Louisiana Permit Practice Test

How to use this LA practice test

1. Take the 40 question exam-length 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 Louisiana Class D and E Driver's Guide, 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.

LA 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 LA practice test with answer key

40 sample practice questions from the LA bank

Every question below comes from the Louisiana 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. What does a steady yellow traffic light mean when you are already in the intersection?

   1. You may continue safely through the intersection
   2. You must reverse out of the intersection
   3. You must stop immediately in the crossing path
   4. You may turn in any direction without yielding
   Show answer

   You may continue safely through the intersection. Yellow normally warns that the signal is about to turn red, so a driver approaching the stop bar should slow and stop when that can be done Full explanation in Test 1

   Study this in the handbook: Traffic lights and arrows

2. 2. What driver education must a Louisiana teen complete for a learner's permit?

   1. 6 hours of classroom only
   2. 30 hours of classroom instruction and 8 hours of behind-the-wheel instruction
   3. 38 hours of behind-the-wheel only
   4. 50 hours of classroom instruction
   Show answer

   30 hours of classroom instruction and 8 hours of behind-the-wheel instruction. Stage 1 of Louisiana's graduated licensing program requires a learner's permit applicant to be at least 15, complete thirty hours of classro Full explanation in Test 2

   Study this in the handbook: The graduated licensing program

3. 3. When following another vehicle at night, within what distance must you use low beam headlights?

   1. 150 feet
   2. 200 feet
   3. 350 feet
   4. 500 feet
   Show answer

   200 feet. The Louisiana guide requires lower headlight beams when you follow within 200 feet of another vehicle. Full explanation in Test 3

   Study this in the handbook: Night driving, pedestrians and phones

4. 4. In Louisiana, how close to a crosswalk at an intersection may you park?

   1. No closer than 5 feet
   2. No closer than 50 feet
   3. No closer than 20 feet
   4. Right up to the crosswalk line
   Show answer

   No closer than 20 feet. Louisiana law makes it illegal to park within 20 feet of a crosswalk at an intersection. Full explanation in Test 4

   Study this in the handbook: Parking rules and painted curbs

5. 5. Which signs use a rectangle with its longer side going horizontal?

   1. Stop signs, yield signs and railroad advance warning signs
   2. Guide signs, some warning signs and temporary traffic control signs
   3. No passing zone signs, school crossing signs and route markers
   4. Construction diamonds, yield signs and parking signs
   Show answer

   Guide signs, some warning signs and temporary traffic control signs. Louisiana's guide says a rectangle with the longer dimension going horizontal is used for guide signs, some warning signs and temporary traf Full explanation in Test 5

   Study this in the handbook: Sign shapes and colors

6. 6. What BAC does the guide list for operation of a commercial motor vehicle in Louisiana?

   1. 0.04%
   2. 0.02%
   3. 0.08%
   4. 0.15%
   Show answer

   0.04%. The guide lists 0.04% as the legal BAC limit for operating a commercial motor vehicle. The 0. Full explanation in Test 6

   Study this in the handbook: Alcohol and Louisiana's BAC limits

7. 7. A 16 year old moves to Louisiana with a license or permit held for at least 180 days. What may happen?

   1. The teen must start over with a new learner's permit
   2. The teen gets a full license right away
   3. The teen must wait until 17 to drive
   4. The teen may bypass the learner's permit stage and get an intermediate license
   Show answer

   The teen may bypass the learner's permit stage and get an intermediate license. Louisiana allows an out-of-state applicant who is sixteen and has had a license or permit for at least one hundred eighty days to be eligibl Full explanation in Test 7

   Study this in the handbook: The graduated licensing program

8. 8. How many reckless driving convictions within 12 months can cost a Louisiana driver the license?

   1. Two
   2. Five
   3. One
   4. Three
   Show answer

   Three. Three convictions of reckless driving committed within a 12-month period are on Louisiana's list of grounds for losing the driving privilege Full explanation in Test 8

   Study this in the handbook: Insurance, renewal, your record and losing your license

9. 9. You park uphill on a road with no curb. Which way should you turn your wheels?

   1. Toward the center of the road
   2. Straight ahead along the lane
   3. Toward the edge of the road
   4. Away from the road edge
   Show answer

   Toward the edge of the road. When there is no curb, turn the wheels toward the edge of the road. Full explanation in Test 9

10. 10. What must a driver do at a steady red traffic light before making a permitted right turn?

