Iowa Motorcycle Permit Practice Test 2026: Practice test 3

Practice test 3 of 6 for the Iowa Motorcycle Permit Practice Test: 25 more questions with answers and explanations.

Motorcycle
Iowa
128 questions
Checked October 10, 2026

Question 1 of 25
On most motorcycles, how do you use the rear brake?
- With the pedal at your right foot
- With the lever at your left hand
- With the pedal at your left foot
- With the lever at your right hand
Show answer
Answer: A. With the pedal at your right foot
The rear brake pedal is usually in front of the right footrest.
Question 2 of 25
How should you cross a pavement seam or tracks that run parallel to your path?
- Edge across slowly at a slight angle
- Move away from them, then cross at an angle of at least 45 degrees
- Cross them at full speed at any angle
- Ride along on top of them
Show answer
Answer: B. Move away from them, then cross at an angle of at least 45 degrees
Edging across a parallel seam can catch your tires. Cross at 45 degrees or more with a quick, sharp turn.
Question 3 of 25
If your front tire goes flat, how will the steering feel?
- Light and easy
- Exactly normal
- Loose only at high speed
- Heavy
Show answer
Answer: D. Heavy
A flat front tire makes steering feel heavy. A flat rear tire may make the back jerk or sway.
Question 4 of 25
A driver is tailgating you and you can't change lanes. What should you do?
- Slow down a little to open more space in front of you
- Speed up a lot
- Stop in your lane
- Brake hard to warn them
Show answer
Answer: A. Slow down a little to open more space in front of you
Extra space ahead gives you and the tailgater more time to stop. If you can, change lanes and let them pass.
Question 5 of 25
What kind of gloves should a rider wear?
- No gloves, for better grip
- Full-fingered gloves made of leather or a similar tough material
- Thin cotton gloves
- Fingerless gloves
Show answer
Answer: B. Full-fingered gloves made of leather or a similar tough material
Full-fingered gloves protect your hands and help you grip the controls.
Question 6 of 25
Which part of the lane must a motorcycle always avoid?
- The right third
- The left third
- None; choose the position that lets you see and be seen best
- The center third
Show answer
Answer: C. None; choose the position that lets you see and be seen best
No part of the lane needs to be avoided. Pick a position based on visibility, hazards and space around you.
Question 7 of 25
When should your headlight be on?
- Only at night
- At all times, day and night
- Only in the rain
- Only in tunnels
Show answer
Answer: B. At all times, day and night
A headlight that is on in daylight makes a motorcycle much easier to notice.
Question 8 of 25
What do you do in the Execute step of SEE?
- Decide not to ride
- Act: communicate, change speed or change position
- Count seconds
- Only check your mirrors
Show answer
Answer: B. Act: communicate, change speed or change position
Execute means carrying out your decision, such as slowing, moving within your lane or using your horn.
Question 9 of 25
Besides a knowledge test, what test do most riders pass to earn a motorcycle license?
- A written essay
- A yearly medical exam
- An on-cycle skills test
- A parking test in a car
Show answer
Answer: C. An on-cycle skills test
Most states require a knowledge test and an on-cycle skills test. An approved rider course can often replace the skills test.
Question 10 of 25
Which is one of the most common motorcycle crashes at intersections?
- A car stopping on a railroad crossing
- A rear-end crash at a toll booth
- A car turning left in front of the motorcycle
- A car backing into a parked motorcycle
Show answer
Answer: C. A car turning left in front of the motorcycle
Drivers turning left often fail to see an oncoming motorcycle or misjudge its speed.
Question 11 of 25
Which tire problems should you check for before you ride?
- Low air pressure, worn tread, cuts and bulges
- The age of the rims' paint
- The brand name
- The color of the valve caps
Show answer
Answer: A. Low air pressure, worn tread, cuts and bulges
Tires are your only contact with the road. Check pressure and look for wear and damage.
Question 12 of 25
Where should you look as you go through a turn?
- At the center line
- Through the turn, toward where you want to go
- Down at your front wheel
- Straight ahead, not into the turn
Show answer
Answer: B. Through the turn, toward where you want to go
Turn your head and look through the turn to where you want to go. The motorcycle tends to go where you look.
Question 13 of 25
Why might you tap your brake to flash the brake light before slowing?
- To test the bulb
- To warn drivers behind you who may not expect you to slow
- To signal a lane change
