Rhode Island Permit Practice Test

How to use this RI 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 Rhode Island Driver's Manual, which is what the examiners use.
4. Come back on a later day and retake the questions you missed. A score on questions you have not seen before tells you more than a repeat.

RI 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
11. Test 11
12. Test 12
13. Test 13
14. Test 14
15. Test 15
16. Test 16
17. Test 17
18. Test 18
19. Test 19
20. Test 20
21. Test 21
22. Test 22
23. Test 23
24. Test 24
25. Test 25

Printable RI practice test with answer key

40 sample practice questions from the RI bank

Every question below comes from the Rhode Island 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. Rain has left standing water in low spots along your route. What does the Rhode Island manual’s hydroplaning advice say about those spots?

   1. Drive through them at a steady speed to keep the tires planted
   2. Shift to neutral and coast through them
   3. Brake firmly as you reach them so the tires can grip
   4. Avoid them, since water pooling there raises the hydroplaning risk
   Show answer

   Avoid them, since water pooling there raises the hydroplaning risk. Hydroplaning happens when the front tires lose contact with a wet road surface and you lose the ability to steer. Full explanation in Test 1

   Study this in the handbook: Stopping, turning and passing

2. 2. At a Rhode Island intersection, how should you treat a flashing yellow light?

   1. Slow down, cover the brake, and proceed with caution
   2. Stop fully and wait for a green signal
   3. Accelerate because cross traffic must stop
   4. Treat it exactly like a flashing red signal
   Show answer

   Slow down, cover the brake, and proceed with caution. A flashing yellow signal calls for caution rather than an automatic full stop. Full explanation in Test 2

   Study this in the handbook: Traffic lights and roundabouts

3. 3. A Rhode Island driver age 30 has a BAC of 0.06% and shows other signs of impairment. Can the driver be convicted?

   1. No, a driver 21 or older cannot be convicted unless the BAC is 0.08% or higher, even with other evidence
   2. Yes, a driver 21 or older with a BAC over 0.05% but under 0.08% can be convicted if there is other evidence of influence
   3. No, a conviction at that age requires a crash or a refused breath test
   4. Only if a crash occurred
   Show answer

   Yes, a driver 21 or older with a BAC over 0.05% but under 0.08% can be convicted if there is other evidence of influence. The manual explains that when a test shows a BAC in excess of .05% but less than . Full explanation in Test 3

   Study this in the handbook: Alcohol, BAC limits and implied consent

4. 4. Before turning left at an intersection, which road user must the driver yield to?

   
   1. Only pedestrians already standing in a marked crosswalk
   2. Only vehicles larger than the turning vehicle
   3. Oncoming traffic, including an oncoming bicyclist
   4. No one, because a left turn has priority over straight traffic
   Show answer

   Oncoming traffic, including an oncoming bicyclist. A left turn crosses the path of people traveling toward the intersection. Full explanation in Test 4

   Study this in the handbook: Pedestrians, school buses and bicyclists

5. 5. Your vehicle stalls on railroad tracks and you know a train is approaching. What should you do?

   1. Push the vehicle along the tracks toward the crossing
   2. Remain inside while repeatedly trying the ignition
   3. Get everyone out and move as far from the tracks as possible
   4. Wait for the train to sound its horn before leaving
   Show answer

   Get everyone out and move as far from the tracks as possible. When a car stalls on the rails with a train coming, the manual says to get yourself and any passengers out of the vehicle and off the tracks Full explanation in Test 5

   Study this in the handbook: Skids, brake failure, blowouts and other emergencies

6. 6. How much is the highway safety assessment that Rhode Island law charges a person found in violation of the chemical test refusal statute?

   1. $500
   2. $150
   3. $300
   4. $86
   Show answer

   $500. Rhode Island General Laws section 31-27-2. Full explanation in Test 6

   Study this in the handbook: Refusal and DUI penalties

7. 7. What condition does this pedestrian crossing sign tell a driver to anticipate?

