PA Permit Practice Test

How to use this PA practice test

1. Take the 18 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 Pennsylvania Driver's Manual (PUB 95), which is what the examiners use.
4. When you pass three sets in a row at 83 percent or better, book the real test.

PA 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 PA practice test with answer key

All 18 questions, PA exam length

Every question below comes from the Pennsylvania 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. At what speed and water depth can a vehicle hydroplane, according to the Pennsylvania manual?

   1. Only above 70 mph in deep water
   2. As low as 35 mph in water only one tenth of an inch deep
   3. Only above 55 mph
   4. Only in standing water over an inch deep
   Show answer

   As low as 35 mph in water only one tenth of an inch deep. Pennsylvania's manual says you can hydroplane at speeds as low as 35 mph when water is only one tenth of an inch deep. Full explanation in Test 1

2. 2. For a third or later Pennsylvania Move Over violation without an injury consequence, what maximum fine does the manual list?

   1. $250
   2. $500
   3. $2,000
   4. $1,000
   Show answer

   $2,000. Pennsylvania escalates the summary-offense fine for failing to move over or slow down: up to $500 for a first offense, $1,000 for a second, Full explanation in Test 2

3. 3. A red and white DO NOT ENTER sign is placed at the beginning of what type of roadway access?

   
   1. A parking area where vehicles may enter only during daylight
   2. A two-way roadway where trucks must use the shoulder
   3. A one-way street or ramp entered from the prohibited direction
   4. A dead-end street that is open only to local residents
   Show answer

   A one-way street or ramp entered from the prohibited direction. DO NOT ENTER marks the beginning of a one-way street or ramp in the direction the driver is facing. Full explanation in Test 3

4. 4. You change your address within Pennsylvania. How soon must you notify PennDOT?

   1. Within 30 days
   2. Within 60 days
   3. Within 15 days
   4. At your next renewal
   Show answer

   Within 15 days. Pennsylvania requires notice to PennDOT within 15 days of a name or address change, even when moving out of state. Thirty days is too long. Full explanation in Test 4

5. 5. When driving behind a large vehicle that blocks your view ahead, what should you do?

   1. Move close to the rear bumper to improve your view
   2. Pass immediately without checking oncoming traffic
   3. Use the shoulder to create a wider gap
   4. Allow extra following distance so you can see and react
   Show answer

   Allow extra following distance so you can see and react. A truck, bus, van, or vehicle pulling a trailer can hide hazards and may stop suddenly without knowing you are behind it. Full explanation in Test 5

6. 6. At a steady red light in Pennsylvania, where should you stop before waiting for permission to proceed?

   1. Before the marked stop line or crosswalk
   2. At the far side of the intersection after checking traffic
   3. Only when a vehicle is approaching from the side
   4. After entering the intersection, beside the cross street
   Show answer

   Before the marked stop line or crosswalk. Pennsylvania places the stopping point before the marked stop line or crosswalk. Full explanation in Test 6

7. 7. What happens if a Pennsylvania learner does not pass the road test within three years of the physical exam?

   1. They lose driving privileges for a year
   2. They get a one year extension
   3. They receive a license automatically
   4. They must start over with a new permit application and retake the knowledge test
   Show answer

   They must start over with a new permit application and retake the knowledge test. If you have not taken or successfully completed the road test within three years of your physical examination date, you must start over with Full explanation in Test 7

8. 8. A 19-year-old is convicted of DUI for the first time in Pennsylvania. Which penalties apply?

   1. Six months probation and a $300 fine
   2. A warning and an alcohol class
   3. 2 days to 6 months in jail, a full year suspension, and a fine of $500 to $5,000
   4. 90 days to 5 years in prison
   Show answer

   2 days to 6 months in jail, a full year suspension, and a fine of $500 to $5,000. Under Pennsylvania's Zero Tolerance law, a driver under 21 is under the influence at . Full explanation in Test 8

9. 9. How close to a fire hydrant may you park in Pennsylvania?

   1. No closer than 5 feet
   2. No closer than 30 feet
   3. No closer than 15 feet
   4. No closer than 10 feet
   Show answer

   No closer than 15 feet. Pennsylvania's list of places where you may never stop, stand or park, except in an emergency or when an officer directs you, includes withi Full explanation in Test 9

10. 10. After passing a bicyclist in Pennsylvania, what should you avoid doing immediately?

