Iowa Motorcycle Permit Practice Test 2026: Practice test 5

1. Question 1 of 25

   How do you check your brake light before riding?

   • ATurn on the high beam
   • BUse the front lever and the rear pedal one at a time and see that each turns on the light
   • CRide at night and look behind you
   • DPress the horn
   Show answer

   Answer: B. Use the front lever and the rear pedal one at a time and see that each turns on the light

   Each brake control should turn on the brake light by itself.

2. Question 2 of 25

   About how fast does the body get rid of alcohol?

   • AAbout one drink per hour
   • BAbout three drinks per hour
   • CAs fast as you drink coffee
   • DAbout one drink per day
   Show answer

   Answer: A. About one drink per hour

   The body removes alcohol at about one drink per hour. Nothing speeds this up.

3. Question 3 of 25

   Your engine seizes (locks up) while riding. What should you do?

   • ABrake hard and keep the clutch out
   • BTry to restart it while moving
   • CSqueeze the clutch lever and pull off the road
   • DShift down quickly
   Show answer

   Answer: C. Squeeze the clutch lever and pull off the road

   Squeezing the clutch disconnects the locked engine from the rear wheel.

4. Question 4 of 25

   Where should a passenger sit?

   • AOn the gas tank
   • BAs far back as possible
   • CAs far forward as possible without crowding the rider
   • DSideways on the seat
   Show answer

   Answer: C. As far forward as possible without crowding the rider

   Sitting close to the rider keeps the weight forward and helps balance.

5. Question 5 of 25

   What should your riding jacket and pants do?

   • ALeave your arms bare in hot weather
   • BBe loose enough to flap in the wind
   • CBe made of thin cotton
   • DCover your arms and legs completely
   Show answer

   Answer: D. Cover your arms and legs completely

   A jacket and pants should cover arms and legs completely. Leather or sturdy synthetic material protects best.

6. Question 6 of 25

   What is countersteering, as shown in the diagram?

   • ATurning the handlebars sharply toward the turn
   • BSteering with the rear brake
   • CPressing the handgrip on the side you want to turn toward to start a lean
   • DLeaning your body only
   Show answer

   Answer: C. Pressing the handgrip on the side you want to turn toward to start a lean

   Pressing forward on the grip on the side of the turn makes the motorcycle lean and turn that way.

7. Question 7 of 25

   Where should your knees be while you ride?

   • AResting on the handlebars
   • BPointing out to the sides
   • CSpread wide apart
   • DAgainst the gas tank
   Show answer

   Answer: D. Against the gas tank

   Keeping your knees against the tank helps you keep your balance as the motorcycle turns.

8. Question 8 of 25

   In the staggered formation shown, where does the leader (rider 1) ride?

   • AIn the right part of the lane
   • BExactly in the center
   • COn the shoulder
   • DIn the left part of the lane
   Show answer

   Answer: D. In the left part of the lane

   The leader rides in the left part of the lane. The second rider stays in the right part.

9. Question 9 of 25

   In traffic, you can't avoid a small animal without swerving into danger. What should you do?

   • AStay in your lane
   • BBrake so hard you fall
   • CRide onto the sidewalk
   • DSwerve into oncoming traffic
   Show answer

   Answer: A. Stay in your lane

   Hitting something small is less dangerous than hitting a car or truck.

10. Question 10 of 25

    Your motorcycle has a windshield. Do you still need eye protection?

    • ANo, a windshield is enough
    • BOnly if the windshield is short
    • CYes; a windshield does not fully protect your eyes
    • DOnly when it rains
    Show answer

    Answer: C. Yes; a windshield does not fully protect your eyes

    A windshield is not a substitute for a face shield or goggles. Wind, dust and insects can still reach your eyes.

11. Question 11 of 25

    A friend has been drinking and wants to ride home. What can you do?

    • AGive them coffee and let them go
    • BRide behind them to watch
    • CArrange a safe ride, or keep them there until they are sober
    • DLet them ride slowly
    Show answer

    Answer: C. Arrange a safe ride, or keep them there until they are sober

    Step in: arrange a ride, slow their drinking, or keep them from riding. Get other friends to help.

12. Question 12 of 25

    During a swerve, what should your body do?

    • ALean the opposite way and brake
    • BStand up on the footrests
    • CLean farther than the motorcycle
    • DStay upright while the motorcycle leans under you
    Show answer

    Answer: D. Stay upright while the motorcycle leans under you

    Keep your body upright and let the motorcycle lean quickly beneath you.

