Printable NC Permit Practice Test

1. What does the North Carolina handbook say to do before a curve while traveling downhill?

1. Shift to neutral
2. Shift to a lower gear and begin braking earlier
3. Speed up to carry momentum
4. Brake hard in the middle of the curve

2. What maximum speed does the North Carolina handbook list for a school bus?

1. 55 mph
2. 35 mph
3. 45 mph
4. 70 mph

3. A North Carolina driver turning right on red fails to yield to a pedestrian starting to cross in front of stopped traffic. What penalty applies?

1. A warning only, with no penalty
2. A penalty of not less than $100 and not more than $500
3. A flat $25 infraction
4. A penalty of $1,000 to $2,000

4. What testing accommodation is available on request for a North Carolina applicant who has difficulty reading?

1. A waiver of the traffic law examination
2. An audio version of the knowledge test
3. A road test that replaces the knowledge test
4. Automatic passage without answering questions

5. How early may a North Carolina driver renew a license, and how often is online renewal allowed?

1. Up to one year early, online every time
2. Up to six months before expiration, online every other renewal
3. Only in the last 30 days, in person only
4. Any time, online every time

6. Unless a different limit is posted, what speed limit applies in North Carolina cities and towns?

1. 25 mph in cities and towns
2. 35 mph in cities and towns
3. 45 mph in cities and towns
4. 55 mph in cities and towns

7. A 16-year-old North Carolina driver is driving. Whom may the teen call on a cell phone in an emergency?

1. Emergency responders, a hospital or clinic, law enforcement, or a parent, legal guardian, or spouse
2. Anyone, if the call is hands free
3. Only friends in the car
4. No one, even in an emergency

8. When driving through changing areas such as open country, residential communities and school zones, what should a driver do?

1. Watch for changing conditions and adjust speed accordingly
2. Accelerate whenever entering a residential community
3. Use the interstate speed in every school zone
4. Keep the posted speed regardless of conditions

9. For a driver age 21 or older, which BAC level is the North Carolina per se DWI threshold?

1. A BAC of 0.08 percent or more
2. A BAC of 0.05 percent or more
3. A BAC of 0.10 percent or more
4. A BAC of 0.15 percent or more

10. What does the North Carolina handbook call the safest way to pass a bicyclist?

1. Change lanes
2. Sound the horn and pass closely
3. Pass on the right
4. Squeeze by in the same lane

11. What must every vehicle in a North Carolina funeral procession display?

1. Nothing special
2. High beams only
3. A flag on the antenna
4. Headlights on, and hazard warning signals if equipped

12. When leaving a parallel parking space, what should a North Carolina driver do before pulling into traffic?

1. Move out immediately because parked vehicles have priority
2. Use the right turn signal and leave without checking behind
3. Sound the horn while backing into the nearest travel lane
4. Check for approaching traffic and give a left turn signal

13. After a North Carolina crash with no injuries, at what amount of apparent property damage must the driver immediately report it to law enforcement?

1. $100 or more
2. $5,000 or more
3. Only when a vehicle must be towed
4. $1,000 or more

14. What license suspension does North Carolina list for prearranged racing with another vehicle on the highway?

1. A 30-day suspension
2. 90 days
3. 1 year
4. 3 years

15. In which direction do vehicles travel around a traffic circle or roundabout?

1. To the right around the circle in a counterclockwise direction
2. Straight across the center whenever traffic is light
3. In either direction according to the driver’s preferred lane
4. To the left around the circle in a clockwise direction

16. Which headlights does the North Carolina handbook say to use when driving at night in a city?

1. High-beam headlights
2. Parking lights only
3. Low-beam headlights
4. No headlights where streetlights are on

17. How long is the first suspension under North Carolina's point system?

1. 30 days only
2. 60 days
3. 6 months
4. 12 months

18. The pictured prohibition sign is an example of a sign used to show what?

1. A route direction
2. A driver service
3. A road hazard
4. A traffic regulation

19. Before a North Carolina driver under 18 may take the learner permit or license test, what driver education instruction is required?

1. Ten classroom hours and two road hours
2. At least 30 classroom hours and six behind-the-wheel hours
3. Six classroom hours and 30 road hours
4. Twenty classroom hours with no driving instruction

20. In North Carolina, how far to the left must a passing driver pass the vehicle being overtaken?

1. At least two feet
2. At least six inches
3. At least one foot
4. At least ten feet

21. On a highway with only one lane in your direction, how should you pass a stopped emergency vehicle with warning lights activated?

