The Arizona permit test has 30 questions, and you need 24 correct (80%) to pass. Official source. Page updated 2026-10-19.
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Key Arizona DMV rules and numbers
These are key rules and numbers from the Arizona handbook, a few per topic so they fit on one printed page. We favor rules that state a specific number. Every fact below comes from our free Arizona DMV practice test question bank, which has 500 questions across 9 topics, checked against the Arizona handbook (last verified 2026-09-07).
Speed limits
- In a business or residential district with no posted limit, Arizona lists 25 mph as the required speed. (Handbook, p. 40)
- The unposted limit for a designated open highway is 65 mph. (Handbook, p. 40)
- Arizona sets an unposted speed of 15 mph when approaching a school crosswalk. (Handbook, p. 40)
- An Arizona rural freeway has an unposted limit of 75 mph in the manual's list of default speed limits. (Handbook, p. 40)
- Arizona's unposted limits are 15 mph near a school crosswalk, 25 mph in business or residential districts, 55 mph on open highways or city freeways, 65 mph on designated open highways, and 75 mph on rural freeways. (Handbook, p. 40)
Right of way
- At a T intersection, the street that ends does not continue through the junction. (Handbook, p. 35)
- Traffic already traveling on the freeway has priority over a vehicle entering from an on-ramp. (Handbook, p. 31)
- Arizona tells drivers to yield when a large vehicle approaches the roundabout at the same time, slowing down or stopping if necessary. (Handbook, p. 28)
- Arizona requires drivers to yield to pedestrians crossing in any marked or unmarked crosswalk. (Handbook, p. 36)
- Drivers must yield the right-of-way to vehicles that are part of a funeral procession led by a funeral escort vehicle flashing a red or blue light. (Handbook, p. 39)
Alcohol and DUI
- For a regular, noncommercial vehicle, an alcohol concentration of 0.08 percent or more causes the driver to lose the driving privilege on the spot after a DUI stop and test. (Handbook, p. 65)
- Arizona may suspend the license of a driver under 21 if there is any alcohol concentration. (Handbook, p. 65)
- A BAC below 0.08 percent does not automatically prevent a guilty finding for driving while intoxicated. (Handbook, p. 65)
- Arizona's extreme DUI category begins when a person has an alcohol concentration of 0.15 percent or higher. (Handbook, p. 66)
- For second and subsequent standard DUI offenses, the manual lists jail for not less than 90 days and a 12-month license revocation. (Handbook, p. 66)
Signals and markings
- Arizona requires a driver to signal at least 100 feet before turning. (Handbook, p. 27)
- Running a red light and causing serious physical injury is the offense of causing serious physical injury or death by a moving violation under ARS 28-672, a class 1 misdemeanor. (Handbook)
- When a red light violation causes a crash that results in death, ARS 28-672 treats it as a class 1 misdemeanor. (Handbook)
- Arizona normally requires a signal at least 100 feet before a turn. (Handbook, p. 26)
- A paired broken and solid yellow line gives permission based on which marking is beside your lane. (Handbook, p. 45)
Parking
- Arizona bans parking on a crosswalk or within 20 feet of a crosswalk at an intersection. (Handbook, p. 31)
- Arizona prohibits parking within 50 feet of a railroad crossing. (Handbook, p. 31)
- A driver coming from an alley or driveway must stop before reaching the sidewalk, then yield to pedestrians and approaching vehicles. (Handbook, p. 37)
- For downhill parking, turn the front wheels toward the curb and set the parking brake. (Handbook, p. 30)
- The international symbol of access appears on reserved parking signs, placards and license plates for persons with disabilities. (Handbook, p. 30)
Safe driving
- Arizona's manual describes the 3-6 second rule for judging the cushion behind a vehicle ahead. (Handbook, p. 25)
- Arizona requires low beams whenever your vehicle follows another car within 200 feet. (Handbook, p. 57)
- Air bags can save lives, but the Arizona manual warns they are unsafe for children under 12, and children age 12 and under should never ride in the front seat. (Handbook, p. 20)
- You may not pass within 100 feet of a bridge, tunnel or underpass where your view is blocked. (Handbook, p. 28)
- When riding at night, a bicyclist should have a white head lamp visible from 500 feet and a rear reflector. (Handbook, p. 50)
Road signs
- Arizona is one of the few states where all state highways have mileage markers, set about 1 mile apart just off the right shoulder. (Handbook, p. 43)
- Along the 20-mile METRO light rail system, U-turns are permitted at almost all light rail intersections so vehicles can get across the tracks, and a combined U-turn and left turn sign marks these spots. (Handbook, p. 49)
- Arizona describes roundabouts as designed for speeds of 15 to 20 mph and tells drivers to slow down as they approach. (Handbook, p. 28)
- Portable signs in the center of the roadway mark an active school crossing with a 15 mph maximum. (Handbook, p. 42)
- The slow moving vehicle symbol warns that the vehicle ahead travels at low speed and cannot go faster than 25 mph. (Handbook, p. 52)
Laws and paperwork
- You are required by law to notify MVD within 10 days of any change to your name or address. (Handbook, p. 6)
- Arizona allows a graduated instruction permit once the applicant reaches 15 years and 6 months. (Handbook, p. 12)
- A Class G graduated license begins at age 16, provided the applicant meets the other requirements. (Handbook, p. 12)
- For the first six months, an Arizona graduated-license driver may not drive between midnight and 5:00 a.m. unless a listed exception applies. (Handbook, p. 12)
- The first six months of an Arizona graduated license allow no more than one passenger under age 18 unless the passenger is a sibling or a qualified parent or guardian occupies the front passenger seat. (Handbook, p. 12)
Emergencies
- Arizona requires at least 500 feet of distance behind a fire department vehicle responding to an emergency. (Handbook, p. 38)
- Arizona requires a driver to stay at least 300 feet behind a police vehicle responding to an emergency. (Handbook, p. 38)
- In heavy rain, tires can ride on a water film, and Arizona gives 50 mph as a speed at which they can lose all contact with the road. (Handbook, p. 55)
- The dust-storm procedure begins with checking traffic around the vehicle and immediately slowing down. (Handbook, p. 55)
- Fog can reflect headlight illumination back into your eyes. (Handbook, p. 56)
Want the reasoning behind these rules? Study the handbook, chapter by chapter, in 18 short lessons quoted from the Arizona manual.
Signs
Sign shape and color carry meaning before you even read the words. A red octagon always means stop, a red-bordered triangle pointing down means yield, and yellow diamonds warn of a hazard ahead. For every sign image used in our practice test, with the exact meaning and explanation, see the full road sign glossary.
Keep studying
This cheat sheet is a summary, not a substitute for practice. Test yourself with the free Arizona DMV practice test, which explains the reasoning behind every answer, or see Arizona DMV facts and fees before test day.