How far before a turn must you signal, state by state?
Every state’s answer, and the District of Columbia’s, from its own manual or code: 47 have a rule on this, quoted below with where it is written; 4 say nothing on it.
Statutes fetched between 5 and 7 October 2026; manuals fetched between 6 September and 4 October 2026. How the answers are made
| State | The rule | Where it is written | As of |
|---|---|---|---|
| Alabama | Signal your intention at least 100 feet before making a turn, and keep the signal on until you are ready to turn. | Alabama Driver Manual, p.21 | 14 Sep 2026 |
| Alaska | In Alaska, a signal to turn or move right or left must be given continuously during the last 100 feet before turning. | Alaska Driver Manual, p.35 | 14 Sep 2026 |
| Arizona | Signal at least 100 feet (about 4 seconds) before you turn so other drivers have time to react. | Arizona Driver License Manual and Customer Service Guide, p.26 | 14 Sep 2026 |
| California | You should signal at least 100 feet before you turn. | California Driver’s Handbook, p.11 | 14 Sep 2026 |
| Colorado | In urban areas you must signal continuously for 100 feet before making a turn or lane change. | Colorado Driver Handbook, p.12 | 14 Sep 2026 |
| Connecticut | (b) A signal of intention to turn right or left shall be given continuously during not less than the last one hundred feet traveled by the vehicle before turning. | Connecticut law, Conn. Gen. Stat. § 14-242(b) | 7 Oct 2026 |
| Delaware | In Delaware you must signal 300 feet before you stop, turn or change lanes. | Delaware Driver Manual, p.81 | 14 Sep 2026 |
| District of Columbia | In the District you must use a turn signal, arm or hand signal, or both, continuously for at least 100 feet before turning. | DC Driver Manual, p.71 | 16 Sep 2026 |
| Florida | You must give a turn signal at least 100 feet before making your turn. | Official Florida Driver License Handbook, p.69 | 14 Sep 2026 |
| Hawaii | In Hawaii you must signal for at least 100 feet before you change lanes, turn or stop. | State of Hawaii Driver’s Manual, p.27 | 14 Sep 2026 |
| Idaho | Signals must start at least 100 feet before you turn or change lanes in a business or residential area, or five seconds before on a freeway or highway. | July 2026 Idaho Driver's Handbook, p.72 | 14 Sep 2026 |
| Illinois | In a business or residential area a driver must give a continuous turn signal for at least 100 feet before turning. | Illinois Rules of the Road 2026, p.30 | 14 Sep 2026 |
| Iowa | Iowa law requires you to signal at least 100 feet before a turn if the speed limit is 45 mph or less. | Iowa Driver's License Manual, p.43 | 14 Sep 2026 |
| Kansas | All Kansas signals must be given at least 100 feet before making the actual move or turn. | Kansas Driving Handbook, p.17 | 14 Sep 2026 |
| Kentucky | A Kentucky driver who plans to turn at an intersection signals 100 feet before the turn. | Kentucky Driver Manual, p.42 | 14 Sep 2026 |
| Louisiana | The law requires you to signal and get into the proper lane at least 100 feet before making a turn. | Class D & E Driver's Guide, p.89 | 14 Sep 2026 |
| Maine | Signal at least 100 feet before any turn or lane change, and as early as you can. | Maine Driver’s License Manual, p.92 | 4 Oct 2026 |
| Maryland | A signal to turn right or left must be given continuously for at least the last 100 feet before the turn. | Maryland law, Md. Code, Transp. § 21-604(d) | 5 Oct 2026 |
| Massachusetts | Signal your turn at least 100 feet before making it, and at least 500 feet before a turn on a highway. | Massachusetts Driver's Manual, p.97 | 14 Sep 2026 |
| Minnesota | Activate your signal at least 100 feet before turning. | Minnesota Driver’s Manual, p.27 | 14 Sep 2026 |
| Mississippi | When using arm signals, extend your arm fully and signal continuously for at least 100 feet before you slow down, turn, stop, or change lanes. | Mississippi Driver's License Manual, p.42 | 4 Oct 2026 |
| Missouri | You should signal at least 100 feet before you turn so other drivers can be ready. | Missouri Driver Guide, p.24 | 14 Sep 2026 |
| Montana | In Montana, signal 100 feet before turning in town. | Montana Driver Manual, p.37 | 14 Sep 2026 |
| Nebraska | Signal at least 100 feet before turning, or before moving right or left. | Nebraska Driver’s Manual, p.54 | 14 Sep 2026 |