13. Question 13 of 25

    Many motorcycles have convex (curved) mirrors. How do they make other vehicles look?

    • AUpside down
    • BExactly as far as they are
    • CCloser than they really are
    • DFarther away than they really are
    Show answer

    Answer: D. Farther away than they really are

    Convex mirrors show a wider view, but cars look farther away than they are. Judge distances with care.

14. Question 14 of 25

    In the diagram, which lane position is the left third of the lane, next to the center line?

    • APosition 2
    • BPosition 1
    • CPosition 3
    Show answer

    Answer: B. Position 1

    Lane position 1 is the left third of the lane.

15. Question 15 of 25

    What does SEE stand for?

    • ASearch, Evaluate, Execute
    • BScan, Examine, Exit
    • CSignal, Enter, Exit
    • DSee, Estimate, Escape
    Show answer

    Answer: A. Search, Evaluate, Execute

    SEE is a three-step way to handle traffic: Search, Evaluate, Execute.

16. Question 16 of 25

    What is T-CLOCS used for?

    • AChecking your motorcycle before you ride
    • BPlanning a group ride
    • CChoosing a lane position
    • DMeasuring following distance
    Show answer

    Answer: A. Checking your motorcycle before you ride

    T-CLOCS is a checklist for inspecting your motorcycle before each ride.

17. Question 17 of 25

    Where should a beginner ride in a group?

    • ANext to another rider
    • BRight behind the leader
    • CAt the very back
    • DIn the lead
    Show answer

    Answer: B. Right behind the leader

    Placing less experienced riders just behind the leader lets more experienced riders watch them from behind.

18. Question 18 of 25

    In T-CLOCS, what does the T stand for?

    • ATools
    • BThrottle
    • CTurn signals
    • DTires and wheels
    Show answer

    Answer: D. Tires and wheels

    T-CLOCS: Tires and wheels, Controls, Lights and electrics, Oil and other fluids, Chassis, Stands.

19. Question 19 of 25

    When is a road most slippery in the rain?

    • AAfter hours of steady rain
    • BAs soon as the rain stops
    • CJust after the rain starts, before oil washes away
    • DIt is the same the whole time
    Show answer

    Answer: C. Just after the rain starts, before oil washes away

    Oil on the road mixes with the first rain and makes the surface very slippery.

20. Question 20 of 25

    In T-CLOCS, what does the first C stand for?

    • AChain
    • BClothing
    • CControls
    • DCargo
    Show answer

    Answer: C. Controls

    The first C is Controls: levers, pedals, cables, hoses and the throttle.

21. Question 21 of 25

    Where is the greatest risk of conflict between motorcycles and other vehicles?

    • AOn bridges
    • BAt intersections
    • CIn parking garages
    • DOn straight rural roads
    Show answer

    Answer: B. At intersections

    Intersections are where other vehicles are most likely to cross your path.

22. Question 22 of 25

    Why are ordinary glasses or sunglasses poor eye protection on a motorcycle?

    • AThey make your helmet too tight
    • BThey don't stop wind from reaching your eyes and may blow off
    • CThey are always too dark
    • DThey fog up only at night
    Show answer

    Answer: B. They don't stop wind from reaching your eyes and may blow off

    Glasses won't keep your eyes from watering in the wind, and they can blow off when you turn your head.

23. Question 23 of 25

    Why must you remember to turn off your turn signal?

    • ASignals are only for night
    • BOther drivers ignore signals
    • CIt saves fuel
    • DMany motorcycle signals do not turn off by themselves
    Show answer

    Answer: D. Many motorcycle signals do not turn off by themselves

    A signal left on can make drivers think you are about to turn.

24. Question 24 of 25

    Your throttle sticks and twisting it back and forth does not free it. What should you do?

    • AOperate the engine cut-off switch and pull in the clutch at the same time
    • BShift to a higher gear
    • CUse only the rear brake
    • DJump off the motorcycle
    Show answer

    Answer: A. Operate the engine cut-off switch and pull in the clutch at the same time

    This removes power from the rear wheel. Then pull off and stop.

25. Question 25 of 25

    A car is riding beside you in the next lane. What should you do?

    • ASpeed up or drop back so you are not in its blind spot
    • BHonk and stay where you are
    • CMove closer to it
    • DStay beside it
    Show answer

    Answer: A. Speed up or drop back so you are not in its blind spot

    Riding next to a car can put you in its blind spot, and it may move into your lane.

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