North Carolina Permit Practice Test — DMV Written Test, Free to Start

Free 10-question North Carolina permit practice test, then 52-question practice tests, each question cited to the North Carolina Driver Handbook.

The exam

This practice test is 52 questions in 2 parts — 12 road signs, 9 right; 40 road rules, 32 right — and every part has to be passed. Everything on it comes out of North Carolina Driver Handbook. Officially it is the knowledge test; most people call it the written test, or the permit test.

North Carolina does not publish how many questions the road rules part of its knowledge test asks. This practice test asks 40 there, and passes it at the 80% set by North Carolina’s own rules (19A NCAC 03B .0201). The road signs part, 9 of 12, is North Carolina’s own.

How this works

Most practice tests hand you a bank of questions and leave the manual somewhere else. This one puts them together.

You read one law and the reason behind it, then answer a question on that law while it is still fresh. Get it right and you move on; get it wrong and you have found the gap while it is cheap to fix, not on the morning of the exam.

Learning one rule at a time, and proving it immediately, is what turns a manual you skimmed into something you actually know — and it makes studying feel like getting somewhere rather than like waiting to find out.

Ask a question about North Carolina road law

Easier than searching the manual: ask in your own words — how far from a fire hydrant you may park, when you must stop for a school bus — and the answer comes from North Carolina Driver Handbook or North Carolina’s code, with the page or the section it is in. When neither says, the answer says so rather than guess. Or tick Nationwide and compare every state on one question.

Ask a question

North Carolina driving law, answered

North Carolina driving questions, answered

What it costs

  • One payment, once — not a subscription. Nothing renews and there is nothing to cancel, for an exam you sit one time.
  • Free to start: a 10-question test and the first section of cards. No sign-up and no account.
  • Paying opens the rest of the cards, unlimited full-length practice tests, and retests built from exactly the questions you got wrong.
  • Every level up to Prepared — 3 tests passed in a row.
  • Do the work, fail the real exam, and we refund you.

What North Carolina tests

97 concepts, 488 separate rules. Each one is a page of its own.

Questions from the North Carolina test

What does North Carolina law say about driving on its streets and highways without a valid driver license?

It is against the law. The license is the state’s record that you passed its tests. Without one, nobody has checked that you can drive. North Carolina Driver Handbook, p.8: “It is against the law to drive a motor vehicle on streets and highways without a valid driver license.”

Which four things may you be tested on for an original driver license?

Vision, traffic signs, motor vehicle laws, and driving skill. Each test checks a different thing: that you can see, that you know the signs, that you know the rules, and that you can handle the car. North Carolina Driver Handbook, p.8: “For an original driver license of any type, you may be tested on: • Vision; • Traffic signs; and • Knowledge of motor vehicle laws; • Driving skill (on-road test).”

Who must be with an adult learner permit holder while driving on the highways?

A person licensed to drive that vehicle, seated beside them. A new driver has nobody’s experience but their own. The licensed person beside them is there to catch what they miss. North Carolina Driver Handbook, p.8: “The permit holder must, while operating a motor vehicle over the highways, be accompanied by a person who is licensed to operate the motor vehicle being driven and is seated beside the permit holder.”

What does a motorcycle learner permit allow its holder to do?

Ride a motorcycle without passengers. A beginner on two wheels is still learning to balance. A passenger changes the balance and doubles who gets hurt. North Carolina Driver Handbook, p.8: “The motorcycle learner permit authorizes a person to operate a motorcycle without passengers.”

Which license do most drivers need for personal cars and small trucks?

A Regular Class C license. The classes exist for heavy and combination vehicles. A car or pickup is Class C, and that is the license this handbook is for. North Carolina Driver Handbook, p.10: “Most drivers need only a Regular Class C license to operate personal automobiles and small trucks.”

At what age can a North Carolina resident first apply for a Level One Limited Learner Permit?

15 years old. Fifteen is young to drive. The permit lets a teenager start early, but only after a course and only with the limits that follow. North Carolina Driver Handbook, p.12: “If you are at least 15 years of age and have completed an approved driver education course that meets North Carolina requirements, you may apply for a Level One Limited Learner Permit to operate vehicles requiring a Class C License.”

How old must a driver be to hold a Level Two Limited Provisional License?