   
   1. People may cross ahead, so be prepared to yield
   2. Pedestrians are prohibited from entering the roadway
   3. Sidewalk repairs have closed the crossing permanently
   4. Only bicycles may use the marked crossing
   Show answer

   People may cross ahead, so be prepared to yield. A pedestrian crossing warning tells drivers to expect people crossing the roadway ahead. Full explanation in Test 7

   Study this in the handbook: Turn signals and roadway markings

8. 8. How does Rhode Island's three-second rule help a driver judge following distance?

   
   1. It permits tailgating when the road is dry
   2. It requires one car length for every ten miles per hour
   3. It uses a fixed roadside point and a three-second count
   4. It measures distance only by looking at the speedometer
   Show answer

   It uses a fixed roadside point and a three-second count. The three-second method starts when the vehicle ahead passes a fixed point, such as a sign or pole. Full explanation in Test 8

   Study this in the handbook: Following distance, trucks and motorcycles

9. 9. Under Rhode Island's texting law, which use of a wireless handset is prohibited while operating a motor vehicle?

   1. Calling emergency services during an actual emergency
   2. Using a phone only after parking in a legal space
   3. Composing, reading, or sending a text message
   4. Listening to a passenger's spoken directions
   Show answer

   Composing, reading, or sending a text message. The manual states that, regardless of age, a driver may not use a wireless handset to compose, read, or send a text message while operating Full explanation in Test 9

   Study this in the handbook: Licenses, insurance, phones and other laws

10. 10. What is the first level in Rhode Island's graduated licensing system?

    1. Limited Provisional License
    2. Limited Instructional Permit
    3. Full Operator's License
    4. Commercial Driver's License
    Show answer

    Limited Instructional Permit. Rhode Island describes three graduated levels in sequence: limited instructional permit, limited provisional license, and full operator's li Full explanation in Test 10

    Study this in the handbook: The three levels of Rhode Island's graduated license

11. 11. While planning a turnabout, what limit applies to a double yellow line?

    1. You may cross it on quiet side streets
    2. You may cross it during daylight hours
    3. You cannot cross it at any time
    4. You may cross it near an intersection
    Show answer

    You cannot cross it at any time. A turnabout plan must respect double yellow markings completely, because crossing that line is barred at every time. Full explanation in Test 11

    Study this in the handbook: Stopping, turning and passing

12. 12. Which freeway lane serves slower traffic plus entering and exiting vehicles?

    1. Right lane handles slower and merging traffic
    2. Left lane handles slower and merging traffic
    3. Middle lanes handle only entering traffic daily
    4. Breakdown lane handles slower through traffic
    Show answer

    Right lane handles slower and merging traffic. Freeway lanes divide labor by speed and purpose, with the far left reserved for passing and closed to trucks and buses. Full explanation in Test 12

    Study this in the handbook: Licenses, insurance, phones and other laws

13. 13. What speed habit does Rhode Island advise against on long trips?

    1. Changing speed occasionally to stay alert
    2. Checking mirrors during long drives
    3. Resting when drowsy on long trips
    4. Driving at the same speed for a long time
    Show answer

    Driving at the same speed for a long time. Rhode Island advises drivers not to drive at the same speed for a long time, recommending occasional changes of speed on long trips to stay Full explanation in Test 13

    Study this in the handbook: Licenses, insurance, phones and other laws

14. 14. What lane behavior does Rhode Island direct inside a work zone?

    1. Stay in lane and avoid changing lanes inside the zone
    2. Change lanes often to spread out tire wear
    3. Use the shoulder to pass a line of traffic
    4. Merge at the last cone for fastest flow
    Show answer

    Stay in lane and avoid changing lanes inside the zone. Inside a work zone, Rhode Island tells drivers to watch merge signs and flaggers closely and to avoid changing lanes within the zone itself, Full explanation in Test 14

    Study this in the handbook: Speed limits and freeway driving

15. 15. On a long freeway trip you grow tired and need to rest. Where should you pull off for that rest?

    1. Onto the breakdown lane beside moving traffic
    2. Onto the nearest exit ramp shoulder area
    3. To a designated safe area off the road
    4. Into the median between opposing freeway lanes
    Show answer

    To a designated safe area off the road. Long freeway trips call for occasional rests in a designated safe area, never in the breakdown lane. Full explanation in Test 15

    Study this in the handbook: Speed limits and freeway driving

16. 16. On a wet or slippery Rhode Island highway, what following adjustment is required?

