OH Permit Practice Test

How to use this OH 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 Digest of Ohio Motor Vehicle Laws, which is what the examiners use.
4. When you pass three sets in a row at 75 percent or better, book the real test.

OH 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

Printable OH practice test with answer key

All 40 questions, OH exam length

Every question below comes from the Ohio 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. A school bus stops with red lights flashing on an Ohio road with four or more lanes. Which traffic must stop?

   1. Only traffic going the same direction as the bus
   2. All traffic in both directions
   3. Only traffic coming toward the bus
   4. No one, as long as drivers slow to 20 mph
   Show answer

   Only traffic going the same direction as the bus. Ohio's school bus rule depends on the width of the road. Full explanation in Test 1

2. 2. How many Ohio penalty points accumulated within two years cause the BMV to impose a point suspension?

   1. 9 points
   2. 6 points
   3. 12 or more points
   4. 18 points
   Show answer

   12 or more points. The BMV imposes a 12-point suspension when a driver accumulates 12 or more points within a two-year period. Full explanation in Test 2

3. 3. This yellow right-angle arrow sign warns a driver about what condition ahead?

   
   1. A no passing zone ending
   2. A required right turn at every signal
   3. A one-way street ending
   4. A sharp right turn ahead
   Show answer

   A sharp right turn ahead. A yellow right-angle arrow is a warning sign, not a regulatory command. Full explanation in Test 3

4. 4. What does a round yellow sign with an X and the letters RR warn a driver about?

   
   1. A roundabout ahead
   2. A bicycle crossing
   3. A highway-railroad grade crossing
   4. A no-passing zone
   Show answer

   A highway-railroad grade crossing. The round yellow sign with an X and RR letters marks a highway-railroad grade crossing ahead. Full explanation in Test 4

5. 5. Where does the Ohio digest tell drivers to place their hands on the steering wheel?

   1. At 10 and 2 o'clock near the top
   2. Both hands together at 12 o'clock
   3. One hand at the bottom center of the wheel
   4. At the 4 and 8 o'clock positions on opposite sides
   Show answer

   At the 4 and 8 o'clock positions on opposite sides. Ohio teaches a lower hand position than older driving lessons did. Full explanation in Test 5

6. 6. What does Ohio say about driving while impaired by alcohol or drugs?

   1. It is allowed below .08% BAC
   2. It is allowed when medication is prescribed
   3. It is against the law
   4. It is prohibited only for commercial drivers
   Show answer

   It is against the law. Ohio states that driving while impaired under the influence of alcohol or drugs is against the law. A . Full explanation in Test 6

7. 7. During the first 12 months of an Ohio probationary license, when may a driver operate between midnight and 6 a.m.?

   1. When accompanied by a parent or guardian
   2. When accompanied by any licensed friend age 18 or older
   3. When a sibling with a permit sits in front
   4. When the driver promises to return before 6 a.m.
   Show answer

   When accompanied by a parent or guardian. For the first 12 months of holding a Driver License, an Ohio driver under 18 may not operate from midnight to 6 a.m. Full explanation in Test 7

8. 8. A red circle with a slash over a U-turn arrow appears at an intersection. What does the sign mean?

   
   1. U-turns are prohibited
   2. Left turns are prohibited
   3. The road is one-way
   4. U-turns are required
   Show answer

   U-turns are prohibited. The pictured U-shaped arrow identifies the movement, and the red slash marks that movement as prohibited. Full explanation in Test 8

9. 9. A 16-year-old Ohio driver is convicted of a traffic offense in the first months of licensing. What may be required?

   1. A permanent license revocation
   2. A parent or guardian must accompany the driver for six months or until age 17
   3. Only a written warning
   4. Retaking driver education
   Show answer

   A parent or guardian must accompany the driver for six months or until age 17. Ohio may require a parent or legal guardian to ride along for six months, or until the driver turns 17, after a traffic conviction in the fi Full explanation in Test 9

10. 10. What should a driver do with lane position after entering an Ohio roundabout?

    1. Do not change lanes once inside
    2. Change lanes only at the center island
    3. Change lanes before every exit
    4. Stop and wait before changing lanes
    Show answer

    Do not change lanes once inside. The manual says a driver cannot change lanes once inside the roundabout. Full explanation in Test 10

11. 11. A 16-year-old with an Ohio TIPIC is driving at 2 a.m. Which accompanying adult is required?