At least 16 but under 18. Sixteen is the first age North Carolina lets a teenager drive alone, and even then with limits until 18. North Carolina Driver Handbook, p.13: “Drivers must be at least 16 years old, but less than 18.”

What happens to the time-of-day, supervision and passenger restrictions at Level Three?

They no longer apply. Level Three is the reward for two clean levels. The training-wheel rules come off, apart from the phone. North Carolina Driver Handbook, p.13: “The restrictions on level one and level two concerning time of driving, supervision and passenger limitations do not apply to a Full Provisional License.”

Why do special laws apply to drivers under 18?

They have a much higher crash rate. The rules are not a punishment. They exist because the crash numbers for new teenage drivers are so much worse. North Carolina Driver Handbook, p.14: “Drivers under age 18 are provisional licensees. Because these drivers have a much higher crash rate, special laws apply to them.”

How long does a new resident have to get a North Carolina license after establishing residence?

60 days. Your old state’s license says nothing about North Carolina’s rules. Two months is the time you get to switch over. North Carolina Driver Handbook, p.25: “A new resident has 60 days after establishing residence to obtain a North Carolina license or learner permit.”

How long before expiration may a driver license be renewed?

Within 180 days. Renewing early costs nothing and an expired license costs a lot. Six months is the window the DMV gives you. North Carolina Driver Handbook, p.26: “A driver license may be renewed anytime within 180 days prior to expiration.”

What form of proof of liability insurance does a driver license office accept?

A printed document. A license is issued to someone who can pay for the damage they cause. The paper proof is what the office can keep. North Carolina Driver Handbook, p.23: “The N.C. General Assembly has enacted legislation to require some (but not all) driver license applicants in North Carolina to provide printed proof of automobile liability insurance coverage in order to obtain a driver license (images on a mobile device will not be accepted).”

At what blood alcohol concentration does North Carolina say everyone’s driving is impaired?

0.08 percent. The limit is where the law draws its line, not where the alcohol starts working. Drivers get worse well before 0.08. North Carolina Driver Handbook, p.31: “Everyone’s driving is impaired at a blood alcohol concentration, or BAC, of 0.08 percent, but many people are affected at much lower levels.”

What happens to your license if you refuse a required chemical test after a DWI charge?

Immediate revocation for at least 30 days, plus at least 12 months more. Refusing the test does not avoid the penalty. It brings a longer one than many convictions do. North Carolina Driver Handbook, p.31: “Refusal to perform any required test will result in the immediate revocation of your driver license for at least 30 days and an additional, minimum 12-month revocation by the DMV.”

What do North Carolina’s DWI laws allow police to set up to check for impaired drivers?

Road blocks. A checkpoint catches drivers who have not yet done anything visible. The law allows it because impairment hides until it does not. North Carolina Driver Handbook, p.31: “Allow enforcement agencies to set up road blocks to check for impaired drivers;”

How long is the license revocation for a first DWI conviction?

One year. The court has no choice on the first one. A year off the road is the floor, and it starts with the conviction. North Carolina Driver Handbook, p.32: “First conviction: Mandatory revocation of your driver license for a period of one year.”

What alcohol concentration restriction applies on a driver’s first license restoration after DWI?

0.04. A restored license comes with less room for alcohol than a new one. The second time, there is no room at all. North Carolina Driver Handbook, p.32: “On the first restoration, the alcohol concentration restriction will be 0.04. On a second or subsequent restoration, the alcohol concentration restriction will be 0.00.”

A 19-year-old is convicted of trying to buy beer. What happens to their driver license?

It is revoked for one year. The penalty reaches the license even when no car was involved. Buying beer underage costs a year of driving. North Carolina Driver Handbook, p.33: “The law requires a one-year driver license revocation upon conviction for: • Any underage person who attempts to purchase or purchases an alcoholic beverage;”

What does alcohol do to a driver’s ability to judge speed and distance?

It reduces that ability. Most of driving is judging speed and distance. Alcohol attacks exactly that, so a drinker misjudges gaps they would normally see. North Carolina Driver Handbook, p.42: “Reduces your ability to judge how fast you are moving or your distance from other cars, people or objects.”

At 55 mph, how long does it take a vehicle to travel the length of a football field?

3.7 seconds. A nod of the head lasts about as long as it takes to cross a football field at highway speed. The car is unguided the whole way. North Carolina Driver Handbook, p.40: “At 55 mph, a vehicle travels the length of a football field in 3.7 seconds.”

