Alabama Permit Practice Test

How to use this AL practice test

1. Take the full practice test above once, untimed, to find your weak topics.
2. Work through the numbered 20 question sets below. Each one is fixed, so a second attempt is a fair comparison.
3. Read the explanation on every miss. The wording comes from the Alabama Driver Manual, which is what the examiners use.
4. Come back on a later day and retake the questions you missed. A score on questions you have not seen before tells you more than a repeat.

AL practice tests, 20 questions each

Fixed sets in a fixed order so you can retake one and compare your score.

1. Test 1
2. Test 2
3. Test 3
4. Test 4
5. Test 5
6. Test 6
7. Test 7
8. Test 8
9. Test 9
10. Test 10
11. Test 11
12. Test 12
13. Test 13
14. Test 14
15. Test 15
16. Test 16
17. Test 17
18. Test 18
19. Test 19
20. Test 20
21. Test 21
22. Test 22
23. Test 23
24. Test 24
25. Test 25

Printable AL practice test with answer key

40 sample practice questions from the AL bank

Every question below comes from the Alabama question bank on this page. Open a question to see the correct answer and the explanation. Nothing here is hidden behind a signup.

1. 1. After moving within Alabama, how long does a driver have to notify the Driver License Division of the new address?

   1. 30 days
   2. 10 days
   3. 90 days
   4. One year
   Show answer

   30 days. After changing your address within Alabama, you have 30 days under Alabama Code 760-X-1-. Full explanation in Test 1

   Study this in the handbook: Renewal, address changes and license classes

2. 2. What does a round yellow railroad warning sign tell a driver?

   
   1. A railroad crossing is ahead, so the driver must slow and look both ways
   2. A roundabout is ahead and traffic moves counter-clockwise
   3. A no-passing zone begins immediately at the sign
   4. A road construction crew is working around the next curve
   Show answer

   A railroad crossing is ahead, so the driver must slow and look both ways. The advance railroad warning sign gives drivers time to prepare before reaching the tracks. Full explanation in Test 2

   Study this in the handbook: Railroad crossings

3. 3. What does an Alabama 16 year old need before driving without supervision?

   1. A letter from the school principal
   2. A second road test
   3. Parental or legal guardian permission
   4. Proof of 100 practice hours
   Show answer

   Parental or legal guardian permission. The GDL summary says 16 year olds must have parental or legal guardian permission to receive a license and to drive without supervision. Full explanation in Test 3

   Study this in the handbook: The learner license and graduated license rules

4. 4. At an intersection, which movement is prohibited by a NO TURNS sign?

   
   1. A U-turn, while right and left turns remain open
   2. Both right and left turns
   3. A right turn, while left turns remain open
   4. Only a turn made after a complete stop
   Show answer

   Both right and left turns. The no-turns sign closes both turning choices at that intersection. Full explanation in Test 4

   Study this in the handbook: Sign types, regulatory signs and four way stops

5. 5. How does Alabama describe speed limits in municipalities?

   1. They are maximum speeds
   2. They are advisory speeds only
   3. They apply only to commercial vehicles
   4. They are minimum speeds during daylight
   Show answer

   They are maximum speeds. The manual states that all speed limits in municipalities are maximum speeds. Full explanation in Test 5

   Study this in the handbook: Speed limits

6. 6. As you leave a roundabout and turn onto your exit road, whom must you yield to?

   1. No one, because exiting traffic has priority
   2. Vehicles waiting at the next entry
   3. Drivers circulating behind you
   4. Pedestrians and bicycles at the exit
   Show answer

   Pedestrians and bicycles at the exit. The roundabout steps end with a reminder to yield to pedestrians and bicycles as you exit. Full explanation in Test 6

   Study this in the handbook: Roundabouts

7. 7. What does an Alabama school-zone sign indicate during the hours shown on the sign?

   1. Drivers may ignore the sign when its flashing lights are off
   2. A statewide 20 mph limit applies at every school
   3. The ordinary road speed limit applies until children enter the roadway
   4. The posted school-zone speed limit applies during those indicated hours
   Show answer

   The posted school-zone speed limit applies during those indicated hours. A school-zone sign identifies the speed limit that governs during the hours printed on the sign. Full explanation in Test 7

   Study this in the handbook: Speed limits

8. 8. When an emergency vehicle approaches with flashing red or blue lights and a siren, what must a driver do?

