WI Permit Practice Test 9

All 20 questions in test 9

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. What does a dashed yellow center line allow when it is safe?

   1. Parking in the center of the roadway
   2. Passing other vehicles
   3. Turning only at a traffic signal
   4. Driving against traffic without checking
   Show answer

   Passing other vehicles. A dashed yellow line separates opposing traffic but indicates that passing may be allowed when it is safe to do so. Before passing, check for approaching vehicles, adequate sight distance, and a clear return path. The marking does not create a parking area or limit turns to signalized intersections. It also never excuses driving against traffic without checking. The word dashed is the cue: unlike two solid yellow lines, it can identify a passing opportunity when conditions support it.

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

2. 2. A yellow diamond sign shows a counterclockwise circle symbol with a plaque below it. What does the sign warn you about?

   
   1. A U-turn lane is ahead
   2. A detour is ahead
   3. A roundabout is ahead
   4. The road ahead is closed and traffic must turn back
   Show answer

   A roundabout is ahead. This is the Roundabout Ahead warning sign. Wisconsin describes it as a yellow diamond containing a counterclockwise symbol, with a rectangle below that says Roundabout Ahead. Like other warning signs, it warns you about a special situation ahead, in this case a roundabout. The sign does not mark a U-turn lane, a detour, or a closed road. Seeing it early gives you time to get ready for the roundabout before you reach it.

   Study this in the handbook: Warning and construction signs

3. 3. In severe weather, which parts of the road freeze before the rest of the roadway?

   1. Bridges and overpasses
   2. Intersections with traffic lights
   3. Streets in the middle of town
   4. Lanes next to parked cars
   Show answer

   Bridges and overpasses. Wisconsin reminds drivers that in severe weather, bridges and overpasses freeze before the rest of the roadway. A bridge can be icy even when the road leading to it is not. The handbook also lists shady spots, overpasses and bridges on cold wet days, temperatures around the freezing point, pavement when it starts to rain, and standing water close to the shoulder as places to watch for slippery or icy roads. The best option is to slow down and stay alert, and to avoid rapid braking or sudden sharp turns.

   Study this in the handbook: Bad weather, skids, winter and rural roads

4. 4. What do two solid yellow lines mean for passing?

   1. Passing is allowed for both directions
   2. No lane of travel can pass
   3. Only trucks may cross to pass
   4. Passing is required before the next curve
   Show answer

   No lane of travel can pass. Two solid yellow lines mean that no lane of travel can pass. They separate traffic moving in opposite directions and signal that the center line is not a normal passing route. The handbook lists limited exceptions, including crossing to turn into a driveway when safe, and passing a vehicle traveling below half the speed limit when safe, except farm equipment. Those exceptions do not turn the marking into a general passing zone. See two solid lines and plan to remain behind the vehicle ahead.

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

5. 5. A Wisconsin driver is asked to take a prohibited alcohol concentration test and refuses. What consequence does the handbook describe?

   1. The driver may refuse if no crash occurred
   2. The driver receives only a written warning for a first refusal
   3. The refusal changes the charge to a parking violation
   4. The officer must arrest the driver, and driving privileges are lost for at least one year
   Show answer

   The officer must arrest the driver, and driving privileges are lost for at least one year. Wisconsin treats refusal of a requested prohibited alcohol concentration test as a violation of the Implied Consent Law. The officer must arrest the person, and the handbook says driving privileges will be lost for at least one year, with additional consequences possible. A warning is not the described outcome, and neither the absence of a crash nor a different traffic charge creates an exception. When an officer lawfully requests the test, remember that refusal itself triggers the arrest and revocation consequences. The key cue is the phrase prohibited alcohol concentration test, not a voluntary roadside conversation.

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

6. 6. What does a Wisconsin Signal Ahead sign warn a driver about?

   1. A railroad crossing is immediately behind the sign
   2. Stop lights are ahead, so be ready to slow and stop
   3. The road becomes one-way with no signal
   4. A lane ends and must be changed immediately
   Show answer

   Stop lights are ahead, so be ready to slow and stop. A Signal Ahead sign warns that stop lights are coming and tells the driver to prepare for slowing or stopping. It does not identify a railroad crossing, declare that the road becomes one-way, or force an immediate lane change. The warning is advance information, so scan for the signal, manage speed early, and be prepared to stop at the intersection. Treat the sign as a prompt to look farther ahead, not as permission to accelerate before the light appears.

   Study this in the handbook: Warning and construction signs

7. 7. If another driver is following too closely, what adjustment can create more safety?

