MS Permit Practice Test

How to use this MS 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 Mississippi Driver's 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.

MS 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 MS practice test with answer key

First 40 questions from the MS bank

Every question below comes from the Mississippi 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. Under Mississippi equipment rules, what braking systems must a vehicle have?

   1. A foot brake and a parking brake
   2. Two parking brakes and no foot brake
   3. Only an electronic anti-lock system
   4. A hand brake used only on hills
   Show answer

   A foot brake and a parking brake. The vehicle must have two separate braking functions: a foot brake and a parking brake. Full explanation in Test 1

2. 2. What is the required stopping distance for the Mississippi foot brake when traveling 20 miles per hour?

   1. Twenty feet
   2. Thirty feet
   3. Fifty-five feet
   4. Seventy feet
   Show answer

   Thirty feet. At twenty miles per hour, the foot brake must be strong enough to stop the vehicle within thirty feet. Full explanation in Test 1

3. 3. When entering a public road from a driveway or other entrance without a stop sign, what must the driver do?

   1. Stop and yield to oncoming traffic before proceeding when safe
   2. Accelerate into the roadway because entering traffic has priority
   3. Yield only to vehicles approaching from the left
   4. Proceed without stopping whenever the entrance is private
   Show answer

   Stop and yield to oncoming traffic before proceeding when safe. A driveway or other entrance does not grant a vehicle priority over traffic already using the street or highway. Full explanation in Test 1

4. 4. Under Mississippi's Zero Tolerance rule, which BAC range applies to a driver under 21?

   1. 0.02% or higher but less than 0.08%
   2. Any detectable alcohol, including 0.00%
   3. 0.05% or higher but less than 0.10%
   4. 0.08% or higher only
   Show answer

   0.02% or higher but less than 0.08%. The under-21 Zero Tolerance range starts at .02 percent and ends before .08 percent. The manual separately says that . Full explanation in Test 1

5. 5. What maximum speed applies to any vehicle in a Mississippi school zone according to the manual?

   1. 15 mph
   2. 25 mph
   3. 35 mph
   4. 45 mph
   Show answer

   15 mph. The manual gives one school-zone maximum for any vehicle: fifteen miles per hour. Full explanation in Test 1

6. 6. The Mississippi manual says posted speed limits are intended for what conditions?

   1. Ideal conditions, with slower driving required when weather, visibility, traffic, or road design demands it
   2. Nighttime conditions only, because daytime traffic is unrestricted
   3. Only dry pavement with no traffic nearby
   4. Any condition, because a posted number never needs adjustment
   Show answer

   Ideal conditions, with slower driving required when weather, visibility, traffic, or road design demands it. Posted limits are benchmarks for ideal conditions, not permission to keep the same speed through every hazard. Full explanation in Test 2

7. 7. What is the correct entry and travel direction at a Mississippi roundabout?

   1. Yield to traffic already inside, then enter and travel toward the right
   2. Enter before circulating traffic and travel clockwise
   3. Stop in the circle until every approach is empty
   4. Enter from the left and travel against circulating traffic
   Show answer

   Yield to traffic already inside, then enter and travel toward the right. A driver entering a roundabout must yield to traffic already inside the circle. Full explanation in Test 2

8. 8. When a broken yellow line is closest to your lane beside a solid yellow line, what may you do?

   1. Pass with caution when the oncoming lane is clear and it is safe
   2. Pass at any time because the solid line applies only to trucks
   3. Never cross the lines under any circumstance
   4. Cross only to park on the opposite shoulder
   Show answer

   Pass with caution when the oncoming lane is clear and it is safe. With a broken yellow line closest to the driver's lane, crossing to pass is permitted only with caution and only when the oncoming lane is c Full explanation in Test 2

9. 9. What does red on a Mississippi traffic device generally indicate?

   1. Stop or prohibition
   2. Motorist services guidance
   3. Construction or maintenance warning
   4. Directional guidance and permitted movement
   Show answer

   Stop or prohibition. Red is used for stopping or prohibition on Mississippi traffic devices. Full explanation in Test 2

10. 10. When entering a Mississippi street or highway from a driveway, what must the driver do?