What counts as distracted driving?

Any activity that takes attention away from driving. Texting gets the headlines, but eating, grooming and fiddling with the radio pull your attention just the same. North Carolina Driver Handbook, p.41: “Distracted driving is any activity that could divert a person’s attention away from the primary task of driving.”

Before taking a medication and driving, what does the handbook tell you to do?

Find out how the medication will affect you. A cold tablet can make you as slow as a drink. The label tells you, but only if you read it before you drive. North Carolina Driver Handbook, p.42: “Before you take any medication, find out how it will affect you. Try to do as little driving as possible while taking any type of medication.”

At how many driver license points may you be assigned to a driver improvement clinic?

Seven points. The clinic is a chance to turn a bad run around before it costs the license. Finishing it takes points off. North Carolina Driver Handbook, p.34: “If you accumulate seven points, you may be assigned to a driver improvement clinic.”

How many driver license points does passing a stopped school bus carry?

5 points. These two put other people in the most danger, so they cost the most. Five points is almost half way to a suspension. North Carolina Driver Handbook, p.34: “Passing a stopped school bus 5 Aggressive driving 5”

Driving more than 15 mph over the limit at a speed above 55 mph brings a revocation of at least how long?

30 days. Fifteen over at highway speed is a crash waiting for a reason. The state takes the license straight away, points or no points. North Carolina Driver Handbook, p.36: “Your driving privilege will be revoked for at least 30 days if you are convicted of: • Driving any vehicle more than 15 miles per hour over the speed limit, if you are driving at a speed higher than 55 mph.”

What is the license penalty for manslaughter while under the influence of an impairing substance?

Permanent revocation. Killing someone while impaired ends a driving life. There is no year count on this one. North Carolina Driver Handbook, p.37: “Manslaughter while under the influence of an impairing substance Permanent”

How is a traffic conviction in another state treated for your North Carolina license?

As if the violation happened in North Carolina. The state line is not a reset. A ticket in Virginia follows you home to your North Carolina record. North Carolina Driver Handbook, p.38: “Convictions occurring outside North Carolina may result in your license being suspended or revoked just as if the violations occurred in this state.”

What restoration fee is required after a revocation resulting from a DWI conviction?

$167.25. Getting a license back is not free, and the DWI fee is double because part of it funds the state’s chemical testing. North Carolina Driver Handbook, p.39: “A $167.25 restoration fee is required when the revocation results from a DWI conviction.”

Who must wear a seat belt in a moving vehicle on a North Carolina street or highway?

The driver and all passengers. A belt holds you in the seat when the car stops faster than you can. Everyone in the car is moving at the same speed, so everyone needs one. North Carolina Driver Handbook, p.43: “The driver and all passengers in a motor vehicle manufactured with seat belts shall have a seat belt properly fastened about their body at all times when the vehicle is in forward motion on a street or highway in this state.”

Who is responsible for making sure a passenger under 16 is properly secured?

The driver of the vehicle. A child cannot be expected to buckle themselves. The law puts that job on whoever is driving. North Carolina Driver Handbook, p.44: “Every driver transporting one or more passengers younger than 16 years of age must make sure that each passenger under age 16 is properly secured in a child passenger restraint system or a seat belt which meets the federal safety standards that were in effect at the time it was manufactured.”

An air bag comes out of the dashboard at up to what speed?

200 miles per hour. An air bag is not a pillow. It arrives faster than a blink, and a child sitting close to it takes the full force. North Carolina Driver Handbook, p.44: “To do its important job, an air bag comes out of the dashboard at up to 200 miles per hour — faster than the blink of an eye.”

Who on a motorcycle or moped must wear a helmet that meets FMVSS 218?

Both the operator and any passenger. A motorcycle has no roof and no belt. The helmet is the one piece of the car a rider gets to keep. North Carolina Driver Handbook, p.45: “All operators and passengers on motorcycles and mopeds must wear a motorcycle safety helmet of a type that complies with Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standard (FMVSS) 218.”

On a sunny day, how much hotter than the outside air can the inside of a parked car get?

About 40 to 50 degrees hotter. A car in the sun is an oven with a glass lid. A cracked window changes almost nothing. North Carolina Driver Handbook, p.46: “The temperature inside a vehicle can rise approximately 40-50 degrees higher than the outside temperature.”