    1. Any licensed driver age 18 or older
    2. No adult if the trip is less than five miles
    3. A passenger age 16 or older with a valid ID
    4. A parent, guardian, or custodian who holds a valid Driver License
    Show answer

    A parent, guardian, or custodian who holds a valid Driver License. A permit holder ages 16 or 17 may normally practice with any valid licensed driver who is at least 21 in the front seat. Full explanation in Test 1

12. 12. How should an Ohio driver park on a two-way street when no angled spaces are marked?

    1. Facing against traffic, as close as possible to the center line
    2. At any angle if one wheel touches the curb
    3. Facing the direction of traffic, parallel and no more than 12 inches from the right curb
    4. Parallel and no more than 36 inches from either curb
    Show answer

    Facing the direction of traffic, parallel and no more than 12 inches from the right curb. Ohio's ordinary parking rule requires a vehicle on a two-way street to face the direction of traffic, sit parallel to the curb, and be no mo Full explanation in Test 2

13. 13. What is required when a school bus is stopped on a road with fewer than four lanes and its red lights are flashing?

    
    1. Only traffic behind the bus must stop at least 5 feet away
    2. All traffic may proceed after slowing to 15 mph
    3. Oncoming traffic may pass if it uses the opposite shoulder
    4. Traffic approaching from either direction must stop at least 10 feet away
    Show answer

    Traffic approaching from either direction must stop at least 10 feet away. On a road with fewer than four lanes, Ohio requires traffic approaching a stopped school bus from either direction to stop at least 10 feet Full explanation in Test 3

14. 14. From what distance must an Ohio vehicle's horn be audible under the equipment rules?

    1. 200 feet
    2. 50 feet
    3. 500 feet
    4. 1,000 feet
    Show answer

    200 feet. Ohio's equipment list requires a horn in good working order that other road users can actually hear. Full explanation in Test 4

15. 15. What do Ohio work zone signs generally have as their background color?

    1. Orange
    2. Purple
    3. White
    4. Blue
    Show answer

    Orange. Work zone signs in Ohio generally use an orange background with black letters or symbols. Full explanation in Test 5

16. 16. How far from an intersection or crosswalk must you stay when parking in Ohio?

    1. At least 5 feet
    2. At least 10 feet
    3. At least 20 feet
    4. At least 50 feet
    Show answer

    At least 20 feet. Ohio bars stopping, parking, or standing in or within 20 feet of an intersection or crosswalk, unless needed to avoid a conflict with traffi Full explanation in Test 6

17. 17. How much space should be between a properly adjusted driver's chest and the steering wheel?

    1. Exactly 6 inches
    2. At least 4 inches
    3. At least 10 inches
    4. No more than 2 inches
    Show answer

    At least 10 inches. The Ohio manual recommends at least 10 inches between the driver's chest and the steering wheel. Full explanation in Test 7

18. 18. Which Ohio drivers must wear safety belts under the mandatory safety belt usage law?

    1. Only drivers of commercial vehicles
    2. Only passengers under age 18
    3. Drivers and front-seat occupants of most passenger vehicles
    4. Only people in vehicles without air bags
    Show answer

    Drivers and front-seat occupants of most passenger vehicles. Ohio's mandatory safety belt law covers drivers and front-seat occupants of most passenger vehicles whenever they drive or ride on Ohio road Full explanation in Test 8

19. 19. What does an Ohio crosswalk define?

    
    1. A lane reserved for passing traffic
    2. A shoulder where vehicles may park
    3. A zone where bicycles must dismount
    4. The area where pedestrians may cross the roadway
    Show answer

    The area where pedestrians may cross the roadway. An Ohio crosswalk marks the area where pedestrians may cross the roadway. Full explanation in Test 9

20. 20. A 25-year-old fails the Ohio driving test for the first time. What must they do before a second attempt?

    1. Complete an Abbreviated Adult Driver Training Course, unless they had approved driver education within the past year
    2. Wait 30 days and retest with no course
    3. Retake the knowledge test only
    4. Nothing; they may retest the same day
    Show answer

    Complete an Abbreviated Adult Driver Training Course, unless they had approved driver education within the past year. An Ohio applicant 21 or older who fails the maneuverability or road skills test must complete an Abbreviated Adult Driver Training Course be Full explanation in Test 10

21. 21. During which part of the year are studded tires legal on Ohio roads?

