South Carolina Motorcycle Permit Practice Test 2026: Practice test 2

1. Question 1 of 25

   Why can the center of a lane be slippery near intersections?

   • AIt is cooler than the rest of the road
   • BIt is always painted
   • COil and grease drip from cars that stop there
   • DWater collects only in the center
   Show answer

   Answer: C. Oil and grease drip from cars that stop there

   Oil drips build up in the center of the lane where cars stop. The strip is usually narrow, so you can ride to one side of it.

2. Question 2 of 25

   On most motorcycles, how do you shift gears?

   • AWith a lever on the right handlebar
   • BWith the pedal at your right foot
   • CWith the lever at your left foot
   • DWith a lever on the left handlebar
   Show answer

   Answer: C. With the lever at your left foot

   The gear shift lever is in front of the left footrest.

3. Question 3 of 25

   What does "Slow, Look, Press, Roll" describe?

   • AThe steps for making a turn
   • BHow to park on a hill
   • CHow to start the engine
   • DHow to pass a car
   Show answer

   Answer: A. The steps for making a turn

   To turn: slow before the turn, look through it, press the handgrip to lean, and roll on the throttle.

4. Question 4 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.

5. Question 5 of 25

   What kind of gloves should a rider wear?

   • ANo gloves, for better grip
   • BFull-fingered gloves made of leather or a similar tough material
   • CThin cotton gloves
   • DFingerless 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.

6. Question 6 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.

7. Question 7 of 25

   Why wear bright or reflective clothing?

   • ADark colors are illegal
   • BIt replaces a helmet
   • CIt keeps you cooler
   • DIt helps other drivers see you
   Show answer

   Answer: D. It helps other drivers see you

   Bright colors and reflective material make you easier to see, in the day and at night.

8. Question 8 of 25

   Where should you carry cargo on a motorcycle?

   • ABehind the rear axle
   • BLow and forward, over or in front of the rear axle
   • CHigh on the passenger seat
   • DHanging from the handlebars
   Show answer

   Answer: B. Low and forward, over or in front of the rear axle

   Keeping weight low and forward helps handling. Weight high or far back can make the motorcycle unstable.

9. Question 9 of 25

   How should you park a motorcycle at a curb?

   • AParallel to the curb
   • BOn the sidewalk
   • CAt a 90-degree angle, with the rear wheel touching the curb
   • DIn the middle of the lane
   Show answer

   Answer: C. At a 90-degree angle, with the rear wheel touching the curb

   Parking at an angle with the rear wheel at the curb takes little space and lets you ride out forward.

10. Question 10 of 25

    Why should you avoid stimulants to stay awake on a ride?

    • AThey can cause extreme tiredness when they wear off
    • BThey make you sleepy right away
    • CThey are only legal at night
    • DThey improve your balance
    Show answer

    Answer: A. They can cause extreme tiredness when they wear off

    Artificial stimulants often lead to extreme fatigue or depression when they wear off.

11. Question 11 of 25

    In the diagram, marker 3 shows the passenger's hands. What should a passenger hold on to?

    • AThe rear fender
    • BThe rider's shoulders
    • CNothing; hands in the lap
    • DThe 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.

12. Question 12 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.

13. Question 13 of 25

    How should you ride when carrying a passenger?

    • ABrake later than usual
    • BA little slower, start slowing earlier, and leave more space
    • CFollow other vehicles more closely
    • DFaster, to keep your balance
    Show answer

    Answer: B. A little slower, start slowing earlier, and leave more space

    With a passenger, the motorcycle takes longer to speed up and to stop.

14. Question 14 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.

15. Question 15 of 25

    You are riding past a row of parked cars. Where in your lane should you ride?

    • AOn the shoulder
    • BToward the left side of your lane
    • COn the center line
    • DClose to the parked cars
    Show answer

    Answer: B. Toward the left side of your lane

    Staying left keeps you away from doors opening and people stepping out between cars.

16. Question 16 of 25

    How can you tell a helmet meets the US federal safety standard?

    • AIt weighs more than 5 pounds
    • BIt has a visor
    • CIt has a DOT label showing it meets FMVSS 218
    • DIt is painted a bright color
    Show answer

    Answer: C. It has a DOT label showing it meets FMVSS 218

    Helmets that meet Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standard 218 carry the DOT symbol from the maker.

17. Question 17 of 25

    Which hand controls the throttle?

    • AThe right hand
    • BNeither; it is a foot pedal
    • CEither hand
    • DThe left hand
    Show answer

    Answer: A. The right hand

    The throttle is the right handgrip. Twist it toward you to speed up.

18. Question 18 of 25

    What path through a curve does the diagram show?

    • AInside, then outside, then inside
    • BClose to the road edge the whole way
    • COutside, then inside, then outside
    • DThe 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.

19. Question 19 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.

20. Question 20 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.

21. Question 21 of 25

    In heavy traffic, drivers sometimes try to squeeze into your lane. How can you discourage this?

    • ARide on the shoulder
    • BRide in the center portion of the lane
    • CRide very close to the car ahead
    • DRide on the lane line
    Show answer

    Answer: B. Ride in the center portion of the lane

    Keeping a center position makes it harder for drivers to share your lane.

22. Question 22 of 25

    Where is the front brake lever?

    • AIn front of the left handgrip
    • BAt your left foot
    • CIn front of the right handgrip
    • DAt your right foot
    Show answer

    Answer: C. In front of the right handgrip

    The front brake lever is on the right side of the handlebars.

23. Question 23 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.

24. Question 24 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.

25. Question 25 of 25

    Besides a knowledge test, what test do most riders pass to earn a motorcycle license?

    • AA written essay
    • BA yearly medical exam
    • CAn on-cycle skills test
    • DA 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.

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