The Hardest Permit Test Questions
These are the 27 questions that people taking our free practice tests get wrong most often. Take them as a test first, then read why each one trips people up. A lower score than usual is normal here: every question on this list is one that many learners miss.
Updated October 14, 2026 · 27 questions · How we chose them
In most states, you must not park within how many feet of a fire hydrant?
All 27 questions, with the answers
Hardest first. For each question you can see how many answers were wrong and which wrong answer people chose most.
#1 · Traffic laws · missed in 51% of 287 answers
You are driving at 60 mph on a highway. How many feet does your vehicle travel per second?
✓ Right answer: 88 feet
✗ Most common wrong answer: 100 feet (24% of answers)
At 60 mph, a vehicle travels about 88 feet per second (60 x 5,280 / 3,600 = 88). Understanding stopping distances is critical - at 60 mph you need approximately 300 feet to stop.
Checked against: nj.gov ↗, NJ handbook - Stopping distance
#2 · Safe driving · missed in 43% of 875 answers
How do most state handbooks tell you to measure a safe following distance?
✓ Right answer: Count the seconds between it and you passing a fixed point
✗ Most common wrong answer: Stay close enough to read the license plate of the car ahead (25% of answers)
Handbooks teach a time-based gap: pick a fixed object and count the seconds after the vehicle ahead passes it. The minimum differs by state (2, 3 or 4 seconds), with most recommending 3 to 4 seconds in good conditions; add time in rain, at night or behind large vehicles. Check your state handbook for its exact number.
Checked against: dps.texas.gov ↗, TX handbook - Following distance
#3 · Parking · missed in 44% of 457 answers
In most states, you may not park within how many feet of a crosswalk at an intersection?
✓ Right answer: 20 feet
✗ Most common wrong answer: 10 feet (22% of answers)
Most states prohibit parking within 20 feet of a crosswalk at an intersection (and, separately, within 30 feet of a stop sign or traffic signal in many states). A few use other distances, such as 25 feet in New Jersey, so check your handbook.
Checked against: dps.texas.gov ↗, TX handbook - Do Not Park
#4 · Parking · missed in 39% of 915 answers
In many areas a curb is painted yellow. What should you understand from this?
✓ Right answer: Stopping or parking is restricted there
✗ Most common wrong answer: It is reserved for motorcycles (25% of answers)
Curb colors are not uniform across states. In California and Nevada yellow means a loading zone; in Florida, Tennessee and several other states a yellow curb means no parking. In every case it signals a restriction, so read nearby signs and follow state and local rules.
Checked against: dmv.nv.gov ↗, NV handbook - Colored Curb Markings
#5 · Right of way · missed in 38% of 263 answers
At an uncontrolled T-intersection, vehicles on the through road have right of way over:
✓ Right answer: Vehicles on the terminating road
✗ Most common wrong answer: Vehicles already in the intersection (32% of answers)
At a T-intersection (where one road ends and meets another), vehicles on the through road (the top of the T) have the right of way over vehicles on the terminating road (the bottom of the T).
Checked against: dmv.ca.gov ↗, CA handbook - Right-of-way rules
#6 · Parking · missed in 35% of 884 answers
When parking uphill with a curb, which direction do you turn your front wheels?
✓ Right answer: Away from the curb (left)
✗ Most common wrong answer: Toward the curb (right) (31% of answers)
When parking uphill with a curb, turn your wheels away from the curb (left). If the car rolls backward, it hits the curb and stops. Downhill: turn toward the curb.
Checked against: dmv.ca.gov ↗, CA handbook - Parking on a hill
#7 · Parking · missed in 35% of 452 answers
In most states, you must not park within how many feet of a fire hydrant?
✓ Right answer: 15 feet
✗ Most common wrong answer: 10 feet (15% of answers)
Most states (including California, Texas, New York, Florida and Pennsylvania) prohibit parking within 15 feet of a fire hydrant. Some use a shorter distance (for example 10 feet in Connecticut, Minnesota, New Jersey and Oregon), so check your state handbook.
