Photo: Dougtone, CC BY-SA 2.0, via Wikimedia Commons
The Indiana BMV knowledge exam is a multiple-choice test in two sections, road signs and traffic rules, and the BMV says you need at least 80% on each section to pass. This practice set is split the same way. Its 16 sign questions and 24 rules questions are our own exercise layout, not the length of the official exam, so you can score each half separately. Every question is original and unofficial, written from the Indiana Driver’s Manual topics and BMV rules; none is a BMV question.
Indiana knowledge exam: key facts
- Two sections, road signs and traffic rules. Score 80% or more on each. A strong rules score does not make up for a weak signs score.
- Ask your BMV branch for the total question count on the live exam. Chapter 9 of the Driver’s Manual has short sample sets of sign and traffic questions to practice with.
- Retake: the next business day. Arrive at least 30 minutes before the branch closes or you cannot start.
- Age: 16 without driver education, or 15 if enrolled in a BMV-licensed driver education course.
Documents, branches and study tips: the Indiana BMV permit test guide.
Section 1: road signs (questions 1 to 16)
1. What does a red octagon mean?
- A. Yield
- B. Stop completely
- C. No parking
- D. Slow, school zone
Answer: B. The octagon shape is reserved for STOP. Manual topic: signs.
2. A white rectangle with black lettering is usually a:
- A. Construction sign
- B. Guide sign for exits
- C. Regulatory sign, such as a speed limit
- D. Warning sign
Answer: C. Black-on-white rectangles state laws you must obey. See US road signs by shape and color.
3. A yellow diamond showing a curved arrow means:
- A. The road curves ahead; slow down
- B. One-way street
- C. Detour
- D. You must turn
Answer: A. Diamond warning signs show the road shape ahead.
4. A yellow diamond with two arrows pointing in opposite directions, one up and one down, warns of:
- A. Merge
- B. Divided highway
- C. Lane ends
- D. Two-way traffic ahead
Answer: D. You are leaving a one-way section or divided road and oncoming traffic will share the road.
5. A fluorescent yellow-green pentagon with figures walking means:
- A. A pedestrian mall
- B. A school zone or school crossing
- C. A hiking trail
- D. A park entrance
Answer: B. The pentagon is the school sign shape. Expect children.
6. A white X-shaped sign reading RAILROAD CROSSING is placed:
- A. A mile before the crossing
- B. At closed tracks
- C. Only at crossings with gates
- D. At the crossing itself
Answer: D. The crossbuck marks the crossing; the round yellow sign gives advance warning. See railroad crossings.
7. A yellow pennant on the left side of the road marks:
- A. A narrow bridge
- B. The start of a no-passing zone
- C. A rest area
- D. A speed trap
Answer: B. The pennant reinforces the solid yellow line on your side.
8. A sign shows a red circle with a slash over a left arrow. It means:
- A. Left lane closed ahead
- B. Left turn only
- C. Keep left
- D. No left turn
Answer: D. The red slash bans the movement in the symbol.
9. Which sign color is used for motorist services such as gas, food and hospitals?
- A. Orange
- B. Blue
- C. Brown
- D. Green
Answer: B. Blue is for services, green for directions, brown for recreation and orange for work zones.
10. An orange sign reading ROAD WORK AHEAD means:
- A. Slow down and watch for workers and equipment
- B. The road is closed
- C. Speed limits do not apply
- D. Use the shoulder
Answer: A. Orange marks a work zone. Fines can be higher there. See work zone driving rules.
11. A steady red arrow pointing left means:
- A. Yield, then turn left
- B. Left turns only
- C. Do not turn left until the arrow changes
- D. Turn left after stopping
Answer: C. A red arrow stops movement in that direction. See traffic signals in the US.
12. A flashing yellow arrow pointing left means:
- A. You may turn left, but must yield to oncoming traffic and pedestrians
- B. Turn left quickly before red
- C. You have a protected left turn
- D. Stop, left turns are banned
Answer: A. It is a permissive turn: oncoming traffic still has a green light.
13. A flashing red light at an intersection means:
- A. Stop completely, then go when it is safe
- B. Pedestrians only
- C. The light is about to turn green
- D. Slow down and proceed
Answer: A. Treat a flashing red signal like a STOP sign.
14. A yellow line separates:
- A. Lanes moving the same way
- B. Bike lanes from car lanes
- C. Parking from traffic
- D. Traffic moving in opposite directions
Answer: D. Yellow center lines divide opposing traffic; white lines divide same-direction lanes. See US pavement markings.
