NC Permit Practice Test 9

All 20 questions in test 9

Every question below comes from the North Carolina 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 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
   Show answer

   Proceed down the ramp and merge onto the freeway. A circular green ramp-meter display permits a vehicle facing it to proceed down the entrance ramp and merge onto the freeway. The driver still must make a safe merge and yield as normal conditions require. Green does not remove the need to check the freeway lane. A red display requires a stop, while a dark meter allows movement without stopping under ordinary merge or yield conditions.

2. 2. What do red reflective pavement markers indicate to motorists in North Carolina?

   1. A nearby fire hydrant
   2. A lane reserved for buses
   3. Wrong-way movements
   4. A legal passing area
   Show answer

   Wrong-way movements. Red reflective markers identify wrong-way movements for motorists. Seeing red markers should prompt an immediate correction of direction rather than continued travel. Blue markers have a different purpose: they can show nearby fire hydrants or water supplies. The marker color is therefore an operational warning, not a decoration or a passing guide. If the roadway layout seems reversed, slow down, reassess the signs and lanes, and avoid creating a head-on conflict.

3. 3. 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
   Show answer

   Change lanes. The safest way to pass a bicyclist is to change lanes, and to pass lawfully a driver must follow the vehicle passing laws in the General Statutes. Squeezing past in the same lane leaves too little room, honking can startle the rider, and passing on the right is never appropriate. If the road does not allow a lane change, wait behind the bicyclist until it is safe to pass with plenty of room.

4. 4. On a two-lane North Carolina road, when is passing permitted according to the center marking?

   1. Whenever double solid yellow lines are present
   2. When the skipped-yellow line is in your lane and the pass is careful
   3. Only when the solid yellow line is in your lane
   4. Whenever a vehicle ahead is moving below the limit
   Show answer

   When the skipped-yellow line is in your lane and the pass is careful. A skipped or broken yellow center line permits passing with care in both directions. The handbook adds a lane-specific point: on a two-lane road, the pass is permitted when the skipped-yellow line is in your lane. You still need adequate sight distance and no conflicting traffic. Double solid yellow lines prohibit crossing to pass, and a slow vehicle alone never makes an unsafe or prohibited pass lawful.

5. 5. What is the purpose of a two-way left-turn lane in North Carolina?

   1. It is reserved for left-turn movements in both directions
   2. It is a general travel lane during heavy traffic
   3. It is a passing lane for either direction
   4. It is reserved for parking before a turn
   Show answer

   It is reserved for left-turn movements in both directions. A center lane marked for two-way left turns is reserved exclusively for those turning movements. Drivers from either direction may use it to prepare for a left turn, but it is not a shortcut for passing or merging into traffic. Treating the lane as a through lane creates conflicts with opposing drivers who also need the space. Look for the yellow boundary markings and the left-turn arrows before entering.

6. 6. What do yellow lines separate on a North Carolina roadway?

   1. Parking spaces from traffic lanes
   2. Travel lanes moving in the same direction
   3. Only bicycle lanes from sidewalks
   4. Travel lanes moving in opposite directions
   Show answer

   Travel lanes moving in opposite directions. Yellow pavement lines divide traffic moving in opposite directions. White lines separate lanes traveling the same way. This distinction helps a driver interpret whether a neighboring lane carries opposing vehicles and whether a crossing movement could create a head-on risk. Do not infer permission to cross solely from the color. The line pattern and local rule still matter, especially where solid or broken markings control passing.

7. 7. How should a North Carolina driver pass a bicyclist safely?

   1. Pass immediately whenever the bicyclist is near the right edge
   2. Use the shoulder without checking opposing traffic
   3. Pass only with abundant clearance and no oncoming traffic
   4. Sound the horn and remain in the same position
   Show answer

   Pass only with abundant clearance and no oncoming traffic. Passing a bicyclist requires abundant clearance and no oncoming traffic in the opposing lane. The safest method identified by the handbook is changing lanes, while still following the ordinary vehicle-passing laws. A bicycle near the edge does not guarantee a safe opening because the rider may need to avoid debris or a surface hazard. Wait for a clear opportunity and leave room for the cyclist's movement and wind effects.

8. 8. About how many crashes and fatalities occur on North Carolina roads each year, according to the handbook?

