KY Permit Practice Test

How to use this KY 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 Kentucky Driver Manual, which is what the examiners use.
4. When you pass three sets in a row at the score your state requires, book the real test.

KY 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

Printable KY practice test with answer key

First 40 questions from the KY bank

Every question below comes from the Kentucky 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. When no sign gives a different number, what speed limit applies on a Kentucky state highway other than an interstate?

   1. 45 mph
   2. 55 mph
   3. 60 mph
   4. 70 mph
   Show answer

   55 mph. Kentucky assigns a 55 mph default to state highways that are not interstates or parkways. Full explanation in Test 1

2. 2. What blood alcohol concentration defines Kentucky's zero alcohol tolerance standard for drivers under 21?

   1. .02
   2. .04
   3. .06
   4. .08
   Show answer

   .02. Kentucky applies a zero alcohol tolerance standard to drivers under 21 and defines that threshold as a .02 blood alcohol concentration. Full explanation in Test 1

3. 3. Which situation is an exception to a Kentucky funeral procession's intersection right of way?

   1. A vehicle in the procession is directed otherwise by a police or safety officer
   2. Another driver has been waiting longer
   3. The procession is moving below the speed limit
   4. A driver turns on high beams
   Show answer

   A vehicle in the procession is directed otherwise by a police or safety officer. The procession rule yields when an emergency vehicle requires the right of way, when a police or safety officer directs the vehicles otherwi Full explanation in Test 1

4. 4. What must a driver do after becoming stalled on railroad tracks in Kentucky?

   1. Abandon the car and run in the direction the train is coming
   2. Remain inside and restart the car
   3. Run along the tracks toward the crossing
   4. Wait for a second train to pass
   Show answer

   Abandon the car and run in the direction the train is coming. If a vehicle is boxed in or stalled on a railroad crossing, the manual says to leave it immediately and move away from the track in the dire Full explanation in Test 1

5. 5. Who has priority when a driver enters a Kentucky roundabout?

   1. Traffic already circulating
   2. Traffic entering from the right
   3. The largest vehicle
   4. The vehicle that accelerates first
   Show answer

   Traffic already circulating. Entering traffic must yield to vehicles already circulating around the roundabout. Full explanation in Test 1

6. 6. Which lights may appear on the escort vehicle leading a Kentucky funeral procession?

   1. Flashing yellow, red, or blue lights
   2. Steady green lights only
   3. Flashing white lights only
   4. Amber lights only when the procession is stopped
   Show answer

   Flashing yellow, red, or blue lights. A funeral procession has intersection right-of-way when it is led by an escort vehicle displaying flashing yellow, red, or blue lights. Full explanation in Test 2

7. 7. At a highway railroad crossing, what should you do if a train is approaching?

   1. Stop behind the stop line or before the intersection and wait
   2. Cross quickly before the train reaches the crossing
   3. Stop on the tracks to watch the train pass
   4. Drive around the warning devices if the road looks clear
   Show answer

   Stop behind the stop line or before the intersection and wait. A train approaching the crossing requires a complete stop behind the stop line or before the intersection. Full explanation in Test 2

8. 8. When no sign posts another number, what is the Kentucky speed limit on interstate highways and parkways?

   1. 55 mph
   2. 60 mph
   3. 65 mph
   4. 70 mph
   Show answer

   65 mph. The unposted Kentucky limit for interstate highways and parkways is 65 mph. Full explanation in Test 2

9. 9. Who may increase the speed limit of specific Kentucky highways to 70 mph?

   1. The secretary of transportation
   2. The driver who uses the highway most often
   3. The county clerk for the county where the highway is located
   4. A business owner whose property borders the highway
   Show answer

   The secretary of transportation. Kentucky allows the secretary of transportation to increase the speed limit of specific highways to 70 mph. Full explanation in Test 2

10. 10. What alcohol concentration places a Kentucky driver under 21 in violation of the law?

    1. 0.02 or more
    2. 0.08 or more
    3. 0.15 or more
    4. Any reading only after a crash
    Show answer

    0.02 or more. For a driver under 21, the manual sets the stated violation point at an alcohol concentration of 0.02 or more. The 0. Full explanation in Test 2

11. 11. For a person under 18 convicted of an alcohol offense, what does the manual say about the license suspension?