At an intersection with no traffic signals, where does a pedestrian have the right of way?

In marked crosswalks and in unmarked crosswalks at the corners. Every corner has a crosswalk whether or not it is painted. A pedestrian stepping off the curb there is in it. North Carolina Driver Handbook, p.46: “At intersections without traffic signals, pedestrians have the right of way if they are in marked crosswalks or in unmarked crosswalks formed by imaginary lines extending from the sidewalks across the streets;”

You change lanes without signaling and force a motorcyclist off the road. What does the law provide?

You are charged and fined. A motorcyclist forced off the road has no fender to take the hit. The law treats the unsignaled move as the offense. North Carolina Driver Handbook, p.47: “If a vehicle driver does not properly signal vehicle movements to a motorcycle operator and causes the motorcycle to change lanes or leave the roadway, the vehicle driver will be charged and fined as the law provides.”

A school bus ahead has its stop arm out and red lights flashing. When may you pass it?

When the arm is in, the lights are off and the bus is moving. Children cross in front of and behind the bus while it is stopped. The lights stay on until the last one is clear. North Carolina Driver Handbook, p.47: “When a school bus displays its mechanical stop signal or flashing red lights to receive or discharge passengers, the driver of any other vehicle approaching the school bus must stop and not attempt to pass the school bus until the mechanical stop signal is withdrawn, the flashing red lights are turned off and the bus has started to move.”

Who has the right of way when an ambulance approaches with lights and siren?

The ambulance, in every case. Somebody at the other end of that siren is waiting for help. The road belongs to the vehicle going to them. North Carolina Driver Handbook, p.48: “Police cars, ambulances, fire engines and rescue vehicles with flashing lights and sirens always have the right of way.”

A police car is stopped on the shoulder with its lights on. On a highway with two lanes in your direction, what must you do?

Move into the lane farther from it and stay there until past. An officer standing at a car door is a step from the traffic lane. The empty lane beside them is the room they need. North Carolina Driver Handbook, p.49: “On a highway with at least two lanes of traffic in the same direction you are traveling, you must move your vehicle into a lane that is not the lane nearest”

An officer’s blue lights come on behind you. Where should you pull over?

To the right, off the travel lanes, at the nearest safe point. The officer wants both of you out of traffic. Signaling and moving right tells them you have seen them. North Carolina Driver Handbook, p.49: “When you see emergency lights and/or hear a siren behind you, stay calm, activate your turn signal, pull the vehicle always to the right, and off the travel portion of the highway at the nearest point where it is safe to do so.”

What is the typical crash between a car and farm equipment?

The car tries to pass as the equipment turns left. A tractor slowing to turn left looks like a tractor letting you by. The pass goes straight into the turn. North Carolina Driver Handbook, p.51: “These types of crashes typically occur while farm equipment is turning left and another vehicle attempts to pass.”

How can you recognize the vehicles in a funeral procession?

Their headlights and hazard flashers are on. The lights are how the procession tells everyone else what it is. They are what the other rules hang on. North Carolina Driver Handbook, p.52: “Every vehicle in a funeral procession must have its headlights on, and the hazard warning signals must also be on, if so equipped.”

When is driving on the left side of the road legal?

On a one-way street or while passing. Everyone expects oncoming traffic on the far side. A car on the left side of the road is where nobody is looking for it. North Carolina Driver Handbook, p.52: “The law requires you to drive on the right side of the road. Driving on the left side is legal only in some cases, such as on one-way streets and while passing.”

Why are stopping distances longer at higher speeds?

More ground is covered reacting, and braking takes longer. Doubling your speed does more than double your stopping distance. The car covers ground while you are still deciding to brake. North Carolina Driver Handbook, p.52: “Stopping distances are longer at higher speeds because a vehicle travels farther during the driver’s reaction time, and it takes more braking distance to come to a full stop.”

When should you slow down for a curve?

Before you enter it. Braking in a curve asks the tires to slow and turn at once. Slowing first leaves all their grip for the turn. North Carolina Driver Handbook, p.53: “1. Slow down before you enter the curve so that you will not need to brake while you are in the curve;”

How should you position your car for a right turn?

Close to the right edge, so nothing fits between you and the curb. A gap on your right is an invitation to a cyclist or a car. Closing it keeps the turn yours. North Carolina Driver Handbook, p.54: “For right turns, stay close to the right edge of the road, so that another vehicle cannot move between your vehicle and the curb.”