    1. Checking the rearview mirror
    2. Slowing or stopping quickly
    3. Maintaining a steady course
    4. Leaving room before returning
    Show answer

    Slowing or stopping quickly. Pennsylvania warns drivers not to slow down or stop quickly immediately after passing a bicyclist. Full explanation in Test 10

11. 11. When parking on a Pennsylvania roadway, what should a driver use and leave for passing vehicles?

    1. Four-way flashers and enough room for passing vehicles
    2. Hazard lights only after blocking the travel lane
    3. High beams and enough room for one parked car
    4. No lights if the vehicle is visible from 500 feet
    Show answer

    Four-way flashers and enough room for passing vehicles. When parking on the roadway, Pennsylvania advises using the vehicle’s four-way flashers and leaving enough room for passing vehicles. Full explanation in Test 1

12. 12. An adult is convicted of knowingly supplying alcohol to a minor in Pennsylvania for the first time. What minimum fine does the manual list for that first offense?

    1. At least $1,000
    2. $500, and only if the minor was driving
    3. $2,500 for a first offense
    4. $100 for the entire incident
    Show answer

    At least $1,000. Pennsylvania's manual says adults, even parents, who are convicted of knowingly and intentionally supplying minors with alcohol face a fine Full explanation in Test 2

13. 13. What occurs when a Pennsylvania driver's tires hydroplane on a wet roadway?

    1. The engine overheats because water enters the radiator
    2. The brakes gain extra traction from standing water
    3. The tires lose grip and ride like skis on a film of water
    4. The vehicle slips only because the steering wheel is misaligned
    Show answer

    The tires lose grip and ride like skis on a film of water. Hydroplaning is a loss of tire grip in which the tires ride like skis on a film of water. Full explanation in Test 3

14. 14. Why should a driver slow after seeing the TRAFFIC SIGNAL AHEAD warning sign?

    
    1. A streetlight is broken and the road is closed beyond the sign
    2. A signalized intersection is ahead and may be hidden by a curve or hill
    3. A police checkpoint requires an immediate stop on the shoulder
    4. A railroad signal will control access to a nearby siding
    Show answer

    A signalized intersection is ahead and may be hidden by a curve or hill. TRAFFIC SIGNAL AHEAD warns of a signal at the intersection ahead. Full explanation in Test 4

15. 15. How must a Pennsylvania driver respond to a flashing red traffic signal?

    1. Make a complete stop, then proceed only after the intersection is clear
    2. Yield only to vehicles approaching from the left
    3. Wait for the signal to turn solid green
    4. Slow down and continue without stopping
    Show answer

    Make a complete stop, then proceed only after the intersection is clear. Pennsylvania gives a flashing red light the same force as a STOP sign. Full explanation in Test 5

16. 16. A Pennsylvania driver goes around a ROAD CLOSED barrier at a flooded road. What penalty applies if no responders are called?

    1. Two points and a fine of up to $250
    2. A warning only
    3. Five points and a 60-day suspension
    4. A $50 fine and no points
    Show answer

    Two points and a fine of up to $250. Driving around or through signs or devices that close a road for hazardous conditions, such as flooding, brings 2 points and a fine of up to Full explanation in Test 6

17. 17. A vehicle is taller than the height shown on a Pennsylvania LOW CLEARANCE sign. What should its driver do?

    1. Do not enter the underpass, tunnel, or garage
    2. Enter slowly if the roof appears flexible
    3. Use the shoulder to pass beneath the sign
    4. Follow a taller vehicle to judge clearance
    Show answer

    Do not enter the underpass, tunnel, or garage. A LOW CLEARANCE sign gives the height limit for an underpass, tunnel, or parking garage. Full explanation in Test 7

18. 18. How early may a Pennsylvania vehicle be inspected before its sticker expires?

    1. Only in the month it expires
    2. Up to 30 days before
    3. Up to one year before
    4. Up to 90 days before the expiration date
    Show answer

    Up to 90 days before the expiration date. A Pennsylvania vehicle may be inspected up to 90 days before its next expiration date, and inspections are required every 12 months. Full explanation in Test 8