    1. It may be longer than the listed suspension
    2. It is automatically canceled permanently
    3. It is limited to exactly 30 days
    4. It is replaced by a warning with no suspension
    Show answer

    It may be longer than the listed suspension. Kentucky gives the under-18 driver a possible longer license suspension after an alcohol conviction. Full explanation in Test 3

12. 12. What minimum visual acuity must a first-time Kentucky applicant have before taking the written test?

    1. 20/40, corrected or uncorrected
    2. 20/60, without corrective lenses
    3. 20/80, corrected only
    4. 20/20, with no exceptions
    Show answer

    20/40, corrected or uncorrected. The initial vision screening requires at least 20/40 visual acuity, whether corrected or uncorrected, before the applicant moves to the writ Full explanation in Test 3

13. 13. What happens to a Kentucky permit holder's 180 day permit period during a No Pass No Drive suspension?

    1. The clock keeps running
    2. The period is cut in half
    3. The permit is canceled permanently
    4. No credit is earned toward the 180 days while suspended
    Show answer

    No credit is earned toward the 180 days while suspended. The driver will not receive credit toward the 180 day permit period while suspended for not complying with the No Pass No Drive Law, which t Full explanation in Test 3

14. 14. What action does the pictured downward-pointing YIELD sign require before entering?

    1. Slow down and allow right-of-way traffic to cross first
    2. Stop every time, even when no traffic is present
    3. Accelerate so crossing traffic must wait
    4. Enter without checking because the sign applies only to trucks
    Show answer

    Slow down and allow right-of-way traffic to cross first. A Kentucky yield sign tells the driver to slow down and allow traffic with the right of way to cross before entering. Full explanation in Test 3

15. 15. What movement is prohibited by the pictured red circle and slash over a U-shaped arrow?

    1. Making a U-turn at that location
    2. Driving straight through the intersection
    3. Turning right after yielding to traffic
    4. Changing lanes on a multilane roadway
    Show answer

    Making a U-turn at that location. The pictured symbol identifies a prohibited movement, and the U-shaped arrow points to a U-turn. Full explanation in Test 3

16. 16. What kinds of information can traffic signs provide to a driver?

    1. Traffic rules, hazards, roadway directions, and service locations
    2. Only the names of nearby businesses
    3. Only the legal speed for the roadway
    4. Only directions from a police officer
    Show answer

    Traffic rules, hazards, roadway directions, and service locations. Traffic signs can communicate rules, hazards, roadway location, roadway directions, and the location of services. Full explanation in Test 4

17. 17. What does the pictured fluorescent yellow pedestrian warning sign alert you to?

    1. A pedestrian crossing ahead
    2. A roadway where pedestrians are prohibited
    3. A route marker for a hospital
    4. A railroad crossing with a crossbuck
    Show answer

    A pedestrian crossing ahead. The manual lists pedestrian crossings among the locations identified by fluorescent yellow warning signs. Full explanation in Test 4

18. 18. What do work zone signs alert drivers to?

    1. Work zones ahead and people working on or near the roadway
    2. A guaranteed open lane with no construction activity
    3. A nearby hospital or fuel station
    4. A route that permits passing in every lane
    Show answer

    Work zones ahead and people working on or near the roadway. Work zone signs alert drivers to roadwork ahead and warn that people may be working on or near the roadway. Full explanation in Test 4

19. 19. When this curved-arrow warning sign appears, the driver should:

    1. Adjust speed so the vehicle can stop within the visible roadway
    2. Brake hard after entering the curve
    3. Maintain the same speed regardless of visibility
    4. Move across the center line to improve the view
    Show answer

    Adjust speed so the vehicle can stop within the visible roadway. A curve limits the distance a driver can see and changes the vehicle’s path, so speed should be reduced before the bend. Full explanation in Test 4

20. 20. The pennant-shaped sign on the left side of the roadway marks the beginning of a:

    1. No passing zone
    2. Passing lane for slower traffic
    3. School loading area
    4. Route for emergency vehicles
    Show answer

    No passing zone. The pennant shape is used to mark a no passing zone. Full explanation in Test 4

21. 21. How far must Kentucky headlights reveal a person ahead on high beam and on low beam?

