WI Permit Practice Test 10

All 20 questions in test 10

Every question below comes from the Wisconsin 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. How often must a Wisconsin driver license be renewed?

   1. Every eight years
   2. Every four years
   3. Every two years
   4. Every twelve years
   Show answer

   Every eight years. Wisconsin sets the renewal cycle at eight years. The handbook adds that you can renew up to a year before the expiration date, and a reminder notice arrives 45 to 60 days before your birthday in the year the license expires. For a probationary license, renewal time starts 90 days before it expires. Two, four and twelve years are not the stated cycle. Renewal can be done online or at a DMV service center.

   Study this in the handbook: The probationary license and GDL restrictions

2. 2. How long are Wisconsin GDL restrictions extended if the teen breaks one of them?

   1. Thirty days
   2. Six months
   3. One year
   4. Until age 21
   Show answer

   Six months. The graduated driver license restrictions are extended six months if the driver is convicted of a moving traffic violation, violates any of the restrictions, or has the license suspended or revoked for any reason. Thirty days and one year are not the handbook's figure. Age 21 is not involved, because the hour and passenger restrictions end once the driver turns 18. Points on second and later convictions also double, so each later conviction weighs more heavily on a new driver's record.

   Study this in the handbook: The probationary license and GDL restrictions

3. 3. In which situation does the Wisconsin handbook recommend using low beam headlights?

   1. Only when parked and idling
   2. When using windshield wipers
   3. Only when driving on a divided highway
   4. When no vehicle has a license plate
   Show answer

   When using windshield wipers. The handbook recommends using low beam headlights when you are using your windshield wipers, as well as when it is rainy, snowy, or foggy. Wipers signal reduced visibility, so headlights help you see and help others notice your vehicle. Parking lights are reserved for a parked, idling vehicle and are not a substitute while moving. Divided highways do not define the condition. A practical cue is to pair wet weather or active wipers with low beams.

   Study this in the handbook: The horn, headlights and turn signals

4. 4. When making a left turn, what must you leave room for?

   1. No traffic once your signal is on
   2. Only vehicles parked behind you
   3. A vehicle to pass on the shoulder
   4. Oncoming traffic to turn in front of you
   Show answer

   Oncoming traffic to turn in front of you. A left-turning driver must leave room for oncoming traffic to turn in front of the waiting vehicle. The turn signal communicates intent but does not remove the conflict or give the turning driver priority. Parked vehicles and traffic behind the vehicle are not the key path described here, and the shoulder is not a substitute for checking the intersection. Approach slowly, keep the wheels straight while waiting, and turn only after the path is clear.

   Study this in the handbook: Turns, passing, backing and parking

5. 5. If a Wisconsin crash has no injuries and the vehicle can move, what should the driver do when safe?

   1. Leave it blocking traffic until a tow truck arrives
   2. Move the vehicle off the road
   3. Drive away without exchanging information
   4. Stop in the middle of the road to take photos first
   Show answer

   Move the vehicle off the road. When there are no injuries and the vehicle can be moved, Wisconsin tells the driver to move it off the road when safe. Leaving it in traffic creates another hazard, and driving away without exchanging information skips duties after the crash. Stopping in the middle of the road for photos also conflicts with the instruction not to block traffic. The cue is a movable vehicle after a minor crash: clear the lane first, then exchange information and document what happened.

   Study this in the handbook: Avoiding crashes, crash duties and roadside emergencies

6. 6. What does a steady yellow arrow mean at a Wisconsin traffic signal?

   1. You have a protected turn, so hurry through
   2. Yield first, then turn with caution
   3. The light is about to change to red, so stop if it is safe
   4. The signal is broken, so treat it as a stop sign
   Show answer

   The light is about to change to red, so stop if it is safe. A steady yellow arrow tells you the light is about to change to red. Wisconsin says you should stop if it is safe to do so. It does not give extra time to hurry through a turn. Do not confuse it with a flashing yellow arrow, which means yield first before turning and proceed with caution. A signal that loses power or is not working right is the case where you proceed as if the signal were a stop sign. Watch the arrow as you approach so you can stop smoothly.

   Study this in the handbook: Traffic lights and arrows

7. 7. What is the purpose of an acceleration lane on a high speed roadway?

   1. To reverse direction before the exit
   2. To stop before entering the highway
   3. To pass every vehicle in the right lane
   4. To speed up as you merge with traffic flow
   Show answer

   To speed up as you merge with traffic flow. An acceleration lane gives an entering driver room to build speed and merge with the traffic already moving on the highway. You still must find a safe gap and avoid forcing another driver to change speed or direction. It is not a stopping lane, a guaranteed passing lane, or a place to reverse. Match the flow as closely as conditions allow, check surrounding traffic, signal, and merge only when the gap is safe.

