Alabama Permit Test Cheat Sheet (2026)

The Alabama rules and numbers to know for the DMV knowledge test, on one page. Every line was checked against the official Alabama driver's handbook. It is a study sheet: you cannot use notes during the real test.

The Alabama test at a glance

Questions on the test
Not published by the DMV
To pass
a pass mark the DMV does not publish (our practice tests use 80%)
Time limit
We found no published time limit for the Alabama knowledge test.
Minimum permit age
15 years old
Hold the permit for
6 months (under 18) or until 18th birthday
Alcohol limit under 21
0.02% BAC

Alabama rules and numbers

From the official Alabama handbook (November 2024); PDF page numbers in brackets.

Road signs

  • Round RR advance warning sign: about 750 feet before the tracks. [p.40]

Rules of the road

  • GDL restricted license: no more than 1 nonfamily passenger. [p.86]
  • Signal a turn at least 100 feet before turning. [p.23]
  • No three-point turn where others can't see you within 500 feet. [p.25]
  • Passing a bicycle: leave at least 3 feet. [p.26]
  • Bicycle riders under 16 must wear a helmet. [p.26]
  • Riding a bicycle on the sidewalk is illegal in Alabama. [p.26]
  • No parking within 15 feet of a fire hydrant. [p.31]
  • No parking within 30 feet of a roadside stop sign or signal. [p.31]
  • No parking within 50 feet of the nearest railroad rail. [p.31]
  • School, church and passenger buses must stop at every railroad crossing. [p.41]
  • Urban district statutory speed limit: 30 mph. [p.62]
  • Unpaved road statutory speed limit: 35 mph. [p.62]
  • Paved county road: 45 mph unless posted. [p.62]
  • Stop at least 20 feet from a stopped school bus. [p.64]
  • School bus amber lights: 300 ft before stop in rural areas, 100 ft in towns. [p.64]
  • Divided 4+ lane highway: opposite-side traffic need not stop for a school bus. [p.63]
  • Uncontrolled intersection: the driver on the left yields to the right. [p.65]
  • Always yield to a blind pedestrian with a red-tipped white cane or guide dog. [p.65]
  • No passing on a curve or hill without 500 feet of clear view. [p.67]
  • Stay at least 500 feet behind an emergency vehicle on a run. [p.67]
  • Dim high beams within 500 ft of oncoming traffic, 200 ft when following. [p.71]
  • Wipers on for rain, sleet or snow means headlights on. [p.73]

Safe driving & emergencies

  • Move Over, four-lane road: if you can't change lanes, slow 15+ mph below the limit. [p.70]
  • GDL restricted license: no handheld communication devices while driving. [p.86]
  • Move Over: vacate the lane closest to a stopped emergency vehicle when safe. [source]
  • Move Over Act also covers stopped garbage and recycling trucks. [source]
  • A truck's rear No-Zone can extend up to 200 feet. [p.29]
  • Tire tread under 1/16 inch is illegal. [p.82]
  • Night breakdown: flares 100 to 500 feet behind the vehicle. [p.72]
  • Booster seat until age 6; seat belt required through age 15. [p.32]
  • Bad roads or weather: following distance of 4 to 5 seconds. [p.38]
  • Stalled on tracks: get out and walk toward the oncoming train. [p.77]
  • Alabama State Troopers by cell phone: *HP (*47). [p.78]

Alcohol & drugs

  • Drivers under 21: illegal at .02% BAC or more. [p.35]

Rules learners miss most

The rules behind the most-missed questions on our practice tests. Some details, such as parking distances, can differ by state - your handbook has the final word.

  • At 60 mph a car travels about 88 feet per second.
  • Measure following distance in seconds, counted from a fixed roadside object.
  • Most states: no parking within 20 feet of a crosswalk at an intersection.
  • A yellow curb signals a stopping or parking limit - check signs and local rules.
  • Uncontrolled T-intersection: the terminating road yields to the through road.
  • Uphill with a curb: turn wheels away from the curb; downhill: toward it.
  • Most states: no parking within 15 feet of a fire hydrant (a few use 10 feet).
  • KEEP RIGHT: pass to the right of the island, median or obstruction.
  • Point of no return: past it you cannot stop safely on yellow, so proceed.
  • Zipper merge: use both lanes up to the merge point, then alternate.
  • In heavy rain use low beams, slow down and increase following distance.
  • Parallel park close to and parallel with the curb, within your state's limit.
  • Yellow pennant on the left side of the road: a no-passing zone begins.
  • Car with skid marks: the road is slippery when wet.
  • Diamond-shaped signs are warning signs.
  • 4-way stop tie: the driver on the left yields to the driver on the right.
  • ABS keeps wheels from locking in hard braking so you can still steer.
  • A round yellow sign warns of a railroad crossing ahead.
  • Merging onto a highway: yield to traffic already on the highway.
  • An upward-pointing pentagon marks a school zone or school crossing.
  • Steady yellow: the light is about to turn red - stop if you can do so safely.
  • Basic speed law: never drive faster than is safe for conditions, even under the limit.
  • Use high beams on open roads; dim them for oncoming or followed vehicles.
  • Arrows pointing up and down warn of two-way traffic ahead.
  • Orange diamond signs warn of construction and work zones.
  • Adult (21+) BAC limit is 0.08% in most states.
  • Implied consent: by driving you agree to chemical tests if arrested for DUI.

Now test yourself

Reading rules is a start; answering questions is what makes them stick.

FlashcardsPractice test 1Alabama mock test