Iowa Permit Test Cheat Sheet (2026)
The Iowa rules and numbers to know for the DOT knowledge test, on one page. Every line was checked against the official Iowa driver's handbook. It is a study sheet: you cannot use notes during the real test.
The Iowa test at a glance
- Questions on the test
- Not published by the DOT
- To pass
- a pass mark the DOT does not publish (our practice tests use 80%)
- Time limit
- We found no published time limit for the Iowa knowledge test.
- Minimum permit age
- 14 years old
- Hold the permit for
- 12 months total with a clean record for the 6 consecutive months before applying for the intermediate license
- Alcohol limit under 21
- 0.02% BAC
Iowa rules and numbers
From the official Iowa handbook; PDF page numbers in brackets.
Rules of the road
- Iowa: the rural interstate maximum speed limit is 70 mph. [p.42]
- Iowa intermediate: no unsupervised driving from 12:30 a.m. to 5 a.m. [source]
- Iowa intermediate, first 6 months unsupervised: one unrelated minor passenger. [source]
- Iowa: no parking closer than 5 feet to a fire hydrant. [p.21]
- Iowa: no parking closer than 50 feet to a railroad crossing. [p.21]
- Iowa: no parking closer than 10 feet to a stop sign. [p.21]
- Iowa: park within 18 inches of the curb. [p.21]
- Iowa business district, unposted: 20 mph. [p.42]
- Iowa residential or school district, unposted: 25 mph. [p.42]
- Iowa interstates: minimum speed 40 mph. [p.42]
- Iowa: signal 300 feet before a turn when the limit is over 45 mph. [p.43]
- Iowa: meeting a bus with amber lights flashing, slow to 20 mph or less. [p.20]
- Iowa: stop at least 15 feet behind a stopped school bus. [p.20]
- Iowa, 4+ lanes: oncoming traffic need not stop for a stopped school bus. [p.20]
- Iowa Move Over law also covers any stopped car with hazard lights on. [p.22]
- Iowa: stay at least 500 feet behind an emergency vehicle in use. [p.19]
- In an intersection, clear it first, then pull over for an emergency vehicle. [p.19]
- Iowa: to pass a bicyclist, change lanes completely. [p.58]
- Iowa: headlights on sunset to sunrise or when visibility is 500 feet or less. [p.49]
- Iowa: fines may double in work zones. [p.14]
- Iowa: report crashes with injury or over $1,500 damage within 72 hours. [p.63]
- Iowa: children under 6 must be in a safety seat or booster seat. [p.35]
Safe driving & emergencies
- Iowa hands-free law: no holding, typing, scrolling, or entering GPS by hand. [p.36]
- Stalled on tracks: get out, move away at a 45-degree angle toward the train. [p.12]
- Stuck at a crossing: call the ENS sign number and give the crossing ID. [p.12]
- Orange slow-moving vehicle triangle: vehicle travels 35 mph or less. [p.11]
- Large farm equipment may make wide turns at unmarked entrances. [p.56]
- Iowa snowplows typically travel 25-35 mph. [p.61]
- Stopping distance on ice and snow can be 10 times greater. [p.61]
- Rural four-lane: cross one direction, stop in the median, then cross. [p.51]
- As little as 6 inches of moving water can sweep a vehicle away. [p.60]
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.
- 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.