15. A center lane marked with solid and broken yellow lines on both edges, with left-turn arrows, is for:
- A. Passing
- B. Parking
- C. Buses only
- D. Left turns by traffic from both directions
Answer: D. Use the two-way left-turn lane only to start or finish a left turn. See the center two-way left-turn lane.
16. A green sign with white letters gives:
- A. Services
- B. A law
- C. Directions and distances
- D. A warning
Answer: C. Green guide signs show routes, exits and distances.
Score Section 1
You need 13 of 16 for 80%. Under that, drill shapes and colors before moving on.
Section 2: traffic rules (questions 17 to 40)
17. Two vehicles arrive at an intersection with no signs or signals at the same time. Who yields?
- A. The larger vehicle goes first
- B. The driver on the right yields
- C. The driver on the left yields to the driver on the right
- D. The driver turning right always goes first
Answer: C. Yield to the vehicle on your right when you arrive together. See right of way at uncontrolled intersections.
18. At a four-way stop, the first vehicle to come to a complete stop:
- A. Yields to everyone on the left
- B. Waits for all others
- C. Must turn right
- D. Goes first
Answer: D. First to stop, first to go. Ties go to the car on the right. See four-way stops explained.
19. Before turning right on red where it is allowed, you must:
- A. Honk
- B. Stop fully and yield to pedestrians and cross traffic
- C. Slow to 5 mph
- D. Wait for a green arrow
Answer: B. Right on red comes after a full stop and only when it is safe and not prohibited by a sign. See right on red.
20. You hear a siren and see flashing lights behind you. You should:
- A. Move to the left lane
- B. Pull to the right edge, clear of intersections, and stop
- C. Stop immediately where you are
- D. Keep going at the speed limit
Answer: B. Give emergency vehicles a clear path and wait until they pass. See pulling over for emergency vehicles.
21. A police car is stopped on the shoulder with lights flashing. On a multi-lane road you should:
- A. Flash your lights
- B. Move over a lane if safe, or slow down if you cannot
- C. Keep your speed
- D. Stop beside it
Answer: B. Every state has a move over law. See move over laws.
22. A school bus ahead has stopped with red lights flashing and its stop arm out. You are behind it. You must:
- A. Pass on the left slowly
- B. Stop and stay stopped until the arm folds and the lights go off
- C. Stop only if you see children
- D. Honk and wait
Answer: B. Traffic behind a stopped school bus always stops. Rules for oncoming traffic depend on the road layout. See school bus stopping laws.
23. The posted limit is 55 mph, but there is thick fog. You should drive:
- A. At the speed of the car ahead
- B. Slower than 55 mph, at a speed safe for what you can see
- C. With high beams on at 55 mph
- D. At 55 mph
Answer: B. Never drive faster than conditions allow. Use low beams in fog. See driving in snow, fog and rain.
24. What is a good minimum following distance in normal conditions?
- A. At least 3 seconds
- B. 10 feet at any speed
- C. Half a car length
- D. 1 second
Answer: A. Count seconds from a fixed point and add more in bad weather. See following distance.
25. When should you switch to low beams at night?
- A. Only in rain
- B. Never on highways
- C. When approaching or following another vehicle
- D. Only in town
Answer: C. High beams dazzle other drivers. See night driving.
26. You plan to change lanes on a highway. The correct order is:
- A. Signal and move at once
- B. Signal, check mirrors, look over your shoulder at the blind spot, then move
- C. Move, then signal
- D. Check mirrors only
Answer: B. Mirrors miss the blind spot. See lane changes and blind spots.
27. Your car begins to hydroplane on a wet road. You should:
- A. Accelerate
- B. Ease off the gas and keep the wheel straight
- C. Brake hard
- D. Turn sharply
Answer: B. Let the tires regain grip before braking or steering. See vehicle emergencies.
28. What does Indiana call impaired driving?
- A. OWI, operating while intoxicated
- B. OVI
- C. DUII
- D. DWAI
Answer: A. Indiana uses OWI. See implied consent and DUI.
29. Under Indiana’s implied consent law, refusing a chemical test with no prior OWI conviction brings a license suspension of:
- A. 30 days
- B. 90 days
- C. 1 year
- D. 5 years
Answer: C. One year, or two years if you have a prior OWI conviction.
30. Which of these lowers your blood alcohol level?
- A. Fresh air
- B. Black coffee
- C. Exercise
- D. Only time
Answer: D. Only time lowers it. Nothing speeds it up. See zero tolerance laws for drivers under 21.
31. Under Indiana’s hands-free law, in force since July 1, 2020, an adult driver may:
- A. Use a phone hands-free or by voice, but not hold it
- B. Use a phone any way at all
- C. Text at red lights
- D. Hold the phone for calls
Answer: A. Holding or using a phone while the car is moving is banned, apart from hands-free or voice use and 911 calls. Drivers under 21 face a stricter rule. See Indiana phone laws for new drivers.