    1. Stop and yield to oncoming traffic, even without a stop sign
    2. Enter immediately if the driveway has no posted sign
    3. Yield only to vehicles approaching from the left
    4. Wait for a traffic officer to authorize the entry
    Show answer

    Stop and yield to oncoming traffic, even without a stop sign. A driveway is an entrance point, so the driver must stop and yield before joining the street or highway. Full explanation in Test 2

11. 11. Which payment methods does the Mississippi manual say Driver Service Bureau offices accept?

    1. Cash, credit cards, and debit cards
    2. Checks only, mailed in advance
    3. Cashier's checks and money orders only
    4. Personal checks and gift cards
    Show answer

    Cash, credit cards, and debit cards. The manual says offices accept cash, credit cards, and debit cards. Full explanation in Test 3

12. 12. What examination is required if an out-of-state license has been expired for more than thirty days?

    1. A computerized examination
    2. Only a motorcycle skills examination
    3. Only a vision screening
    4. No examination under any circumstance
    Show answer

    A computerized examination. When an out-of-state license has been expired for more than thirty days, the applicant must take the Computerized Exam. Full explanation in Test 3

13. 13. What must a Mississippi applicant under eighteen provide to show school enrollment?

    1. A Certification of Attendance form no more than thirty days old
    2. A school record from any prior school year
    3. A notarized letter from a neighbor
    4. A college transcript regardless of age
    Show answer

    A Certification of Attendance form no more than thirty days old. An applicant younger than eighteen must show school enrollment with a Certification of Attendance form requested from the school. Full explanation in Test 3

14. 14. If you see a WRONG WAY sign facing you, what should you do?

    1. Leave the roadway and turn around as soon as possible
    2. Continue to the next intersection and make a normal turn
    3. Move faster so opposing traffic can pass behind you
    4. Stop in the lane and wait for the sign to change
    Show answer

    Leave the roadway and turn around as soon as possible. The WRONG WAY sign means the vehicle is traveling opposite the direction of other cars in that lane, creating a head-on collision danger. Full explanation in Test 3

15. 15. What does a NO RIGHT TURN sign mean at a traffic signal?

    1. A right turn is never allowed while the signal is red
    2. A right turn is required whenever the signal is red
    3. A right turn is allowed without stopping if traffic is light
    4. Only trucks must wait for a green light before turning right
    Show answer

    A right turn is never allowed while the signal is red. A sign beside the signal can override the usual possibility of turning right on red. Full explanation in Test 3

16. 16. What does the round railroad warning sign tell you?

    1. A railroad crossing is ahead
    2. A traffic circle is beginning immediately
    3. Bicycles have priority in the next lane
    4. The road is closed to passenger vehicles
    Show answer

    A railroad crossing is ahead. The round warning symbol is used for a railroad crossing ahead. Full explanation in Test 4

17. 17. What does a SCHOOL CROSSING sign warn a driver about?

    1. Children must cross the street on their way to and from school
    2. A school bus may stop only on a divided highway
    3. The road is closed during every school day
    4. A school zone speed limit applies on every nearby street
    Show answer

    Children must cross the street on their way to and from school. The school crossing warning identifies a place where children must cross the street on their way to and from school. Full explanation in Test 4

18. 18. What does a DIVIDED HIGHWAY warning sign tell a driver?

    1. A divided highway is ahead
    2. The divided highway ends and two-way traffic begins
    3. A traffic circle is ahead with no median
    4. U-turns are permitted across the center separation
    Show answer

    A divided highway is ahead. The divided highway warning announces that a divided highway is ahead, meaning opposing directions will be separated by a median or other di Full explanation in Test 4

19. 19. What roadway condition is represented by this winding-arrow sign?

    1. A series of curves requiring a lower, steady speed
    2. A straight roadway with a temporary lane closure
    3. A route where vehicles must reverse direction
    4. A high-speed lane reserved for emergency vehicles
    Show answer

    A series of curves requiring a lower, steady speed. The winding-road symbol warns that several bends are ahead rather than one isolated change in direction. Full explanation in Test 4

20. 20. What does a broken white pavement line allow a driver to do?

    1. Change lanes when the movement can be made safely
    2. Pass across opposing traffic without checking for hazards
    3. Stop in the lane to wait for a green arrow
    4. Treat both sides of the line as a single turn-only lane
    Show answer

    Change lanes when the movement can be made safely. A broken white line separates lanes moving in the same direction, so a driver may cross it to change lanes when the maneuver is safe. Full explanation in Test 4

21. 21. When is a Mississippi Class D commercial license required?