    1. Keep the usual gap since tires grip equally
    2. Add distance measured in extra seconds behind
    3. Follow closer so spray clears the windshield
    4. Match speed and ride beside the vehicle ahead
    Show answer

    Add distance measured in extra seconds behind. Wet or slippery pavement stretches stopping distance, so Rhode Island calls for additional following distance counted in seconds beyond the Full explanation in Test 16

    Study this in the handbook: Licenses, insurance, phones and other laws

17. 17. After an emergency vehicle passes, what should you do before rejoining traffic?

    1. Rejoin moving traffic first, then signal and look
    2. Signal, glance back for another emergency vehicle
    3. Wait a full five minutes before moving forward again
    4. Follow the emergency vehicle very closely behind it
    Show answer

    Signal, glance back for another emergency vehicle. Emergency vehicles claim the right of way at every moment, so pull right, stop, and wait until the flashing lights move beyond. Full explanation in Test 17

    Study this in the handbook: Licenses, insurance, phones and other laws

18. 18. Under what arrangement may a Limited Provisional License holder drive at any time?

    1. With a supervising driver seated beside them
    2. Alone between midnight and early morning hours
    3. Alone while carrying several young passengers
    4. With unlicensed passengers riding in front seats
    Show answer

    With a supervising driver seated beside them. Supervision removes the limited license's time restriction: the holder may drive at any time when a supervising driver sits beside them whil Full explanation in Test 18

    Study this in the handbook: The three levels of Rhode Island's graduated license

19. 19. What makes a distraction count as a physical distraction?

    1. Thinking about work while watching the road ahead
    2. Talking with a passenger during a short trip
    3. Taking hands off the wheel or eyes away
    4. Listening to directions with eyes on traffic
    Show answer

    Taking hands off the wheel or eyes away. A distraction becomes physical when hands leave the wheel or eyes leave the road, such as reaching toward the floor for a dropped phone. Full explanation in Test 19

    Study this in the handbook: Distractions, drowsy driving and road rage

20. 20. You realize too late that your freeway exit is passing on your right. What should you do?

    1. Continue ahead and leave at the next exit
    2. Stop on the shoulder and back to the ramp
    3. Cross the gore area quickly before it ends
    4. Slow in the travel lane and wait for a gap
    Show answer

    Continue ahead and leave at the next exit. Missing an exit feels urgent, yet Rhode Island guidance sends you onward to the next exit rather than allowing a recovery move. Full explanation in Test 20

    Study this in the handbook: Licenses, insurance, phones and other laws

21. 21. On a Rhode Island highway with more than one lane, which lane should you normally use?

    1. The left lane, to keep traffic moving
    2. Whichever lane is empty, switching often
    3. The right lane, unless passing or posted otherwise
    4. The center lane at all times
    Show answer

    The right lane, unless passing or posted otherwise. Rhode Island's manual says to drive in the right lane unless otherwise posted or if you are passing another vehicle. Full explanation in Test 21

    Study this in the handbook: Licenses, insurance, phones and other laws

22. 22. Which vehicles does Rhode Island bar from the far left freeway lane?

    1. Passenger cars traveling alone
    2. Vehicles exiting within one mile
    3. Motorcycles during daylight hours
    4. Trucks, busses, and other special vehicles
    Show answer

    Trucks, busses, and other special vehicles. The far left lane is reserved for passing, and trucks, busses, and other special vehicles are prohibited from traveling in that lane on Rhod Full explanation in Test 22

    Study this in the handbook: Licenses, insurance, phones and other laws

23. 23. A nineteen-year-old employee drives a delivery van carrying sealed cases of wine for work. Which statement applies?

    1. Workers aged sixteen through twenty may transport unopened drinks for employment
    2. Any driver under twenty-one may carry unopened drinks for personal travel
    3. Workers may transport opened bottles if an employer gives permission
    4. Drivers aged sixteen through twenty face no transport limits
    Show answer

    Workers aged sixteen through twenty may transport unopened drinks for employment. The manual creates a narrow employment exception for people from sixteen through twenty who transport unopened alcoholic beverages in the co Full explanation in Test 23

    Study this in the handbook: Refusal and DUI penalties

24. 24. An emergency vehicle approaches with lights and siren in Rhode Island. What must a driver do?

