Ultimate North Carolina DMV Permit Practice Test 2026 | 100 Real NC Questions & Answers Study Guide

In North Carolina, you must dim your headlights whenever you are within how many feet of an oncoming vehicle?

500 feet

You may NOT park within:

25 feet of the curb line of an intersecting street

In which of the following situations are you NOT allowed to pass another vehicle on the right?

When you're in a left-turn lane

What is the best way to handle a curve?

Slow down before entering the curve

What does a warning sign showing a truck going down a slope mean?

There is a steep descent ahead

If you are found to be driving with a blood alcohol concentration (BAC) of what percentage or more, your license will be immediately revoked for at least 30 days?

A BAC of 0.08% or higher (for drivers 21 and older in NC)

What does a yellow diamond sign with an octagon and an upward arrow indicate?

A stop sign ahead

To enter an interstate highway, use what until your vehicle speed matches that of highway traffic, and then merge safely?

An acceleration lane

What does a pennant-shaped sign posted on the left side of a roadway mean?

Vehicles are not allowed to pass

You are driving on a road where the speed limit is 35 mph. If you want to make a turn, you must start to signal at least how far before you turn?

100 feet

Which of the following statements about using a cell phone while driving is false?

It's better to send a text message rather than place a phone call

When a school bus is stopped with flashing red lights on a two-lane roadway, drivers approaching from either direction must:

Stop

Under North Carolina law, which occupants of a vehicle must wear seat belts or suitable child restraints?

The driver and all passengers

Which of the following are used as left edge lines on divided highways?

Single solid yellow lines

You must not pass on a curve or the crest of a hill if you cannot see at least how far ahead?

500 feet

What does a diamond warning sign showing a person holding a flag warn drivers of?

A flag person (flagger) ahead

What does a warning sign showing two lanes merging together at the end of a divider mean?

The divided highway ends ahead

What does a white lane-control sign with a straight arrow and a left-turn arrow indicate?

You may either go straight or turn left

What does a sign with a U-turn arrow crossed out by a red circle and slash mean?

No U-turns

In North Carolina, you must use your headlights from sunset to sunrise and whenever visibility is:

400 feet or less

When driving on a one-way street with three or more lanes of traffic, you must use:

The outside lanes for turning and the center lanes for through travel

What does a yellow diamond sign showing a car with wavy skid lines underneath mean?

The road ahead is slippery when wet

When two or more vehicles reach an uncontrolled intersection (one without signs or signals) at about the same time, which vehicle has the right-of-way?

The vehicle to the right

Signs with black letters or symbols on an orange background provide:

Specific information and directions to drivers in work zones

What does a five-sided (pentagon) yellow-green sign with two walking figures indicate?

A school zone

What does a yellow diamond sign with an up arrow and a down arrow side-by-side indicate?

Two-way traffic ahead

When passing a moped, you must stay at least:

2 feet to the left of it

If an emergency vehicle with flashing lights or sounding a siren approaches you from either direction, you must:

Pull over to the right and stop

What does a blue rectangular sign with a white letter "H" represent?

A service sign for a hospital

According to the North Carolina Driver's Handbook, your chances of being involved in an accident will increase once your blood alcohol concentration (BAC) reaches:

0.05

What does a round yellow warning sign with a black "X" and "R R" indicate?

A railroad crossing sign

If you are convicted of running a red light, how many points will be added to your driving record?

3 points

Under normal driving conditions, use what to maintain a safe following distance behind the vehicle in front of you?

The 2-second rule

A red arrow signal at an intersection indicates that:

Turning traffic must stop

In North Carolina, the maximum speed limit in cities and towns is what except where otherwise posted?

35 mph

Hydroplaning can start at speeds as low as:

30 mph

Before pulling out from a parallel parking space on the right side of the road, you should check for approaching traffic and:

Give a left turn signal

When driving in icy conditions, it is recommended to do what for better traction?

Use chains

You should NOT sound your horn:

To greet another driver

On a four-lane divided roadway or a one-way road, a solid yellow line usually marks:

The left edge of the pavement

When passing another vehicle, do not do what until the way is clear?

Return to your original lane

Which of the following statements about roundabouts is false?

Always enter the roundabout to the left and proceed on the left side of the central island

If you are about to pass a bicycle to your right and an oncoming vehicle is approaching you on your left, what should you do?

Slow down and let the vehicle pass first

You drive up to an intersection and you see a yield sign. You must:

Slow down and yield the right-of-way to all vehicles

You may pass another vehicle on the right:

If the vehicle is in a left-turn lane

If you miss your exit on an interstate highway, what should you do?

Continue to the next exit

According to the North Carolina Driver Handbook, what percentage of traffic fatalities have involved the consumption of alcohol?

38%

It is safest to drive where in your lane?

In the center

According to the North Carolina Driver's Handbook, about how many of every five persons killed in urban traffic accidents are pedestrians?

