Free Virginia DMV Practice Permit Test - Practice Test 1 2026

What's on the Virginia Practice Test 1

The real Virginia knowledge test has 40 questions, and to pass you need 10 of 10 on Road Signs and 24 of 30 on General Knowledge. Practice Test 1 is a 25-question set drawn from 53 questions, scored against a practice target of 80%.

Topics in this test's question pool

• Road signs 20
• Traffic laws 16
• Safe driving 5
• Speed limits 3
• Parking 3
• Right of way 3
• Emergencies 2
• Alcohol & drugs 1

53 questions in the pool, 11 of them written specifically for Virginia. 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. 1. If you are convicted of speeding in a Virginia highway work zone, what is the highest fine you may face?

   • A. $250
   • B. $500 (correct)
   • C. $1,000
   • D. $100

   Why: Speeding in a highway work zone can bring a fine of up to $500. Some work zones also use automated photo speed enforcement.

   Source: official Virginia driver handbook, p.10 (PDF p.12), Work Zones

2. 2. Your car has antilock brakes (ABS). What does Virginia's manual say you should never do with them?

   • A. Read about them in the manual
   • B. Practice braking before driving
   • C. Use them on wet pavement
   • D. Pump the brake pedal (correct)

   Why: Virginia's manual warns never to pump antilock brakes. Learn how your system works from the owner's manual and practice braking before you drive on the road.

   Source: official Virginia driver handbook, p.15 (PDF p.17), Antilock Brakes

3. 3. Green guide signs are used to show:

   • A. Hazards on the road ahead
   • B. Parks and historic sites
   • C. Directions and distances (correct)
   • D. Locations of gas and food

   Why: Green signs provide guidance: route numbers, directions, distances, and destination names. They help you navigate to where you are going.

   Source: Federal MUTCD 11th ed. (Dec 2023) 1D.05 Color Code

4. 4. What does a green light on a traffic signal that is shaped like an arrow mean?

   • A. A protected move in the arrow's direction (correct)
   • B. Go that way, but yield to oncoming traffic
   • C. The turn is allowed only after stopping
   • D. The signal is about to turn red

   Why: A green arrow gives a protected movement: you may go in the direction of the arrow while conflicting traffic is stopped by a red signal. You must still yield to pedestrians lawfully in the crosswalk and to vehicles still lawfully in the intersection.

   Source: Federal MUTCD 11th ed. (Dec 2023) 4A.03 Paragraph 01 A.2

5. 5. A flashing yellow arrow on a traffic signal means:

   • A. Wait - the arrow is about to turn red
   • B. Turn after yielding to traffic and pedestrians (correct)
   • C. Turn freely - oncoming traffic is stopped
   • D. Stop fully, then turn ahead of the oncoming cars

   Why: A flashing yellow arrow means you may turn in that direction after yielding to oncoming traffic and pedestrians. It is an unprotected turn - proceed only when safe.

   Source: Federal MUTCD 11th ed. (Dec 2023) 4A.04 Paragraph 01 B.2

6. 6. In many areas a curb is painted yellow. What should you understand from this?

   • A. You may park there for as long as you like
   • B. Stopping or parking is restricted there (correct)
   • C. It is reserved for motorcycles
   • D. It shows a spot reserved for disabled drivers

   Why: 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.

   Source: official Virginia driver handbook

More Virginia facts, the full requirements table and the printable PDF are on the Virginia permit practice test page.