West Virginia Permit Test Cheat Sheet (2026)
The West Virginia rules and numbers to know for the DMV knowledge test, on one page. Every line was checked against the official West Virginia driver's handbook. It is a study sheet: you cannot use notes during the real test.
The West Virginia test at a glance
- Questions on the test
- 25
- To pass
- 19 of 25 correct (76%)
- Time limit
- We found no published time limit for the West Virginia knowledge test.
- Minimum permit age
- 15 years old
- Hold the permit for
- 6 months (must hold Level 1 six months before Level 2)
- Alcohol limit under 21
- 0.02% BAC
West Virginia rules and numbers
From the official West Virginia handbook; PDF page numbers in brackets.
Rules of the road
- West Virginia Level 2, first 6 months: no non-family passengers under 20. [p.21]
- West Virginia Level 2, second 6 months: one non-family passenger under 20. [p.21]
- West Virginia Level 2: supervision required from 10 p.m. to 5 a.m. [p.20]
- WV school zone: school property plus 125 feet along adjoining streets. [p.52]
- Slow driver on a one-lane-each-way road: pull off at the first safe turnout. [p.53]
- No turning around near a hill crest unless visible to traffic within 500 feet. [p.55]
- Parallel parking: wheels within 18 inches of the curb. [p.57]
- Manual car on a downgrade: leave it in reverse; on an upgrade, first gear. [p.56]
- Passing a stopped school bus, 1st offense: 60+ day suspension, $500+ fine. [p.60]
- Work zone lane closed: move to the open lane early, not at the last minute. [p.70]
- Horseback and other animal riders may not use interstate highways. [p.63]
- Public (transit) bus: no stop required, but watch for crossing riders. [p.64]
- WV interstates: do not drive slower than 55 mph in normal conditions. [p.69]
- Never stop in an exit gore, the triangle between the through lane and the ramp. [p.69]
- Median crossovers: police and emergency vehicles only; no interstate U-turns. [p.70]
- Crash with injury or $1,000+ damage: report to police within 5 days. [p.26]
Safe driving & emergencies
- West Virginia Level 1: no cell phone use or texting while driving. [p.21]
- West Virginia: no texting or handheld phone use; hands-free calls are allowed. [source]
- Hand position: left hand at 8 o'clock, right hand at 4 o'clock. [p.53]
- Following distance in darkness or rain: at least 4 seconds. [p.57]
- Following distance on ice or snow: at least 6 seconds. [p.57]
- Can't see the truck driver in the side mirror? You are in the No-Zone. [p.62]
- After passing a truck, wait 2 seconds before merging back right. [p.63]
- Never sound your horn when approaching or near a horse. [p.63]
- Disabled on an interstate: flares 1 car length and about 300 feet behind. [p.70]
- Dim high beams within 500 feet of an oncoming vehicle. [p.72]
- Dim high beams within 200 feet of a vehicle you are following. [p.72]
- Six inches of water can float some cars; two feet carries most away. [p.73]
- Stopping on snow or ice can take up to 12 times the dry-road distance. [p.73]
- Vehicle fire out of control: move at least 100 feet away; no water. [p.82]
- Steering fails and car heads off road: brake quickly with maximum pressure. [p.82]
- Oncoming car in your lane: move right, slow down, use horn and lights. [p.82]
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.