Checked against: portal.ct.gov ↗, CT handbook - Parking restrictions
#8 · Road signs · missed in 33% of 515 answers
A rectangular white sign reading 'KEEP RIGHT' with an arrow means:
✓ Right answer: Go to the right of the divider
✗ Most common wrong answer: Right turns only (29% of answers)
A 'Keep Right' sign directs you to pass to the right of a traffic island, median, or obstruction. It keeps traffic flowing correctly around the divider.
Checked against: Federal MUTCD (11th ed.) ↗, MUTCD 11th ed. (Dec 2023) 2B.39
#9 · Traffic laws · missed in 32% of 246 answers
What is the 'point of no return' when approaching a yellow light?
✓ Right answer: The point where you can no longer stop safely
✗ Most common wrong answer: The stop line - once past it you must proceed (26% of answers)
The 'point of no return' is the position from which stopping safely (without running the light or causing a rear-end collision) becomes impossible. Before this point, slow and stop. After it, proceed through safely.
Checked against: pa.gov ↗, PA handbook - Traffic signals - steady yellow
#10 · Traffic laws · missed in 29% of 231 answers
When two lanes merge and there are 'zipper merge' signs, you should:
✓ Right answer: Use both lanes to the merge point, then take turns
✗ Most common wrong answer: Merge early - as soon as you see the sign - to be polite (20% of answers)
Where zipper-merge signs are posted, stay in your lane until the merge point, then take turns with the other lane like the teeth of a zipper. Merging early leaves one lane empty and makes the queue longer; the Minnesota Department of Transportation reports that the zipper merge can cut the length of a backup by as much as 40 percent.
Checked against: dmv.colorado.gov ↗, CO handbook - Zipper Merge
#11 · Safe driving · missed in 25% of 990 answers
When driving in heavy rain, you should:
✓ Right answer: Use low beams and leave more following distance
✗ Most common wrong answer: Use high-beam headlights to see better (11% of answers)
In rain, use low-beam headlights (high beams reflect off rain), reduce speed, and increase following distance to at least 4-6 seconds. High beams can reduce visibility in rain.
Checked against: assets.dps.mn.gov ↗, MN handbook - Weather: rain
#12 · Parking · missed in 27% of 253 answers
When you parallel park next to a curb, where should your car end up?
✓ Right answer: Parallel to the curb and as close as practical
✗ Most common wrong answer: Angled with the back wheel touching the curb (19% of answers)
Park parallel to and close to the curb. States set different maximum distances - for example 18 inches in California and Texas, 12 inches in Florida, Michigan and Washington, and 6 inches in New Jersey - so learn your state's limit.
Checked against: nj.gov ↗, NJ handbook - Parking
#13 · Road signs · missed in 26% of 287 answers
A yellow pennant-shaped sign (a long triangle pointing sideways) posted on the left side of the road means:
✓ Right answer: No passing zone begins
✗ Most common wrong answer: Divided highway ahead (16% of answers)
The no-passing zone sign is the only pennant-shaped sign: a yellow, sideways triangle pointing to the right. It is posted on the left side of the road at the start of a no-passing zone, where a solid yellow line also appears on your side of the centerline.
Checked against: ksrevenue.gov ↗, Kansas Driving Handbook (Rev. Feb 2022), Passing - No Passing Zone sign; MUTCD 11th ed. Table 2A-1 (W14-3)
#14 · Road signs · missed in 23% of 585 answers
What is this sign warning you about?
✓ Right answer: Slippery when wet
✗ Most common wrong answer: A steep hill (16% of answers)
This sign (a car with curved skid lines) warns that the road becomes slippery when wet. Slow down, increase your following distance, and avoid sudden moves in rain or snow.
Checked against: Federal MUTCD (11th ed.) ↗, MUTCD 11th ed. (Dec 2023) 2C.30
#15 · Road signs · missed in 24% of 378 answers
A diamond-shaped sign is used to indicate:
✓ Right answer: A warning of a hazard ahead
✗ Most common wrong answer: A regulation you must obey (19% of answers)
Diamond-shaped signs are warning signs. They alert you to hazards or changes in road conditions ahead, such as curves, intersections, or pedestrian crossings.
