North Carolina DMV Permit Test Sample Questions and Explanations

This red and white triangle with its point at the bottom is the YIELD sign. Slow down and give the right of way to traffic on the road you are entering. If that traffic is close, stop and wait for it to pass.

Wrong choices

• Come to a full stop every time, even if no one is coming: A full stop every time is required at a STOP sign, not a YIELD sign.
• Speed up to merge ahead of the other traffic: Speeding up to cut in front of traffic is the opposite of yielding.
• Stop only if a police officer is present: The sign applies at all times, whether or not an officer is there.

At an intersection without signs or signals, a vehicle already in the intersection goes first. When two vehicles arrive at the same time, the vehicle on the right has the right of way.

Wrong choices

• The vehicle on the left: The driver on the left must yield to the driver on the right.
• The faster vehicle: Speed does not give anyone the right of way.
• The larger vehicle: Vehicle size does not give anyone the right of way.

The octagon, a sign with eight sides, is used only for STOP signs. You can know it is a STOP sign from its shape even from behind or when it is covered with snow.

Wrong choices

• Triangle: The triangle with its point down is used for YIELD.
• Diamond: Diamonds are used for warning signs.
• Pentagon (five sides): The five-sided shape is used for school zone and school crossing signs.

On a two-lane road, traffic from both directions must stop for a school bus that is loading or unloading. Stay stopped until the stop arm is withdrawn, the red lights are turned off, and the bus starts moving.

Wrong choices

• Slow down and pass carefully: You may not pass a school bus showing its stop arm.
• Stop only if children are in the road: You must stop whether or not you see children; they may run out suddenly.
• Keep going, because only traffic behind the bus must stop: On a two-lane road, traffic in both directions must stop.

The five-sided (pentagon) sign warns of a school zone or school crossing. Watch closely for children, and remember that in many school zones the speed limit is lower during school hours.

Wrong choices

• A playground for adults: The five-sided shape is used for schools, not adult play areas.
• A hospital zone: Hospitals are shown on blue service signs.
• A pedestrian mall where cars are not allowed: This sign warns of children crossing; it does not close the road to cars.

A driver 21 or older can be convicted of Driving While Impaired with a BAC of 0.08 or more. A driver can also be convicted at a lower level if alcohol or drugs clearly impair driving.

Wrong choices

• 0.02: 0.02 is lower than the adult limit; drivers under 21 may not have any alcohol at all.
• 0.05: Crash risk rises at 0.05, but the legal limit is 0.08.
• 0.10: The limit is 0.08, not 0.10.

Most warning signs are diamonds, normally black on yellow. They warn of a hazard or change in the road ahead.

Wrong choices

• Octagon: The octagon is used only for STOP.
• Circle: The round sign is used for the railroad advance warning.
• Upright rectangle: Upright rectangles are mostly used for rule signs, such as speed limits.

A driver under 21 may not drive with any amount of alcohol or drugs in the body. A conviction brings a one-year license revocation.

Wrong choices

• Up to 0.08: 0.08 is the limit for drivers 21 and older.
• Up to 0.04: 0.04 is the limit for commercial drivers.
• Up to 0.02: North Carolina sets no such allowance for drivers under 21; any amount is illegal.

North Carolina route markers are diamond-shaped. U.S. highways use a shield, and Interstates use a red, white, and blue shield.

Wrong choices

• Shield: The shield is used for U.S. highways and, in red, white, and blue, for Interstates.
• Circle: A circle is not the North Carolina route marker.
• Triangle: The triangle with its point down is the YIELD sign.

The law requires headlights from sunset to sunrise and whenever visibility is 400 feet or less. You must also use them whenever your wipers are on because of bad weather.

Wrong choices

• Only after midnight: Headlights are required from sunset, not only after midnight.
• Only on interstates: The law applies on all roads, not only interstates.
• Only when it is snowing: Snow is only one of the conditions that require headlights.