    1. Only when operating a vehicle commercially and the vehicle is under 26,000 pounds GVWR
    2. For any pickup truck
    3. For all vehicles over 10,000 pounds
    4. For personal vehicles with trailers
    Show answer

    Only when operating a vehicle commercially and the vehicle is under 26,000 pounds GVWR. A Class D license is required only when you are operating a vehicle commercially and the vehicle is under 26,000 pounds GVWR. Full explanation in Test 5

22. 22. If a traffic officer gives a direction that conflicts with a signal, what must the driver do?

    1. Follow the officer's direction
    2. Obey the signal and disregard the officer
    3. Wait for another driver to decide which instruction applies
    4. Proceed only after turning on hazard flashers
    Show answer

    Follow the officer's direction. When an officer is directing traffic, drivers must follow that person's directions even if a nearby sign or signal appears to say something Full explanation in Test 5

23. 23. A vehicle carrying explosives approaches a railroad crossing. What is required?

    1. Stop 50 to 10 feet from the outer rail and check both directions
    2. Cross without stopping if no warning lights are flashing
    3. Stop only when a train is visible on the nearest track
    4. Drive around a lowered gate after checking the rearview mirror
    Show answer

    Stop 50 to 10 feet from the outer rail and check both directions. Vehicles carrying explosives or flammable liquids are among the classes that must stop at every railroad crossing, regardless of whether lig Full explanation in Test 5

24. 24. How far before the tracks is a rural Mississippi railroad advance warning sign normally posted?

    1. 50 feet
    2. 500 to 900 feet
    3. One mile
    4. Directly at the crossing
    Show answer

    500 to 900 feet. In rural areas the round railroad advance warning sign is normally posted 500 to 900 feet in front of the tracks, giving time to slow, look Full explanation in Test 5

25. 25. What should a driver do when weather or visibility is poor?

    1. Slow down to match the reduced conditions
    2. Keep the posted speed because it covers every condition
    3. Accelerate so the vehicle spends less time in poor visibility
    4. Use parking lights alone instead of headlights
    Show answer

    Slow down to match the reduced conditions. Poor weather or limited visibility calls for a lower speed, allowing more time to see and respond. Full explanation in Test 5

26. 26. What information should you provide when reporting an emergency traffic situation on a Mississippi highway?

    1. The emergency and the highway or mile marker location
    2. Your preferred route for the next trip
    3. Only the vehicle's license plate color
    4. A request for routine traffic information
    Show answer

    The emergency and the highway or mile marker location. The manual says a caller using *HP should be prepared to state the emergency and give the location, such as the highway and or mile marker. Full explanation in Test 6

27. 27. Which practice does the manual recommend during a long drive to help prevent going to sleep at the wheel?

    1. Keep your eyes moving instead of staring
    2. Fix your gaze on one point ahead for the entire trip
    3. Follow one vehicle closely for long periods
    4. Turn the interior heater to its highest setting
    Show answer

    Keep your eyes moving instead of staring. For long-distance driving, the manual advises keeping your eyes moving so you do not go to sleep at the wheel. Full explanation in Test 6

28. 28. Your car stalls on Mississippi railroad tracks with a train coming. How does the manual say to run?

    1. Straight down the tracks away from the train
    2. Toward the rear of the car
    3. At a 45 degree angle away from the tracks toward the train, then dial 911
    4. Stay inside and honk
    Show answer

    At a 45 degree angle away from the tracks toward the train, then dial 911. If your vehicle stalls on the tracks and a train is coming, get everyone out, and once outside run at a 45 degree angle away from the tracks Full explanation in Test 6

29. 29. When should a driver use the lower headlight beam at night?

    1. When following another car or driving where street lights are present
    2. Only on an empty rural road with no nearby vehicles
    3. Whenever the road has no painted center line
    4. Only after an oncoming driver flashes headlights
    Show answer

    When following another car or driving where street lights are present. The manual calls for the lower beam when driving where street lights are present, when following another car, and in fog during night or day Full explanation in Test 6

30. 30. Before turning right at a red signal, which action is required first?

