Iowa Right-of-Way practice test

Practice who goes first at intersections, crosswalks and roundabouts: 32 questions based on the Iowa Driver's License Manual, 13 of them on Iowa's own rules.

Key Iowa facts: Right-of-Way

Sample Right-of-Way questions

An ambulance with flashing red lights and a siren approaches from behind. What should you do?

  • Speed up to stay ahead of it
  • Pull to the right edge and stop
  • Move over into the left lane
  • Stop right where you are in your lane
Show the answer

Pull to the right edge and stop

Stay stopped until it has passed, keeping clear of intersections.

Source: Iowa Code 2026, §321.324, §321.324(2); Manual Chapter 2, 2.23, p. 19

A person using a wheelchair is crossing in an unmarked crosswalk at a corner with no signal. What must you do?

  • Yield to the person
  • Pass behind them without slowing
  • Continue, since the crosswalk is not marked
  • Sound your horn to warn them
Show the answer

Yield to the person

Iowa's crosswalk rule covers pedestrians on foot and those using devices like wheelchairs, strollers and scooters.

Source: Iowa Code 2026, §321.327, §321.327(1) and §321.1(51)-(51A); Manual Chapter 2, 2.4, p. 10

On a 55 mph road, how far ahead of a stop does a school bus turn on its amber lights?

  • 100 to 200 feet
  • 50 to 100 feet
  • 1,000 feet or more
  • 300 to 500 feet
Show the answer

300 to 500 feet

Where the limit is under 45 mph, the lights come on at least 150 feet before the stop.

Source: Iowa Code 2026, §321.372, §321.372(1)(a)

A passenger car is stopped on the shoulder with hazard lights flashing. What does Iowa law require?

  • Sound your horn as you pass
  • Change to a lane not next to it, or slow down
  • Nothing, since it is not an emergency vehicle
  • Stop behind it until it leaves
Show the answer

Change to a lane not next to it, or slow down

Iowa's Move Over or Slow Down law covers any stopped vehicle showing hazard lights. Slow down below the limit only when you cannot safely change lanes.

Source: Iowa Code 2026, §321.323A, §321.323A(1)-(3); Manual Chapter 2, 2.27, p. 22

A person with a white cane is crossing near you. What does Iowa law require?

  • Yield only inside a crosswalk
  • Sound your horn so they know you are there
  • Slow down and pass carefully
  • Come to a complete stop
Show the answer

Come to a complete stop

The same rule applies to a person led by a guide dog in harness.

Source: Iowa Code 2026, §321.333, §321.333; Manual Chapter 4, Required Stops, p. 41

On a road with two lanes in each direction, you meet a stopped school bus on the other side. Must you stop?

  • No, oncoming traffic need not stop
  • Yes, all traffic must stop
  • Only if you are in the left lane
  • Only if children are visible
Show the answer

No, oncoming traffic need not stop

Traffic behind the bus must still stop.

Source: Iowa Code 2026, §321.372, §321.372(4); Manual Chapter 2, 2.24, p. 20

A school bus ahead has stopped with its stop arm out. How close may you stop behind it?

  • No closer than 15 feet
  • No closer than 50 feet
  • No closer than 5 feet
  • No closer than 100 feet
Show the answer

No closer than 15 feet

Stay stopped until the arm is retracted and the bus starts moving.

Source: Iowa Code 2026, §321.372, §321.372(3)(b); Manual Chapter 2, 2.24, p. 20

A move-over violation causes an injury crash. How long will the license be suspended?

  • Two years
  • 30 days
  • 180 days
  • 90 days
Show the answer

180 days

Property damage brings 90 days and a death brings one year.

Source: Iowa Code 2026, §321.323A, §321.323A(4)(c)

You cannot safely change lanes when passing a stopped tow truck with flashing lights. How fast may you go?

  • No faster than 10 mph at all times
  • Up to 5 mph over the posted limit
  • Below the posted limit, ready to stop
  • At the posted speed limit, no slower
Show the answer

Below the posted limit, ready to stop

The speed must be reasonable for the conditions and less than the posted limit.

Source: Iowa Code 2026, §321.323A, §321.323A(1)-(3); Manual Chapter 2, 2.27, p. 22

You are leaving a parking lot onto a street, crossing a sidewalk. What must you do?

  • Stop before the sidewalk and yield to pedestrians
  • Stop only once you reach the edge of the street
  • Sound your horn and drive across the sidewalk
  • Slow down at the sidewalk but do not stop
Show the answer

Stop before the sidewalk and yield to pedestrians

Then yield to vehicles already on the street.

Source: Iowa Driver's License Manual (MM1170), Chapter 2, 2.22, p. 19; Chapter 4, Required Stops, p. 41

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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.