Indiana Permit Test Cheat Sheet (2026)
The Indiana rules and numbers to know for the BMV knowledge test, on one page. Every line was checked against the official Indiana driver's handbook. It is a study sheet: you cannot use notes during the real test.
The Indiana test at a glance
- Questions on the test
- Not published by the BMV
- To pass
- 80% correct
- Time limit
- We found no published time limit for the Indiana knowledge test.
- Minimum permit age
- 15 years old
- Hold the permit for
- 180 days
- Alcohol limit under 21
- 0.02% BAC
Indiana rules and numbers
From the official Indiana handbook (Published July 2026); PDF page numbers in brackets.
Road signs
Rules of the road
- Passing: be back in your lane at least 100 feet before oncoming traffic. [p.43]
- No passing within 100 feet of an intersection, rail crossing, bridge, viaduct or tunnel. [p.43]
- Rural interstate: 70 mph max for passenger vehicles (65 for trucks over 26,000 lb). [p.45]
- Rural state divided highway: 60 mph max unless posted otherwise. [p.45]
- Urban interstate (50,000+ population): 55 mph unless posted otherwise. [p.46]
- Alleys: 15 mph max unless posted otherwise. [p.46]
- Work zone speed limits are always at least 10 mph below the normal limit. [p.46]
- Headlights: sunset to sunrise and whenever visibility is under 500 feet. [p.49]
- Low beams: within 500 ft of oncoming traffic and within 200 ft when following. [p.49]
- Aggressive driving: 3 or more listed unsafe acts in one episode of driving. [p.51]
- Required rail stops: no closer than 15 ft and no farther than 50 ft from the rail. [p.53]
- Move Over: change lanes, or if you can't, slow to 10 mph under the posted limit. [p.56]
- Barrier or unimproved median: only traffic going the bus's direction must stop. [p.57]
- Stuck at a red light: motorcycles and MDCs may proceed after a full 2-minute stop. [p.40]
- Two trucks in a roundabout: the right-lane truck yields to the left-lane truck. [p.45]
- Parking downhill: wheels toward the curb; uphill: away from the curb. [p.59]
- Probationary license, first 180 days: no driving from 10 p.m. to 5 a.m. [p.15]
- Striped area next to accessible parking: no parking, even with a placard. [p.60]
Safe driving & emergencies
- Indiana drivers may use a phone only hands-free, or to call 911. [p.50]
- Seat belts raise front-seat survival chances by 45% and cut serious injury by 50%. [p.60]
- Holding a phone to text or call while driving is illegal in Indiana. [p.50]
- Seat belts are required even in vehicles with airbags. [p.60]
- Following distance: at least 2 to 3 seconds behind the vehicle ahead. [p.46]
- Following a motorcycle: allow at least 3 or 4 seconds. [p.57]
- Crossing gate lowering: about 20 seconds to get clear of the tracks. [p.54]
- Stuck on tracks with a train coming: run off at a 45-degree angle toward the train. [p.54]
- Truck blind spots: up to 20 ft in front of the cab and up to 200 ft behind. [p.55]
- Car at 55 mph stops in about 130-140 ft; a loaded truck may need over 400 ft. [p.55]
- Passing a bicyclist: leave at least 3 feet. [p.57]
- Reflective triangle: 200 ft behind the car, or 500 ft on a hill or curve. [p.65]
- Traffic stop: turn on your right signal, pull to the right shoulder, stay inside. [p.65]
- Children under 8 must ride in a child car seat or booster seat. [p.61]
Alcohol & drugs
- Indiana drivers under 21: a BAC of 0.02 or higher is illegal. [source]
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.