    1. Wait for a green arrow in every case
    2. Slow down and turn without stopping if traffic is light
    3. Turn first, then stop beyond the intersection
    4. Stop behind the stop bar or crosswalk and yield before turning
    Show answer

    Stop behind the stop bar or crosswalk and yield before turning. A steady red signal requires a stop behind the stop bar, crosswalk, or intersection. Full explanation in Test 10

    Study this in the handbook: Traffic lights and arrows

11. 11. Your adult friend rides in the back seat of your pickup truck's crew cab. Under Louisiana law, must your friend buckle up?

    1. No, only riders in the front seat must
    2. Yes, back seat riders must buckle
    3. No, pickups are not covered
    4. Only if the trip is on a highway
    Show answer

    Yes, back seat riders must buckle. Louisiana's mandatory safety belt law covers all passengers in both the front and back seats of cars, vans and pickup trucks. Full explanation in Test 11

    Study this in the handbook: Safety belts, child restraints and air bags

12. 12. On dry pavement with good brakes, about how far does it take to react and stop from 30 mph?

    1. About 40 feet
    2. About 123 feet
    3. About 268 feet
    4. About 359 feet
    Show answer

    About 123 feet. Stopping takes longer than most drivers expect. Full explanation in Test 12

    Study this in the handbook: Scanning ahead, stopping distance and following distance

13. 13. A six year old is riding in your car in Louisiana. Which restraint does the guide call for at that age?

    1. A rear facing car seat
    2. A booster seat with restraints
    3. A lap and shoulder belt by itself
    4. No restraint in the back seat
    Show answer

    A booster seat with restraints. Children ages 4 through 9 ride in a booster seat with restraints, so a six year old belongs in a booster. Full explanation in Test 13

    Study this in the handbook: Safety belts, child restraints and air bags

14. 14. Temporary fluorescent pink signs with black letters appear ahead. What kind of event do they usually warn about?

    1. A crash, spill or other unplanned incident
    2. A planned parade or street fair
    3. Ordinary weekday rush-hour traffic
    4. A long-term highway construction job
    Show answer

    A crash, spill or other unplanned incident. Incident signs are temporary signs that tell you to be prepared to stop, or that a road is closed or detoured, because of a road user incide Full explanation in Test 14

    Study this in the handbook: Warning, regulatory, guide and work zone signs

15. 15. You are inside a roundabout and a bus is circling in the lane next to you. What should you do?

    1. Stay beside it so the driver can see you
    2. Speed up and pass it inside the circle
    3. Keep away and avoid driving alongside it
    4. Move closer so it has room to swing wide
    Show answer

    Keep away and avoid driving alongside it. The guide says not to drive alongside large vehicles such as trucks and buses in a traffic circle or roundabout, and a sign may warn you to Full explanation in Test 15

    Study this in the handbook: Roundabouts and traffic circles

16. 16. How long does the Louisiana Office of Motor Vehicles maintain convictions for DWI?

    1. For the driver's lifetime only
    2. 5 years
    3. 1 year
    4. 10 years
    Show answer

    10 years. The Office of Motor Vehicles maintains DWI convictions for 10 years. Full explanation in Test 16

    Study this in the handbook: Insurance, renewal, your record and losing your license

17. 17. Crossing lights start flashing and the gates come down, but you do not see a train. What should you do?

    1. Drive around the gates since no train is visible
    2. Wait one minute, then cross carefully
    3. Stay stopped until the gates are raised
    4. Cross quickly before the gates fully close
    Show answer

    Stay stopped until the gates are raised. At crossings with gates, stop when the lights begin flashing and before the gates come down, then stay stopped until the gates go up. Full explanation in Test 17

    Study this in the handbook: Railroad crossings

18. 18. On a four-lane road with double solid yellow center lines, you want to turn left into a driveway. May you cross the lines?

    1. Yes, crossing to make a turn is allowed
    2. No, double yellow lines may not be crossed
    3. Only while passing a slow vehicle
    4. Only after driving in the opposite lane
    Show answer

    Yes, crossing to make a turn is allowed. Double solid yellow lines mark the center of a road with four or more lanes. Full explanation in Test 18

    Study this in the handbook: Traffic lights and arrows

19. 19. On a two-lane road, you see a yellow sign shaped like a triangle with its point facing sideways. What should you not start doing?

    1. Turning left into driveways
    2. Driving faster than 45 mph
    3. Using your high beams
    4. Passing other vehicles
    Show answer

    Passing other vehicles. Sign shapes carry meaning before you can read the words. Full explanation in Test 19

    Study this in the handbook: Sign shapes and colors

20. 20. Another driver starts to pass you on a two lane highway. What should you do?

    1. Slow a little and move right as far as safe
    2. Speed up so the pass is over sooner
    3. Move toward the center line to block them
    4. Brake hard so they can cut in at once
    Show answer

    Slow a little and move right as far as safe. When someone is passing you, help make the pass safe and easy. Full explanation in Test 20

21. 21. What does an orange and red triangle on the rear of farm or construction equipment indicate?

