Virginia driver test: 30 practice questions with answers

Every question on one page, each with four options, the answer and what the Virginia Driver's Manual says. Try to answer before you open the answer.

These questions are our own. Each is built on a rule stated in the Virginia Driver's Manual, which we read on 12 November 2026 on the official website of the Virginia Department of Motor Vehicles (DMV). They cover speed limits, following distance, signalling, parking, headlights, alcohol, signals and right-of-way. They do not cover every topic of the real test. In particular, road signs are tested in every state and must be learned from the pictures in the handbook.

Take these as a scored test Official handbook

In part one of the Virginia knowledge exam, how many of the ten traffic sign questions must you answer correctly?
- Seven
- Eight
- Nine
- All ten
Show the answer
All ten. The manual: you must correctly answer all ten traffic sign questions in part one before you can take part two.
What score is needed to pass part two of the Virginia knowledge exam?
- At least 70 percent
- At least 75 percent
- At least 80 percent
- At least 90 percent
Show the answer
At least 80 percent. The manual: you must answer at least 80 percent of the part two questions correctly.
If you are under 18 and fail the knowledge exam, how long must you wait before retaking it?
- The next day
- 7 days
- A full 15 days
- 30 days
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A full 15 days. The manual says that by law a person under 18 must wait a full 15 days.
Unless a sign says otherwise, what is the maximum speed limit in school, business and residential areas?
- 15 MPH
- 25 MPH
- 30 MPH
- 35 MPH
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25 MPH. The manual gives 25 MPH for school, business and residential areas, 35 MPH for unpaved roads and 55 MPH for all other roads, unless posted otherwise.
Unless a sign says otherwise, what is the maximum speed limit on unpaved roads?
- 25 MPH
- 35 MPH
- 45 MPH
- 55 MPH
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35 MPH. The manual gives 35 MPH for unpaved roads.
At speeds under 35 MPH on a dry road, what following distance does the manual give?
- One second
- Two seconds
- Three seconds
- Four seconds
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Two seconds. The manual's table: 2 seconds under 35 MPH, 3 seconds at 35 to 45 MPH, and 4 seconds at 46 to 70 MPH.
At 46 to 70 MPH on a dry road, what following distance does the manual give?
- Two seconds
- Three seconds
- Four seconds
- Six seconds
Show the answer
Four seconds. The manual gives 4 seconds for 46 to 70 MPH, and notes that these cushions do not work above 70.
How far ahead of a turn should you signal?
- At least 3 to 4 seconds, 100 feet
- At least 1 second, 25 feet
- Only as you begin to turn
- At least 10 seconds, 500 feet
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At least 3 to 4 seconds, 100 feet. The manual: signal at least three or four seconds, 100 feet, ahead of the turn.
A school bus is stopped with flashing red lights and its stop sign extended. You are approaching from the opposite direction on an undivided road. What must you do?
- Slow to 10 MPH and pass
- Stop and remain stopped until all persons are clear and the bus moves again
- Stop, then proceed when no child is in your lane
- Sound your horn and continue
Show the answer
Stop and remain stopped until all persons are clear and the bus moves again. The manual: you must stop when approaching from any direction and remain stopped until all persons are clear and the bus moves again.
When do you not have to stop for a stopped school bus with flashing red lights?
- When you are in a hurry
- When the bus is on the opposite side of a median or barrier
- When no children are visible
- When you are driving below 15 MPH
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When the bus is on the opposite side of a median or barrier. The manual: you do not have to stop if you are travelling in the opposite direction on a roadway with a median or barrier between you and the bus. Still be ready for unexpected actions.
You may not park within how many feet of a fire hydrant?
- 10 feet
- 15 feet
- 20 feet
- 30 feet
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15 feet. The manual lists within 15 feet of a fire hydrant.
You may not park within how many feet of an intersection?
- 10 feet
- 15 feet
- 20 feet
- 50 feet
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20 feet. The manual lists within 20 feet of an intersection.
You may not park within how many feet of a railroad crossing?
- 15 feet
- 20 feet
- 50 feet
- 100 feet
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50 feet. The manual lists within 50 feet of a railroad crossing.
Virginia law requires headlights in bad weather when visibility is reduced to:
- 100 feet
- 250 feet
- 500 feet
- 1,000 feet
Show the answer
500 feet. The manual: use headlights during inclement weather such as rain, fog, snow or sleet when visibility is reduced to 500 feet.
When must you use your headlights along with your windshield wipers?
- Never; they are unrelated
- Whenever you use the wipers because of bad weather
- Only at night
- Only on interstate highways
Show the answer
Whenever you use the wipers because of bad weather. The manual: you must use your headlights whenever you use your windshield wipers as a result of bad weather.
When following another vehicle at night, within what distance should you use low beams?
- 50 feet
- 100 feet
- 200 feet
- 500 feet
Show the answer
200 feet. The manual: when following, use low-beams whenever you are within 200 feet of the vehicle ahead.