1. Slow down and use a reduced, safe speed until completely past it
2. Stop directly beside it
3. Speed up to minimize the time nearby
4. Change into the oncoming lane without checking

22. Rectangular and square-shaped signs that are normally black and white or red and white are used for what purpose?

1. Warning that a railroad crossing is immediately ahead
2. Showing speed limits and other traffic regulations
3. Identifying hospitals and roadside telephone locations
4. Marking the beginning of every passing zone

23. On a North Carolina highway with two lanes in your direction, a police car is stopped within 12 feet of the roadway with warning lights on. What must you do?

1. Stop in your lane until the officer waves you on
2. Move into a lane that is not the lane nearest the stopped vehicle and stay there until clear
3. Stay in the nearest lane and sound the horn
4. Speed up to clear the area quickly

24. A North Carolina driver is charged twice with reckless driving within 12 months. What suspension applies?

1. 1 year
2. Thirty days
3. 60 days
4. Permanent

25. Where do crashes caused by drowsy driving most often happen, according to the North Carolina handbook?

1. In parking lots
2. In city traffic during rush hour
3. On high-speed rural highways when the driver is alone
4. At school crossings

26. When a ramp meter shows a circular green display, what may a North Carolina driver do?

1. Proceed down the ramp and merge onto the freeway
2. Drive onto the freeway without merging
3. Back up and use the shoulder
4. Stop at the ramp entrance until the display turns red

27. With properly working high-beam headlights at night, how far away should a North Carolina driver be able to see a person?

1. 75 feet
2. 200 feet
3. 50 feet
4. 1,000 feet

28. What does the circular yellow RR sign warn you about?

1. A school zone beginning immediately
2. A railroad crossing ahead
3. A required route around a work zone
4. A hospital entrance ahead

29. On a North Carolina road with a 55 mph speed limit, what is the minimum signaling distance before a turn?

1. At least the last 50 feet
2. At least the last 100 feet
3. At least one mile
4. At least the last 200 feet

30. When a school bus is displaying its stop signal or flashing red lights, what must an approaching driver do?

1. Pass after checking that no child is visible
2. Stop only when following directly behind the bus
3. Continue if the driver can see the bus driver
4. Stop and not attempt to pass until the stop signal is withdrawn

31. On a street with curbs, how close to the curb line of an intersecting street may a North Carolina driver park?

1. No closer than 25 feet
2. No closer than 10 feet
3. No closer than 15 feet
4. Right up to the crosswalk paint

32. Without supervision or any immediate-family or household passengers aboard, how many outside passengers under 21 may a North Carolina Level Two driver carry?

1. No more than one
2. Two unrelated passengers under 21 on every trip
3. No passengers under 21 under any circumstance
4. Three passengers if each wears a seat belt

33. How far ahead on the roadway does the North Carolina handbook say good drivers try to look?

1. 1 to 2 seconds ahead
2. Only to the bumper of the car in front
3. 10 to 15 seconds ahead, about one city block
4. About one mile ahead

34. A North Carolina provisional licensee is convicted of a fourth moving violation within 12 months. What suspension can follow?

1. Six months
2. One month
3. 90 days
4. Two years

35. If a vehicle stalls on or near railroad tracks, what should the occupants do first?

1. Remain inside and try to restart the engine
2. Stand behind the vehicle to warn traffic
3. Wait for the crossing gate to rise before leaving
4. Get out immediately

36. What can happen to fines for a violation committed while driving a commercial motor vehicle in North Carolina?

1. They are halved
2. They may be doubled
3. They are waived for a first offense
4. They are the same as for a car

37. After a North Carolina DWI conviction with a BAC of 0.15 or more, what vehicle equipment may be required?

1. A second passenger side air bag
2. A commercial vehicle speed governor
3. A replacement catalytic converter
4. An ignition interlock device

38. How many hours must a North Carolina teen log on the Driving Log before a Level Two license, and how many at night?

1. At least 40 hours, with 6 at night
2. At least 50 hours, with 10 at night
3. At least 60 hours, with at least 10 at night
4. At least 30 hours, all in daylight

39. A North Carolina license holder moves to a new home within the state. By when must the holder update the physical address with the DMV?

1. Within 10 days of moving
2. Only at the next license renewal
3. Within 60 days of moving
4. Never, because the address only matters for out of state moves

40. How many driver license points may trigger assignment to a driver improvement clinic in North Carolina?

1. Seven points
2. Eight points
3. Five points
4. Twelve points