Checked against: Federal MUTCD (11th ed.) ↗, MUTCD 11th ed. (Dec 2023) 2C.02
#16 · Right of way · missed in 22% of 962 answers
At a 4-way stop sign, two cars arrive at exactly the same time. Who goes first?
✓ Right answer: The car on the right
✗ Most common wrong answer: The car going straight (14% of answers)
When two vehicles arrive at a 4-way stop simultaneously, the driver on the LEFT must yield to the driver on the RIGHT. This is the standard right-of-way rule.
Checked against: dps.texas.gov ↗, TX handbook - Right-of-Way at Intersections
#17 · Safe driving · missed in 23% of 274 answers
What is the purpose of an anti-lock braking system (ABS)?
✓ Right answer: To keep wheels from locking so you can steer
✗ Most common wrong answer: To stop your vehicle faster by automatically pumping brakes (16% of answers)
ABS prevents wheels from locking during hard braking, allowing you to maintain steering control. When ABS activates, you may feel pulsing in the brake pedal - this is normal. Press firmly and steer.
Checked against: assets.dps.mn.gov ↗, MN handbook - Anti-lock brakes
#18 · Road signs · missed in 21% of 319 answers
A round (circular) sign indicates:
✓ Right answer: A railroad crossing
✗ Most common wrong answer: A stop ahead (8% of answers)
A round, yellow sign with a black X and two R's warns of a railroad crossing ahead. The circular shape is used exclusively for railroad advance-warning signs.
Checked against: Federal MUTCD (11th ed.) ↗, MUTCD 11th ed. (Dec 2023) Section 2A.05 and Table 2A-1 (W10-1)
#19 · Right of way · missed in 20% of 504 answers
When entering a highway from an on-ramp, who has the right of way?
✓ Right answer: Traffic already on the highway
✗ Most common wrong answer: The merging vehicle (10% of answers)
Traffic already on the highway has the right of way. The merging driver must adjust speed to safely enter the flow of traffic - do not force other drivers to slow down.
Checked against: flhsmv.gov ↗, FL handbook - Entering a limited-access highway
#20 · Road signs · missed in 20% of 528 answers
A five-sided (pentagon) sign that points upward indicates:
✓ Right answer: A school zone or crossing
✗ Most common wrong answer: A no-passing zone (14% of answers)
An upward-pointing pentagon sign marks a school zone or school crossing. It is typically yellow-green and warns that children may be present.
Checked against: Federal MUTCD (11th ed.) ↗, MUTCD 11th ed. (Dec 2023) 2A.05, Table 2A-1 Use of Sign Shapes
#21 · Traffic laws · missed in 19% of 921 answers
What does a yellow traffic light mean?
✓ Right answer: Stop if it is safe to do so
✗ Most common wrong answer: Proceed normally (10% of answers)
A yellow (amber) light means the signal is about to turn red. You should stop if it is safe to do so. Only proceed if stopping would be unsafe (e.g., you are too close to the intersection).
Checked against: dmv.ca.gov ↗, CA handbook - Traffic Signals, Solid Yellow Light
#22 · Speed limits · missed in 19% of 907 answers
What does the 'basic speed law' require?
✓ Right answer: Drive no faster than is safe for current conditions
✗ Most common wrong answer: You may always drive at the posted limit, whatever the conditions (11% of answers)
Every state has a basic speed rule: never drive faster than is reasonable and safe for traffic, weather, visibility and road conditions. You can be cited for driving too fast for conditions even while under the posted limit.
Checked against: dps.texas.gov ↗, TX handbook - Basic speed law
#23 · Vehicle equipment · missed in 20% of 287 answers
When should you use your high-beam headlights?
✓ Right answer: On open roads with no vehicles close by
✗ Most common wrong answer: Whenever it is dark, regardless of other traffic (10% of answers)
Use high beams on open roads when there is no oncoming traffic and no vehicle close ahead. Dim them within 500 feet of oncoming traffic and 200-300 feet when following. High beams reflect off fog, rain, and snow, reducing visibility.