   1. Move onto the sidewalk
   2. Brake sharply to punish the driver
   3. Accelerate until you lose sight of the vehicle
   4. Slowly reduce your speed to encourage the driver to pass
   Show answer

   Slowly reduce your speed to encourage the driver to pass. When someone is tailgating, slowly reduce speed so the following driver has an opportunity to drive around you. This is a gradual adjustment, not a brake check. Sharp braking could cause a rear-end crash, while accelerating can increase the consequences if traffic ahead changes. A sidewalk is not a lawful escape route and can endanger pedestrians. Keep your steering steady, watch the space ahead, and use the extra time created by a calmer pace to respond to traffic conditions.

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

8. 8. What movement is prohibited by this regulatory sign?

   
   1. Changing speed before a curve
   2. Turning into a driveway
   3. Moving from a one-way road to a two-way road
   4. Making a U-turn
   Show answer

   Making a U-turn. The pictured regulatory sign is the Wisconsin No U-turn sign, so it prohibits making a U-turn at that location. A driveway turn is a separate movement and is not what this symbol names. Moving between one way and two way roads describes a roadway arrangement rather than the banned maneuver. Changing speed before a curve concerns vehicle control, not this sign. When the sign appears, continue in an allowed direction and look for a later location where turning around is permitted. The most reliable clue is the curved U shaped arrow crossed by the red slash.

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

9. 9. What does this Divided Highway warning tell you about traffic ahead?

   
   1. Opposing traffic will be separated by a physical barrier
   2. The roadway will become a single lane in each direction without separation
   3. All vehicles must make a U-turn at the next opening
   4. A railroad crossing has more than one track
   Show answer

   Opposing traffic will be separated by a physical barrier. A divided highway has two lanes carrying traffic in opposite directions, with a physical barrier such as a guardrail ahead. The choice “Opposing traffic will be separated by a physical barrier” includes both the separation and the barrier described by Wisconsin. The choice “The roadway will become a single lane in each direction without separation” removes the defining feature, while the U-turn and railroad choices concern different roadway conditions. Watch for the barrier as you approach and remain on the proper side of it. Do not cross through the divided area simply to reach a turn or respond to congestion.

   Study this in the handbook: Warning and construction signs

10. 10. During the first nine months of Wisconsin GDL restrictions, when may a teen drive alone?

    1. From 10 p.m. to 6 a.m., anywhere
    2. From midnight to 5 a.m., anywhere
    3. From 5 a.m. to midnight, anywhere
    4. Only during daylight hours
    Show answer

    From 5 a.m. to midnight, anywhere. The handbook allows a teen to drive alone and go anywhere between 5 a.m. and 12 a.m. During the midnight to 5 a.m. period, driving alone is limited to travel between home, school, and work. The overnight unrestricted choice therefore reverses the rule, and the 10 p.m. to 6 a.m. window is not Wisconsin's stated schedule. A daylight-only answer is too narrow because the allowed period extends through late evening. Use the clock boundary of midnight, not sunset, as the cue.

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

11. 11. You are driving slower than most traffic on a multi-lane road in Wisconsin. Which lane should you use?

    1. The far-left lane
    2. Any lane, as long as you stay under the limit
    3. The far-right lane
    4. The middle lane
    Show answer

    The far-right lane. Wisconsin tells drivers who are going slower than most traffic to drive in the far-right lane of a multi-lane road. The handbook says the lane farthest on the left is used for vehicles to go around slower ones. It also warns that passing someone on the right can cause a crash because that driver might not be able to see you. Going too slow in the wrong place can cause vehicles to back up behind you. Keep right and pull over when needed so that others can pass on the left.

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

12. 12. What should a Wisconsin driver remember when turning on a steady green arrow?

    1. Oncoming traffic always has a green light too
    2. Watch for pedestrians
    3. Stop until the arrow changes to yellow
    4. Cross traffic may ignore the signal
    Show answer

    Watch for pedestrians. A steady green arrow lets a Wisconsin driver turn in the arrow's direction, but the handbook adds a pedestrian warning. Oncoming or crossing traffic should not be moving while the arrow is green, so saying oncoming traffic always has green reverses the signal design. Waiting for yellow is unnecessary when the path is clear, and assuming cross traffic may ignore signals is not the instruction. The cue is a protected arrow with a crosswalk nearby: turn, but keep scanning for people walking.

    Study this in the handbook: Traffic lights and arrows

13. 13. Where should you not stop when yielding to an approaching emergency vehicle?

    1. In a legal parking area
    2. On the side of the road
    3. In the middle of an intersection
    4. Behind the stop line
    Show answer

    In the middle of an intersection. A driver yielding to an approaching emergency vehicle must not stop in the middle of an intersection. That position can block the responder’s route and create a conflict with cross traffic. Pull toward the side of the road and stop until the emergency vehicle has passed, while avoiding sudden movements. The side of the road, a legal parking area, or a position behind the stop line can be appropriate depending on the roadway. The key cue is to clear the intersection before stopping.

    Study this in the handbook: Pedestrians, emergency vehicles and school buses

14. 14. At a four-way stop, two drivers arrive simultaneously. Which driver proceeds first?

