AL Permit Practice Test 9

All 20 questions in test 9

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. 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. That is a safety judgment broader than a time-of-day restriction, so daylight does not make the maneuver acceptable. The manual does not prefer reverse movement for convenience and does not require it before every driveway entry. If backing out of a driveway is necessary, back into the nearest lane and proceed from there, never across other traffic lanes. Think of minimizing reverse travel and checking all around the vehicle before moving.

2. 2. 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. The $10 and $15 amounts do not appear in this statement, and the manual does not describe the test as free for learner applicants. The wording each knowledge test matters because it ties the fee to every test attempt or category rather than presenting one general licensing charge. When preparing from this page, remember both pieces together: five dollars per knowledge test and no checks accepted.

3. 3. If a driver misses an exit in an Alabama roundabout, what should the driver do?

   1. Continue around the roundabout to the exit again
   2. Stop inside the circle and signal for help
   3. Back up to the missed exit when the lane is clear
   4. Cross the center island to reach the exit
   Show answer

   Continue around the roundabout to the exit again. Missing an exit does not justify reversing or stopping in the circular roadway. The manual says to drive around the roundabout again to reach the desired exit, and separately warns never to back up while in a roundabout. The back-up option creates a conflict with circulating traffic, while stopping inside the circle can obstruct vehicles and crossing the center island is not an authorized correction. The practical cue is simple: keep moving with the circle, complete another lap, and take the exit on the next pass when it is safe.

4. 4. Which vehicles may follow an emergency vehicle on an emergency run within 500 feet?

   1. Any vehicle with headlights on
   2. Any vehicle traveling below the speed limit
   3. Only vehicles on necessary official business
   4. Any vehicle that stays in the right lane
   Show answer

   Only vehicles on necessary official business. Alabama reserves the 500 foot following distance during an emergency run for vehicles on necessary official business. A private driver cannot create an exception by traveling slowly, turning on headlights, or remaining in the right lane. Those actions may improve visibility or lane discipline, but they do not change who may use the restricted space. When an emergency vehicle is responding, stay well back and leave room for its movements. The key cue is the qualification of official business, not a special speed, lighting, or lane choice.

5. 5. On a two-lane Alabama road posted at 20 mph or less, what speed must a driver use when unable to change lanes around a stopped emergency vehicle?

   1. 10 mph
   2. 5 mph below the posted limit
   3. The posted speed limit plus 10 mph
   4. A complete stop in every case
   Show answer

   10 mph. For a two-lane road with a posted speed limit of 20 mph or less, the move-over provision requires travel at 10 mph when a lane change is unsafe or not possible. This is a fixed speed in the manual's low-limit condition, not a five-mph reduction from whatever sign is present. Increasing speed defeats the protective purpose, while an automatic complete stop is not the stated requirement. Also move as far away from the emergency vehicle or wrecker as possible within the lane. The low posted limit is the cue for the 10-mph rule.

6. 6. What extra reinstatement fee does Alabama charge after a drug related conviction?

   1. An additional $500
   2. No extra fee
   3. An additional $25
   4. An additional $1,000
   Show answer

   An additional $25. Reinstatement resulting from drug related convictions requires an additional $25 fee, and suspensions for non payment of child support require an additional $50 fee when reinstating the license. Failing to surrender the license within the time allowed after a cancellation, revocation or suspension also adds a $50 fee. These are added to the standard reinstatement fee, so the total depends on the reason for the suspension.

7. 7. What must an Alabama driver do when approaching a blind pedestrian carrying a qualifying cane or using a guide dog?

   1. Sound the horn and continue without stopping
   2. Stop and give the pedestrian the right of way
   3. Pass behind the pedestrian before yielding
   4. Yield only if a traffic signal is present
   Show answer

   Stop and give the pedestrian the right of way. Alabama requires a driver to stop and give the right of way at any intersection to a blind person carrying a white cane tipped with red and holding it extended, or using a guide dog. The rule is not limited to signalized intersections, and a horn does not substitute for stopping. Passing behind the pedestrian could still put the person in danger and ignores the required priority. Reduce speed as soon as the person is visible, stop before the crossing path, and wait until the pedestrian has safely cleared the roadway.