    1. Stop completely, then yield to traffic and pedestrians
    2. Yield without stopping if the road appears empty
    3. Continue straight until the signal changes to green
    4. Turn immediately after slowing below the posted speed
    Show answer

    Stop completely, then yield to traffic and pedestrians. A right turn on red is an exception to the normal requirement to remain stopped, but it still begins with a complete stop. Full explanation in Test 6

31. 31. On a divided highway with at least two lanes in each direction, who may continue past a stopped school bus?

    1. Traffic moving in the opposite direction on its separated side
    2. Traffic traveling behind the bus in the same direction
    3. Every vehicle if the bus is stopped near a median
    4. Only motorcycles traveling in the opposite direction
    Show answer

    Traffic moving in the opposite direction on its separated side. The divided highway exception is narrow. A driver traveling opposite the stopped school bus may continue on that driver's side when the high Full explanation in Test 7

32. 32. Which traffic sign shape is used exclusively for stop signs?

    1. Octagon
    2. Pentagon
    3. Circle
    4. Pennant
    Show answer

    Octagon. The octagon is reserved exclusively for stop signs, so its shape remains useful when distance, glare, or weather makes the wording hard to r Full explanation in Test 7

33. 33. At a Mississippi four-way stop, two vehicles arrive together. Who proceeds first?

    1. The vehicle on the right
    2. The vehicle turning left
    3. The vehicle with more passengers
    4. The vehicle traveling at the higher speed
    Show answer

    The vehicle on the right. At a four-way stop, arrival time normally determines priority. Full explanation in Test 7

34. 34. What must a driver do when railroad crossing lights begin flashing?

    1. Stop and remain stopped until the lights stop and it is safe
    2. Speed across before the gates begin to lower
    3. Stop only if the driver can see the train
    4. Cross after shifting into a lower gear
    Show answer

    Stop and remain stopped until the lights stop and it is safe. Flashing railroad crossing lights mean a train is coming. Full explanation in Test 7

35. 35. What minimum liability coverage must a Mississippi policy provide for two people injured or killed?

    1. At least $20,000
    2. At least $5,000
    3. At least $10,000
    4. At least $50,000
    Show answer

    At least $20,000. The manual lists three minimum liability amounts: $5,000 for property damage, $10,000 for one person injured or killed, and $20,000 for any Full explanation in Test 7

36. 36. You approach an intersection where another vehicle is already inside it. Who has priority?

    1. The approaching vehicle, because it has not reached the crosswalk
    2. The vehicle already inside the intersection
    3. The vehicle traveling at the higher speed
    4. Whichever driver sounds the horn first
    Show answer

    The vehicle already inside the intersection. Vehicles already inside an intersection have the right-of-way under the Mississippi manual. Full explanation in Test 8

37. 37. A pentagon-shaped sign is used for which Mississippi roadway warning?

    1. A school crossing or school zone warning
    2. A railroad crossing ahead
    3. A no-passing zone ahead
    4. A general guide sign for services
    Show answer

    A school crossing or school zone warning. The pentagon identifies school crossing signs and warnings of school zones ahead. Full explanation in Test 8

38. 38. A yellow solid arrow is displayed for a left-turn lane. What should the driver do?

    1. Slow down and prepare to stop because the signal is changing to red
    2. Make a protected turn without checking oncoming traffic
    3. Treat it as a flashing yellow arrow and turn immediately
    4. Continue straight even if the lane arrow requires a turn
    Show answer

    Slow down and prepare to stop because the signal is changing to red. A yellow solid arrow has the same meaning as a solid yellow light: the signal is about to change to red, so the driver should slow down and Full explanation in Test 8

39. 39. When must a driver yield to pedestrians at a crosswalk?

    1. Always, even when the crosswalk is not marked
    2. Only when a crossing guard is present
    3. Only at a traffic signal showing WALK
    4. Only when pedestrians are walking from the driver's right
    Show answer

    Always, even when the crosswalk is not marked. Mississippi requires drivers to yield to pedestrians in crosswalks whether the lines are painted or not. Full explanation in Test 8

40. 40. At a two-way stop, which traffic has the right-of-way?

    1. Cross traffic without stop signs
    2. The vehicle that reaches the stop sign last
    3. A vehicle turning across the traffic lane
    4. Only vehicles signaling a left turn
    Show answer

    Cross traffic without stop signs. At a two-way stop, cross traffic without stop signs has the right-of-way. Full explanation in Test 8