2

When there is water on the roadway, you must reduce your speed to avoid:

Hydroplaning

What does a circular red sign with a white horizontal bar across the middle mean?

No U-turns are allowed

When two vehicles meet on a steep mountain road where neither can pass, which vehicle has the right-of-way?

The vehicle traveling uphill

What does a flashing yellow arrow signal mean?

You may turn in the direction of the arrow after you yield to oncoming vehicles

If you are driving down a steep downgrade, you should:

Shift into a lower gear

If you are driving down a steep downgrade, you should:

Shift into a lower gear

You can avoid panic stops by:

Spotting hazards well in advance

Which of the following statements about lane markings is true?

A solid white line between lanes of traffic means that you should stay in your lane unless a special situation requires you to change lanes

Rumble strips use vibration and sound to alert drowsy or inattentive drivers that they are:

Approaching a stop sign or signal

While crossing railroad tracks, avoid:

Stopping or shifting gears

If you must park on a roadway, park your vehicle:

As far away from traffic as possible

When you see a solid yellow center line on your side of the road, you must:

Not pass

Which of the following statements about the right-of-way is false?

At a T-intersection without signs or signals, the vehicle on the through road must yield to vehicles on the terminating road

Where there are four or more lanes with traffic moving in opposite directions, what does a double solid yellow line mark?

The center of the road

Proactively looking ahead, to the sides, and behind the vehicle to anticipate problems ahead is part of:

Defensive driving

If an animal suddenly runs in front of your vehicle, you should:

Concentrate on retaining control of your vehicle

To enter an interstate highway, use the acceleration lane to do what until your vehicle's speed matches that of highway traffic?

Increase your speed

If your driver's license is revoked because you refuse to submit to chemical testing for drugs or alcohol, the DMV will revoke your license for an additional period of at least:

12 months

If vehicles from another roadway are merging onto the roadway you are traveling on, you should:

Adjust your speed and vehicle position to allow the vehicles to merge

You may pass another vehicle if there is what next to your lane?

A broken white line

Which of the following statements about highway interchanges is false?

If you miss your exit, use a median crossover to turn around

What does a yellow diamond sign with a black plus/cross (+) symbol indicate that you are approaching?

A crossroad

Backing up is NOT allowed on interstate highways except for:

Emergency vehicles

A driver must yield the right-of-way to other vehicles in all of the following situations EXCEPT:

When going straight through an empty intersection with a green light

At night, drivers should use high-beam headlights:

In open country without other vehicles nearby

You approach a pedestrian with a white cane who is about to cross the road. What should you do?

Stop

If a bicycle on your right reaches an uncontrolled intersection (one without signs or signals) at about the same time as you do, you should:

Yield to the bicycle

A solid white line next to your lane means:

You should stay in your lane

On a multi-lane roundabout, if you intend to exit the roundabout less than halfway around it, use:

The right lane

When making a left turn at an intersection or into an alley or driveway, you must yield the right-of-way to:

All traffic coming from the opposite direction

Disabled persons who display their placards can park at what color curb?

Blue

Except where prohibited, you should use the three-point turn to:

Turn around on a narrow street

What does a yellow diamond sign showing an emergency vehicle mean?

Emergency vehicles may enter the roadway

What allow vehicles to slow down and leave expressways?

Exit ramps

If another vehicle is passing you on the left, what should you do?

Keep right and don't increase your speed

When a traffic signal turns green at an intersection and you are going straight through, you must:

Make sure there are no more vehicles in or coming through the intersection

On steep mountain grades, what are built to stop runaway vehicles safely without injuring drivers or passengers?

Escape ramps

Because tractor-trailers are so large, they often appear to be traveling:

Slower

If you refuse to submit to chemical testing for drugs or alcohol upon the request of a police officer, your driver's license will be immediately revoked for at least how many days?

30

You are at a stop sign waiting to turn right. A vehicle approaching from the left has its turn signal on. What should you do?

Wait until the other vehicle actually starts to turn and then start your turn

Where there are three or more lanes going in one

Go faster or turn left

To make a right turn from a four-lane divided highway, enter the right lane well in advance of the turn and make:

A tight turn into the right lane of the cross street

Shared center lanes are reserved for what and can be used by vehicles traveling in either direction?

Making left turns

If you are parallel parked on the right side of the street, you should do what before pulling out into traffic?

Signal a left turn and look over your left shoulder

When making a U-turn, you should NOT

Make it on a curve or near a hill

To turn left from a one-way street onto another one-way street, you must start the turn:

From the left lane and make the turn close to the left curb

The distance that your vehicle travels from the time that you recognize a hazard to the time that you start to brake is called:

The reaction distance

If another driver is tailgating you, the best course of action is to:

Slow down and keep right

On a roadway with three or more lanes in the same direction, the leftmost lane is intended to be used:

For passing slower vehicles

If you have already entered an intersection when the traffic light changes to yellow or red, you must:

Proceed to clear the intersection