    
    1. The driver with the larger vehicle
    2. The driver on the left
    3. The driver going straight
    4. The driver on the right
    Show answer

    The driver on the right. When drivers reach a four-way stop at the same time, Wisconsin gives priority to the driver on the right. This resolves the tie without relying on vehicle size, intended direction, or a gesture from another motorist. If one driver arrived earlier, that arrival order controls instead. The left-side option reverses the handbook's tie rule, and a straight-moving vehicle does not automatically outrank a turning vehicle at this specific stop. Slow down, confirm who arrived first, then apply the right-side rule only when arrival is simultaneous.

    Study this in the handbook: Right of way

15. 15. Who may operate a farm tractor or self-propelled farm machinery on Wisconsin highways?

    1. A person who is at least 16 years old
    2. Anyone at least 14 years old
    3. Only a person at least 18 years old
    4. Any child if accompanied by an adult
    Show answer

    A person who is at least 16 years old. Wisconsin prohibits anyone under 16 from operating a farm tractor or self-propelled farm machinery on highways. Therefore, the handbook's age cutoff is at least 16, not 14 or 18. Adult accompaniment does not create an exception to the stated prohibition. This rule belongs to rural driving safety, where large equipment may move slowly and have limited visibility or signaling. When sharing the road, expect farm machinery and give it patience, space, and the right-of-way when required.

    Study this in the handbook: Bad weather, skids, winter and rural roads

16. 16. How many questions does the Wisconsin knowledge test include, and how many must an applicant answer correctly to pass?

    1. 60 questions, with 48 correct required
    2. 40 questions, with 32 correct required
    3. 50 questions, with 40 correct required
    4. 30 questions, with 24 correct required
    Show answer

    50 questions, with 40 correct required. The Wisconsin knowledge test includes 50 questions, and an applicant must answer 40 correctly to pass. The handbook identifies that threshold as 80 percent. The other pairs preserve an 80 percent pattern but use the wrong test size, so calculating a percentage alone is not enough. Memorize both figures together: 50 total and 40 correct. The test takes about 45 minutes, but that timing detail does not change the number of questions or the passing requirement.

    Study this in the handbook: The vision, signs, knowledge and skills tests

17. 17. A Wisconsin applicant under 18 has no living parent. What may the applicant file instead of having a sponsor?

    1. A school report card
    2. A signed statement from a teacher
    3. A second vision test
    4. Proof of insurance
    Show answer

    Proof of insurance. Wisconsin lets certain minors file proof of insurance instead of having a sponsor. The list includes applicants under 18 who do not have a living parent, who do not live with their parents and are full-time students or earning a living, who are wards placed in foster care, or who are married to a spouse under 18. A report card, a teacher's statement or an extra vision test is not a filing the handbook names; for these applicants it lists proof of insurance in place of a sponsor.

18. 18. How much driving does a Wisconsin occupational license allow?

    1. Up to 12 hours a day and up to 60 hours a week, for listed purposes
    2. Unlimited driving during daylight
    3. Up to 8 hours a day and 40 hours a week, anywhere
    4. Only one round trip to work per day
    Show answer

    Up to 12 hours a day and up to 60 hours a week, for listed purposes. An occupational license lets a driver who lost the privilege drive up to 12 hours a day and up to 60 hours a week to and from work, school, and places needed to maintain the household, such as a grocery store, medical appointments, and the agency handling the Intoxicated Driver Program assessment and Driver Safety Plan. Unlimited daylight driving and driving anywhere are too broad. One trip to work per day is narrower than the stated purposes. The applicant also needs proof of financial responsibility.

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

19. 19. You are already driving in a roundabout when an emergency vehicle with its siren on enters. What should you do?

    1. Safely exit at the next right, then pull over
    2. Stop right where you are inside the roundabout
    3. Speed up and keep circling until it passes
    4. Pull over next to the center island and wait
    Show answer

    Safely exit at the next right, then pull over. When an emergency vehicle with its siren on enters a roundabout, Wisconsin says you need to yield to it. What you do depends on where you are. If you have not entered yet, pull over and let it pass. If you are already in the roundabout, safely exit at the next right, then pull over. The handbook tells drivers to avoid stopping in the roundabout, so stopping in the circle or beside the center island is not the answer. Circling until it passes does not yield either.

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

20. 20. What is the normal speed limit in a Wisconsin school zone when children are present?

    1. 10 mph
    2. 15 mph
    3. 20 mph
    4. 25 mph
    Show answer

    15 mph. Wisconsin's normal speed limit in a school zone when children are present is 15 miles per hour. The school zone speed limit sign tells you that when children are visible, you cannot go over the speed listed. Do not confuse this with the 25 mph default for residential areas or the 35 mph limit in outlying parts of cities and villages with no posted limit. Even at 15 mph, stay alert, because the handbook warns that children may run out into the road without looking.

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