   Study this in the handbook: Speed limits and the sight distance rule

8. 8. Where can Wisconsin crosswalks sometimes be located besides intersections?

   1. On bridges over rivers or railroads
   2. Along private farm roads and trails
   3. In the middle of a street or block
   4. In lanes reserved for buses only
   Show answer

   In the middle of a street or block. Wisconsin explains that crosswalks are normally at intersections, but they can also appear in the middle of a street or block. Bridges, farm roads, and bus-only lanes are not the handbook's listed alternate location. The point is that a driver should watch for marked pedestrian crossings away from standard intersections. The cue is pavement markings or crossing signs midblock: slow, scan both sides, and be ready for a pedestrian who may not be at a corner.

   Study this in the handbook: Lane lines, crosswalks and special lanes

9. 9. What is a crosswalk for?

   1. Emergency vehicles only
   2. Vehicles to stop and park
   3. Passing slower vehicles
   4. Pedestrians to walk safely across the intersection
   Show answer

   Pedestrians to walk safely across the intersection. A crosswalk marks a place intended for pedestrians to walk safely across an intersection. It does not create a parking area, a passing lane, or an emergency vehicle only zone. Drivers should watch for people using it and stop with the front wheels just before the solid white line rather than stopping on the crosswalk itself. Crosswalks are common at intersections, though the handbook notes that they can also appear in the middle of a street or block. When approaching one, scan for pedestrians and be prepared to yield so the marked crossing remains usable.

   Study this in the handbook: Lane lines, crosswalks and special lanes

10. 10. What does the pictured regulatory sign tell you to do?

    
    1. Do not enter the roadway
    2. Enter only after sounding the horn
    3. Park outside the marked lane
    4. Use the roadway only for a U-turn
    Show answer

    Do not enter the roadway. The red and white message prohibits entering the roadway. Wisconsin identifies this sign at exit ramps where a driver could travel the wrong direction and on one-way streets. The choice “Enter only after sounding the horn” invents a horn condition, and the parking choice concerns vehicle placement rather than entry. The U-turn option also misreads a prohibition as a permitted maneuver. Look for this sign before crossing into a ramp or street, especially where the road layout could make the intended direction unclear.

    Study this in the handbook: Regulatory, destination and service signs

11. 11. On a Wisconsin No Turn sign, if the arrow points right, what action is barred?

    
    1. Stopping before the crosswalk
    2. Going straight through the intersection
    3. Turning right
    4. Entering a one-way roadway
    Show answer

    Turning right. The sign identifies the forbidden movement by pointing in its direction. A right-pointing prohibition therefore bars a right turn, while it does not automatically ban going straight or stopping at the crosswalk. Entering a one-way roadway is controlled by roadway signs and direction, not by every turn prohibition. The tempting straight-ahead choice changes the arrow's meaning. Read the arrow as an instruction about the turn itself, then follow any other signal or lane marking that governs the remaining movements.

    Study this in the handbook: Regulatory, destination and service signs

12. 12. What should a driver do before using a prescription or non-prescription drug and then driving?

    1. Drive first to see whether it affects concentration
    2. Check the warning label for side effects
    3. Ignore the label if the medicine is familiar
    4. Use extra caffeine to cancel any warning
    Show answer

    Check the warning label for side effects. The handbook directs drivers to check a prescription or non-prescription drug's warning label for side effects before driving. If the label says not to operate heavy machinery, that warning includes motor vehicles. Driving first to test the effect creates the very risk the precaution is meant to prevent. Familiarity with a medicine and added caffeine do not override its instructions. Treat the label as a decision point, and arrange another ride when the warning makes driving unsafe.

    Study this in the handbook: Alcohol, drugs and implied consent

13. 13. How long does a Wisconsin driver under 18 still need a sponsor during the licensing process?

    1. Until turning 18, including the probationary phase
    2. Only until the instruction permit is issued
    3. Only for the first 30 days after the road test
    4. Until completing 10 hours of night driving
    Show answer

    Until turning 18, including the probationary phase. Wisconsin requires an adult sponsor for a driver under 18, and the need continues during the probationary phase until the driver turns 18. Getting the permit does not end sponsorship, and neither a 30 day period nor night practice hours replace the age requirement. The sponsor also accepts legal and financial responsibility tied to the minor driving. For a teen applicant, treat the sponsor signature as a continuing obligation, not a one-time formality at the first DMV visit.

    Study this in the handbook: Sponsors and the instruction permit

14. 14. As you reach a Wisconsin roundabout, which large vehicles does the handbook tell you to yield to?