Checked against: wisconsindot.gov ↗, WI handbook - High beams
#24 · Road signs · missed in 18% of 904 answers
A yellow sign with two arrows pointing in opposite directions (one up, one down) means:
✓ Right answer: Two-way traffic ahead
✗ Most common wrong answer: Divided highway begins (13% of answers)
This sign warns that you are leaving a divided roadway and entering a two-way road. Oncoming traffic will now be present - keep right and do not pass unless permitted.
Checked against: Federal MUTCD (11th ed.) ↗, MUTCD 11th ed. (Dec 2023) 2C.51
#25 · Road signs · missed in 18% of 1,092 answers
A diamond-shaped orange sign indicates:
✓ Right answer: A work zone ahead
✗ Most common wrong answer: A yield ahead (8% of answers)
Orange diamond-shaped signs indicate construction or work zones. Speed limits are often reduced and fines are doubled in work zones. Slow down and stay alert.
Checked against: dps.texas.gov ↗, TX handbook - Chapter 5, sign colors
#26 · Alcohol & drugs · missed in 18% of 895 answers
For adult drivers (21+), what Blood Alcohol Concentration (BAC) is the legal limit in most states?
✓ Right answer: 0.08%
✗ Most common wrong answer: 0.05% (13% of answers)
In most US states, a BAC of 0.08% or higher is legally considered driving under the influence (DUI) for drivers 21 and older. Always check your state's specific laws.
Checked against: dmv.ca.gov ↗, California Driver Handbook - Alcohol and drug limits
#27 · Alcohol & drugs · missed in 19% of 322 answers
What does 'implied consent' mean for drivers?
✓ Right answer: You agree to chemical tests if arrested for DUI
✗ Most common wrong answer: You agree to obey all traffic laws when you drive (17% of answers)
Implied consent laws mean that by driving on public roads, you have already consented to chemical tests (breath, blood, urine) if you are lawfully arrested for suspected DUI. Refusing has serious consequences including license suspension.
Checked against: pa.gov ↗, PA handbook - Pennsylvania's Implied Consent Law
Which topics are hardest
How the 27 questions split by topic:
- Road signs8
- Parking5
- Traffic laws4
- Safe driving3
- Right of way3
- Alcohol & drugs2
- Speed limits1
- Vehicle equipment1
Many of these questions ask for an exact number (feet, seconds, a direction) or about a rule that drivers rarely meet, such as which way to turn your wheels when parking on a hill. Learning those numbers from your state's handbook is one of the quickest ways to raise your score.
How we chose these questions
- We counted 64,124 answers to the 127 questions that appear in every state's practice tests on this site, recorded since September 2026.
- A question needed at least 30 answers to be ranked. Questions written for one state have too few answers so far, so they are not included.
- We ranked by a cautious estimate of each question's miss rate (the lower end of its 95% confidence range), so a small sample cannot push a question to the top.
- Where two questions test the same rule, only the harder one is listed.
- A question that many people miss could also have a wrong answer key, so we checked each answer against the source linked under it before publishing.
Frequently asked questions
What is the hardest question on the permit test?
On our practice tests, the most-missed question is "You are driving at 60 mph on a highway. How many feet does your vehicle travel per second?" 51% of 287 answers were wrong; the right answer is "88 feet". No DMV publishes how often its own test questions are missed, so this list comes from our visitors' answers, not from the DMV.
Do these questions apply to my state?
These questions are part of every state's practice tests on this site. The rules they test appear in state driver handbooks, but some details, such as how close you may park to a fire hydrant or crosswalk, can differ by state or city. Each answer below links to the handbook or federal sign manual it was checked against; check the same rule in your own state's handbook.
How was this list made?
We counted 64,124 answers to the 127 questions that appear in every state's tests, recorded on permitpractice.us since September 2026. A question needed at least 30 answers to be ranked, and we used a cautious estimate of its miss rate so that a question missed by 2 of 3 people cannot outrank one missed by hundreds. The list was last updated October 14, 2026.
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