Ace Your Texas Permit Test: 15 Questions You'll Likely See in 2025
The first official step to getting behind the wheel in Texas is passing the DPS Knowledge Test, often called the permit test. This 40-question, multiple-choice exam is designed to ensure you understand the state's traffic laws and safety rules before you start practicing. To pass, you must answer at least 70% of the questions correctly. [25]
All the questions are taken directly from the Texas Driver's Handbook. To help you study and build your confidence, we’ve created a list of 15 practice questions that cover the types of topics you are guaranteed to encounter on the real test.
Permit Test Practice Questions
1. A driver with a Provisional License (under 18) is not allowed to drive between what hours? a) 10 p.m. and 6 a.m. b) 11 p.m. and 5 a.m. c) Midnight and 5 a.m. d) There is no curfew.
Answer: c) Midnight and 5 a.m. Explanation: The Texas Graduated Driver License (GDL) program imposes a curfew on provisional license holders between midnight and 5 a.m., with limited exceptions for school, work, or a medical emergency. [6, 7]
2. A flashing red light at an intersection is equivalent to: a) A yield sign. b) A stop sign. c) A warning that the light is about to turn green. d) A broken traffic light.
Answer: b) A stop sign. Explanation: A flashing red light should be treated exactly the same as a stop sign. You must come to a complete stop, check for crossing traffic and pedestrians, and then proceed when the way is clear.
3. Under the GDL program, what is the passenger restriction for a driver with a Provisional License? a) No passengers are allowed. b) Only family members are allowed. c) No more than one passenger under 21 who is not a family member. d) No more than two passengers under 21.
Answer: c) No more than one passenger under 21 who is not a family member. Explanation: This is a key safety rule to limit distractions for new drivers. A provisional license holder cannot transport more than one non-family passenger under the age of 21. [6, 7]
4. When parking your vehicle facing uphill on a street with a curb, you should turn your front wheels: a) Straight ahead. b) Towards the curb. c) Away from the curb. d) It doesn't matter.
Answer: c) Away from the curb. Explanation: Turning your wheels away from the curb (to the left) ensures that if your vehicle's brakes were to fail, it would roll backward and the front tire would catch the curb, stopping the car. Remember the phrase "Up, Up, and Away."
5. This road sign (an orange diamond) indicates: a) A state park entrance. b) A school zone ahead. c) A construction or maintenance work zone. d) A railroad crossing.
Answer: c) A construction or maintenance work zone. Explanation: Orange is used exclusively for warning signs in construction and maintenance areas. When you see orange signs, you should slow down, be alert for workers and equipment, and be prepared for changes in traffic patterns.
6. To be eligible for a Provisional License in Texas, a teen must have held their Learner License for at least: a) 3 months. b) 6 months. c) 9 months. d) 12 months.
Answer: b) 6 months. Explanation: A teen driver must hold their Learner License for a minimum of six months and meet all other requirements before they can apply for a Provisional License. [6, 15]
7. In Texas, a person under 21 years of age commits the offense of Driving Under the Influence (DUI) if they have: a) A Blood Alcohol Concentration (BAC) of 0.08% or more. b) A BAC of 0.04% or more. c) Any detectable amount of alcohol in their system. d) Consumed alcohol within the last 24 hours.
Answer: c) Any detectable amount of alcohol in their system. Explanation: Texas has a "Zero Tolerance" policy for minors. It is illegal for anyone under 21 to operate a motor vehicle in a public place with any detectable amount of alcohol in their system. [5, 24]
8. A solid yellow line on your side of the road means: a) You may pass if the way is clear. b) You are in a passing zone. c) You may not pass. d) The road is ending.
Answer: c) You may not pass. Explanation: A solid yellow line on your side of the center line marks a no-passing zone. You must stay in your lane until the line becomes dashed or the zone ends.
9. When approaching a stopped school bus with its red lights flashing on a roadway without a median, what must you do? a) Slow down and pass with caution. b) Stop only if you are behind the bus. c) All traffic from both directions must stop. d) Only traffic traveling in the same direction must stop.
Answer: c) All traffic from both directions must stop. Explanation: If a road is not separated by a physical median or barrier, all vehicles, regardless of their direction of travel, must stop for a stopped school bus with its red lights flashing.
10. What is the minimum age to apply for a Learner License in Texas? a) 14 b) 15 c) 16 d) 17
Answer: b) 15. Explanation: A person must be at least 15 years old and enrolled in a driver education course to apply for a Learner License in Texas. [9, 10]
11. This road sign (a white rectangle with a red circle and a white horizontal line inside) means: a) Do Not Enter. b) Stop ahead. c) Yield. d) Road closed.
Answer: a) Do Not Enter. Explanation: This regulatory sign is posted at the beginning of one-way streets and ramps to prevent you from entering and driving against traffic.
12. When must you use your headlights in Texas? a) From 30 minutes after sunset to 30 minutes before sunrise. b) When you cannot see a person or vehicle for 1,000 feet. c) When you are using your windshield wipers due to rain, fog, or snow. d) All of the above.
Answer: d) All of the above. Explanation: The Texas Driver's Handbook specifies all of these conditions require the use of headlights.
13. The "Implied Consent" law in Texas means that by driving a vehicle, you have agreed to: a) Always yield the right-of-way. b) Submit to a chemical test for alcohol or drugs if arrested for DUI. c) Let police search your vehicle at any time. d) Pay for any accidents you cause.
Answer: b) Submit to a chemical test for alcohol or drugs if arrested for DUI. Explanation: This law is critical. If you are arrested for driving while intoxicated, you consent to a breath or blood test. Refusing the test will result in an automatic suspension of your driver's license.
14. A conviction for reckless driving will result in how many points being added to your driving record? a) 2 points. b) 3 points. c) 4 points. d) 6 points.
Answer: a) 2 points. Explanation: Most moving violations in Texas that result in a crash will add 3 points, while violations not resulting in a crash add 2 points. Reckless driving falls into the category of moving violations.
15. What is the minimum following distance you should maintain from the vehicle in front of you under ideal conditions? a) One car length. b) Two seconds. c) Four seconds. d) 100 feet.
Answer: b) Two seconds. Explanation: The Texas Driver's Handbook recommends a minimum following distance of two seconds. Watch the vehicle ahead pass a fixed object, then count. If you pass the object before you've counted to two, you are too close. This should be increased to four seconds in bad weather.
How to Study: Use these questions as a starting point. The absolute best way to prepare is to thoroughly read the Texas Driver's Handbook. Focus on chapters covering signs, GDL restrictions, and rules of the road. Good luck!