    1. Only from December 1 through March 1
    2. From November 1 through April 15
    3. All year, as long as the studs are under one inch
    4. Never, because Ohio bans studded tires
    Show answer

    From November 1 through April 15. Ohio allows studded tires only during the cold months. Full explanation in Test 1

22. 22. What additional consequences does Ohio impose on a person convicted of OVI five or more times in 20 years?

    1. A $100 fine only
    2. Jail time, possible vehicle immobilization or forfeiture, and placement on the Habitual OVI/OMWI Offender Registry
    3. A warning and a safety class
    4. A one-month suspension
    Show answer

    Jail time, possible vehicle immobilization or forfeiture, and placement on the Habitual OVI/OMWI Offender Registry. Ohio treats five or more OVI convictions in the preceding 20 years very seriously: the offender must serve jail time, may lose the vehicle t Full explanation in Test 2

23. 23. An Ohio driver age 30 is caught holding a phone while driving for the first time in two years. What is the penalty?

    1. 2 points and a fine of up to $150
    2. 6 points and a $1,000 fine
    3. A 60-day suspension
    4. No penalty for a first offense
    Show answer

    2 points and a fine of up to $150. For drivers 18 and older, a first handheld device offense in two years brings 2 points and a fine of up to $150, and a distracted driving co Full explanation in Test 3

24. 24. What roadway arrangement does this sign identify?

    
    1. A two-way road with a center turn lane
    2. A roadway reserved for buses only
    3. A road closed to all traffic
    4. A one-way road
    Show answer

    A one-way road. Ohio lists this sign as indicating a one-way road. Full explanation in Test 4

25. 25. An adult Ohio driver is convicted of a second handheld device violation within two years. What penalty applies?

    1. 2 points and a fine of up to $150
    2. 4 points and a fine of up to $500
    3. 3 points and a fine of up to $250
    4. A 60 day suspension and a $150 fine
    Show answer

    3 points and a fine of up to $250. Ohio's distracted driving penalties for drivers 18 and older rise with each offense counted over two years. Full explanation in Test 5

26. 26. Your Ohio vehicle starts accelerating out of control because the accelerator is stuck. What should you do first?

    1. Turn the engine off immediately while still at speed
    2. Pump the accelerator to free it while steering hard
    3. Shift into park while the car is still moving
    4. Turn on emergency flashers, shift to neutral, and look for an escape route
    Show answer

    Turn on emergency flashers, shift to neutral, and look for an escape route. A stuck accelerator keeps the engine pushing the car forward. Full explanation in Test 6

27. 27. When the broken yellow line is in your lane and the solid yellow line is in the other lane, what may you do?

    
    1. Pass only after stopping completely in your lane
    2. Never pass under any condition
    3. Pass when it is safe to do so
    4. Drive on the painted line until the next intersection
    Show answer

    Pass when it is safe to do so. A yellow solid line beside a broken line assigns the passing permission to the motorists traveling beside the broken line. Full explanation in Test 7

28. 28. What is the center two way left turn lane reserved for?

    
    1. Passing slower vehicles in either direction
    2. Left turning vehicles traveling in either direction
    3. Merging onto the roadway at any speed
    4. Continuous travel when traffic is heavy
    Show answer

    Left turning vehicles traveling in either direction. The center two way left turn lane is reserved for vehicles preparing to make a left turn, whether they approach from one direction or the ot Full explanation in Test 8

29. 29. At an intersection, another driver is already there before you arrive. Who should you yield to?

    1. The driver turning right
    2. The driver who sounds the horn
    3. The vehicle carrying more passengers
    4. The driver who is at or arrives before you
    Show answer

    The driver who is at or arrives before you. Ohio's right-of-way list tells drivers to yield to the driver who is already at the intersection or arrived before them. Full explanation in Test 9

30. 30. What must a driver do when entering a roundabout?

