Free Pennsylvania PennDOT Practice Permit Test - Practice Test 2 2026
This Practice Test 2 is modeled on the Pennsylvania Department of Transportation (PennDOT) written knowledge exam, which has 18 questions; to pass you need 15 of 18 correct (83%). These 25 questions rotate through traffic laws, road signs, and right-of-way - the core topics the PennDOT tests most heavily. Every question includes an explanation, so you learn the rule behind each answer - not just whether you got it right.
What is the purpose of a broken white line between lanes?
What's on the Pennsylvania Practice Test 2
The real Pennsylvania knowledge test has 18 questions, and to pass you need 15 of 18 correct (83%). Practice Test 2 is a 25-question set drawn from 47 questions, scored against a practice target of 83%.
Topics in this test's question pool
- Road signs 17
- Traffic laws 12
- Safe driving 5
- Right of way 4
- Parking 3
- Emergencies 2
- Vehicle equipment 2
- Speed limits 1
- Alcohol & drugs 1
47 questions in the pool, 10 of them written specifically for Pennsylvania. Each attempt shows 25 in a new order.
Sample questions from this test, with answers
Want to test yourself first? Take the test above before reading these. Every answer below is checked against the source shown.
1. At night, Pennsylvania law requires you to switch from high beams to low beams once an oncoming vehicle is within:
- A. 500 feet (correct)
- B. 200 feet
- C. 350 feet
- D. 1,000 feet
Why: High beams can blind a driver coming toward you. Pennsylvania law requires low beams whenever an oncoming vehicle is within 500 feet.
Source: official Pennsylvania driver handbook, p.40 (PDF p.44), Driving at Night
2. Low beams light up only about 250 feet of road. To avoid overdriving your headlights on a dark road at night, the Pennsylvania manual says not to drive faster than:
- A. 35 mph
- B. 55 mph
- C. 65 mph
- D. 45 mph (correct)
Why: At 55 mph you need more than 250 feet to stop, which is farther than low beams reach. The manual advises staying at or below 45 mph on a dark road so you can stop within the lighted distance.
Source: official Pennsylvania driver handbook, p.40 (PDF p.44), Driving at Night
3. A sign reading 'SPEED LIMIT 55' is what type of sign?
- A. Warning
- B. Regulatory (correct)
- C. Guide
- D. Informational
Why: Speed limit signs are regulatory - they state the maximum legal speed under ideal conditions, which you are legally required to obey.
Source: Federal MUTCD 11th ed. (Dec 2023) 2B.21 Paragraph 13
4. Alcohol affects driving by:
- A. Slowing reactions only once you reach 0.08%
- B. Impairing reaction time, judgment, and vision (correct)
- C. Affecting judgment, but not reaction time
- D. Mainly causing drowsiness, which coffee can fix
Why: Alcohol impairs all the skills needed to drive safely: reaction time slows, judgment and decision-making deteriorate, coordination suffers, and vision (especially peripheral) is reduced.
5. What does a railroad advance warning sign look like?
- A. A white X-shaped sign reading RAILROAD CROSSING
- B. A round yellow sign with an X and RR (correct)
- C. A yellow pentagon showing a train
- D. A red and white triangle reading RR
Why: The round yellow sign with an X and "RR" is the railroad advance warning sign, usually the first sign you see before a highway-rail crossing. At the tracks you will see the white X-shaped crossbuck, which means yield to trains.
6. What is the purpose of a broken white line between lanes?
- A. Lanes are one-way only
- B. Lane changes are permitted when safe (correct)
- C. You may not change lanes or pass here
- D. Traffic moves in opposite directions
Why: Broken (dashed) white lines separate lanes of traffic moving in the same direction. You may change lanes when it is safe to do so.
More Pennsylvania facts, the full requirements table and the printable PDF are on the Pennsylvania permit practice test page.
Pennsylvania PennDOT Test Info
- Questions on real test
- 18
- Passing score
- 83%
- Correct needed
- 15 of 18 correct (83%)
- Minimum age
- 16 years old
- Testing agency
- Pennsylvania Department of Transportation
More Pennsylvania Tests
Study Tip
Don't just aim to pass this Pennsylvania Practice Test 2 once - keep taking it until you score 83% or higher two or three times in a row. Read the explanation after every question, even the ones you get right, to lock in the rule before your PennDOT exam.