   
   1. Follow the emergency vehicle closely through traffic
   2. Pull to the side of the roadway and stop
   3. Stop in the center of the intersection immediately
   4. Continue driving until reaching the next service station
   Show answer

   Pull to the side of the roadway and stop. Alabama requires drivers to yield to an approaching or overtaking emergency vehicle displaying flashing red or blue lights and sounding a si Full explanation in Test 8

   Study this in the handbook: Stopping rules, school buses and emergency vehicles

9. 9. Except when backing into a parking place, how does the Alabama manual characterize backing on a public street or road?

   1. It is preferred whenever a turn is inconvenient
   2. It is never advisable
   3. It is required before entering any driveway
   4. It is allowed only during daylight
   Show answer

   It is never advisable. The manual describes backing on a public street or road as never advisable, except for backing into a parking place. Full explanation in Test 9

   Study this in the handbook: Passing, backing, lane changes and loads

10. 10. How long is an Alabama 15-year-old learner license valid, and how many times may it be renewed?

    1. Four years, with one renewal permitted
    2. Two years, with unlimited renewals
    3. Six months, with no renewal permitted
    4. Until age 18, with two renewals permitted
    Show answer

    Four years, with one renewal permitted. The restricted learner license described for a 15-year-old remains valid for four years and may be renewed once. Full explanation in Test 10

    Study this in the handbook: The learner license and graduated license rules

11. 11. Your car breaks down at night on an Alabama highway and you carry flares. Where should those flares be placed to warn traffic?

    1. Ahead of the vehicle, facing approaching traffic
    2. Only beside the driver door while you wait inside
    3. 100 to 500 feet behind your vehicle, on the right edge
    4. Ten feet behind the rear bumper, in the middle of the lane
    Show answer

    100 to 500 feet behind your vehicle, on the right edge. Night breakdown guidance in Alabama places flares or reflectors from 100 to 500 feet to the rear of the vehicle, along the right hand edge o Full explanation in Test 11

12. 12. After an Alabama crash, an injured person is conscious but clearly hurt and no fire threatens the scene. How should bystanders position that person?

    1. Keep the person lying or sitting down until medical aid arrives
    2. Walk the person around to prevent stiffness
    3. Seat the person upright in a passing car
    4. Lay the person flat on the roadway center line
    Show answer

    Keep the person lying or sitting down until medical aid arrives. Stillness protects injuries that eyes cannot assess, particularly damage involving the neck, spine, or internal bleeding. Full explanation in Test 12

    Study this in the handbook: Phones, fatigue, following distance and crashes

13. 13. A steady green arrow points down the lane ahead of you on an Alabama roadway, though a sign nearby bans one turn. What does the arrow allow?

    1. Drive against traffic in the next lane when empty
    2. Any movement, including the turn banned nearby
    3. Use that lane and still obey all other controls
    4. Ignore stop lines marked beneath the arrow
    Show answer

    Use that lane and still obey all other controls. A steady green arrow over a lane in Alabama permits a driver facing it to drive in the lane beneath the arrow, while still obeying all other Full explanation in Test 13

    Study this in the handbook: Traffic signals, arrows and lane use signals

14. 14. You park facing downhill on an Alabama street with a curb on your right. How should you set the front wheels and gears?

    1. Wheels toward the road edge, in PARK only
    2. Wheels away from the curb, in low gear
    3. Wheels toward the curb, in reverse gear or PARK
    4. Wheels straight ahead, in neutral with brake off
    Show answer

    Wheels toward the curb, in reverse gear or PARK. Facing downhill where a curb exists in Alabama, turn the front wheels toward the curb and shift into reverse gear or PARK, with the hand bra Full explanation in Test 14

    Study this in the handbook: Curves, bicycles, motorcycles and large vehicles

15. 15. In Alabama, a steady green arrow lights for your turning movement. What must traffic facing you do?

    1. Proceed slowly through the turn lane
    2. Stop while you move in the arrow direction
    3. Turn across your path if no horn sounds
    4. Enter the intersection and block your exit
    Show answer

    Stop while you move in the arrow direction. Arrows grant a protected movement by holding conflicting traffic at the line. Full explanation in Test 15

    Study this in the handbook: Traffic signals, arrows and lane use signals

16. 16. A round yellow sign with a black X and the letters RR appears beside your Alabama road. What is it telling you, and what should follow?