What does the handbook call a leading cause of traffic crashes?

Following too closely. The car ahead can stop faster than you can react. The space between you is the only thing that covers that gap. North Carolina Driver Handbook, p.54: “Following too closely is a leading cause of traffic crashes. Maintain plenty of space between your vehicle and the one ahead.”

What is the correct order for changing lanes?

Mirrors, shoulder check, signal, then move. Each step catches something the one before missed. The shoulder check finds the car the mirror cannot show. North Carolina Driver Handbook, p.54: “Important rules about changing lanes: • Check the side and rear-view mirrors; • Check over your shoulder to be certain the blind spot is clear; • Signal your intended movement in advance; and • Proceed with changing lanes.”

What does sounding your horn before passing do, under North Carolina law?

Obliges the driver ahead to help you pass. The horn is not rude here; it is the law’s way of telling the other driver the pass has started and they must make room. North Carolina Driver Handbook, p.55: “The horn signal places the driver of the vehicle you are passing under a legal obligation to help you pass.”

Why is passing on the right generally against the law?

It puts you on the other driver’s blind side. The driver you are passing expects you on the left. On the right they may turn or pull over straight into you. North Carolina Driver Handbook, p.55: “Passing on the right places your vehicle on the blind side of the vehicle you are passing.”

A driver behind you sounds the horn to pass. What must you do?

Move to the right edge and hold your speed. The passer is in the oncoming lane and needs to be out of it quickly. Speeding up keeps them there longer. North Carolina Driver Handbook, p.55: “If the driver of the passing vehicle blows the horn, move to the right edge of the road. Never increase your speed.”

What should you do before getting into your car if you plan to back up?

Walk around and check behind it for children or objects. A small child behind a car is below the window line. The only way to know they are there is to look before you get in. North Carolina Driver Handbook, p.56: “1. Before entering your vehicle, check behind it for small objects or children — once you are in the driver's seat, it is hard to see them;”

On which streets may you park on the left side of the road?

One-way streets. A car parked facing traffic has to cross the oncoming lane to get there and to leave. On a one-way street there is no oncoming lane. North Carolina Driver Handbook, p.56: “Always park on the right side of the road, except on one-way streets.”

Where do crashes occur most frequently?

At intersections. Intersections are where paths cross, so they are where cars meet. Most of the rules in this chapter are about them for that reason. North Carolina Driver Handbook, p.57: “Crashes occur most frequently at intersections, and they are considered the most dangerous places on a street or highway.”

What is a single-point interchange?

Two crossings squeezed into one, run by one set of signals. One set of signals clears the crossing faster than two. It moves a lot of traffic through a small space. North Carolina Driver Handbook, p.57: “A single-point interchange compresses two intersections into a single intersection over or under a free-flowing road.”

In which direction do vehicles travel around a roundabout?

Counterclockwise, to the right around the circle. Everyone going the same way round means nobody meets head-on. The right turn out is the only way to leave without crossing anyone. North Carolina Driver Handbook, p.58: “All vehicles in a traffic circle travel to the right around the circle in a counterclockwise direction until you come to the road or street where you want to turn.”

When a crossing signal warns of a train, where must you stop?

Between 15 and 50 feet from the nearest rail. Fifteen feet keeps you clear of a train that overhangs the rail. Fifty keeps you close enough to see the crossing. North Carolina Driver Handbook, p.60: “Whenever any person driving a vehicle approaches a railroad grade crossing under any of the circumstances stated in this section, the driver of the vehicle shall stop within 50 feet, but not less than 15 feet from the nearest rail of the railroad and shall not proceed until he/she can do so safely.”

At an intersection with a bike lane, what crash is a right-turning driver most likely to cause?

Hitting a bicyclist going straight on their right. The bike is beside you and a little behind, exactly where a right turn goes. Looking right before the turn is what finds it. North Carolina Driver Handbook, p.63: “potential exists for a crash between the bicyclist who is moving straight ahead through the intersection and the motorist who is turning right.”

You realize you are in the wrong lane for your turn in city traffic. What does the handbook say to do?