   1. About 284,000 crashes and nearly 1,700 fatalities
   2. About 50,000 crashes and 200 fatalities
   3. About 1 million crashes and 10,000 fatalities
   4. About 10,000 crashes and 50 fatalities
   Show answer

   About 284,000 crashes and nearly 1,700 fatalities. The handbook opens with the scale of the problem: in North Carolina there are about 284,000 crashes and nearly 1,700 fatalities on the roadways each year. Those numbers are why the state asks every driver to use caution and pay attention to the people and wildlife around them. Most of those crashes involve ordinary errors such as speeding, distraction, following too closely and failing to yield.

9. 9. At night, what should a pedestrian use to make it easier for drivers to see them?

   1. Dark clothing only
   2. A vehicle’s high beams
   3. The center of the roadway
   4. A flashlight
   Show answer

   A flashlight. The handbook warns that pedestrians are harder for drivers to see at night and advises using a flashlight. Dark clothing reduces visibility rather than improving it, walking in the center of the roadway creates an added hazard, and a pedestrian cannot rely on a vehicle’s high beams as personal lighting. Carry a light and remain alert for vehicles that may not see you immediately. The cue is nighttime visibility: help the driver detect your position before you enter the vehicle’s path.

10. 10. What mirror check helps a driver avoid lingering in a tractor-trailer’s rear blind spot?

    1. If you see the truck driver, remain beside the cab
    2. If the truck has two mirrors, its blind spots do not matter
    3. If you cannot see the truck driver in the side-view mirror, the driver cannot see you
    4. If you are within one car length, the truck driver can always see you
    Show answer

    If you cannot see the truck driver in the side-view mirror, the driver cannot see you. The handbook gives a practical mirror rule for sharing the road with a tractor-trailer: if you cannot see the truck driver in the side-view mirror, the driver cannot see your vehicle. That means the car is lingering in a blind spot and should increase space or pass only when legal and clear. Seeing the driver does not make it safe to remain beside the cab, and extra mirrors do not eliminate every no-zone. Use the mirror check whenever you travel behind or alongside a large truck, especially before changing position or slowing.

11. 11. What helmet standard applies to motorcycle and moped riders in North Carolina?

    1. Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standard FMVSS 218
    2. A helmet certified only by the vehicle dealer
    3. Any bicycle helmet with a chin strap
    4. No standard if the trip is under one mile
    Show answer

    Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standard FMVSS 218. North Carolina requires motorcycle and moped operators and passengers to wear a safety helmet complying with Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standard FMVSS 218. A bicycle helmet or an informal dealer label does not satisfy that named standard. The rule applies based on the type of vehicle and the rider's position, not on trip length. Riders should look for compliant equipment before starting, because protective gear is part of lawful road sharing.

12. 12. When does North Carolina require headlights because of darkness or limited visibility?

    1. Only after midnight on roads outside cities
    2. From sunset to sunrise and when visibility is 400 feet or less
    3. Only when windshield wipers have run for ten minutes
    4. Only when traveling faster than 45 mph
    Show answer

    From sunset to sunrise and when visibility is 400 feet or less. North Carolina requires headlights from sunset to sunrise and whenever visibility is 400 feet or less. The rule is based on darkness or sight distance, not on a midnight cutoff, a particular roadway type, wiper duration, or vehicle speed. Headlights help the driver see and help other road users notice the vehicle. Check the light conditions before visibility becomes severely restricted, and use the appropriate beam for the surroundings. The two cues to remember are the daily period from sunset to sunrise and the 400-foot visibility threshold.

13. 13. What does the handbook say about special speed limits in North Carolina?

    1. Drivers may ignore a special limit when traffic is light
    2. Special areas must always use the city and town limit
    3. A special limit applies only to interstate highways
    4. Special speed limits may be posted for special areas
    Show answer

    Special speed limits may be posted for special areas. North Carolina allows special speed limits to be posted for special areas. That means the driver must read the sign controlling the location instead of automatically applying the ordinary city, rural-road, or interstate number. Light traffic does not cancel a posted limit, and the rule is not confined to interstates. A special area may also require a speed below the posted maximum when conditions call for extra care. The visual cue is the sign at the roadway: identify the local limit first, then choose a safe speed at or below it.

14. 14. For a North Carolina auto policy issued or renewed on or after July 1, 2025, what is the minimum bodily-injury liability coverage for one person?

