Iowa DOT Permit Practice Test 2026: Practice test 3

1. Question 1 of 25

   What does this sign mean?

   • ADetour to the right
   • BRight turns only
   • CTraffic on this street moves only in the direction of the arrow
   • DKeep to the right of the divider
   Show answer

   Answer: C. Traffic on this street moves only in the direction of the arrow

   Drive only in the direction of the arrow. You may not drive the other way on a one-way street.

2. Question 2 of 25

   On a freeway with two or more lanes going your way, what is the left lane mainly for?

   • AStopping in an emergency
   • BPassing
   • CSlow vehicles
   • DTrucks only
   Show answer

   Answer: B. Passing

   Keep right except to pass. If many vehicles pass you on the right, move right and let them go by on the left.

3. Question 3 of 25

   What does a white diamond painted in a lane mean?

   • AThe lane is for trucks only
   • BThe lane is reserved for buses, carpools or other special vehicles
   • CThere is a railroad crossing ahead
   • DThe lane ends soon
   Show answer

   Answer: B. The lane is reserved for buses, carpools or other special vehicles

   A diamond marks a high-occupancy vehicle (HOV) or other reserved lane. Signs tell you who may use it and when.

4. Question 4 of 25

   What does a five-sided (pentagon) sign like this warn you about?

   • AA no-passing zone
   • BA railroad crossing
   • CRoad work
   • DA school zone or school crossing
   Show answer

   Answer: D. A school zone or school crossing

   The pentagon shape is used for school signs, so you know to watch for children.

5. Question 5 of 25

   What should you do when you see this sign?

   • APass the car in front before you reach the crosswalk
   • BHonk to warn the children
   • CSlow down, watch for children, and stop for anyone in the crosswalk
   • DSpeed up to get past the crosswalk quickly
   Show answer

   Answer: C. Slow down, watch for children, and stop for anyone in the crosswalk

   The arrow points to the school crosswalk. Stop for children in the crosswalk and follow any crossing guard. Never pass a vehicle stopped for pedestrians.

6. Question 6 of 25

   When is it right to use your horn?

   • ATo warn others of danger or to help avoid a crash
   • BTo greet friends as you drive by
   • CTo show you are angry
   • DTo tell a slow driver to hurry up
   Show answer

   Answer: A. To warn others of danger or to help avoid a crash

   Use your horn to let others know you are there or to warn them of a hazard, not to express anger.

7. Question 7 of 25

   Zones 1 and 2 are this car's blind spots. Before you change lanes, how should you check them?

   • AHonk and move over slowly
   • BTurn your head and look over your shoulder
   • CUse only the inside rearview mirror
   • DUse only the side mirrors
   Show answer

   Answer: B. Turn your head and look over your shoulder

   Mirrors do not show every area beside you. Look over your shoulder to check the blind spot before you move.

8. Question 8 of 25

   You park facing uphill next to a curb. Which way should you turn your front wheels?

   • AToward the curb
   • BAway from the curb, so the tire rests against the curb if the car rolls back
   • CIt does not matter if the parking brake is set
   • DStraight ahead
   Show answer

   Answer: B. Away from the curb, so the tire rests against the curb if the car rolls back

   Uphill with a curb, turn your wheels toward the center of the road and let the front tire gently touch the curb.

9. Question 9 of 25

   What does this sign mean?

   • AThe road becomes divided
   • BA narrow bridge is ahead
   • CA new lane is added
   • DThe right lane ends; merge left when it is safe
   Show answer

   Answer: D. The right lane ends; merge left when it is safe

   If you are in the lane that ends, signal and move over when there is a safe gap. Drivers in the other lane should help by adjusting speed.

10. Question 10 of 25

    A common cause of serious motorcycle crashes is a driver who:

    • ATurns left in front of an oncoming motorcycle
    • BParks next to a motorcycle
    • CFollows a motorcycle at a safe distance
    • DPasses a motorcycle on a straight road
    Show answer

    Answer: A. Turns left in front of an oncoming motorcycle

    Drivers turning left often fail to see oncoming motorcycles. Look carefully for motorcycles before you turn.

11. Question 11 of 25

    The school bus ahead of you turns on flashing yellow (amber) lights. What does this mean?

    • AThe bus is getting ready to stop, so slow down and prepare to stop
    • BThe bus has broken down
    • CYou should pass the bus quickly
    • DThe children have finished crossing
    Show answer

    Answer: A. The bus is getting ready to stop, so slow down and prepare to stop

    Flashing yellow lights on a school bus warn that it will soon stop and turn on its red lights.

12. Question 12 of 25

    When is the road often most slippery in the rain?

    • AIn the first minutes after rain starts
    • BJust after the rain stops and the sun comes out
    • CAfter it has rained for many hours
    • DOnly at night
    Show answer

    Answer: A. In the first minutes after rain starts

    When rain begins, it mixes with oil and dirt on the road and makes a slick film. Slow down right away.

13. Question 13 of 25

    What does this sign mean?

