Pass Your Maryland Permit Test: 15 Practice Questions You'll Likely See

The Maryland MVA written knowledge test is your first official hurdle on the path to a driver's license. It's a 25-question, computer-based 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 22 questions correctly (an 88% score).

Confidence comes from preparation. All questions are pulled directly from the "Maryland 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.

Maryland Permit Practice Test

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

1. A driver with a provisional license is under a driving curfew between what hours? a) 10 p.m. and 6 a.m. b) 11 p.m. and 5 a.m. c) 12:00 a.m. (midnight) and 5 a.m. d) 9 p.m. and 5 a.m.

2. In Maryland, when must you use your headlights? a) Only when it is dark outside. b) From sunset to sunrise. c) When using your windshield wipers. d) Both B and C.

3. During the first five months of holding a provisional license, a teen driver is limited to what passengers under 18? a) One friend. b) Two friends. c) Only immediate family members. d) No one under 18.

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 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 Maryland, how should you indicate a right turn with a hand signal? a) Hand and arm pointing straight out. b) Hand and arm pointing up. c) Hand and arm pointing down. d) A circular motion.

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 Maryland? 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) 6 months b) 9 months c) 12 months d) 18 months

12. When you see a stopped school bus with its red lights flashing, you must: a) Stop at least 20 feet away, regardless of your direction of travel, unless on a divided highway. 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 Maryland? a) 15 years old b) 15 years and 6 months c) 15 years and 9 months d) 16 years old

15. What is the standard speed limit on an undivided highway in a rural area in Maryland, unless otherwise posted? a) 45 mph b) 50 mph c) 55 mph d) 65 mph

Answer Key and Explanations

1. c) 12:00 a.m. (midnight) and 5 a.m. This is a key GDL rule for provisional license holders.

2. d) Both B and C. Maryland law requires headlights to be on from sunset to sunrise and at any time when windshield wipers are in use.

3. c) Only immediate family members. This strict passenger restriction is a major part of the GDL program for the first 151 days.

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) Hand and arm pointing up. This is the correct hand signal for a right turn.

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, Maryland has a zero-tolerance policy.

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) 9 months. A teen must hold their learner's permit for at least nine months, conviction-free, before being eligible to take the road test.

12. a) Stop at least 20 feet away, regardless of your direction of travel, unless on a divided highway. 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. c) 15 years and 9 months. This is the minimum age to begin the GDL process in Maryland.

15. b) 50 mph. This is the standard speed limit for this type of road unless a different limit is posted.

How to Guarantee a Passing Score

Your best study tool is the "Maryland 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.