    1. $25,000
    2. $60,000
    3. $750,000
    4. $50,000
    Show answer

    $50,000. For policies issued or renewed on or after July 1, 2025, North Carolina requires at least $50,000 for bodily injury to one person, $100,000 for bodily injury per accident, and $50,000 for property damage. The per-person bodily-injury amount is therefore $50,000. The former 30/60/25 limits are no longer the current minimum. Keep the per-person, per-accident, and property-damage categories separate when checking the policy, because the limits apply to different kinds of loss.

15. 15. How long must North Carolina vehicle owners maintain liability insurance while a license plate is valid?

    1. Only during the month of registration renewal
    2. For 30 days after buying the vehicle
    3. Continuously
    4. Only when the vehicle is driven outside the state
    Show answer

    Continuously. The owner of every registered vehicle must maintain continuous liability insurance as long as the vehicle has a valid license plate. Coverage cannot be paused between trips or held only for renewal month. A lapse can expose the owner to a fine or penalty and may lead to plate revocation unless continuous coverage is shown. Keep the policy active for the full period that the plate remains valid, including days when the car is parked.

16. 16. How soon before registration expiration may a North Carolina vehicle receive its inspection?

    1. Within 30 days
    2. Within 90 days
    3. Only on the expiration date
    4. Within six months
    Show answer

    Within 90 days. The handbook allows an inspection during the 90-day window before registration expires. This gives the owner time to finish the requirement before renewal is due. Six months is not the inspection timing stated in the handbook, and waiting for the exact expiration date creates avoidable risk if the vehicle fails or an appointment is delayed. Use the registration expiration date to count backward and schedule appropriately.

17. 17. If a North Carolina vehicle fails inspection, when may it be re-inspected at the same station without another inspection fee?

    1. Within 10 days
    2. Within 90 days only after paying twice
    3. Within 60 days
    4. Only at a different station
    Show answer

    Within 60 days. A vehicle that fails inspection may be re-inspected at the same station within 60 days without paying another inspection fee. Returning to the same station is part of the stated condition, so changing stations may not preserve that fee treatment. The 90-day period concerns when an inspection can be performed before registration expiration, not the no-fee reinspection window. Repair the listed problem promptly and return within the allowed period.

18. 18. A North Carolina Level Two driver is unsupervised and carries an under-21 family or household passenger. When may one other under-21 passenger from outside the family and household ride?

    1. Any time the driver has held the license for one month
    2. When that passenger is a student being driven directly to or from school
    3. Never
    4. Only after 9 p.m.
    Show answer

    When that passenger is a student being driven directly to or from school. The additional passenger must be a student being driven directly to or from school. Ordinarily, an unsupervised Level Two driver carrying an under-21 immediate-family or household passenger cannot also carry an under-21 passenger from outside those groups. The school trip creates a limited exception for one outside student. It does not permit two outside passengers, and holding the license for a month does not remove this restriction.

19. 19. Which vehicles have the right of way when their flashing lights and sirens are operating?

    1. Any vehicle displaying four-way flashers
    2. Police cars, ambulances, fire engines, and rescue vehicles
    3. Only a school bus with red lights
    4. A private vehicle traveling faster than traffic
    Show answer

    Police cars, ambulances, fire engines, and rescue vehicles. Police cars, ambulances, fire engines, and rescue vehicles with flashing lights and sirens have the right of way under the North Carolina handbook. A private vehicle’s hazard flashers do not create emergency priority, and the school-bus rule is separate. Speed alone also gives no driver authority to demand the roadway. When one of these authorized vehicles approaches, yield promptly, move to the right-hand curb or edge, and stop completely. Scan in both directions because the response vehicle may approach from ahead or behind, then stay stopped until it passes or an officer directs you onward.

20. 20. What does a blue and white North Carolina highway sign commonly indicate?

    1. A route marker for an interstate
    2. The beginning of a no-passing zone
    3. A railroad crossing warning
    4. A nearby hospital, Highway Patrol station, or telephone
    Show answer

    A nearby hospital, Highway Patrol station, or telephone. Blue and white signs identify certain nearby services, including a hospital, Highway Patrol station, or telephone. Their service function differs from the yellow railroad warning sign and the pennant that marks no passing. Interstate highways use a red, white, and blue shield as a route marker, which is a separate sign type. When a blue service sign appears, use it to locate help or facilities and continue reading the roadway rather than treating it as a hazard warning.