32. A 19-year-old Indiana probationary driver wants to take a call through the car’s Bluetooth. Is it allowed?
- A. Yes, after the first 180 days
- B. No. Under 21, the only allowed use is calling 911 in an emergency
- C. Yes, hands-free is fine at any age
- D. Only with a parent in the car
Answer: B. Probationary drivers under 21 may not use any telecommunications device while driving, except to call 911.
33. How old must you be to get an Indiana learner’s permit without driver education?
- A. 15
- B. 15 and a half
- C. 16
- D. 17
Answer: C. 16 without driver education; 15 if enrolled in a BMV-licensed course. See the Indiana learner driver guide.
34. How long must you hold an Indiana learner’s permit before applying for a license?
- A. 90 days
- B. 120 days
- C. 180 days
- D. 1 year
Answer: C. 180 days. The permit is valid for 2 years.
35. An Indiana permit holder under 18 practicing without an instructor must be supervised by:
- A. A friend with a full license
- B. A licensed relative aged 25 or older, or a licensed spouse aged 21 or older, in the front seat
- C. Any licensed driver aged 18 or older
- D. Any adult passenger
Answer: B. The supervisor sits in the front passenger seat and must be a relative 25 or older, or your spouse 21 or older.
36. How many supervised driving hours must every new Indiana driver log before applying for a license?
- A. 30, with 5 at night
- B. 40, with 8 at night
- C. 50, with 10 at night
- D. 60, with 10 at night
Answer: C. 50 hours including 10 at night, even after driver education. See the Indiana 50-hour log.
37. For the first 180 days of an Indiana probationary license, you may not drive between:
- A. 9 p.m. and 5 a.m.
- B. 10 p.m. and 5 a.m.
- C. 11 p.m. and 5 a.m.
- D. Midnight and 6 a.m.
Answer: B. 10 p.m. to 5 a.m. After 180 days, later limits apply until 18. See Indiana probationary license rules.
38. In the first 180 days, a probationary driver may carry passengers only when which person is in the front seat?
- A. A licensed instructor, a licensed driver 25 or older, or a spouse 21 or older
- B. No one; passengers are never allowed
- C. Any passenger over 16
- D. Any licensed driver over 18
Answer: A. Without one of those people, no passengers, apart from family: your child, stepchild, sibling, step or half sibling, or spouse.
39. How long do points stay active on an Indiana driving record?
- A. 12 months
- B. 18 months
- C. 24 months
- D. 36 months
Answer: C. 24 months from the conviction date. A warning comes at 14 to 18 points and a suspension at 20. See Indiana BMV points.
40. You fail the Indiana driving skills test. How long must you wait to retest?
- A. 1 day
- B. 3 days
- C. 7 days
- D. 30 days
Answer: C. 7 days for the skills test. The knowledge exam can be retaken the next business day. See the Indiana road skills test.
Score Section 2
| Section | 80% line | Your target |
|---|---|---|
| Road signs (16) | 13 correct | 15 or 16 |
| Traffic rules (24) | 20 correct | 22 or more |
Pass both lines and you are close to ready. Then try the learner sample questions in Chapter 9 of the Indiana Driver’s Manual.
Common questions
Are these the real Indiana BMV questions?
No. They are original, unofficial practice questions covering the same topics.
How many questions are on the Indiana permit test?
The BMV gives the 80% rule for each section. The 16 and 24 split on this page is our own practice layout. Ask your branch if you want the current count.
Do I need an appointment?
Usually not for the knowledge exam. Arrive at least 30 minutes before closing. See how to book a DMV test.
I’m 18. Is it different?
At 18 or older you can practice with any licensed driver 25 or over, or a licensed spouse 21 or over. See getting your first Indiana license as an adult.
Can I retake the knowledge exam the same day?
No. You can retake it on the next business day.
Practice for other states?
See US permit practice tests by state.
Sources
- Indiana Bureau of Motor Vehicles, “Indiana Driver’s Manual”, including Chapter 9 (in.gov/bmv)
- Indiana Bureau of Motor Vehicles, “Learner’s Permit” (in.gov/bmv)
- Indiana Bureau of Motor Vehicles, “Practice Knowledge Exam” (in.gov/bmv)
- Indiana Bureau of Motor Vehicles, “Probationary Driver’s License” (in.gov/bmv)
- State of Indiana, “BMV Frequently Asked Questions” (faqs.in.gov)
- Indiana Department of Transportation, hands-free driving law information (in.gov/indot)