Go on to the next intersection and turn there. A last-second lane change at the corner is how city crashes start. The next block costs a minute and nothing else. North Carolina Driver Handbook, p.63: “If you intend to make a turn and find that you are not in the proper lane, continue to the next intersection and turn there.”

Why is driving on a rural road often more dangerous than city driving?

Narrower roads, poorer lighting and higher speeds. Country roads feel empty, which is the trap. Narrow, dark and fast is a worse combination than crowded and slow. North Carolina Driver Handbook, p.63: “Driving on rural roads is often more dangerous than driving in heavy city traffic because: • The road may not be as wide; • The lighting is often not as good; and/or • The travel speeds may be higher.”

Why are interstate highways safer than other roads?

Opposing traffic is separated and there are fewer entry points. Most crashes come from traffic crossing or meeting. An interstate removes both, which is why its high speeds are survivable. North Carolina Driver Handbook, p.64: “Interstate highways are safer roads because they have separate traffic lanes for vehicles moving in opposite directions and fewer places where traffic can enter and exit.”

How far ahead should your low-beam headlights let you see a person at night?

75 feet. Seventy-five feet is covered in about a second at highway speed. Low beams are for roads where you are already going slowly. North Carolina Driver Handbook, p.65: “When you engage the high-beam headlights at night, you should be able to see a person who is 200 feet away. When using the low-beam headlights, you should be able to see someone who is 75 feet away.”

How should the side mirrors be adjusted?

To show the left and right rear, barely showing the car’s side. A side mirror full of your own door shows you nothing new. Angled out, it covers the lane beside you. North Carolina Driver Handbook, p.66: “Adjust the side mirrors to show the scene to the left and right rear of the vehicle. The mirrors should barely reflect the side of the vehicle.”

Below what tread depth is a tire considered unsafe?

1/16 of an inch. Tread is what pushes water out from under the tire. Below a sixteenth of an inch there is not enough left to do it. North Carolina Driver Handbook, p.66: “Tires are considered unsafe if they are cut, cracked or worn so as to expose the tire cord, or when they have visible tread separation, chunking or less than 1/16-inch-tread depth.”

From how far must your horn be audible?

At least 200 feet. The horn is a warning device, and a warning nobody can hear is useless. Two hundred feet is the reach the law demands. North Carolina Driver Handbook, p.67: “The horn must be loud enough to be heard for at least 200 feet, and it must not make any unreasonably loud or harsh sound.”

By how much can abrupt starts and hard stops increase fuel consumption?

40 percent. Fuel is burned turning the car’s speed up and wasted braking it back down. Smooth driving does less of both. North Carolina Driver Handbook, p.68: “Abrupt starts and hard stops can increase fuel consumption by 40%.”

How far ahead should a good driver try to see?

10 to 15 seconds ahead, about a city block. What you see a block ahead you can deal with gently. What you see at the hood you can only brake for. North Carolina Driver Handbook, p.68: “Good drivers try to see 10 to 15 seconds ahead on the roadway (about one city block).”

When should you signal a turn or lane change?

Every time, even if you see no one on the road. The driver you did not see is the one the signal is for. A habit does not need an audience. North Carolina Driver Handbook, p.68: “Be in the habit of signalling your movements even when you do not see others on the road.”

A car is tailgating you. What does the handbook recommend?

Change lanes and let them pass. You cannot make a tailgater back off, but you can get out of their way. Once they are past, the danger goes with them. North Carolina Driver Handbook, p.69: “If another vehicle follows you too closely, move to another lane and signal for the driver to pass you.”

Where does a highway work zone legally begin and end?

At the first sign and the last sign marking it. The zone is defined by its signs, not by where you see workers. The lower limit applies from the first sign to the last. North Carolina Driver Handbook, p.70: “A highway work zone is the area between the first sign that indicates the beginning of a work zone and the last sign that indicates the end of a work zone.”

By law, when must you use your headlights?

From sunset to sunrise, and when visibility is 400 feet or less. Headlights are as much for being seen as for seeing. The law turns them on before full dark, when you are hardest to spot. North Carolina Driver Handbook, p.71: “The law requires use of headlights from sunset to sunrise and when visibility is 400 feet or less.”

How much following distance should you allow in rain?

At least twice the normal distance. Wet brakes and wet tires stop a car far more slowly. The extra following distance is where that slowness gets absorbed. North Carolina Driver Handbook, p.72: “Stopping distances on slippery pavement increases from two to 10 times farther than on dry pavement; therefore, slow down and allow yourself at least twice the normal following distance.”