- Because it is required at every stop
Show answer
Answer: B. To warn drivers behind you who may not expect you to slow
Flashing your brake light helps before a sharp turn off a fast road or before pulling off the road.
Question 14 of 25
Why start a curve near the outside of your lane when no traffic is present?
- It hides you from other drivers
- It keeps you on the shoulder
- You can see farther around the curve and make the turn less sharp
- It lets you brake in the curve
Show answer
Answer: C. You can see farther around the curve and make the turn less sharp
Starting at the outside improves your line of sight and makes the curve's path wider and gentler.
Question 15 of 25
You will ride a borrowed motorcycle for the first time. What should you do?
- Learn where its controls are and ride carefully until you are used to it
- Assume it is just like yours
- Ride fast to test it
- Skip the pre-ride check
Show answer
Answer: A. Learn where its controls are and ride carefully until you are used to it
Controls and handling differ between motorcycles. Get familiar with them in a safe place first.
Question 16 of 25
How should a motorcycle helmet fit?
- Tight only at the forehead
- Snugly, all the way around your head
- Loosely, so it is easy to take off
- Loosely, so air can flow under it
Show answer
Answer: B. Snugly, all the way around your head
A helmet should fit snugly all around and have no cracks, loose padding or frayed straps.
Question 17 of 25
How should you ride across a metal bridge grating?
- Zigzag to keep traction
- Brake hard on the grating
- Stop and walk the motorcycle across
- Relax, keep a steady speed and ride straight across
Show answer
Answer: D. Relax, keep a steady speed and ride straight across
The grating may make the motorcycle feel unsteady, but riding straight at a steady speed is safe.
Question 18 of 25
In the diagram, which lane position is the center third of the lane?
- Position 3
- Position 2
- Position 1
Show answer
Answer: B. Position 2
Lane position 2 is the center of the lane. Position 1 is the left third and position 3 is the right third.
Question 19 of 25
Your front wheel locks during a quick stop. What should you do?
- Keep the front wheel locked
- Release both brakes and coast
- Turn the handlebars sharply
- Release the front brake, then reapply it firmly right away
Show answer
Answer: D. Release the front brake, then reapply it firmly right away
A locked front wheel can make you fall. Release and reapply the front brake at once.
Question 20 of 25
How should you sit so you can steer well?
- So your elbows touch your knees
- So your hands are above your shoulders
- So your arms are slightly bent
- So your arms are locked straight
Show answer
Answer: C. So your arms are slightly bent
Sit far enough forward that your arms are slightly bent. This lets you press on the handlebars without strain.
Question 21 of 25
Which hand controls the throttle?
- The right hand
- Neither; it is a foot pedal
- Either hand
- The left hand
Show answer
Answer: A. The right hand
The throttle is the right handgrip. Twist it toward you to speed up.
Question 22 of 25
Who should carry passengers or large loads?
- Only experienced riders
- Anyone with a permit
- New riders who want practice
- Anyone, after one ride
Show answer
Answer: A. Only experienced riders
Extra weight changes how the motorcycle handles, balances, speeds up and slows down.
Question 23 of 25
What path through a curve does the diagram show?
- Inside, then outside, then inside
- Close to the road edge the whole way
- Outside, then inside, then outside
- The center of the lane the whole way
Show answer
Answer: C. Outside, then inside, then outside
With no traffic, enter at the outside, move toward the inside at the middle of the curve, and exit at the outside.
Question 24 of 25
In the diagram, marker 3 shows the passenger's hands. What should a passenger hold on to?
- The rear fender
- The rider's shoulders
- Nothing; hands in the lap
- The rider's waist or hips, or the passenger handholds
Show answer
Answer: D. The rider's waist or hips, or the passenger handholds
Passengers should hold firmly to the rider's waist, hips or belt, or to the passenger handholds.
Question 25 of 25
How should you ride over an object in the road that you cannot avoid?
- Brake hard as you hit it
- Cross it as close to 90 degrees as you can, rising slightly off the seat
- Swerve over it at speed
- Cross it at a shallow angle, staying seated
Show answer
Answer: B. Cross it as close to 90 degrees as you can, rising slightly off the seat
Hit it straight on, keep a firm grip and rise slightly off the seat so your knees and elbows absorb the shock.

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