8. 8. A driver with a valid license from another state moves to Alabama. How long may the driver use that license after becoming a resident?

   1. 90 days
   2. 30 days
   3. 60 days
   4. One year
   Show answer

   30 days. Alabama lets a non-resident who holds a valid license from the previous state of residence drive without an Alabama license for 30 days after becoming a resident. Ninety days is the limit for a non-resident whose home country does not license drivers, and it counts days per calendar year. Sixty days is the grace period after an Alabama license expires. One year is not a rule for new residents.

9. 9. How often does the Alabama manual advise taking breaks on a long drive?

   1. Every 300 miles
   2. Every four hours
   3. Only when you feel tired
   4. Every 100 miles or every two hours
   Show answer

   Every 100 miles or every two hours. Alabama advises taking regular breaks every 100 miles or every two hours, getting out to walk, stretch and relax. Three hundred miles and four hours are longer than the manual suggests. Waiting until you feel tired is not the plan, though the manual also says to stop when drowsy rather than fight it. A pre-trip nap and moving your eyes around the road also help against highway hypnosis.

10. 10. How much of the front windshield may be tinted in Alabama?

    1. The entire windshield at 32 percent
    2. The lower half
    3. None at all
    4. Only the upper 6 inches, with a transparent material
    Show answer

    Only the upper 6 inches, with a transparent material. On all vehicles regardless of classification, only the upper 6 inches of the front windshield may be tinted with a transparent material. On passenger cars all side and rear windows may have tinting that allows at least 32 percent light transmission, and on SUVs, trucks and vans the front seat side windows follow the same 32 percent rule with darker tint allowed behind the driver.

11. 11. What colors are used for warning signs in construction areas?

    1. Black and white
    2. Black and orange
    3. Green and white
    4. Blue and white
    Show answer

    Black and orange. Warning signs in construction areas use black and orange. The black-and-white choice describes the usual appearance of regulatory signs, while green-and-white is used for motorist directions and blue-and-white identifies services. The orange color is the quick visual cue that a warning belongs to road work rather than ordinary hazards. Drivers should treat that color combination as a reason to slow down, look for workers or changing lanes, and follow any instructions in the work zone. The manual distinguishes construction warnings from the usual black-and-yellow warning signs.

12. 12. What does a NO TURN ON RED sign change at a signalized intersection?

    
    1. It prohibits a right or left turn on red at that intersection
    2. It permits a turn without stopping if the road is clear
    3. It requires every vehicle to remain stopped after green appears
    4. It applies only to U-turns made from a red arrow
    Show answer

    It prohibits a right or left turn on red at that intersection. This sign removes the usual red-light turning permission at the marked intersection. A driver must wait for a permissive signal before making the prohibited right or left turn. Clear pavement does not override the posted instruction, and the sign is not limited to U-turns. Look for it beside the signal or at the corner, then remain behind the stop line until the allowed movement appears.

13. 13. What does a solid yellow line on your side of the centerline indicate?

    
    1. Passing is required before the next intersection
    2. Passing is permitted only at night
    3. Only trucks may cross the line
    4. You may not pass
    Show answer

    You may not pass. A solid yellow line on your side of the centerline means you may not pass. The line marks a restriction based on visibility, roadway shape, or another hazard, so crossing it to overtake would ignore the intended protection. The broken-line choice is not offered here, but remember that broken lines identify areas where passing may be allowed when safe. Time of day does not change the restriction, and vehicle type does not create an exception for trucks. Read the line nearest your lane before considering any passing maneuver.

14. 14. How early should a driver signal before making a turn?

    1. At least 25 feet before turning
    2. At least 50 feet before turning
    3. At least 100 feet before turning
    4. Only after beginning the turn
    Show answer

    At least 100 feet before turning. The manual calls for signaling at least 100 feet before a turn and continuing the signal until the actual maneuver is ready. The shorter distances in the choices “At least 25 feet before turning” and “At least 50 feet before turning” give other road users less notice than required. Waiting until the turn begins is especially unsafe because a pedestrian or following driver may already be committed to the expected path. Plan the maneuver before reaching the corner, enter the proper lane early, activate the signal, and keep it operating through the approach. The signal communicates intention, but it does not remove the need to check for traffic and pedestrians.

