Massachusetts Permit Practice Test

How to use this MA practice test

1. Take the 25 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 Massachusetts Driver's 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.

MA 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 MA practice test with answer key

25 sample practice questions from the MA bank

Every question below comes from the Massachusetts 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 solid green turn arrow mean for a Massachusetts driver?

   1. You may go straight only
   2. You must stop and wait for a circular green
   3. Turns are prohibited
   4. You can make a protected turn in the direction of the arrow
   Show answer

   You can make a protected turn in the direction of the arrow. The green arrow is the protected phase. It tells you that you can turn in the arrow's direction and that the signal is holding pedestrians a Full explanation in Test 1

   Study this in the handbook: Traffic signals and pedestrian signals

2. 2. How close may a Massachusetts driver follow an emergency vehicle responding to an alarm?

   1. No closer than 100 feet
   2. No closer than 500 feet
   3. No closer than 800 feet
   4. No closer than 300 feet
   Show answer

   No closer than 300 feet. It is illegal to follow closer than 300 feet behind an emergency vehicle responding to an alarm. Full explanation in Test 2

   Study this in the handbook: Emergency vehicles, skids, brake failure and breakdowns

3. 3. According to the Massachusetts manual, how do rain and wet roads affect driving?

   1. They only affect visibility, not traction
   2. They make it harder to start, stop, and turn
   3. They shorten stopping distance because tires grip better
   4. They have no effect below 30 mph
   Show answer

   They make it harder to start, stop, and turn. Water changes what the tires can do. The manual says rain and wet roads make it harder to start, stop and turn, which is a traction problem, Full explanation in Test 3

   Study this in the handbook: Stopping distance, headlights, night and bad weather

4. 4. In the Massachusetts sign color code, what are fluorescent pink signs used for?

   1. Electronic toll collection
   2. Incident management
   3. School zones
   4. Scenic routes
   Show answer

   Incident management. The manual's color list gives fluorescent pink a single job: incident management signs. Full explanation in Test 4

   Study this in the handbook: Traffic signals and pedestrian signals

5. 5. How much instruction on the driver education curriculum must a parent or guardian of a Massachusetts JOL applicant take?

   1. Thirty minutes
   2. Six hours
   3. Two hours
   4. Twelve hours
   Show answer

   Two hours. A parent or guardian must take part in two hours of instruction on the driver education curriculum, unless they did so within the past five Full explanation in Test 5

   Study this in the handbook: The Junior Operator License (ages 16 1/2 to 18)

6. 6. You break down on an undivided Massachusetts highway. Besides 10 feet and 100 feet behind your vehicle, where should a warning triangle or LED flare go?

   1. On the roof of your vehicle
   2. 500 feet behind your vehicle
   3. 100 feet in front of your vehicle
   4. Nowhere else; two devices are enough
   Show answer

   100 feet in front of your vehicle. On a road where traffic runs in both directions, a disabled car can be approached from the front as well as from behind. Full explanation in Test 6

   Study this in the handbook: Emergency vehicles, skids, brake failure and breakdowns

7. 7. A vehicle is driving toward you head on in your lane. What does the Massachusetts manual tell you to do first?

   1. Steer left into the oncoming lane
   2. Flash your high beams and stay in your lane
   3. Slow down and pull to the right
   4. Stop in the middle of the road
   Show answer

   Slow down and pull to the right. When a car comes at you head on in your own lane, the manual's steps are to slow down, pull to the right, and sound your horn to alert the o Full explanation in Test 7

   Study this in the handbook: Emergency vehicles, skids, brake failure and breakdowns

8. 8. In which direction does traffic travel in a Massachusetts rotary?

   1. Counter-clockwise
   2. Clockwise
   3. Either direction, depending on the exit
   4. Straight through the center
   Show answer

   Counter-clockwise. Because Massachusetts drives on the right, every rotary is travelled counter-clockwise: you enter with a right turn, keep the island on your Full explanation in Test 8

   Study this in the handbook: Turns, right of way and rotaries

9. 9. According to the Massachusetts manual, what do roundabouts reduce the need for?