    1. 350 feet on high beam and 100 feet on low beam
    2. 100 feet on high and 50 on low
    3. 1,000 feet on high and 500 on low
    4. 500 feet on both
    Show answer

    350 feet on high beam and 100 feet on low beam. Your vehicle must have two headlights and two taillights, and headlights on high beam must be strong enough to reveal a person 350 feet ahea Full explanation in Test 5

22. 22. Why is driving while fatigued dangerous?

    1. Fatigue can affect vision and increase decision time
    2. Fatigue improves concentration during long trips
    3. Fatigue affects only passengers, not vehicle control
    4. Fatigue makes stopping distances shorter
    Show answer

    Fatigue can affect vision and increase decision time. Fatigue is more than feeling sleepy. Kentucky describes it as physical or mental tiredness and warns that it can affect vision and increase Full explanation in Test 5

23. 23. At a yield sign with no visible cross traffic, the driver should:

    1. Slow down, check for traffic, and stop if necessary
    2. Stop for a fixed amount of time every time
    3. Maintain speed because no vehicle is visible
    4. Accelerate into the intersection before checking
    Show answer

    Slow down, check for traffic, and stop if necessary. A yield sign requires the driver to slow down and allow traffic with the right of way to cross before entering. Full explanation in Test 5

24. 24. What do the shape, color, symbols, and words of traffic signs help reveal?

    1. The type of information the signs provide
    2. The exact speed of every vehicle nearby
    3. Whether a driver may ignore a stop signal
    4. The time remaining before a road closes
    Show answer

    The type of information the signs provide. The manual explains that a sign’s shape, color, symbols, and words give clues to the type of information it provides. Full explanation in Test 5

25. 25. When turning left on a green circular traffic light, whom must the driver yield to?

    1. Through traffic approaching from the opposite direction
    2. Only vehicles stopped behind the driver
    3. No one, because a green light gives an unconditional turn
    4. Only pedestrians walking away from the intersection
    Show answer

    Through traffic approaching from the opposite direction. A green circular signal permits movement only after the driver yields to traffic and pedestrians lawfully in the intersection. Full explanation in Test 5

26. 26. What penalty do a Kentucky vehicle owner and driver face for driving without insurance?

    1. A $25 fine
    2. A warning
    3. A fine of $500 to $1,000, up to 90 days in jail or both, plus revocation of the registration
    4. A one year suspension only
    Show answer

    A fine of $500 to $1,000, up to 90 days in jail or both, plus revocation of the registration. Any owner who fails to maintain insurance has the vehicle registration revoked, and the owner and driver are subject to a fine of $500 to $1 Full explanation in Test 6

27. 27. What does a flashing yellow traffic light require a driver to do?

    1. Slow down and watch for other road users
    2. Stop and remain stopped until a green light appears
    3. Speed up because cross traffic must stop completely
    4. Turn only if the signal changes to a red arrow
    Show answer

    Slow down and watch for other road users. A flashing yellow light calls for reduced speed and careful observation of others. Full explanation in Test 6

28. 28. What does the Kentucky manual suggest doing before a short nap to fight fatigue?

    1. Exercise vigorously
    2. Turn up the radio
    3. Drink water only
    4. Consume caffeine first to get the benefits of both
    Show answer

    Consume caffeine first to get the benefits of both. The manual suggests consuming caffeine before taking a short nap to get the benefits of both, since caffeine takes time to work and the nap Full explanation in Test 6

29. 29. In about what share of fatal crashes are alcohol and other impairing drugs involved, according to the Kentucky manual?

    1. About 5 percent
    2. About 90 percent
    3. Approximately 40 percent
    4. About 15 percent
    Show answer

    Approximately 40 percent. Alcohol and other impairing drugs are involved in approximately 40 percent of all traffic crashes in which someone is killed each year, and Full explanation in Test 6

30. 30. How may a refusal to take a breath, blood or urine test be used in a Kentucky DUI case?

    1. It cannot be mentioned in court
    2. As evidence against you in court, in addition to a license suspension
    3. Only to reduce the charge
    4. Only if the driver is under 21
    Show answer

    As evidence against you in court, in addition to a license suspension. If you refuse to submit to the breath, blood or urine tests, your license is suspended by the Transportation Cabinet and the refusal may be Full explanation in Test 6

31. 31. Why must speed be reduced on a wet roadway?

