North Carolina DMV Knowledge Test — Questions and Answers

Question 1: A tornado warning is issued while you are driving on the highway and a funnel cloud is visible nearby. What should you do?

Park under a highway overpass for protection
Try to outrun the tornado at high speed
Leave the vehicle and take shelter in a sturdy building or low ditch away from the car (Correct answer)
Stay in the car with windows open to equalize pressure

Correct answer: Leave the vehicle and take shelter in a sturdy building or low ditch away from the car

Vehicles offer little protection from tornadoes, and overpasses funnel wind, so a sturdy building or low-lying ditch is safest.

Question 2: Before changing lanes on a highway, you should signal, check your mirrors, and then do what?

Honk to warn nearby drivers
Glance over your shoulder to check your blind spot (Correct answer)
Rely only on your side mirror
Accelerate quickly into the new lane

Correct answer: Glance over your shoulder to check your blind spot

Mirrors cannot show the blind spot beside your vehicle, so a quick shoulder check is required before moving over.

Question 3: What should you do if you experience a tire blowout while driving?

Immediately slam on the brakes and steer off the road
Continue driving until you reach a repair shop
Speed up to regain control of the vehicle
Gradually slow down and pull off the road safely (Correct answer)

Correct answer: Gradually slow down and pull off the road safely

If you experience a tire blowout, the safest course of action is to grip the steering wheel firmly, ease off the accelerator, and allow the vehicle to slow down gradually. Avoid sudden braking or sharp steering, and gently steer to the side of the road when it is safe to do so. This controlled response helps maintain stability and prevents loss of control.

Question 4: A school bus with flashing red lights is stopped ahead of you on a two-lane road. What must you do?

Pass slowly on the left with caution
Stop briefly, then proceed if no children are visible
Honk and continue at reduced speed
Stop and remain stopped until the lights stop flashing and the bus moves on (Correct answer)

Correct answer: Stop and remain stopped until the lights stop flashing and the bus moves on

On a two-lane road, traffic in both directions must stop for a school bus with flashing red lights and stay stopped until it departs.

Question 5: What is the safe following distance for most driving conditions?

At least 1 car length for every 10 mph
At least 3 seconds behind the vehicle ahead (Correct answer)
At least 1 second behind the vehicle ahead
As close as possible to see the road ahead

Correct answer: At least 3 seconds behind the vehicle ahead

The 3-second rule provides a safe following distance under normal conditions. Pick a fixed point and count 3 seconds after the vehicle ahead passes it.

Question 6: When approaching a highway work zone, what should you do?

Change lanes rapidly to get through faster
Slow to the posted work zone speed and stay alert for workers and lane shifts (Correct answer)
Use the shoulder to bypass slowed traffic
Maintain the normal speed limit if no workers are visible

Correct answer: Slow to the posted work zone speed and stay alert for workers and lane shifts

Work zone speed limits apply regardless of visible workers, and fines for speeding in work zones are increased.

Question 7: When parking on a public road at night outside a business or residential district, you must:

Leave parking lights or reflectors visible to approaching traffic (Correct answer)
Leave your interior lights on
Park facing oncoming traffic
Leave your headlights on high beam

Correct answer: Leave parking lights or reflectors visible to approaching traffic

A parked vehicle must be visible at night, typically by parking lights or reflectors.

Question 8: At what age must drivers typically begin renewing their license more frequently or taking additional tests?

There are no age-based renewal differences
At age 50, all drivers must retest
Requirements vary by state, but many increase scrutiny for drivers 65-75 and older (Correct answer)
Only at age 90

Correct answer: Requirements vary by state, but many increase scrutiny for drivers 65-75 and older

Many states impose additional requirements for older drivers such as more frequent renewals, vision tests, or in-person renewals, typically starting between ages 65 and 75.

Question 9: When is it legal in North Carolina to pass a stopped school bus displaying its stop arm on a two-lane road?

When no children are visible
When you are traveling in the opposite direction
Never (Correct answer)
When you slow to under 20 mph

Correct answer: Never

On a two-lane road, all traffic in both directions must stop for a school bus with its stop arm extended.

Question 10: A sign reading "No Parking 8 AM - 6 PM Monday-Friday" means you may park there:

Only with a residential permit
Never
Any time under 30 minutes
Evenings, nights, and weekends (Correct answer)

Correct answer: Evenings, nights, and weekends

The restriction applies only during the posted hours and days, so other times are allowed.

Question 11: Blue signs along the highway provide what type of information?

Construction warnings
No passing zones
Speed regulations
Motorist services like gas, food, and lodging (Correct answer)

Correct answer: Motorist services like gas, food, and lodging

Blue signs direct drivers to services such as fuel, food, lodging, and hospitals.

Question 12: What is the maximum speed limit on urban interstate highways in North Carolina?

65 mph (Correct answer)
70 mph
55 mph
60 mph

Correct answer: 65 mph

Urban interstate highways in North Carolina have a maximum speed limit of 65 mph unless a different limit is posted.

Question 13: What does a five-sided (pentagon-shaped) sign indicate?

Hospital ahead
School zone or school crossing (Correct answer)
No passing zone
Railroad crossing

Correct answer: School zone or school crossing

Pentagon-shaped signs are used only for school zones and school crossings.