15. 15. What is the main function of a regulatory traffic sign?

    1. It regulates the movement of traffic
    2. It identifies only recreational destinations
    3. It announces weather conditions
    4. It marks the beginning of every passing lane
    Show answer

    It regulates the movement of traffic. Regulatory signs control or restrict how traffic moves, so drivers must obey their instructions. They are different from warning signs, which alert drivers to hazards, and guide signs, which provide directions or destination information. The recreational and passing-lane choices describe narrower or unrelated purposes, while weather information is not the defining function of this sign class. When a regulatory sign appears, read it immediately and follow the instruction before continuing. Examples include signs governing stopping, turning, speed, lane use, and right of way.

16. 16. What penalty does Alabama list for a first DUI conviction?

    1. A $100 fine
    2. A warning and a class
    3. A five year revocation
    4. A fine of $600 to $2,100, up to one year in jail or both, plus a 90 day license suspension
    Show answer

    A fine of $600 to $2,100, up to one year in jail or both, plus a 90 day license suspension. The penalty for a first DUI conviction is a fine of $600 to $2,100, up to one year in jail, or both, and the driver license is suspended for 90 days. The suspension can be stayed if the driver elects to use an approved ignition interlock device for 90 days. A second conviction within 10 years brings a fine of $1,100 to $5,100, a mandatory five days in jail or 30 days of community service, and a one year revocation. Penalties escalate sharply from there, so a $100 fine or a simple warning badly understates the first offense.

17. 17. At a 4-way stop intersection, what should a driver look for before proceeding?

    
    1. Stopping is prohibited at the next intersection
    2. The current road ends immediately
    3. Other vehicles approaching at the same time
    4. The driver has already reached the required stopping point
    Show answer

    Other vehicles approaching at the same time. At a four-way stop, the driver should look for other vehicles approaching at the same time. That observation helps determine who arrived first and whether another road user is already moving toward the intersection. The sign does not mean the pavement ends, that stopping is forbidden, or that the vehicle may enter without checking. Reduce speed, make a complete stop, and scan every approach before proceeding.

18. 18. At what blood alcohol concentration does the manual say all individuals are definitely impaired?

    1. .02 percent
    2. .04 percent
    3. .05 percent
    4. .08 percent
    Show answer

    .08 percent. The manual states that at .08 percent, all individuals are definitely impaired. That figure also appears in Alabama’s rule making it unlawful for an ordinary driver to operate with .08 percent or more alcohol in the blood. The .05 percent option is described as impairing most individuals to some degree, but it is not the explicit all individuals threshold asked about here. The two lower figures do not match either statement. Use .08 as the cue for the definite impairment point, while remembering that a driver’s ability can decline well before reaching it.

19. 19. What does Alabama require of a vehicle's muffler and exhaust system?

    1. A muffler only on vehicles newer than 2000
    2. No muffler if the vehicle is a truck
    3. A muffler in good working order with no cutouts or bypasses, and no carbon monoxide leaking into the interior
    4. Bypasses allowed off the interstate
    Show answer

    A muffler in good working order with no cutouts or bypasses, and no carbon monoxide leaking into the interior. Every vehicle must be equipped with a muffler in good working order that eliminates excessive or unusual noise such as sharp popping or cracking. Muffler cutouts, bypasses and similar devices are forbidden, and the exhaust system must not leak carbon monoxide fumes into the interior of the vehicle. Bells, sirens and exhaust whistles are reserved for emergency vehicles, and needless horn use can lead to arrest.

20. 20. A steady GREEN ARROW over a lane means you may:

    1. Use the lane only to park temporarily
    2. Drive in the lane beneath the arrow while obeying other controls
    3. Ignore all other traffic controls in that lane
    4. Enter the lane only after the arrow changes to yellow
    Show answer

    Drive in the lane beneath the arrow while obeying other controls. A steady green arrow over an individual lane permits travel in that lane, but it does not cancel ordinary traffic rules. You still need to obey signs, signals, and safe driving practices that apply at the same time. The choice claiming every other control can be ignored goes too far, because the manual expressly keeps those controls in force. Match the arrow with the lane directly below it, then scan for a speed limit, merge instruction, or other restriction before proceeding.