    
    1. A route junction is ahead; choose your lane early and proceed
    2. A rest area is near; maintain normal highway speed ahead
    3. A crossing is ahead; slow and look both ways
    4. A road crew is working ahead; change lanes at once to pass
    Show answer

    A crossing is ahead; slow and look both ways. The round yellow warning in Alabama announces a railroad crossing ahead and calls for slowing down, looking carefully in both directions, an Full explanation in Test 16

17. 17. What does a solid white edge line on an Alabama highway mark, and when may it be crossed?

    1. The center of the road; crossed only when passing on the left
    2. A bicycle lane edge; crossed freely by motor vehicles
    3. The outside edge of the traffic lane; crossed only moving to or from the shoulder
    4. A parking boundary; crossed only by vehicles stopping to park
    Show answer

    The outside edge of the traffic lane; crossed only moving to or from the shoulder. A solid white line at the side shows the outer edge of the travel lane. Full explanation in Test 17

    Study this in the handbook: Pavement markings

18. 18. You want to pass a person on a bicycle in Alabama while traveling uphill into a curve with limited visibility. What should you do about that pass?

    1. Do not pass there; wait until you have a clear view ahead
    2. Pass at once, since a bicycle can clear the curve first
    3. Move partly into the oncoming lane and pass despite poor sight
    4. Signal with the horn and pass, since the rider must leave the road
    Show answer

    Do not pass there; wait until you have a clear view ahead. A person on a bicycle should be passed with the same caution and respect as another motor vehicle. Full explanation in Test 18

    Study this in the handbook: Curves, bicycles, motorcycles and large vehicles

19. 19. At an Alabama traffic stop, the officer asks for documents that are in a glove box or bag out of your easy reach. What should you do first?

    1. Tell the officer first, then reach for the documents
    2. Reach for them quickly so the stop is not delayed
    3. Ask a passenger to hand them over without telling the officer
    4. Wait until the officer returns to the patrol car, then search
    Show answer

    Tell the officer first, then reach for the documents. Documents at a stop should change hands without sudden movement. Full explanation in Test 19

    Study this in the handbook: Passing, backing, lane changes and loads

20. 20. You have just passed a large vehicle on an Alabama road. When is it safe to pull back in front of it?

    1. As soon as your front bumper is just ahead of the large vehicle
    2. After you slow down enough to leave a wide gap between the two vehicles
    3. After you can see the entire front of the vehicle in your rear-view mirror
    4. Right after you hear its horn or see the driver flash the headlights
    Show answer

    After you can see the entire front of the vehicle in your rear-view mirror. A loaded large vehicle needs far more room to stop than a car. After passing, do not cut in too quickly. Full explanation in Test 20

    Study this in the handbook: Curves, bicycles, motorcycles and large vehicles

21. 21. You stop fully at a red light in Alabama, in the right lane, and the crossing looks completely clear. When may you turn right?

    1. Before stopping, while still rolling at a walking speed
    2. Stop first, in the right lane, when clear
    3. Only after the light turns green in every single case
    4. From any lane at all, as long as you stop completely first
    Show answer

    Stop first, in the right lane, when clear. Alabama allows a right turn after stopping for a red light when you are in the proper lane for that turn, and the movement still requires th Full explanation in Test 21

    Study this in the handbook: Speed limits

22. 22. Your car breaks down on an Alabama freeway. Which set of distress signals will help an officer spot you?

    1. Flash the headlights twice and leave the disabled car sitting in the travel lane
    2. Place a passenger out in the roadway to wave approaching traffic around your car
    3. Open the trunk, raise the hood if weather permits, and tie a white cloth to a door handle or antenna
    4. Sound the horn every minute while sitting on the shoulder waiting for assistance
    Show answer

    Open the trunk, raise the hood if weather permits, and tie a white cloth to a door handle or antenna. Raised panels and a light colored cloth make a disabled car read as a vehicle needing help rather than one briefly parked. Full explanation in Test 22

    Study this in the handbook: The Move Over Law

23. 23. Smoke and flame rise from under the hood of your Alabama car and no extinguisher is available. Which liquid must you avoid using on the fire?