Question 14: What is required to obtain a commercial driver's license (CDL)?

Five years of driving experience with a regular license
Passing knowledge tests, a skills test, meeting medical requirements, and being at least 18 or 21 depending on travel type (Correct answer)
A college degree in transportation
Only a written test and minimum age of 16

Correct answer: Passing knowledge tests, a skills test, meeting medical requirements, and being at least 18 or 21 depending on travel type

CDL applicants must pass written knowledge tests, a driving skills test, meet federal medical standards, and be at least 18 (intrastate) or 21 (interstate) years old.

Question 15: On a curve in North Carolina where your sight distance ahead is limited, at what speed should you drive?

Exactly at the posted speed limit regardless of visibility
25 mph, since curves require a fixed reduced speed by law
Always at least 35 mph to maintain steering control
Slow enough to stop within your visible distance ahead (Correct answer)

Correct answer: Slow enough to stop within your visible distance ahead

NC law requires a speed slow enough to stop within your visible distance ahead, which is especially important on curves with limited sight lines.

Question 16: What does a yellow sign showing a divided highway symbol (two arrows curving around an island) warn?

A roundabout is ahead
Merging traffic enters from the right
A two-way street begins
The road ahead divides around a median (Correct answer)

Correct answer: The road ahead divides around a median

The divided highway begins sign warns that the road ahead splits into separate lanes around a median.

Question 17: Your vehicle starts to skid on a wet road with the rear end sliding to the right. What should you do?

Ease off the accelerator and steer in the direction you want the vehicle to go (Correct answer)
Brake hard and hold the wheel straight
Shift into park immediately
Accelerate to regain traction

Correct answer: Ease off the accelerator and steer in the direction you want the vehicle to go

Easing off the gas and steering in the direction you want to travel helps the tires regain traction and straighten the vehicle.

Question 18: If another vehicle is approaching you head-on in your lane, your best action is to:

Speed up to pass them quickly
Stop in your lane and flash your lights
Slow down, sound your horn, and steer right toward the shoulder (Correct answer)
Steer left into the oncoming lane

Correct answer: Slow down, sound your horn, and steer right toward the shoulder

Moving right keeps you out of the other driver's likely correction path back into their own lane.

Question 19: You are driving on a mountain road too narrow for two vehicles to pass, and you meet a vehicle coming uphill. Who must yield?

The vehicle traveling downhill must yield (Correct answer)
Whoever entered the narrow section last
The smaller vehicle must yield
The vehicle traveling uphill must yield

Correct answer: The vehicle traveling downhill must yield

On steep, narrow roads, the descending vehicle must yield and back up if necessary because it has better control when reversing uphill traffic flow.

Question 20: Which of these vehicles can a standard Class C North Carolina license holder legally drive?

A single vehicle under 26,001 pounds GVWR not designed to carry 16 or more passengers (Correct answer)
A 40-passenger commercial bus
A tractor-trailer combination
A vehicle carrying placarded hazardous materials

Correct answer: A single vehicle under 26,001 pounds GVWR not designed to carry 16 or more passengers

Class C covers single vehicles under 26,001 pounds that do not require a commercial license.

Question 21: When parking uphill next to a curb, you should turn your front wheels:

Toward the curb
In either direction as long as the parking brake is set
Away from the curb (Correct answer)
Straight ahead

Correct answer: Away from the curb

Wheels turned away from the curb will catch on it and stop the car if it rolls backward.

Question 22: If your accelerator sticks while driving, what should you do first?

Pull the parking brake as hard as possible
Pump the accelerator while braking hard
Shift to neutral and apply the brakes (Correct answer)
Turn off the ignition and remove the key

Correct answer: Shift to neutral and apply the brakes

Shifting to neutral disconnects engine power from the wheels so you can brake and steer safely to the roadside.

Question 23: In North Carolina, which vehicle occupants are required to wear seat belts?

All drivers and passengers in every seating position (Correct answer)
Only occupants under age 18
Only front-seat occupants on highways
Only the driver and front-seat passenger

Correct answer: All drivers and passengers in every seating position

North Carolina law requires all occupants, front and rear, to be properly restrained by seat belts or child restraints.

Question 24: When leaving a parallel parking space, you should first:

Wait for another driver to wave you out
Back up as far as possible and pull out fast
Signal and check mirrors and blind spots for traffic (Correct answer)
Turn on hazard lights and roll forward

Correct answer: Signal and check mirrors and blind spots for traffic

Signaling and checking traffic ensures you merge safely from the parking space.

Question 25: If your insurer cancels your policy, who tells the NC DMV that your coverage ended?

You must report it in person within 24 hours
No one — the DMV never learns of cancellations
The county sheriff files the report
The insurance company reports the termination electronically (Correct answer)

Correct answer: The insurance company reports the termination electronically

North Carolina insurers must notify the DMV when a liability policy is terminated.

North Carolina DMV Knowledge Test

The NC DMV knowledge test assesses understanding of traffic laws, road signs, and safe driving practices required to obtain a North Carolina driver's license. Applicants must answer 20 of 25 questions correctly to pass.

Questions

30 min

Time Limit

80%

To Pass

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