Turning lane choice — New Mexico Permit Test

Turning lane choice on the New Mexico permit test — 5 rules, each with the reason behind it and a question on it while it is fresh.

The rules

With no signs or lane markings to guide you, turn from the lane closest to the way you want to go and into the lane closest to the one you came from.

Turning this way crosses the fewest lanes of traffic, which gives you fewer chances to cut someone off.

Turning—Where there are no signs or lane markings to control turning, you should turn from the lane that is closest to the direction you want to go and turn into the lane closest to the one you came from.
New Mexico Driver Manual, p.10

Once you have completed a turn, you may change to another lane if you need to.

Changing lanes in the middle of a turn crosses lane lines and gets in the way of other traffic.

Once you have completed your turn, you can change to another lane if you need to.
New Mexico Driver Manual, p.10

On right turns, avoid swinging wide to the left before you turn.

If you swing wide, the driver behind may think you are turning left and try to pass you on the right.

Right turns—On right turns, avoid swinging wide to the left before turning to make the turn.
New Mexico Driver Manual, p.10

When making a left turn, avoid cutting the corner so sharply that you run into someone coming from the left.

A turn that cuts the corner puts your car in the path of drivers waiting on the road you are turning onto.

Left turns—When making a left turn, avoid cutting the corner so sharply that you run into someone approaching from the left.
New Mexico Driver Manual, p.11

Where signs or lane markings allow 2 or more turning lanes, stay in your own lane during the turn.

Cars turn side by side in these lanes, so drifting over can sideswipe the car turning next to you.

Multiple lanes turning—If there are signs or lane markings that allow for two or more turning lanes, stay in your lane during the turn.
New Mexico Driver Manual, p.11

On the test

With no lane markings, which lane should you turn into?

The lane closest to the one you came from. Turning this way crosses the fewest lanes of traffic, which gives you fewer chances to cut someone off. New Mexico Driver Manual, p.10: “Turning—Where there are no signs or lane markings to control turning, you should turn from the lane that is closest to the direction you want to go and turn into the lane closest to the one you came from.”

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.

What it costs

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Where these come from

Every rule here is checked against New Mexico Driver Manual, published by the New Mexico Taxation and Revenue Department, and against the state code itself. Last checked 2026-10-04.