Kentucky Permit Test Cheat Sheet (2026)
The Kentucky rules and numbers to know for the TC knowledge test, on one page. Every line was checked against the official Kentucky driver's handbook. It is a study sheet: you cannot use notes during the real test.
The Kentucky test at a glance
- Questions on the test
- Not published by the TC
- To pass
- 80% correct
- Time limit
- We found no published time limit for the Kentucky knowledge test.
- Minimum permit age
- 15 years old
- Hold the permit for
- 180 days (ages 15-20); 30 days for applicants 21+
- Alcohol limit under 21
- 0.02% BAC
Kentucky rules and numbers
From the official Kentucky handbook (Updated 7-23-26 (per file name; no date ); PDF page numbers in brackets.
Road signs
Rules of the road
- Permit holders ages 15-20 must hold the permit at least 180 days. [p.5]
- GDL practice log: 60 hours of supervised driving, 10 of them at night. [p.5]
- Drivers under 18 with permit or intermediate license: 1 unrelated passenger under 20. [p.6]
- Teens record their 60 practice hours in a parent-signed Practice Driving Log. [p.5]
- Unposted limit on KY interstates and parkways: 65 mph. [p.57]
- Unposted limit on other KY state highways: 55 mph. [p.57]
- Unposted limit in a KY business or residential district: 35 mph. [p.57]
- Public off-street parking facility in KY: 15 mph. [p.57]
- Visibility 100 feet or less (rain, fog, snow): no faster than 25 mph. [p.58]
- Signal at least 100 feet before turning at an intersection. [p.50]
- Finish a pass before coming within 200 feet of an oncoming vehicle. [p.55]
- Passing a bicycle or e-scooter in one lane: keep at least 3 feet. [p.56]
- Limited access highway: staying in the left lane when not passing is illegal. [p.54]
- School/church bus: stop both ways unless 4+ lanes split by barrier or unpaved median. [p.52]
- Yield to any vehicle with a flashing red or blue light or a siren. [p.72]
- Move-over, two-lane road: approach slowly and pass with caution. [p.74]
- Funeral procession violation: $250 fine or 90 days in jail. [p.77]
- Work zone fines double with signs posted and at least 1 worker present. [p.77]
- Near a blind pedestrian, stop no more than 5 feet from the crosswalk. [p.67]
- Uninvestigated crash over $500 damage: report to KSP within 10 days. [p.64]
- Permit supervisor: licensed driver 21+ in the front passenger seat. [p.13]
- Under-18 permit and intermediate drivers: no driving midnight-6 a.m. [p.13]
- Failed road test: wait at least one week to retest. [p.14]
Safe driving & emergencies
- Kentucky minimum following distance: 4 seconds. [p.59]
- Night on unfamiliar roads: add at least 2 seconds of following distance. [p.76]
- Dim high beams within 500 ft of oncoming traffic, 300 ft when following. [p.76]
- Stalled on tracks: get out, run away from tracks toward the oncoming train. [p.45]
- Loaded truck at 55 mph: at least 335 feet to stop. [p.71]
- Breakdown: place flares about 200-300 feet behind the vehicle. [p.66]
- Booster seat: under age 8 and 40-57 inches tall. [p.39]
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.