    1. The vehicle is stopped and may be passed without checking
    2. The vehicle can travel at the posted maximum speed
    3. The vehicle is an emergency vehicle with priority
    4. The vehicle is traveling less than 25 mph
    Show answer

    The vehicle is traveling less than 25 mph. The fluorescent or reflective orange and red triangle identifies a slow-moving vehicle traveling less than twenty-five miles per hour. Full explanation in Test 21

    Study this in the handbook: Interstate and rural road driving

22. 22. The car ahead is weaving, straddling the center line and making wide turns. What does the guide say this may mean?

    1. The driver may be impaired
    2. The car may be low on fuel
    3. The driver may be lost
    4. The road may be under repair
    Show answer

    The driver may be impaired. Weaving, straddling the center line, making wide turns, stopping abruptly or reacting slowly to signals are signs that a driver may be impai Full explanation in Test 22

    Study this in the handbook: Defensive driving, fatigue and aggressive drivers

23. 23. A raised median begins just ahead, and this sign is posted at its tip. What does it tell you to do?

    
    1. Pass the median on either side
    2. Merge to the left of the median
    3. Stop before reaching the median
    4. Stay to the right of the median
    Show answer

    Stay to the right of the median. Keep Right signs tell traffic to stay to the right of a roadway feature or obstruction, such as a median, island or lane divider. Full explanation in Test 23

    Study this in the handbook: Warning, regulatory, guide and work zone signs

24. 24. You want to change lanes on a busy road. How large a gap in traffic should you look for?

    1. About 1 to 2 seconds
    2. About 2 to 3 seconds
    3. About 4 to 5 seconds
    4. About 8 to 10 seconds
    Show answer

    About 4 to 5 seconds. Before changing lanes, check your mirrors and look over your shoulder at your blind spot. Full explanation in Test 24

    Study this in the handbook: Scanning ahead, stopping distance and following distance

25. 25. What does a flashing WALK pedestrian signal sometimes indicate?

    1. Pedestrians must not start crossing now
    2. A possible conflict with turning vehicles
    3. The signal is broken and should be ignored
    4. Only bicycles may use the crosswalk
    Show answer

    A possible conflict with turning vehicles. Pedestrian signals control only people on foot. A steady WALK signal means pedestrians may cross the roadway toward the signal. Full explanation in Test 25

    Study this in the handbook: Lane changes, passing and wet roads

26. 26. Why should a driver avoid passing a vehicle stopped at a crosswalk?

    1. The stopped vehicle may be hiding a pedestrian
    2. The stopped vehicle always has a mechanical failure
    3. Passing is allowed only when the crosswalk has a traffic signal
    4. A driver must pass before the pedestrian reaches the curb
    Show answer

    The stopped vehicle may be hiding a pedestrian. The guide warns that a vehicle stopped at a crosswalk can block the next driver's view of a pedestrian. Full explanation in Test 1

    Study this in the handbook: Lane changes, passing and wet roads

27. 27. Under Louisiana law, what fine and jail range applies to a first DWI conviction?

    1. A fine of $300 to $1,000 and 10 days to 6 months in jail
    2. A fine of $750 to $1,000 and 30 days to 6 months in jail
    3. A $2,000 fine and 1 to 5 years in prison
    4. A $5,000 fine and 10 to 30 years in prison
    Show answer

    A fine of $300 to $1,000 and 10 days to 6 months in jail. Louisiana Revised Statute 14:98.1 sets the penalty for a first offense of operating while impaired: a fine of not less than $300 nor more th Full explanation in Test 2

28. 28. On a first offense, a Louisiana driver age 21 or older submits to the test and shows a BAC of 0.10%. How long are driving privileges suspended?

    1. 365 days
    2. 730 days
    3. 90 days
    4. 180 days
    Show answer

    180 days. If you submit to the test and are 21 or older, a BAC of 0.08% to 0.149% brings a 180 day suspension, so 0.10% falls in that band. Full explanation in Test 3

    Study this in the handbook: Implied consent and DWI penalties

29. 29. What happens to traffic fines in Louisiana construction zones?

    1. They are doubled
    2. They are waived
    3. They are cut in half
    4. They stay the same
    Show answer

    They are doubled. In Louisiana, traffic fines are double for construction zones. Full explanation in Test 4

    Study this in the handbook: Warning, regulatory, guide and work zone signs

30. 30. Steam is coming from an overheated engine. What should you do about the radiator cap?

