Iowa Lanes & Turns practice test

Practice lane markings, turns, passing and merging: 36 questions based on the Iowa Driver's License Manual, 12 of them on Iowa's own rules.

Key Iowa facts: Lanes & Turns

Sample Lanes & Turns questions

In a multi-lane roundabout, what should you avoid?

  • Signaling right before you exit
  • Choosing your lane before entering
  • Watching traffic in the other lane
  • Changing lanes inside the roundabout
Show the answer

Changing lanes inside the roundabout

Pick the right lane before the yield line and stay in it.

Source: Iowa Driver's License Manual (MM1170), Chapter 5, 5.5 Roundabouts, p. 54

At a reduced-conflict intersection, how do side-road drivers go straight across the highway?

  • Turn right, move left and U-turn at a median opening
  • Stop in the median and wait there for a gap
  • Cross both directions of highway traffic at once
  • Turn left onto the highway, then make a U-turn back
Show the answer

Turn right, move left and U-turn at a median opening

You only deal with one direction of highway traffic at a time.

Source: Iowa Driver's License Manual (MM1170), Chapter 5, 5.3 Reduced-Conflict Intersection, p. 52

How should you cross a rural four-lane divided highway from a stop sign?

  • Merge onto the highway and U-turn at once
  • Cross to the median, stop, then finish crossing
  • Cross all four lanes in one move
  • Wait for a gap in both directions at the same time
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Cross to the median, stop, then finish crossing

Look left before moving into the median, then look right before crossing the far lanes.

Source: Iowa Driver's License Manual (MM1170), Chapter 5, Crossing or Turning Left onto a Rural Four-Lane Road, p. 51

On a road with three lanes in your direction, which lanes should you normally use?

  • The right lane only
  • Any lane, at any time
  • The left lane only
  • The right or center lane
Show the answer

The right or center lane

The left lane is mainly for passing, and the center lane is best when many vehicles are entering.

Source: Iowa Driver's License Manual (MM1170), Chapter 2, 2.18 General Lane Use, p. 16

There are no signs or markings for turning. Which lane should you turn into?

  • Whichever lane has the least traffic
  • Any lane, as long as you signal first
  • The lane farthest from where you started
  • The lane closest to the one you came from
Show the answer

The lane closest to the one you came from

Once the turn is complete you can change lanes if you need to.

Source: Iowa Driver's License Manual (MM1170), Chapter 2, 2.18 General Lane Use, p. 16

How close to an intersection may you pass on the left side of the road?

  • No closer than 25 feet
  • No closer than 500 feet
  • No closer than 100 feet
  • No closer than 50 feet
Show the answer

No closer than 100 feet

The same 100-foot rule applies at railroad crossings and signposted narrow bridges.

Source: Iowa Code 2026, §321.304, §321.304; Manual Chapter 4, Figure 4.6, p. 46

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About these questions

We wrote these practice questions from the facts in the Iowa Driver's License Manual (Iowa Driver's License Manual, form MM1170 dated 07/23/2026 on the back page (68 PDF pages), downloaded 2026-11-10 from https://iowadot.gov/media/7308/download?inline, linked from the Iowa DOT Driver's Manual page (https://iowadot.gov/drivers-licenses-ids/driver-education/manuals-practice-tests/drivers-manual). Page numbers cited are the printed page numbers, which equal PDF pages. The manual does not cover the graduated license steps, insurance minimums or the exam format; those come from Iowa DOT pages (Instruction Permit for Under Age 18, Intermediate License, Passenger Restriction, Full License, Special Minor's Restricted License, Practice Test; read 2026-11-10), Iowa Code 2026 (chapters 321, 321A, 321J and section 805.8A on legis.iowa.gov; the Code 2026 text includes 2025 session laws; 2026 session laws were not reviewed in full) and Iowa Administrative Code 761, chapter 604 (as of IAB 10/1/25). Manual statements that differ from the current Iowa Code, and how they were handled: (1) Section 3.7 (p. 36) still describes the old texting-only rule and says drivers under 18 with a permit, intermediate license or special minor's restricted license may not talk on the phone; 2025 Iowa Acts ch. 14 (SF 22) replaced §321.276 with a hands-free rule for all drivers and struck the teen device bans in former §321.180B(6), §321.194(5)(d) and §321.178(2)(a)(2). The Iowa DOT permit, intermediate and SMRL pages also still list a device ban for teens. Questions follow §321.276 as amended; no teen-only phone question is included, and common-phone-0007 and common-phone-0009 are excluded. (2) Section 4.5 (p. 42) lists unposted limits of 60 mph on primary roads, urban interstates and secondary roads and 45 mph for a vehicle towing another; §321.285 sets 55 mph generally, 65 mph on fully controlled-access divided multilane highways and 70 mph on interstates, and no towing limit was found; questions use §321.285 only. (3) Implied consent (p. 37) is described as consent to a field sobriety test; §321J.6 deems consent to a chemical test of blood, breath or urine; questions follow the statute. (4) Test refusal (p. 37) is said to bring a minimum $1,250 fine; §321J.9 sets only a one-year revocation (two years after an earlier revocation), and $1,250 is the first-offense OWI fine in §321J.2(3)(c); the refusal fine is not tested. (5) Seat belt fines (p. 34: up to $50, $100 per passenger under 18) and the open container fine (p. 37: up to $200) differ from the scheduled fines in §805.8A(14)(c) and (e) ($70 belt, $135 child restraint, $260 open container); questions use §805.8A. (6) The move-over section (p. 22) says no speed is specified; §321.323A requires a speed below the posted limit when a lane change is not possible; questions follow the statute. (7) The 500-foot rule for following any emergency vehicle with lights and sirens (p. 19) is narrower in §321.367 (fire apparatus answering an alarm); questions use the statute wording. (8) The manual (p. 63) says a crash with injury or damage over $1,500 must be reported to police within 72 hours; §321.266 requires immediate notice of an injury crash to law enforcement and a written report to the DOT within 72 hours for injury, death or damage of $1,500 or more unless a law enforcement agency investigated; questions follow the statute. Also noted: the at-home knowledge test age differs between DOT pages (Skip the Trip page: within 30 days of the 14th birthday; permit page: at least 14), so no question tests it. edition) and from official sources on road signs. Every answer links to its source, so you can check it and read more.

DMV Decoded is an independent guide, not a government agency. This practice test is not connected to the Iowa DOT Motor Vehicle Division, and your actual test will have different questions. Study the handbook, and check the agency's website for current rules.