    1. Speed up to clear the intersection faster
    2. Move left toward the median and slow down
    3. Pull over to the right, stop, and wait for it to pass
    4. Follow closely behind it through traffic
    Show answer

    Pull over to the right, stop, and wait for it to pass. Emergency vehicles hold the right-of-way at all times, and an approaching one requires a driver to pull over to the right, stop, and wait un Full explanation in Test 24

    Study this in the handbook: Licenses, insurance, phones and other laws

25. 25. You plan to turn right at a driveway and a bicyclist is riding straight ahead on your right. What must you do before turning?

    1. Turn quickly before the bicyclist reaches the driveway entrance
    2. Check on your right and behind for bicyclists going straight
    3. Move right immediately without checking behind your vehicle
    4. Assume bicyclists will stop and let turning cars proceed
    Show answer

    Check on your right and behind for bicyclists going straight. A rider continuing ahead on your right can reach a driveway entrance just as you begin to swing across that path. Full explanation in Test 25

    Study this in the handbook: Pedestrians, school buses and bicyclists

26. 26. What does a red arrow displayed at a traffic light require?

    1. Stop and do not proceed in the direction of the arrow
    2. Turn in the arrow's direction after yielding to pedestrians
    3. Continue straight until the arrow becomes flashing yellow
    4. Treat the arrow as permission to pass the intersection
    Show answer

    Stop and do not proceed in the direction of the arrow. A red arrow controls movement in the direction it points. The driver must stop and may not proceed that way until the signal changes. Full explanation in Test 1

    Study this in the handbook: Traffic lights and roundabouts

27. 27. When does a Rhode Island Limited Provisional License expire?

    1. On the holder's 18th birthday
    2. On the holder's 21st birthday
    3. One year after it is issued
    4. Five years after it is issued
    Show answer

    On the holder's 18th birthday. A Limited Provisional License expires on the holder's eighteenth birthday. It is a stage for drivers under 18, so it cannot run to age 21. Full explanation in Test 2

    Study this in the handbook: The three levels of Rhode Island's graduated license

28. 28. A warning sign showing two opposing arrows indicates what roadway condition?

    
    1. Two-way traffic
    2. A one-way street ending at a freeway
    3. A divided highway with a center median
    4. A lane reserved for buses
    Show answer

    Two-way traffic. Two opposing arrows identify two-way traffic, meaning vehicles may travel toward you as well as in your direction. Full explanation in Test 3

29. 29. At a Rhode Island four-way stop, two vehicles arrive at the same time. Which driver yields?

    
    1. The driver on the left yields to the vehicle on the right
    2. The driver on the right yields to the vehicle on the left
    3. The vehicle with the larger engine has priority
    4. Both drivers proceed together
    Show answer

    The driver on the left yields to the vehicle on the right. At a four-way stop, arrival order normally settles priority, but equal arrival creates a special tie rule. Full explanation in Test 4

    Study this in the handbook: Right of way at intersections, rotaries and driveways

30. 30. Which gear should you select when the engine first sputters or stops while you are driving?

    1. Park
    2. Neutral
    3. Reverse
    4. The highest forward gear
    Show answer

    Neutral. The engine-failure procedure begins by shifting to neutral as soon as the engine sputters or stops. Full explanation in Test 5

    Study this in the handbook: Skids, brake failure, blowouts and other emergencies

31. 31. When stopping at a Rhode Island intersection, how long should you completely stop before proceeding with caution?

    1. At least one second
    2. Until the vehicle behind you honks
    3. A minimum of three seconds
    4. Exactly ten seconds
    Show answer

    A minimum of three seconds. Rhode Island guidance calls for a complete stop that lasts at least three seconds. Full explanation in Test 6

    Study this in the handbook: Stopping, turning and passing

32. 32. What does the RAILROAD CROSSING sign identify at the tracks?