For a driver aged 21 or older, the manual says you are considered to be driving under the influence if your BAC is:
- .02 percent or higher
- .05 percent or higher
- .08 percent or higher
- .10 percent or higher
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.08 percent or higher. The manual: .08 percent or higher. It adds that if your driving is impaired you can be convicted with a lower BAC.
A driver under 21 can be convicted of illegal consumption of alcohol with a BAC of at least:
- .01
- .02
- .04
- .08
Show the answer
.02. The manual: at least .02 but less than .08. At .08 or higher the driver could be convicted of DUI.
When passing a person riding a bicycle, what does the manual tell you to do?
- Sound the horn and pass closely
- Reduce speed and pass at least three feet to the left
- Pass on the right if there is room
- Speed up to pass quickly
Show the answer
Reduce speed and pass at least three feet to the left. The manual: reduce speed and pass at least three feet to the left.
In which direction does traffic move in a roundabout?
- Clockwise
- Counter-clockwise
- Either direction
- It depends on the signs
Show the answer
Counter-clockwise. The manual: after entering the roundabout, drivers must travel in a counter-clockwise direction, and entering traffic must yield to pedestrians and to traffic already in the circle.
When may you turn left at a red light?
- Never
- From a one-way street onto another one-way street, after stopping
- From any street if no traffic is coming
- Only at night
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From a one-way street onto another one-way street, after stopping. The manual: you may turn left at a red light if you are on a one-way street and turning left onto another one-way street, after a complete stop.
When may you not turn right on red?
- When a "No Turn on Red" sign is posted or a red arrow pointing right is displayed
- When it is raining
- On any road with two lanes
- Whenever a pedestrian signal is present
Show the answer
When a "No Turn on Red" sign is posted or a red arrow pointing right is displayed. The manual: you may not turn right on red if signs read "No Turn on Red" or if a red arrow pointing to the right is displayed.
What must you do at a flashing red light?
- Slow down and continue
- Come to a complete stop, yield, and go when the way is clear
- Wait until it turns green
- Treat it as a yield sign
Show the answer
Come to a complete stop, yield, and go when the way is clear. The manual: come to a complete stop and yield to oncoming vehicles and pedestrians; you may go when the way is clear.
Who must wear safety belts under Virginia law, according to the manual?
- Only the driver
- Only front-seat occupants
- The driver and all passengers, front and rear
- Only passengers under 18
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The driver and all passengers, front and rear. The manual: the driver and all passengers, both front and rear, must wear safety belts.
Someone is tailgating you. What does the manual advise?
- Brake suddenly to warn them
- Speed up well above the limit
- Do not brake suddenly; move to another lane if possible, or gently tap your brakes
- Stop on the road and wave them past
Show the answer
Do not brake suddenly; move to another lane if possible, or gently tap your brakes. The manual: do not brake suddenly; if possible move over to another lane, or gently tap your brakes to flash your brake lights and slow down.
Which three things determine the distance it takes to stop your vehicle?
- Speed, colour and weight
- Perception time, reaction distance and braking distance
- Tyre size, fuel level and gear
- Lane width, traffic and weather
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Perception time, reaction distance and braking distance. The manual names perception time, reaction distance and braking distance.
What does the manual say about your hand position on the steering wheel?
- 10 o'clock and 2 o'clock
- 8 o'clock and 4 o'clock
- 12 o'clock with one hand
- 9 o'clock only
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8 o'clock and 4 o'clock. The manual: if the steering wheel were a clock, your hands should be at the 8 o'clock and 4 o'clock positions.
A slow moving vehicle sign is displayed by vehicles travelling at:
- 15 MPH or less
- 25 MPH or less
- 35 MPH or less
- 45 MPH or less
Show the answer
25 MPH or less. The manual: slow moving vehicles travelling at 25 MPH or less, such as farm equipment and horse-drawn vehicles, must display the sign on a public highway.
What colour marks a highway work zone, according to the manual?
- Blue
- Green
- Orange
- Brown
Show the answer
Orange. The manual: the colour orange marks a work zone and means slow down and be alert.
From when to when must you use headlights?
- From midnight to 6 a.m.
- From sunset to sunrise
- Only when street lights are off
- From 6 p.m. to 6 a.m.
Show the answer
From sunset to sunrise. The manual: you must use headlights from sunset to sunrise.

What next

If you missed more than three, read the matching sections of the handbook and come back tomorrow. When these are easy, take the scored practice test, which mixes the questions and the order of the options.

Independent practice site. DMV Practice is not a government website and is not connected with any Department of Motor Vehicles or licensing agency. The questions are our own, written from each state's public driver handbook as we read it on 12 November 2026. They are not the official test questions. Laws change: the current handbook of your own state is the authority.