How much fast-moving water can sweep a car off the road?

About six inches. You cannot see the road under the water, and you cannot see the current. Half of flood deaths are drivers who tried anyway. North Carolina Driver Handbook, p.73: “There have been reports that six inches of fast moving water can sweep a car off the highway and 12 inches of fast moving water can float a car or cause it to turn over.”

Which parts of the road freeze first as the temperature drops?

Bridges, overpasses and shady spots. A bridge has cold air above and below it, and a shady spot never sees the sun. Both ice over while the road beside them is wet. North Carolina Driver Handbook, p.73: “As you drive, watch for shady spots, bridges and overpasses since these places are often the first to freeze as the temperature drops.”

Why does the handbook tell drivers to slow down where wildlife is likely?

Slower speed gives both you and the animal time to react. The deer is going to step out either way. Speed decides whether you stop short of it or go through it. North Carolina Driver Handbook, p.74: “SLOW DOWN – Reduced speeds give both you and the animal more time to react and better chances for survival.”

Your brakes fail. What does the handbook say to do?

Shift to a lower gear and apply the emergency brake. The engine can slow the car when the brakes cannot, and the emergency brake is a separate system. Using both may damage them, but it stops the car. North Carolina Driver Handbook, p.75: “Shift into a lower gear, release the clutch pedal (for manual transmissions) and apply the emergency brake.”

A tire blows out at highway speed. What should you do first?

Grip the wheel tightly and ease off the gas. Braking on a blown tire pulls the car hard to one side. Holding straight and coasting keeps it on the road. North Carolina Driver Handbook, p.76: “Hold the steering wheel tightly and try to keep the vehicle straight on your side of the road;”

An oncoming car drifts across the center line toward you. What should you do?

Slow down, sound the horn and steer right, even off the road. Swerving left puts you where the other car will go when its driver wakes up. The ditch on the right is the better crash. North Carolina Driver Handbook, p.77: “Keep to the right even if this means running off the road.”

You do not have anti-lock brakes and the road is icy. How should you brake?

Pump the brakes gently. Without ABS, a locked wheel slides and steers nothing. Pumping lets the wheel turn between squeezes so it keeps its grip. North Carolina Driver Handbook, p.77: “Do not PUMP anti-lock brakes. If you do not have anti-lock brakes, you should pump the brakes gently to slow the vehicle.”

If a crash seems unavoidable, where does the handbook say to drive if you can?

Off the road, into an open field. A field stops a car more gently than another car does. Leaving the road is the choice, not the accident. North Carolina Driver Handbook, p.77: “Drive off the road, into an open field if possible.”

You have a circular green light and want to turn left. What must you do?

Yield to oncoming traffic and pedestrians, then turn. Green is permission to go, not a promise that the way is clear. The oncoming car has the same green you do. North Carolina Driver Handbook, p.80: “A circular green signal means you are permitted to proceed cautiously straight through or make a turn. Turning vehicles must yield the right of way to oncoming traffic and pedestrians.”

What do yellow lines on the pavement separate?

Lanes of traffic moving in opposite directions. The color tells you what is on the other side of the line: oncoming traffic across yellow, your own direction across white. North Carolina Driver Handbook, p.88: “Yellow lines separate travel lanes moving in opposite directions. White lines separate travel lanes moving in the same direction.”

An officer directing traffic waves you through while the light is red. What do you do?

Follow the officer’s signal and go. The officer is there because the signals are not enough for the moment. Their hand overrules the light. North Carolina Driver Handbook, p.88: “If so, obey the officer’s hand signals instead of the normal traffic signals or signs.”

What are the three types of traffic signs?

Regulatory, warning, and guide or informational. You read a sign’s shape from far away, long before its words. Knowing the three types tells you what kind of message is coming. North Carolina Driver Handbook, p.83: “Traffic signs are divided into three types: 1. Regulatory Signs”

Which direction does an odd-numbered highway generally run?

North and south. The number on a route sign tells you its direction before you have a map out. Odd goes up and down the map, even across it. North Carolina Driver Handbook, p.85: “Odd-numbered highways generally run north and south. • Even-numbered highways generally run east and west.”

What must you do at this sign?

