Pass Your Idaho Permit Test: 15 Practice Questions You'll Actually See

The Idaho written knowledge test is your first official hurdle on the path to a driver's license. It's a 40-question, multiple-choice exam designed to ensure you have a solid grasp of the state's traffic laws, road signs, and safety rules before you start practicing on the road. To pass, you must answer at least 34 questions correctly (an 85% score). [2]

Confidence comes from preparation. All questions are pulled directly from the Idaho Driver's Manual. To help you study, we have created this list of 15 practice questions that mirror the topics and format you'll find on the real exam.

Idaho Permit Practice Test

Read each question carefully and select the best answer. The correct answers and detailed explanations follow below.

1. A driver under the age of 16 is restricted to driving during what hours for the first six months of being licensed? a) 6 a.m. to 10 p.m. b) Sunrise to sunset. c) 5 a.m. to 9 p.m. d) There are no time restrictions.

2. Unless otherwise posted, what is the maximum speed limit on an Idaho interstate highway? a) 65 mph b) 70 mph c) 75 mph d) 80 mph

3. A teen driver with a Supervised Instruction Permit must hold it for a minimum of how long before taking a skills test? a) 3 months b) 90 days c) 6 months d) One year.

4. A solid yellow line on your side of the road means: a) You are approaching a school zone. b) Passing is permitted with caution. c) No passing is allowed from your lane. d) The road is ending ahead.

5. A flashing red traffic light at an intersection should be treated as: a) A yield sign. b) A stop sign. c) A warning that the light will turn green soon. d) A signal to proceed with caution.

6. An eight-sided (octagon) sign always indicates: a) Yield b) A railroad crossing c) Stop d) A school zone

7. In Idaho, you must signal your intention to turn or change lanes at least how many feet before the maneuver? a) 50 feet b) 100 feet c) 200 feet d) 300 feet

8. When parking your vehicle UPHILL on a street with a curb, you should turn your front wheels: a) Straight ahead. b) Away from the curb (left). c) Toward the curb (right). d) It doesn't matter.

9. In Idaho, when must you have your headlights on? a) Only when it is completely dark. b) From sunset to sunrise. c) When conditions make it difficult to see people or vehicles 500 feet ahead. d) Both B and C.

10. What does a triangular sign with a red border and white center mean? a) Stop b) Do Not Enter c) Yield d) No Passing Zone

11. A teen driver is required to log how many hours of supervised driving before they can get their license? a) 40 hours, with 5 at night. b) 60 hours, with 15 at night. c) 50 hours, with 10 at night. d) 30 hours, with 10 at night.

12. When you see a stopped school bus with its red lights flashing on a two-lane road, you must: a) Stop, regardless of your direction of travel. b) Slow down to 10 mph and pass with caution. c) Stop only if you are traveling in the same direction. d) Honk to alert children you are approaching.

13. A round, yellow sign with a black "X" and "RR" is an advance warning for a: a) Hospital ahead b) An intersection ahead c) A railroad crossing d) A dead-end street.

14. What is the minimum age to begin a driver education course in Idaho? a) 14 years old b) 14 years and 6 months c) 15 years old d) 15 years and 6 months

15. What is the standard speed limit in an urban district in Idaho, unless otherwise posted? a) 25 mph b) 30 mph c) 35 mph d) 45 mph

Answer Key and Explanations

1. b) Sunrise to sunset. This is the mandatory driving curfew for the first six months for licensed drivers under 16, unless accompanied by a licensed adult 21 or older. [1, 2]

2. d) 80 mph. Idaho is one of the few states with a maximum speed limit of 80 mph on designated rural interstate highways.

3. c) 6 months. A teen must hold their Supervised Instruction Permit for at least six months, conviction-free, before being eligible to take the skills test. [1, 2, 4]

4. c) No passing is allowed from your lane. A solid yellow line on your side of the road indicates a no-passing zone for traffic on your side.

5. b) A stop sign. You must come to a complete stop, yield to all traffic and pedestrians, and then proceed when it is safe to do so.

6. c) Stop. The unique octagon shape is reserved exclusively for stop signs to make them easily recognizable.

7. b) 100 feet. Signaling your intention well in advance, for at least 100 feet or 5 seconds on the freeway, is crucial for communicating with other drivers.

8. b) Away from the curb (left). This ensures that if the car's brakes fail, it will roll back into the curb and stop, rather than rolling into traffic.

9. d) Both B and C. Idaho law requires headlights to be on from sunset to sunrise, and at any other time when visibility is less than 500 feet.

10. c) Yield. The inverted triangle shape is the universal symbol for a yield sign, requiring you to slow down and give the right-of-way.

11. c) 50 hours, with 10 at night. A parent or guardian must certify the completion of these hours as part of the GDL program. [2]

12. a) Stop, regardless of your direction of travel. On a two-lane road, all traffic in both directions must stop for a school bus with flashing red lights.

13. c) A railroad crossing. This round sign is the advance warning sign placed before a railroad crossing.

14. b) 14 years and 6 months. This is the minimum age to begin the GDL process in Idaho by enrolling in a driver's ed course.

15. c) 35 mph. This is the standard speed limit for residential, business, and urban districts unless a different limit is posted.

How to Guarantee a Passing Score

Your best study tool is the Idaho Driver's Manual. Read it thoroughly, paying special attention to GDL restrictions, speed limits, and right-of-way rules. By combining diligent study with practice tests, you'll be well-prepared to ace your written exam.