Michigan DMV Permit Test: Speed Limits, Passing, Turning, and Parking Concepts
Importance ★★★★☆ · 20% (estimate)
Overview
Michigan's Basic Speed Law requires a careful and prudent speed that lets you stop within the clear distance ahead, never faster than the posted limit. When no limit is posted, standard limits apply, from mobile home parks and subdivisions up to freeways. Freeways also have a minimum speed, and trucks and school buses have lower top speeds.
Pass only when you can see the left lane clearly and have enough distance. Do not pass near intersections, railroad crossings, bridges, or tunnels, on hills or curves, or where a solid yellow line is on your side. Return to your lane well before oncoming traffic, and when someone passes you, do not speed up.
Passing on the right is allowed only in certain cases and never on the shoulder. When parking, turn off the engine, set the parking brake, and turn your wheels so the car cannot roll into traffic. Keep the distances from hydrants, crosswalks, signs, signals, and railroad tracks shown below.
Key concepts
Standard speed limits
Unless posted: 15 mph in mobile home parks, 25 mph in platted subdivisions and condo complexes, 55 mph on other roads, and 70 mph maximum, 55 mph minimum on freeways.
Memory tip15, 25, 55, 70: know where each applies.
Source: Michigan Department of State, What Every Driver Must Know · as of 2025
Trucks and school buses
On freeways they are limited to 65 mph, or 55 mph where the freeway limit is below 70 mph.
Memory tipExpect heavy vehicles to be slower.
Source: Michigan Department of State, What Every Driver Must Know · as of 2025
No-passing zones
Do not pass within 100 feet of an intersection or railroad crossing, when your view is blocked within 100 feet of a bridge or tunnel, or on a hill or curve where you cannot see far enough ahead.
Memory tip100 feet: intersections, rail crossings, bridges.
Source: Michigan Department of State, What Every Driver Must Know · as of 2025
Finishing a pass
Return to your lane before you are within 200 feet of an oncoming vehicle, and only when you can see the whole passed vehicle in your rearview mirror.
Memory tip200 feet from oncoming traffic.
Source: Michigan Department of State, What Every Driver Must Know · as of 2025
Parking on a hill
Downhill with a curb, turn wheels toward the curb; uphill, away from it. With no curb, turn them so the car will not roll into traffic. Always set the parking brake.
Memory tipDownhill: toward the curb.
No-parking distances
Not within 15 feet of a hydrant, 20 feet of a marked crosswalk, 30 feet of a stop sign or signal, or 50 feet of the nearest rail of a railroad crossing, and not more than 12 inches from the curb.
Memory tip15 hydrant, 20 crosswalk, 30 sign, 50 rail.
Source: Michigan Department of State, What Every Driver Must Know · as of 2025
Often tested
- Unless posted: 25 mph in subdivisions, 55 mph on other roads, 70 mph on freeways.
- Freeways have a 55 mph minimum unless posted otherwise.
- Do not pass within 100 feet of an intersection or railroad crossing.
- You may pass a bicyclist in a no-passing zone if it is safe.
- Never pass on the shoulder.
- Never park within 500 feet of a fire or crash.
Easy to confuse: Parking distances to remember
| Do not park within | Distance |
|---|---|
| A fire hydrant | 15 feet |
| A marked crosswalk | 20 feet |
| An intersection with no crosswalk | 15 feet |
| A stop sign, traffic light, or flashing beacon | 30 feet |
| The nearest rail of a railroad crossing | 50 feet |
| A fire station driveway, same side | 20 feet |
| A fire station driveway, other side (when marked) | 75 feet |
3 sample questions
Verified practice questions from this unit.
Question 1. Unless posted otherwise, what is the maximum speed limit on Michigan freeways?
- ① 70 mph
- ② 60 mph
- ③ 65 mph
- ④ 75 mph
▼ Show answer and explanation▲ Hide answer and explanation
Answer: ① 70 mph
Key point: Freeways: 70 mph maximum, 55 mph minimum
On Michigan freeways, the limit is 70 mph maximum and 55 mph minimum unless posted otherwise. School buses and trucks are limited to 65 mph.
Wrong choices
- 60 mph: The standard freeway maximum is 70 mph.
- 65 mph: 65 mph is the limit for trucks and school buses on those freeways.
- 75 mph: The standard freeway maximum is 70 mph.
Question 2. How close to a fire hydrant may you park?
- ① No closer than 30 feet
- ② No closer than 5 feet
- ③ No closer than 15 feet
- ④ No closer than 10 feet
▼ Show answer and explanation▲ Hide answer and explanation
Answer: ③ No closer than 15 feet
Key point: Do not park within 15 feet of a fire hydrant
Never park within 15 feet of a fire hydrant. Firefighters need clear access to it.
Wrong choices
- No closer than 30 feet: 30 feet is the rule for stop signs and traffic lights.
- No closer than 5 feet: That is far too close; the rule is 15 feet.
- No closer than 10 feet: Michigan requires 15 feet.
Question 3. You are parking downhill next to a curb. Which way should you turn your front wheels?
- ① It does not matter if the parking brake is set
- ② Toward the curb
- ③ Straight ahead
- ④ Away from the curb
▼ Show answer and explanation▲ Hide answer and explanation
Answer: ② Toward the curb
Key point: Downhill with a curb: wheels toward the curb
When parking downhill, turn your wheels toward the curb. Uphill, turn them away from the curb. With no curb, turn them so the car will not roll into traffic. Always set the parking brake.
Wrong choices
- It does not matter if the parking brake is set: Turn the wheels and set the parking brake every time.
- Straight ahead: Straight wheels could let the car roll into traffic.
- Away from the curb: That is for parking uphill with a curb.
AI-written · Verified · Written by AI. Only units that passed a separate AI check (re-reading facts and numbers) are published. Tell us if you find a mistake.