?

    The answer

    Answer: C. Under 21, a BAC of 0.02 up to 0.08 can bring a conviction for illegal consumption of alcohol. The penalty includes a one-year license suspension and a minimum $500 fine or at least 50 hours of community service. At 0.08 or higher, the driver may face the same penalties as an adult.

    Source: Virginia Driver's Manual — Section 5: Penalties involving persons under age 21 (p. 30)

  16. Road signs

    A five-sided sign with a pentagon shape marks:

    The answer

    Answer: D. The pentagon is used only for school zones and school crossings. Two signs may be used together to show the actual location of the crosswalk. Slow down, obey the speed limit and follow crossing guards. Children can appear unexpectedly in and around these areas.

    Source: Virginia Driver's Manual — Section 2: Sign shapes (p. 7)

  17. Traffic signals markings

    At a flashing red light, you must:

    The answer

    Answer: A. A flashing red light works like a stop sign. Come to a complete stop, yield to oncoming vehicles and pedestrians, and proceed only when clear. If it is at a railroad crossing, you must stop even if you cannot see a train. A flashing yellow light, by contrast, means slow down and proceed with caution.

    Source: Virginia Driver's Manual — Section 2: Traffic signals, Flashing red light (p. 5)

  18. Speed space

    Unless a sign says otherwise, the maximum speed limit in a residential area is:

    The answer

    Answer: B. Without a posted limit, passenger vehicles and motorcycles may travel 25 mph in school, business and residential areas, 35 mph on unpaved roads and 55 mph on all other roads. Posted limits override these defaults. Always slow below the limit when school zones, work zones or weather make the posted speed unsafe.

    Source: Virginia Driver's Manual — Section 3: Speed limits (p. 15)

  19. Road signs

    A yellow diamond-shaped sign with black symbols is a:

    The answer

    Answer: C. Yellow with black conveys a warning: curves, stop ahead, low clearance, slippery when wet and similar hazards. Diamonds tell you to slow down and be ready to stop. Orange and black signs, by contrast, are for construction areas, and green signs give destination information.

    Source: Virginia Driver's Manual — Section 2: Sign colors and shapes (p. 6)

  20. Licensing gdl

    If you fail Virginia's knowledge exam and are under 18, how long must you wait to retake it?

    The answer

    Answer: D. Applicants under 18 who fail must wait a full 15 days by law: fail on January 1, and the earliest retake is January 17. Everyone may take the exam only once per business day. After three failures, you cannot take it a fourth time until you complete the required driver education component.

    Source: Virginia Driver's Manual — Section 1: Two-part knowledge exam (p. 3)

That’s the free set. The full bank has 300.

More original practice questions across the listed topics, a 40-question timed benchmark, and saved mistake review. Published Virginia DMV standard (DMV Knowledge Exam page): part one is 10 road-sign questions and all ten must be correct; part two is 30 general knowledge questions and you must answer 24 correctly (80%). Scored separately, so a perfect part two cannot make up for a missed sign. One payment of $8.99, yours forever.

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