    1. Water, because burning gasoline will float on it and spread the blaze
    2. Dirt scooped from the roadside shoulder and thrown over the flames
    3. Sand poured directly over the flames to cut off air to the fire
    4. A commercial extinguisher borrowed from a nearby driver or building
    Show answer

    Water, because burning gasoline will float on it and spread the blaze. Fuel spreading on water can carry flames outward and enlarge the burning area instead of smothering it. Full explanation in Test 23

    Study this in the handbook: Driving emergencies

24. 24. Your car breaks down at night in Alabama and you must walk for help. How should you walk?

    1. Walk in the travel lane on the right side with your back to oncoming traffic
    2. Carry a light and walk on the left edge of the road or shoulder, facing traffic
    3. Cross to the median and walk with traffic while waving one arm overhead
    4. Stay in the middle of the shoulder and walk away from traffic in darkness
    Show answer

    Carry a light and walk on the left edge of the road or shoulder, facing traffic. Walking beside a disabled car at night is risky because drivers may spot the vehicle but miss a person near it. Full explanation in Test 24

25. 25. Overhead lane signals show a steady red X above the lane you are using on an Alabama freeway, while the next lane shows a downward green arrow. What must you do?

    1. Leave the lane under the red X when it is safe
    2. Use your lane only at a reduced speed until it reopens
    3. Follow the car ahead if it stays under the red X
    4. Stay in your lane until the red X turns yellow
    Show answer

    Leave the lane under the red X when it is safe. A steady red X in Alabama means a driver facing it shall not drive in the lane beneath that signal, and the indication modifies other traffi Full explanation in Test 25

    Study this in the handbook: Traffic signals, arrows and lane use signals

26. 26. In Alabama, how must a driver respond to a flashing red traffic signal?

    1. Treat it as a stop sign and proceed only when safe
    2. Treat it as a yield and continue if the lane looks open
    3. Treat it as a green signal for the direction of travel
    4. Stop only if a train or emergency vehicle is visible
    Show answer

    Treat it as a stop sign and proceed only when safe. A flashing red signal carries the same stopping duty as a stop sign. Full explanation in Test 1

    Study this in the handbook: Stopping rules, school buses and emergency vehicles

27. 27. When a KEEP RIGHT sign marks an island or obstruction, where should the driver travel?

    
    1. Across the island if no vehicle is nearby
    2. To the left of the sign, against the arrow
    3. To the right of the sign and obstruction
    4. In the opposing lane until the obstruction ends
    Show answer

    To the right of the sign and obstruction. The keep-right instruction directs traffic around the right side of the marked island or obstruction. Full explanation in Test 2

    Study this in the handbook: Sign types, regulatory signs and four way stops

28. 28. After an Alabama license revocation period ends, what must the driver do to be licensed again?

    1. Pay a fee only
    2. Wait one more year
    3. Nothing, the license restores itself
    4. Apply for a new license and pass the complete examinations
    Show answer

    Apply for a new license and pass the complete examinations. After the revocation period has expired, the driver may apply for a new driver license and will be required to take and pass the complete ex Full explanation in Test 3

    Study this in the handbook: Losing your license, points and phone laws

29. 29. What does the SPEED LIMIT number on a regulatory sign represent?

    
    1. The minimum speed required on every road
    2. A suggested speed that may be exceeded whenever traffic is light
    3. The posted speed under normal conditions
    4. The speed allowed only while passing
    Show answer

    The posted speed under normal conditions. The posted number is the speed limit under normal conditions. Full explanation in Test 4

    Study this in the handbook: Sign types, regulatory signs and four way stops

30. 30. What does a PAVEMENT ENDS warning sign tell you about the road ahead?

    1. The road ahead is closed to through traffic
    2. The street ahead has no outlet
    3. A divided highway ends and traffic becomes two way
    4. The road surface will change to gravel or dirt
    Show answer

    The road surface will change to gravel or dirt. A PAVEMENT ENDS sign means the road surface ahead will change to gravel or dirt, and you should be prepared for this change before your tire Full explanation in Test 5

31. 31. For a driver age 21 or older operating a noncommercial vehicle in Alabama, what is the lowest BAC covered by the general alcohol per se threshold?

    1. .04 percent or more
    2. .08 percent or more
    3. .05 percent or more
    4. .10 percent or more
    Show answer

    .08 percent or more. Alabama treats a blood alcohol concentration of . Full explanation in Test 6

    Study this in the handbook: Alcohol and the DUI law

32. 32. A driver has been drinking and wants to sober up quickly before driving. What actually lowers blood alcohol?