    1. Only school buses
    2. Only vehicles towing trailers
    3. None, because large vehicles must wait for cars
    4. Semitrucks
    Show answer

    Semitrucks. Wisconsin's roundabout steps tell you to slow down, yield to pedestrians and bicycles, yield to traffic on your left that is already in the roundabout, and yield to semitrucks. The rule is not limited to school buses or vehicles towing trailers, and cars do not get priority over trucks. The handbook's turning section also says to leave extra space for large vehicles such as trucks and buses, because they may cross the center line during a turn. Enter only when there is a safe gap, keep your speed low and stay in your lane.

    Study this in the handbook: Roundabouts, metered ramps and funeral processions

15. 15. While you are driving through a Wisconsin roundabout, may you switch lanes?

    1. Yes, whenever there is a gap
    2. Yes, but only to reach your exit
    3. No, do not switch lanes while in the roundabout
    4. Yes, if you signal first
    Show answer

    No, do not switch lanes while in the roundabout. Wisconsin tells drivers not to switch lanes while they are in a roundabout. Lane choice happens before you enter: the signs above you show which lane you need. Generally, the left lane is marked for turning left, the right lane is for taking the next right turn, and the middle lane is for going straight. Once inside, keep your speed low and stay in your lane. A turn signal does not make a lane change allowed, and a gap in traffic is not an exception. As you reach your exit, turn on your right turn signal and exit.

    Study this in the handbook: Roundabouts, metered ramps and funeral processions

16. 16. When may Wisconsin driving privileges be suspended or revoked for demerit points?

    1. After 20 points within a single week
    2. After 4 points in any five-year period
    3. Only after points are earned on two licenses
    4. After 12 or more points within any 12-month period
    Show answer

    After 12 or more points within any 12-month period. The point-system threshold is 12 or more demerit points within any 12-month period. Reaching that number can suspend or revoke the driving privilege. Four points over five years is not the threshold described here, and the rule does not require points on two separate licenses. A one-week, 20-point condition changes the handbook's time window. Keep track of convictions and points promptly, because the rolling 12-month period matters when evaluating the record.

    Study this in the handbook: Points, seat belts, child seats and insurance

17. 17. The driver behind you wants to pass. According to Wisconsin, how might you need to change the space in front of you?

    1. Close the gap so the driver cannot cut in
    2. Give additional seconds of space in front of you
    3. Keep exactly the same four-second gap
    4. Speed up so the driver no longer needs to pass
    Show answer

    Give additional seconds of space in front of you. Wisconsin's four second rule is a starting point, and the handbook lists times when you might need additional seconds of space in front of you. One of them is when the driver behind wants to pass you. Closing the gap or speeding up does not give the extra space the handbook describes, and keeping exactly the same gap ignores the list. Other listed situations include slippery, icy or snowy roads, following trucks, buses, motorcycles or bicycles, and carrying a heavy load or trailer.

    Study this in the handbook: The four second rule and space around you

18. 18. What must you do before crossing railroad tracks when warning lights are active?

    1. Wait until the lights stop flashing and the track is clear
    2. Drive around the gate if no train is visible
    3. Stop on the tracks to check the second rail
    4. Shift gears while crossing to gain speed
    Show answer

    Wait until the lights stop flashing and the track is clear. Active railroad warning lights mean you must wait until the lights stop flashing and the track is clear. Never drive around a gate, stop on the tracks, or shift gears while crossing. The handbook reminds drivers that trains move faster than they seem and that some crossings have more than one track. Before moving, look both ways and make sure there is enough room beyond the crossing for your entire vehicle.

    Study this in the handbook: Railroad crossing signs and rules

19. 19. How often are Wisconsin mile markers placed according to the handbook?

    1. Every one to two-tenths of a mile
    2. Only every ten miles
    3. Only at county borders
    4. Every five feet near intersections
    Show answer

    Every one to two-tenths of a mile. Wisconsin mile markers, also called reference markers, are placed every one to two-tenths of a mile. That frequent spacing helps identify a location during highway incidents and can improve emergency response. Ten miles and county borders are far too sparse for the locating purpose described. Five feet near intersections is not how highway reference markers work. The cue is a tall, thin blue or green marker with route, direction, and mile information: use it to report where you are.

    Study this in the handbook: Regulatory, destination and service signs

20. 20. You reach an intersection while another driver is still in it, finishing a turn. Who should yield the right-of-way?

    1. The other driver, because you are going straight
    2. Whoever is on the right
    3. You, to the driver still in the intersection
    4. The other driver, if your light is green
    Show answer

    You, to the driver still in the intersection. Wisconsin's right-of-way list says you should yield to pedestrians, bicyclists and other drivers who are still in the intersection. A driver who is already in the intersection must be allowed to finish and clear it before you go. Going straight does not give you priority over that driver. Being on the right does not settle it either, because the handbook says not to assume the vehicle on the right goes first. The handbook also reminds you that you must always yield to avoid hitting pedestrians, bicyclists and other vehicles.

    Study this in the handbook: Right of way