    
    1. A pedestrian-only path that vehicles may not cross
    2. A hospital entrance where horns are prohibited
    3. A temporary construction detour around the tracks
    4. The crossing itself, where a driver must yield to trains
    Show answer

    The crossing itself, where a driver must yield to trains. The crossbuck marks the railroad crossing itself. Full explanation in Test 7

33. 33. What does a broken yellow line between opposing traffic generally permit?

    
    1. Traveling only in the direction of an arrow
    2. Parking in the center of the roadway
    3. Passing another vehicle with care
    4. Crossing without checking opposing traffic
    Show answer

    Passing another vehicle with care. Broken yellow lines separate traffic traveling in opposite directions, and the manual says passing another vehicle is permitted with care. Full explanation in Test 8

    Study this in the handbook: Turn signals and roadway markings

34. 34. At this STOP sign, where should the vehicle stop before yielding?

    
    1. After entering the intersection, if cross traffic is present
    2. Before the crosswalk or stop line, then yield before proceeding
    3. Only beside the signpost when another car approaches
    4. At the next driveway beyond the intersection
    Show answer

    Before the crosswalk or stop line, then yield before proceeding. Rhode Island law requires every driver approaching a STOP sign to stop before entering the crosswalk on the near side of the intersection, o Full explanation in Test 9

    Study this in the handbook: Stopping, turning and passing

35. 35. After holding a Rhode Island Limited Instructional Permit for the required period and passing the road test, what comes next?

    1. A second classroom permit
    2. A Full Operator's License immediately
    3. A motorcycle-only permit
    4. A Limited Provisional License
    Show answer

    A Limited Provisional License. The next graduated stage is the Limited Provisional License. Full explanation in Test 10

36. 36. What must you do about speed as you approach a freeway exit?

    1. Keep full freeway speed until the exit ramp ends
    2. Speed up briefly to escape much faster traffic
    3. Return to normal conditions without slowing down much
    4. Reduce speed and resume normal driving conditions
    Show answer

    Reduce speed and resume normal driving conditions. Freeway pace distorts judgment through velocitizing, a feeling of crawling while actually traveling fast after long high speed stretches. Full explanation in Test 11

    Study this in the handbook: Speed limits and freeway driving

37. 37. What does covering the brake mean when approaching a Rhode Island intersection?

    1. Hovering the foot over the brake without touching it
    2. Pressing the brake and accelerator together lightly
    3. Resting the foot on the brake for the whole block
    4. Tapping the brake twice to warn drivers behind
    Show answer

    Hovering the foot over the brake without touching it. Covering the brake means lifting the foot off the accelerator and hovering it above the brake pedal, ready to push if a hazard appears, with Full explanation in Test 12

    Study this in the handbook: Traffic lights and roundabouts

38. 38. What does blood alcohol concentration measure in a driver's body?

    1. The share of alcohol still sitting in the stomach
    2. The ratio of alcohol to blood present in the bloodstream
    3. The number of drinks consumed during the past hour
    4. The speed at which the liver removes alcohol from the body
    Show answer

    The ratio of alcohol to blood present in the bloodstream. Blood alcohol concentration expresses the ratio of alcohol to blood, accounting for body weight, present in the bloodstream at a given momen Full explanation in Test 13

    Study this in the handbook: Alcohol, BAC limits and implied consent

39. 39. Within a single travel lane, where should your vehicle sit in lane position 2?

    1. In the middle of the lane, centered evenly between both lines
    2. Three to six inches from the right line or curb
    3. Straddling the left line, halfway into the next lane
    4. Three to six inches from the left line of the lane
    Show answer

    Three to six inches from the left line of the lane. Three slots exist inside one lane, and each slot buys space on a different side. Full explanation in Test 14

    Study this in the handbook: Following distance, trucks and motorcycles

40. 40. What does a Limited Instructional Permit represent for a person learning to drive?

    1. A final license for learners who passed the road test
    2. A preliminary license for learners who passed the computerized test
    3. A license for learners who finished fifty practice hours
    4. A restricted license for learners awaiting a test result
    Show answer

    A preliminary license for learners who passed the computerized test. This first-level credential is preliminary, and it belongs to learners who have already passed the computerized test. Full explanation in Test 15

    Study this in the handbook: The three levels of Rhode Island's graduated license