    1. Drinking several cups of black coffee
    2. Eating a large meal
    3. Taking a cold shower
    4. Only time, while the liver breaks down the alcohol
    Show answer

    Only time, while the liver breaks down the alcohol. Alcohol is absorbed quickly but leaves the body slowly. Full explanation in Test 7

    Study this in the handbook: Alcohol and the DUI law

33. 33. A 16 year old Alabama learner license holder passes the road test. What happens with the learner license?

    1. It is surrendered, and a regular license without the Y restriction is issued at no cost
    2. It is kept as a backup ID
    3. It is extended for one more year
    4. It is mailed back after six months
    Show answer

    It is surrendered, and a regular license without the Y restriction is issued at no cost. A person 16 but under 18 who has held a learner license for six months, or until turning 18, may take the road test and must surrender the l Full explanation in Test 8

    Study this in the handbook: The learner license and graduated license rules

34. 34. What fee does the Alabama manual list for each knowledge test?

    1. $5.00, with no checks accepted
    2. $10.00, payable only by check
    3. $15.00, waived for learner applicants
    4. No fee is listed for a knowledge test
    Show answer

    $5.00, with no checks accepted. The knowledge-test section lists a fee of $5.00 for each test and adds that checks are not accepted. Full explanation in Test 9

    Study this in the handbook: Who needs a license, and the knowledge and road tests

35. 35. What does this sign tell you?

    
    1. A railroad crossing with gates is just ahead
    2. There is a traffic signal ahead
    3. You must stop at the sign itself
    4. A lane use signal will close your lane
    Show answer

    There is a traffic signal ahead. This yellow diamond with a traffic light symbol means there is a traffic signal ahead. Full explanation in Test 10

    Study this in the handbook: Warning, construction and guide signs

36. 36. Following another car at night in Alabama on high beams, you close to about 150 feet behind it. What must you do?

    1. Dim only on curves where mirrors reflect light
    2. Alternate high and low beams to signal your presence
    3. Keep high beams until 50 feet behind the car
    4. Dim within 200 feet of the vehicle you follow
    Show answer

    Dim within 200 feet of the vehicle you follow. When following another vehicle at night in Alabama, headlights must be dimmed within 200 feet of that vehicle. Full explanation in Test 11

    Study this in the handbook: Night and winter driving

37. 37. In addition to checking that all lights work at night in Alabama, what should you keep clean and free of defects?

    1. All the glass on the vehicle, kept clean and free of frost and steam
    2. Only the headlight lenses, because the wipers clean the windshield
    3. The rear license plate, while frost on the side glass melts on its own
    4. The mirrors only, since steam inside the windshield clears once moving
    Show answer

    All the glass on the vehicle, kept clean and free of frost and steam. Night vision depends on every piece of glass, not only the lamps. Full explanation in Test 12

    Study this in the handbook: Night and winter driving

38. 38. Snow has fallen overnight in Alabama. Before driving off, what should you do while the engine warms up?

    1. Clear snow and ice off the car, especially the hood, and windows
    2. Leave snow on the hood so it slides off once you reach road speed
    3. Clear only a small patch of the windshield in front of the driver
    4. Drive off at once so the heater clears the windows on the way
    Show answer

    Clear snow and ice off the car, especially the hood, and windows. Winter preparation starts before the car moves. Full explanation in Test 13

39. 39. While stopping on packed snow or ice in Alabama, what should you not do with the clutch pedal?

    1. Do not depress the clutch to take the vehicle out of gear
    2. Depress the clutch fully at the start so the car coasts to a stop
    3. Hold the clutch halfway down through the stop to soften braking
    4. Push the clutch in each time the wheels begin to slip
    Show answer

    Do not depress the clutch to take the vehicle out of gear. A slippery stop is managed with the brakes while the car stays in gear. Full explanation in Test 14

    Study this in the handbook: Night and winter driving

40. 40. What road condition does this pictured Alabama warning sign announce, and what should a driver do?

    
    1. A dip in the roadway, so slow down
    2. A steep upgrade, so accelerate before climbing
    3. Loose gravel, so steer onto the shoulder
    4. A flooded lane, so stop in the dip itself
    Show answer

    A dip in the roadway, so slow down. A dip drops the pavement briefly, which can jolt steering and compress suspension at speed. Full explanation in Test 15