| Nevada | On city streets, signal a turn at least 100 feet ahead, about 10 car lengths. | Nevada Driver Handbook, p.45 | 14 Sep 2026 |
| New Hampshire | Drivers should signal at least 100 feet before a turn. | New Hampshire Driver's Manual, p.15 | 14 Sep 2026 |
| New Jersey | A driver signals at least 100 feet before turning and cancels the signal after the turn. | New Jersey Driver Manual, p.54 | 14 Sep 2026 |
| New Mexico | Signal at least 100 feet before you make your turn. | New Mexico Driver Manual, p.19 | 4 Oct 2026 |
| New York | The law requires a driver to signal a turn or lane change with their turn lights or hand signals at least 100 feet ahead. | New York State Driver's Manual, p.36 | 14 Sep 2026 |
| North Carolina | Signal at least the last 100 feet before turning or stopping, and at least the last 200 feet where the speed limit is 45 mph or more; flashing signals are a legal substitute for hand signals and are easier to see at night. | North Carolina Driver Handbook, p.69 | 14 Sep 2026 |
| North Dakota | In North Dakota, a signal of intention to turn must be given continuously during the last 100 feet before the turn. | North Dakota Noncommercial Driver License Manual, p.19 | 14 Sep 2026 |
| Ohio | A turn signal must be given at least one hundred feet before turning or changing direction. | Digest of Ohio Motor Vehicle Laws, p.8 | 14 Sep 2026 |
| Oklahoma | You should signal for at least 100 feet or 1/3 of a block before you turn, slow down or stop. | Oklahoma Driver Manual, p.36 | 14 Sep 2026 |
| Oregon | If your vehicle is moving in traffic, use your turn signal at least 100 feet before the turn or lane change. | 2026-2027 Oregon Driver Manual, p.38 | 14 Sep 2026 |
| Pennsylvania | Under Pennsylvania law you must signal at least 100 feet before turning if you are driving under 35 miles an hour, and at least 300 feet if you are driving 35 or more. | PA Driver's Manual, p.44 | 6 Sep 2026 |
| Rhode Island | Rhode Island requires a hand or turn signal at least 100 feet before making a turn. | Rhode Island Driver’s Manual, p.38 | 14 Sep 2026 |
| South Carolina | State law requires a turn signal 100 feet or more before changing lanes, turning left or right, or merging into traffic. | South Carolina Driver's Manual, p.102 | 14 Sep 2026 |
| South Dakota | All drivers must signal when turning or changing lanes, at least 100 feet from an intersection. | South Dakota Driver License Manual, p.49 | 14 Sep 2026 |
| Tennessee | Turn on your turn signal at least 50 feet before the turn. | Tennessee Comprehensive Driver License Manual, p.56 | 14 Sep 2026 |
| Texas | A driver must signal continuously for at least 100 feet before turning or stopping. | Texas Driver Handbook, p.38 | 14 Sep 2026 |
| Utah | A Utah driver must signal for two seconds before turning. | Utah Driver Handbook 2026-2027, p.34 | 14 Sep 2026 |
| Vermont | The law says a driver must use a turn signal not less than 100 feet before making a turn or changing lanes. Signaling 3 to 5 seconds before covers that. | 2025 Vermont Driver's Manual, p.26 | 14 Sep 2026 |
| Virginia | You should signal at least three or four seconds, or 100 feet, before your turn. | Virginia Driver's Manual, p.18 | 6 Sep 2026 |
| Washington | A turn signal goes on at least 100 feet before turning left or right across oncoming traffic. | Washington State Driver Guide, p.123 | 14 Sep 2026 |
| West Virginia | Signal at least 100 feet before you plan to turn, and use your signal before changing lanes, turning at an intersection, entering or leaving an interstate, pulling away from the curb, or pulling over. | West Virginia Driver's Licensing Handbook, p.43 | 6 Sep 2026 |
| Wisconsin | Turning at an intersection, a driver starts signaling about three seconds, or about 100 feet, before the turn. | Wisconsin Motorists' Handbook, p.21 | 14 Sep 2026 |
| Wyoming | All drivers must signal when turning or changing lanes, at least 100 feet from an intersection. | Wyoming Rules of the Road Driver License Manual, p.51 | 14 Sep 2026 |
Download this comparison as CSV
No rule found
No rule found in the manual or code of: Arkansas, Georgia, Indiana, Michigan.
Monthly: what changed in state driving law. Get it by email
Ask a question across every state
The ask box answers “How far before a turn must you signal?” for every state at once when Nationwide is ticked: each state’s figure from its own manual or code, cited, and the states that say nothing named.