Pass Your Indiana Permit Test: 15 Practice Questions You Need to Know

The Indiana BMV written knowledge test is your first official hurdle on the path to a driver's license. It's a test designed to ensure you have a solid grasp of the state's traffic laws and can identify road signs before you start practicing on the road. Confidence comes from preparation, and this guide is here to help.

The official exam has multiple sections, including a test on traffic signs and a test on road rules. All questions are pulled directly from the "Indiana Driver's Manual". To help you study, we've compiled 15 practice questions that reflect the topics and format you'll find on the real exam.

Indiana Permit Practice Test

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

1. A probationary license holder is under a driving curfew between 10 p.m. and 5 a.m. for how long? a) The first 90 days. b) The first 180 days. c) The first year. d) Until they turn 18.

2. In Indiana, when must you use your headlights? a) Only when it is dark outside. b) From sunset to sunrise. c) When visibility is less than 500 feet. d) Both B and C.

3. During the first 180 days of holding a probationary license, a teen driver is not allowed to have passengers unless: a) The passenger is a sibling or child of the driver. b) A licensed driver 25+ is in the front seat. c) The passenger is a spouse who is 21+. d) All of the above.

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

5. A flashing yellow traffic light at an intersection means: a) The light is about to turn red. b) A stop sign. c) The traffic light is out of order. d) 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 a city or town, you must signal for a turn or lane change at least how many feet before the maneuver? a) 50 feet b) 100 feet c) 200 feet if speed is under 50 mph, 300 feet if over 50 mph. 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. What is the legal Blood Alcohol Concentration (BAC) limit for a driver 21 years or older in Indiana? a) 0.10% b) 0.05% c) 0.08% d) 0.02%

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 must hold their learner's permit for a minimum of how long before taking a road test? a) 90 days b) 180 days (6 months) c) 270 days (9 months) d) 1 year

12. When you see a stopped school bus with its red lights flashing and stop arm extended, you must: a) Stop, regardless of your direction of travel, unless you are on a highway divided by a physical median. 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 obtain a learner's permit in Indiana if you are enrolled in a driver's education course? a) 14 years and 6 months b) 15 years old c) 15 years and 6 months d) 16 years old

15. What is the standard speed limit on a rural interstate highway in Indiana, unless otherwise posted? a) 55 mph b) 65 mph c) 70 mph d) 75 mph

Answer Key and Explanations

1. b) The first 180 days. This is a key GDL rule for new probationary license holders.

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

3. d) All of the above. These are the specific passenger restriction exceptions for the first 180 days of a probationary license.

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. d) Proceed with caution. A flashing yellow light means you should slow down and be especially alert, but you do not need to stop.

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

7. c) 200 feet if speed is under 50 mph, 300 feet if over 50 mph. Indiana has specific signaling distance requirements based on your speed.

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. c) 0.08%. It is illegal to operate a motor vehicle with a BAC of 0.08% or higher if you are 21 or over. For drivers under 21, Indiana has a zero-tolerance policy (0.02%).

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. b) 180 days (6 months). A teen must hold their instruction permit for at least six months before being eligible to take the road test.

12. a) Stop, regardless of your direction of travel, unless you are on a highway divided by a physical median. On a two-lane road, all traffic must stop.

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

14. b) 15 years old. This is the minimum age to get a permit in Indiana if you are enrolled in a driver's ed course. If not, you must wait until 16.

15. c) 70 mph. This is the standard maximum speed limit on rural interstates in Indiana unless a different limit is posted.

How to Guarantee a Passing Score

Your best study tool is the "Indiana 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.