    • AA four-way intersection
    • BA railroad crossing; yield to any train
    • CYou must always stop here, even when no train is near
    • DA hospital is nearby
    Show answer

    Answer: B. A railroad crossing; yield to any train

    Treat a crossbuck like a yield sign. Slow down, look and listen both ways, and stop if a train is coming. Trains always have the right-of-way.

14. Question 14 of 25

    Which of these is distracted driving?

    • AScanning the road ahead
    • BEating or changing the music while driving
    • CKeeping both hands on the wheel
    • DChecking your mirrors
    Show answer

    Answer: B. Eating or changing the music while driving

    Any activity that takes your attention from driving is a distraction, including eating, talking and adjusting the stereo or GPS.

15. Question 15 of 25

    What does a steady yellow light mean?

    • ASpeed up to get through before it turns red
    • BThe light is about to turn red, so stop if you can do it safely
    • COnly pedestrians may move now
    • DThe intersection is clear, so go
    Show answer

    Answer: B. The light is about to turn red, so stop if you can do it safely

    A steady yellow light warns that the green is ending and red is coming. Stop if you can do so safely.

16. Question 16 of 25

    Compared with a sober driver, about how much more likely is a driver with a BAC of 0.08% to crash?

    • AAbout 20 times
    • BAbout the same
    • CAbout 4 times
    • DAbout 1.5 times
    Show answer

    Answer: C. About 4 times

    Drivers at a BAC of 0.08% are about four times more likely to crash than drivers with no alcohol.

17. Question 17 of 25

    Car A and Car B reach this intersection, which has no signs or signals, at about the same time. Which car must yield?

    • AWhichever car is going faster
    • BCar B
    • CNeither car; both may go at once
    • DCar A
    Show answer

    Answer: D. Car A

    At an uncontrolled intersection, if two cars arrive together, the driver on the left yields to the driver on the right. Car B is on Car A's right, so Car A must yield.

18. Question 18 of 25

    Why should you never drive beside a motorcycle in the same lane?

    • AMotorcycles must ride on the shoulder
    • BA motorcyclist has the right to use the full width of the lane
    • CMotorcycles are always slower than cars
    • DIt is fine if the rider waves you by
    Show answer

    Answer: B. A motorcyclist has the right to use the full width of the lane

    A motorcycle is entitled to a full lane, just like a car. Sharing its lane is dangerous and not allowed.

19. Question 19 of 25

    What does this sign mean?

    • ATrucks cross the road ahead
    • BAn uphill passing lane is ahead
    • CA steep downhill grade is ahead; slow down and use a lower gear
    • DA truck stop is ahead
    Show answer

    Answer: C. A steep downhill grade is ahead; slow down and use a lower gear

    On a steep downgrade, slow down before the hill and shift to a lower gear so your brakes do not overheat.

20. Question 20 of 25

    What is hydroplaning?

    • AWhen a tire slowly loses air
    • BWhen water gets into your engine
    • CWhen your tires ride on a layer of water and lose contact with the road
    • DWhen your brakes overheat on a long hill
    Show answer

    Answer: C. When your tires ride on a layer of water and lose contact with the road

    At higher speeds on wet roads, tires can ride up on water. You then lose steering and braking control.

21. Question 21 of 25

    What does this sign mean?

    • AAlways come to a full stop
    • BThe road narrows ahead
    • CMerge without slowing down
    • DSlow down and let traffic and pedestrians go first; stop if needed
    Show answer

    Answer: D. Slow down and let traffic and pedestrians go first; stop if needed

    A triangle pointing down means yield. Slow down, give the right-of-way, and stop only if you must.

22. Question 22 of 25

    On a divided highway, what color is the edge line on the left side of your lanes?

    • ARed
    • BWhite
    • CYellow
    • DBlue
    Show answer

    Answer: C. Yellow

    Yellow marks the left edge of divided highways, one-way streets and ramps. White marks the right edge.

23. Question 23 of 25

    Why should you avoid making a U-turn near the top of a hill or on a curve?

    • AIt wears out your tires
    • BYour turn signal will not work
    • CIt uses too much fuel
    • DOther drivers may not see you in time to stop
    Show answer

    Answer: D. Other drivers may not see you in time to stop

    U-turns are unsafe where other drivers cannot see your vehicle from far away, such as near hilltops and curves.

24. Question 24 of 25

    Where should you stop at this sign if there is a crosswalk but no stop line?

    • AAfter the crosswalk, at the edge of the cross street
    • BInside the intersection, where you can see best
    • CBefore the crosswalk
    • DIn the middle of the crosswalk
    Show answer

    Answer: C. Before the crosswalk

    Stop at the stop line. If there is no line, stop before the crosswalk. If there is no crosswalk, stop before you enter the intersection.

25. Question 25 of 25

    A pedestrian with a white cane or a guide dog is waiting to cross. What should you do?

    • AStop and let the person cross, without honking
    • BWave the person across from far away
    • CHonk so the person knows you are there
    • DDrive around the person
    Show answer

    Answer: A. Stop and let the person cross, without honking

    Pedestrians who use white canes or guide dogs have the right-of-way. Do not honk at a blind pedestrian.

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