    1. Slippery conditions can reduce tire grip and cause a skid or hydroplane
    2. The posted limit automatically becomes a minimum speed in rain
    3. Wet pavement improves braking, so speed should be increased
    4. Rain affects only vehicles with worn tires
    Show answer

    Slippery conditions can reduce tire grip and cause a skid or hydroplane. Water reduces the tires’ contact and grip, increasing the chance of a skid or hydroplaning. Full explanation in Test 7

32. 32. A rectangular white sign lists a speed, parking restriction, or turn rule. What does that sign family indicate?

    1. A regulatory instruction that must be obeyed
    2. A warning of a possible curve or grade
    3. A service sign for food and lodging
    4. A temporary suggestion with no legal effect
    Show answer

    A regulatory instruction that must be obeyed. Regulatory signs communicate specific laws, including traffic direction, lane use, turning, speed, parking, and other special situations. Full explanation in Test 7

33. 33. After escaping a vehicle stalled on Kentucky railroad tracks, whom does the manual say to call?

    1. Only a tow truck
    2. The 800 number posted on or near the crossbuck, or 911
    3. The railroad's business office
    4. No one until the train has passed
    Show answer

    The 800 number posted on or near the crossbuck, or 911. If your vehicle stalls on the tracks, get out immediately and run away from the track in the direction the train is coming from to avoid fly Full explanation in Test 7

34. 34. What braking distance does the Kentucky manual give at 50 mph on dry pavement with good brakes?

    1. About 158 feet
    2. About 30 feet
    3. About 500 feet
    4. About 1,000 feet
    Show answer

    About 158 feet. At 50 mph on dry pavement with good brakes, braking distance alone can take about 158 feet, in addition to perception and reaction time. Full explanation in Test 7

35. 35. What does a yellow traffic light indicate?

    1. The signal is about to turn red
    2. The signal guarantees a protected left turn
    3. The signal permits traffic to stop in the intersection
    4. The signal is changing directly to a flashing green
    Show answer

    The signal is about to turn red. A yellow traffic light warns that the signal is about to turn red. Full explanation in Test 7

36. 36. If the brakes stop working while you are driving, what should you try first?

    1. Use the parking brake slowly so the rear wheels do not lock
    2. Press the accelerator to restore hydraulic pressure
    3. Turn sharply toward the nearest travel lane
    4. Continue driving until the warning light turns off
    Show answer

    Use the parking brake slowly so the rear wheels do not lock. For brake failure, the manual directs a driver to use the parking brake slowly and be ready to release it if the vehicle begins to skid. Full explanation in Test 8

37. 37. What kind of information do regulatory signs provide?

    1. Specific laws that drivers must obey
    2. Optional suggestions for scenic routes
    3. Weather forecasts for the next roadway segment
    4. Historical facts about the community
    Show answer

    Specific laws that drivers must obey. Regulatory signs communicate specific laws that drivers must obey. Full explanation in Test 8

38. 38. Who may direct a stopped driver to move before an emergency vehicle has passed?

    1. A police officer or firefighter
    2. Any driver waiting behind
    3. A passenger in the stopped vehicle
    4. A nearby pedestrian
    Show answer

    A police officer or firefighter. Kentucky allows a stopped driver to move before the emergency vehicle has passed only when directed by a police officer or a firefighter. Full explanation in Test 8

39. 39. At a stop light or sign, how close should a driver stop to a crosswalk when there is no advanced stop bar?

    1. No more than five feet from the crosswalk
    2. At least twenty feet before the crosswalk
    3. With the front bumper inside the crosswalk
    4. Anywhere beyond the intersection if pedestrians are absent
    Show answer

    No more than five feet from the crosswalk. The manual says a vehicle should not stop more than five feet from the crosswalk at a stop light or sign unless an advanced stop bar is prov Full explanation in Test 8

40. 40. If you are angry or worried before driving, what does the manual advise?

    1. Stay off the road until the symptoms have passed
    2. Drive faster to finish the trip before emotions grow
    3. Use the vehicle to vent frustration at another driver
    4. Follow closely so other drivers notice your concern
    Show answer

    Stay off the road until the symptoms have passed. Strong emotions can interfere with attention, judgment, and information processing. Full explanation in Test 8