    1. Change lanes immediately after entering
    2. Enter clockwise because entering traffic has priority
    3. Stop in the circle before selecting an exit
    4. Yield to traffic already in the roundabout and travel counterclockwise
    Show answer

    Yield to traffic already in the roundabout and travel counterclockwise. Ohio’s roundabout instructions combine two essential actions: enter in a counterclockwise direction and yield to traffic already circulating Full explanation in Test 10

31. 31. What is the Ohio rule for turning right at a red traffic signal?

    
    1. Turn only after the signal changes to yellow
    2. Turn without stopping when no car is visible
    3. Stop completely, yield to crossing traffic and pedestrians, then turn unless prohibited
    4. Turn from any lane if the road is one way
    Show answer

    Stop completely, yield to crossing traffic and pedestrians, then turn unless prohibited. A right turn on red is allowed unless a sign specifically prohibits it, but the driver must first make a complete stop. Full explanation in Test 1

32. 32. What do the shape and color of a route number sign help identify?

    1. The number of parking spaces ahead
    2. The driver license class required
    3. The type of roadway
    4. The pavement material used on the route
    Show answer

    The type of roadway. Ohio route number signs use shape and color to identify whether the road is an interstate, U.S., state, city, county, or local route. Full explanation in Test 2

33. 33. What should you do if you miss your freeway exit?

    1. Stop and back up on the shoulder
    2. Use the median opening reserved for emergency vehicles
    3. Take the next exit
    4. Make a U-turn at the end of the ramp
    Show answer

    Take the next exit. Ohio's driving guidance is simple when an exit is missed: take the next one. Full explanation in Test 3

34. 34. What is Ohio’s legal drinking age?

    1. 18 years
    2. 21 years
    3. 20 years
    4. 19 years
    Show answer

    21 years. Ohio identifies 21 years or older as the legal drinking age. The nearby underage driving rule also uses a . Full explanation in Test 4

35. 35. When should an Ohio driver reduce speed for rain, snow, sleet, or ice?

    1. Only after the vehicle begins to skid
    2. At the first sign of any of those conditions
    3. Only when the posted limit is reduced
    4. Only on roads with curves
    Show answer

    At the first sign of any of those conditions. The manual directs drivers to reduce speed at the first sign of rain, snow, sleet, or ice because slippery surfaces reduce tire grip, length Full explanation in Test 5

36. 36. You are entering an Ohio freeway and see a merge sign. How should you find room to merge?

    
    1. Rely only on the inside rear-view mirror
    2. Look over your shoulder and use your outside mirrors to find a gap
    3. Stop at the end of the ramp until no vehicles are in sight
    4. Drive on the shoulder until a gap opens
    Show answer

    Look over your shoulder and use your outside mirrors to find a gap. Ohio tells a driver entering a freeway to be aware of the vehicle ahead, look over the shoulder toward the merging side, and use the outside Full explanation in Test 6

37. 37. In a work zone, what must a driver do when a flagger uses a sign to direct traffic?

    1. Stop only when a police officer is present
    2. Obey only the painted lane lines
    3. Proceed if no worker is in the lane
    4. Follow the flagger’s instructions
    Show answer

    Follow the flagger’s instructions. Ohio work zones may use a person with a sign or flag to control traffic, and drivers must follow that person’s directions. Full explanation in Test 7

38. 38. When turning left across an opposing traffic lane, what must the turning driver do?

    
    1. Accelerate to claim priority
    2. Yield to opposing traffic
    3. Turn first if the signal is green
    4. Yield only to trucks
    Show answer

    Yield to opposing traffic. A left turn crosses the path of vehicles traveling toward the driver, so the turning driver must yield to opposing traffic. Full explanation in Test 8

39. 39. Which headlights should an Ohio driver use when driving in fog?

    1. Low beams, not high beams
    2. High beams, to light the fog more strongly
    3. No headlights until the fog clears
    4. Hazard lights instead of headlights
    Show answer

    Low beams, not high beams. Ohio calls fog one of the most hazardous conditions a motorist can drive in. Full explanation in Test 9

40. 40. Which situation is identified as an example of aggressive driving in Ohio?

    1. Following another vehicle too closely
    2. Checking mirrors before changing lanes
    3. Reducing speed for poor weather
    4. Leaving a normal space before a turn
    Show answer

    Following another vehicle too closely. Ohio lists following too closely as an example of aggressive driving because it intentionally creates danger for another road user. Full explanation in Test 10