   1. Changing lanes
   2. Yielding to pedestrians
   3. Using turn signals
   4. Slowing down
   Show answer

   Changing lanes. Roundabouts are designed so you choose your lane before entering, based on the signs on the approach, and then stay in it until your exit. Full explanation in Test 9

   Study this in the handbook: Turns, right of way and rotaries

10. 10. According to the Massachusetts manual, can you be ticketed for driving 40 mph in a heavy rainstorm on a highway posted at 50 mph?

    1. No, because you are under the posted limit
    2. Only if you are also following too closely
    3. Yes, for driving too fast for conditions
    4. Only on a divided highway
    Show answer

    Yes, for driving too fast for conditions. The posted number is not a guarantee of safety. Full explanation in Test 10

    Study this in the handbook: Speed limits and the dangers of speeding

11. 11. Who runs the Safe Driver Insurance Plan, and what drives the premium under it?

    1. The Merit Rating Board runs it, and premiums follow the driving record
    2. Each town clerk runs it, and premiums follow vehicle color
    3. The RMV runs it, and premiums follow annual mileage only
    4. Private agents run it jointly, and premiums ignore crashes
    Show answer

    The Merit Rating Board runs it, and premiums follow the driving record. The Merit Rating Board runs the Safe Driver Insurance Plan. Under SDIP, premiums are determined by the driving record. Full explanation in Test 11

    Study this in the handbook: Citations, surchargeable events and suspensions

12. 12. What does the ban on parking in a traffic lane next to a row of parked vehicles describe?

    1. Double parking in a live traffic lane
    2. Angle parking at a marked curb
    3. Parking overnight in a rest area
    4. Backing into a legal curb space
    Show answer

    Double parking in a live traffic lane. Parking in a traffic lane next to a row of parked vehicles is double parking. The manual lists it among prohibited parking locations. Full explanation in Test 12

    Study this in the handbook: Parking rules and hills

13. 13. As you enter a highway from a ramp, who has the right-of-way?

    1. The entering vehicle in every case
    2. Drivers already traveling on the highway
    3. Whichever driver signals first
    4. The driver whose lane is ending
    Show answer

    Drivers already traveling on the highway. Entering traffic must yield to vehicles already using the highway. Full explanation in Test 13

    Study this in the handbook: Signaling, lane use and highway driving

14. 14. What does Massachusetts law say about wearing headphones while driving, and what is allowed for a driver who is 18 or older?

    1. Headphones are allowed in both ears below 35 mph
    2. Any wireless headset is allowed because it has no cord
    3. Wearing headphones or any headset that restricts attention while driving is illegal, though a driver 18 or older may use one earplug with a cell phone
    4. Drivers under 18 may wear headphones, but older drivers may not
    Show answer

    Wearing headphones or any headset that restricts attention while driving is illegal, though a driver 18 or older may use one earplug with a cell phone. It is illegal to wear a radio headset, headphones, or another wired or wireless device that restricts your attention to the environment whil Full explanation in Test 14

    Study this in the handbook: Hands free law and distracted driving

15. 15. You are turning at a Massachusetts intersection while a bicyclist rides straight through it. Who must yield?

    1. The bicyclist must yield to your turning vehicle
    2. Whoever reaches the intersection second goes next
    3. You must yield to the bicyclist going straight
    4. Neither road user, since both may proceed together
    Show answer

    You must yield to the bicyclist going straight. Turning across a through path puts the yielding duty on the driver. Full explanation in Test 15

    Study this in the handbook: Signaling, lane use and highway driving

16. 16. Where may a low speed vehicle be driven in Massachusetts?

    1. On any road posted up to forty miles per hour, including limited access highways
    2. On limited access highways whenever traffic is light
    3. Not on a limited access or express state highway, and not on any road with a speed limit faster than thirty miles per hour
    4. Only on streets posted at twenty miles per hour or less
    Show answer

    Not on a limited access or express state highway, and not on any road with a speed limit faster than thirty miles per hour. You may not drive a low speed vehicle on a limited-access or express state highway or on a road with a speed limit above 30 mph. Full explanation in Test 16

    Study this in the handbook: Pedestrians, bicyclists, motorcycles and mopeds

17. 17. After stopping at flashing railroad-crossing lights and a lowered gate, when may you continue?