    1. Open it as soon as the vehicle stops
    2. Loosen it while keeping the engine running
    3. Remove it before turning off the engine
    4. Leave it closed and wait for the engine to cool
    Show answer

    Leave it closed and wait for the engine to cool. Steam under the hood can mean the cooling system is boiling. Full explanation in Test 5

    Study this in the handbook: Skids, blowouts and hydroplaning

31. 31. What color is used for temporary traffic control signs in Louisiana’s guide?

    1. Brown
    2. Blue
    3. Orange
    4. Green
    Show answer

    Orange. Orange identifies temporary traffic control signs and signals a construction or maintenance setting. Full explanation in Test 6

    Study this in the handbook: Sign shapes and colors

32. 32. What information is commonly provided by a blue service sign?

    1. A prohibition against passing
    2. The location of services such as gas stations or hospitals
    3. A warning about a curve or slippery pavement
    4. The maximum speed allowed on the road
    Show answer

    The location of services such as gas stations or hospitals. Blue service signs direct travelers to useful facilities, including rest areas, gas stations, hotels, and hospitals. Full explanation in Test 7

    Study this in the handbook: Warning, regulatory, guide and work zone signs

33. 33. A Louisiana student who is 16 withdraws from school before graduating. What can happen?

    1. Nothing, because school is unrelated to driving
    2. The driving privilege can be lost
    3. Only a fine is charged
    4. The license is upgraded
    Show answer

    The driving privilege can be lost. The guide lists withdrawing from school before graduation, if you are 15 but less than 18, or being found habitually absent or tardy, as a w Full explanation in Test 8

    Study this in the handbook: Insurance, renewal, your record and losing your license

34. 34. What does a single solid yellow line on a two-lane road identify?

    1. A boundary between lanes moving the same direction
    2. A lane where passing is required
    3. A no-passing zone
    4. A place where a U-turn is always required
    Show answer

    A no-passing zone. A single solid yellow line on a two-lane road marks a zone where passing is prohibited. Full explanation in Test 9

    Study this in the handbook: Traffic lights and arrows

35. 35. How long does texting take a driver's eyes off the road, according to the Louisiana guide?

    1. 4.6 seconds
    2. 30 seconds
    3. Half a second
    4. 10 seconds
    Show answer

    4.6 seconds. Texting causes a driver to look away from the road for 4.6 seconds, long enough to cover a football field at highway speed. Full explanation in Test 10

    Study this in the handbook: Night driving, pedestrians and phones

36. 36. When should a three point turnabout be used to turn around?

    1. Whenever it saves time compared with a U-turn
    2. Only on a wide four lane divided highway
    3. Whenever heavy traffic is waiting behind you
    4. When a U-turn won't fit and you can't circle the block
    Show answer

    When a U-turn won't fit and you can't circle the block. The three point turnabout is the most difficult and dangerous way to turn around. Full explanation in Test 11

37. 37. You are following a big truck and cannot see its side mirrors. What does that tell you?

    1. The truck driver has a clear view of you
    2. You are at a safe following distance
    3. You are too close and should back off
    4. The truck is about to make a right turn
    Show answer

    You are too close and should back off. If you cannot see a truck's side mirrors while following it, you are driving too close, and the driver cannot see you. Back off. Full explanation in Test 12

    Study this in the handbook: Bicycles, motorcycles and big trucks

38. 38. A solid yellow line runs on your side of the center, next to a broken yellow line on the oncoming side. May you pass the slow car ahead?

    1. No, the dashed line is not on your side
    2. Yes, if the oncoming lane looks clear
    3. Yes, but only during daylight
    4. Yes, the broken line lets both sides pass
    Show answer

    No, the dashed line is not on your side. When a solid and a broken yellow line run side by side, the line nearest you decides what you may do. Full explanation in Test 13

    Study this in the handbook: Traffic lights and arrows

39. 39. Why can it be hard to judge an approaching motorcycle before you turn across its path?

    1. Its small profile makes it look farther away and slower
    2. Its headlight makes it look closer than it really is
    3. Motorcycles always travel faster than the speed limit
    4. Its engine noise hides how fast it is really going
    Show answer

    Its small profile makes it look farther away and slower. A motorcycle's narrow shape may make it look farther away and slower than it really is. Full explanation in Test 14

    Study this in the handbook: Bicycles, motorcycles and big trucks

40. 40. Which of these do flag persons use to direct traffic through a Louisiana work zone?

    1. Red flags or stop/slow paddles
    2. Green flags or hand lanterns
    3. White flags or flashing arrow panels
    4. Orange cones or hand whistles
    Show answer

    Red flags or stop/slow paddles. Flag persons are provided in highway and street work zones to stop, slow down or guide traffic safely through the area. Full explanation in Test 15

    Study this in the handbook: Traffic lights and arrows