North Carolina Motorcycle Permit Practice Test 2026: Practice test 4

1. Question 1 of 25

   How should you sit so you can steer well?

   • ASo your elbows touch your knees
   • BSo your hands are above your shoulders
   • CSo your arms are slightly bent
   • DSo 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.

2. Question 2 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.

3. Question 3 of 25

   You will ride a borrowed motorcycle for the first time. What should you do?

   • ALearn where its controls are and ride carefully until you are used to it
   • BAssume it is just like yours
   • CRide fast to test it
   • DSkip 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.

4. Question 4 of 25

   When should you NOT wear a tinted face shield or tinted glasses?

   • AAt night or in low light
   • BOn the highway
   • COn sunny days
   • DOn hot days
   Show answer

   Answer: A. At night or in low light

   Tinted eye protection blocks light you need to see at night and in dim conditions.

5. Question 5 of 25

   When you follow a car, where should you ride?

   • ARight beside the rear bumper
   • BWhere the driver can see you in the rearview mirror
   • CIn the driver's blind spot
   • DClose to the road edge
   Show answer

   Answer: B. Where the driver can see you in the rearview mirror

   Riding in the center of the lane usually puts you in the middle of the driver's rearview mirror.

6. Question 6 of 25

   Item 6 in the diagram shows boots. How high should riding boots be?

   • ABelow the ankle
   • BOnly knee-high boots are safe
   • CAny height, if they are leather
   • DHigh enough to cover your ankles
   Show answer

   Answer: D. High enough to cover your ankles

   Sturdy boots that cover the ankles protect them and give support. Soles should be hard and slip-resistant.

7. Question 7 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.

8. Question 8 of 25

   When do most motorcycle crashes happen?

   • AOn short trips, a few minutes after starting out
   • BOnly in rain
   • COnly on long highway trips
   • DOnly after midnight
   Show answer

   Answer: A. On short trips, a few minutes after starting out

   Most crashes happen on short trips, so wear all your gear every time you ride, even for a quick errand.

9. Question 9 of 25

   On a long ride, how often should you stop and get off the motorcycle?

   • AEvery six hours
   • BNever, if you feel fine
   • CAt least every two hours
   • DOnly when you need fuel
   Show answer

   Answer: C. At least every two hours

   Fatigue affects control and judgment. Take frequent breaks.

10. Question 10 of 25

    If you need to brake and swerve, when should you brake?

    • ABefore or after the swerve, never during it
    • BOnly with the front brake during the swerve
    • CYou should never brake at all
    • DDuring the swerve
    Show answer

    Answer: A. Before or after the swerve, never during it

    Braking while swerving can cause a skid. Separate the two actions.

11. Question 11 of 25

    How should a passenger lean in turns?

    • AWith the rider, staying directly behind
    • BAgainst the turn
    • CBack, away from the rider
    • DStraight up, no matter what
    Show answer

    Answer: A. With the rider, staying directly behind

    The passenger should stay directly behind the rider and lean as the rider leans.

12. Question 12 of 25

    How do you measure your following distance, as shown in the diagram?

    • AWatch the driver's brake lights
    • BWhen the vehicle ahead passes a fixed point, count seconds until you reach it
    • CLook at your speedometer
    • DCount car lengths
    Show answer

    Answer: B. When the vehicle ahead passes a fixed point, count seconds until you reach it

    Pick a fixed point. When the vehicle ahead passes it, count. If you reach it before two seconds, you are too close.

13. Question 13 of 25

    How should you brake on a slippery surface?

    • AUse both brakes gently
    • BUse only the front brake, hard
    • CUse only the rear brake, hard
    • DDo not brake at all
    Show answer

    Answer: A. Use both brakes gently

    On slippery roads, reduce speed, avoid sudden moves and use both brakes gently.

14. Question 14 of 25

    What should you do before changing lanes?

    • ACheck your mirrors and turn your head to check your blind spot
    • BOnly sound your horn
    • COnly check your mirrors
    • DSpeed up first
    Show answer

    Answer: A. Check your mirrors and turn your head to check your blind spot

    Mirrors do not show everything. A head check covers your blind spots.

15. Question 15 of 25

    A tire goes flat while you are riding. What should you do?

    • AHold the grips firmly, ease off the throttle and keep a straight course
    • BTurn sharply off the road
    • CSpeed up to keep balance
    • DBrake hard with both brakes
    Show answer

    Answer: A. Hold the grips firmly, ease off the throttle and keep a straight course

    Stay straight and slow down gradually. If you must brake, gently use the brake on the good tire.

16. Question 16 of 25

    A dog starts to chase your motorcycle. What should you do?

    • AStop and wait for it to leave
    • BSlow down as you approach, then speed up and leave it behind
    • CSwerve toward it
    • DKick at the dog
    Show answer

    Answer: B. Slow down as you approach, then speed up and leave it behind

    Downshift and approach slowly. As you reach the dog, accelerate away. Never kick at it.

17. Question 17 of 25

    What is lane splitting?

    • ARiding on the shoulder
    • BRiding two motorcycles side by side in one lane
    • CChanging lanes quickly
    • DRiding between lanes of stopped or slower-moving traffic
    Show answer

    Answer: D. Riding between lanes of stopped or slower-moving traffic

    Lane splitting means riding between rows of vehicles. Most states do not allow it; check your state's law.

18. Question 18 of 25

    How should you ride over an object in the road that you cannot avoid?

    • ABrake hard as you hit it
    • BCross it as close to 90 degrees as you can, rising slightly off the seat
    • CSwerve over it at speed
    • DCross 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.

19. Question 19 of 25

    How do you stop as quickly as possible?

    • AUse only the rear brake
    • BPull in the clutch and coast
    • CApply both brakes fully without locking either wheel
    • DUse only the front brake
    Show answer

    Answer: C. Apply both brakes fully without locking either wheel

    In a quick stop, squeeze the front brake firmly and press the rear brake, without locking the wheels.

20. Question 20 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.

21. Question 21 of 25

    When should you leave three seconds or more behind the vehicle ahead?

    • AOnly in parking lots
    • BNever; two seconds is always enough
    • COn slippery roads, at night, in heavy traffic, or when you can't see past the vehicle ahead
    • DOnly on sunny days
    Show answer

    Answer: C. On slippery roads, at night, in heavy traffic, or when you can't see past the vehicle ahead

    Increase your following distance when you need more time to see hazards or to stop.

22. Question 22 of 25

    How should you cross a pavement seam or tracks that run parallel to your path?

    • AEdge across slowly at a slight angle
    • BMove away from them, then cross at an angle of at least 45 degrees
    • CCross them at full speed at any angle
    • DRide 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.

23. Question 23 of 25

    What should you do when riding at night?

    • AFollow the car ahead more closely
    • BSlow down and increase your following distance
    • CTurn your headlight off near other cars
    • DWear a tinted face shield
    Show answer

    Answer: B. Slow down and increase your following distance

    At night you see less, so slow down, leave more space and use the lights of the car ahead to see the road.

24. Question 24 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.

25. Question 25 of 25

    What do you do in the Execute step of SEE?

    • ADecide not to ride
    • BAct: communicate, change speed or change position
    • CCount seconds
    • DOnly 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.

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