    1. When the gate rises and the lights stop flashing
    2. As soon as the last visible railcar passes
    3. When the gate begins to rise, even if lights still flash
    4. After waiting one minute without seeing a train
    Show answer

    When the gate rises and the lights stop flashing. Wait for both conditions: the gate must rise and the lights must stop flashing. Full explanation in Test 17

    Study this in the handbook: Railroad crossings and work zones

18. 18. When may you drive across an unprotected fire hose?

    1. Only when directed by a firefighter or public safety official
    2. Whenever no water is flowing through it
    3. Whenever your vehicle can clear it slowly
    4. After the fire engine has left the intersection
    Show answer

    Only when directed by a firefighter or public safety official. An unprotected hose is not something a driver may cross by making an independent judgment about speed or water flow. Full explanation in Test 18

    Study this in the handbook: Emergency vehicles, skids, brake failure and breakdowns

19. 19. A driver passes the vision screening only while wearing glasses. What restriction lands on the license?

    1. Corrective lenses, code letter B, worn whenever driving
    2. Daylight driving only, with no lens requirement
    3. A mechanical aid restriction for adaptive equipment
    4. No restriction, since screening staff saw the glasses
    Show answer

    Corrective lenses, code letter B, worn whenever driving. Passing vision screening through glasses or contacts earns a Corrective Lenses restriction, code letter B, obliging lens use behind the whee Full explanation in Test 19

    Study this in the handbook: The Junior Operator License (ages 16 1/2 to 18)

20. 20. Which signal should you use when ready to exit a Massachusetts rotary?

    1. The right turn signal
    2. The left turn signal
    3. Both emergency flashers
    4. No signal inside a rotary
    Show answer

    The right turn signal. Use the right turn signal when preparing to leave a rotary. Full explanation in Test 20

    Study this in the handbook: Turns, right of way and rotaries

21. 21. When may you enter a Massachusetts intersection or drive across a crosswalk?

    1. Whenever your light is green, even if the far side is full
    2. Only if there is enough room for you to drive through safely
    3. Whenever the vehicle ahead has entered
    4. Only during daylight hours
    Show answer

    Only if there is enough room for you to drive through safely. You may enter an intersection or drive across a crosswalk only if there is enough room to drive through safely. Full explanation in Test 21

    Study this in the handbook: Signaling, lane use and highway driving

22. 22. Your gas pedal sticks while driving in Massachusetts. What does the manual say to do first?

    1. Turn off the ignition immediately
    2. Put the car in neutral and press the brake pedal to slow down
    3. Pull the parking brake hard
    4. Open the door and jump out
    Show answer

    Put the car in neutral and press the brake pedal to slow down. For a stuck gas pedal, the manual's first step is to put the car in neutral and press the brake pedal to slow down. Full explanation in Test 22

    Study this in the handbook: Emergency vehicles, skids, brake failure and breakdowns

23. 23. How wide are Massachusetts bicycle lanes, and when may motor vehicles drive in them?

    1. Five feet wide, and motor vehicles may drive in them only when turning on or off the road
    2. Three feet wide, whenever traffic is heavy
    3. Eight feet wide, for parking at night
    4. Five feet wide, for passing slow vehicles
    Show answer

    Five feet wide, and motor vehicles may drive in them only when turning on or off the road. Bicycle lanes reserve road space with measured dimensions. Full explanation in Test 23

    Study this in the handbook: Pavement markings and special lanes

24. 24. A nearby pedestrian cannot hear your car approaching. Even though you hold the right of way, what is the safer course?

    1. Keep your speed, since the right of way is yours
    2. Yield anyway, because yielding beats creating an unsafe condition
    3. Honk repeatedly until the person turns around
    4. Pass at once before the person steps out
    Show answer

    Yield anyway, because yielding beats creating an unsafe condition. Do not assume that a pedestrian, bicyclist, or other driver can hear your car and will yield or move away. Full explanation in Test 24

    Study this in the handbook: Pedestrians, bicyclists, motorcycles and mopeds

25. 25. At night in Massachusetts, from how far away must your license plate number be visible?

    1. From 40 feet
    2. From 50 feet
    3. From 60 feet
    4. From 100 feet
    Show answer

    From 60 feet. Your license plates must be clean and unobstructed, and the plate number must be visible from 60 feet at night. Full explanation in Test 25

    Study this in the handbook: Seat belts, child seats and safe following distance