Come to a full stop; go only when the way is clear. A rolling stop gives you half a look at the cross street. The full stop is what gives you the whole one. North Carolina Driver Handbook, p.83: “When you approach this sign, the law requires you to come to a FULL stop. Do not proceed to move again until you are sure the way is clear.”

What does this sign tell you?

The maximum speed allowed on this road. The posted limit is the fastest the road is designed for on a good day. It is a ceiling, and a legal one. North Carolina Driver Handbook, p.83: “Rectangular and square-shaped signs, which are normally black and white or red and white, are also used to show speed limits and other regulations.”

Why is this sign posted?

A stop sign ahead is hidden from view. A stop sign you cannot see until the last second is a stop sign you will run. This sign is the early warning. North Carolina Driver Handbook, p.84: “One of the most important caution signs is the “STOP AHEAD” sign. It is placed far ahead of a stop sign when the driver’s view of the stop sign is blocked by a curve or other objects.”

What does this sign warn of?

A railroad crossing ahead. The round sign comes well before the tracks. It is the only warning you get on a road where the crossing itself is around a bend. North Carolina Driver Handbook, p.84: “A circular sign, with a black cross and the black letters “RR” on a yellow background, gives advance warning of a railroad crossing.”

What does this sign warn of?

A school zone or school crossing. Children do not check for traffic the way adults do. The sign tells you to do the checking for them. North Carolina Driver Handbook, p.85: “The five-sided (or pentagon) sign warns of a school zone or a school crossing. You should be especially watchful for children in these areas.”

What does this sign give you?

Directions and distance to a place. A guide sign asks nothing of you. It answers the question of where you are and how far you have to go. North Carolina Driver Handbook, p.85: “Guide signs, also rectangular in shape, may be green, brown or blue. They provide directions and distances. If you are lost, a mileage and directional sign can help you.”

Under North Carolina law, what is a bicycle?

A vehicle, subject to the same traffic laws as cars. A bicycle is traffic. It stops at the same signs and is held to the same drinking laws as the car beside it. North Carolina Driver Handbook, p.89: “Because bicycles are vehicles, bicyclists must obey the same traffic laws as other drivers, this includes DWI laws.”

In cities, about what share of people killed in motor vehicle crashes are pedestrians?

About two in five. Nearly half the people killed by cars in a city were not in a car. The driver’s job includes the people on foot. North Carolina Driver Handbook, p.91: “In cities, about two of every five persons killed by motor vehicle crashes are pedestrians; in rural areas, the rate is about one of every 10.”

Why does a large truck need extra room to turn?

Its rear wheels do not follow the path of its front wheels. A truck turning right swings wide to the left first, and its trailer cuts the corner. A car beside it gets squeezed. North Carolina Driver Handbook, p.91: “Large trucks require additional turning room because their rear wheels do not follow the path of their front wheels.”

Compared with a car, how does a motor home accelerate and stop?

More slowly, and it needs more room to turn. A motor home is a truck driven by someone who is usually not a trucker. Give it the room you would give a truck. North Carolina Driver Handbook, p.92: “Recreational vehicles and trailers accelerate and stop more slowly than cars and require more room for turning.”

How must you pass a motorcycle?

By changing lanes, as you would to pass a car. A motorcycle may be small, but its lane is not shared. Passing inside the lane leaves the rider inches from your mirror. North Carolina Driver Handbook, p.92: “Motorcycles are entitled to the full width of their lane. To pass a motorcycle, you must change lanes and pass in the same manner as you would for a larger motor vehicle;”

What is the largest engine a moped may have under North Carolina law?

50 cubic centimeters. The definition is what separates a moped from a motorcycle. Over 50 cc, it is a motorcycle and needs a motorcycle license. North Carolina Driver Handbook, p.93: “North Carolina law defines a moped as a vehicle with two or three wheels with a motor of no more than 50 cubic centimeters of piston displacement and no external shifting device.”

What is the minimum fine for a first littering conviction involving a vehicle?

$250.00. The fine is large because roadside litter is a hazard, not an eyesore. It draws animals to the road and costs the state to clear. North Carolina Driver Handbook, p.95: “If convicted, the minimum fine is $250, and the maximum fine is $1,000.”

Where these come from

Every rule here is checked against North Carolina Driver Handbook, published by the North Carolina Division of Motor Vehicles, and against the state code itself. Last checked 2026-10-03.