The Pennsylvania knowledge test
Passing score 15 of 18 (83%)
Practice test 18 questions The Pennsylvania Department of Transportation (PennDOT) sets this passing score .
Practice by topic
Road Signs What signs mean and what to do when you see them Right-of-Way Who goes first at intersections, crosswalks and roundabouts Traffic Signals Lights, arrows and pedestrian signals Lanes & Turns Lane markings, turns, passing and merging Speed Limits Limits and how to adjust your speed Parking Curb colors, hills and where you can't park Safe Driving Following distance, weather, night driving and sharing the road Alcohol & Drugs Blood alcohol limits, DUI rules and medication Emergencies Breakdowns, emergency vehicles and railroad crossings License Rules Permits, restrictions for new drivers and points Insurance & Collisions Required coverage and what to do after a crash Phones & Distraction Phone rules and other distractions Sample Pennsylvania practice questions
How fast may an open-bed pickup go in Pennsylvania if someone is riding in the bed?
No more than 55 mph No more than 35 mph No more than 25 mph No more than 15 mph Show the answer
No more than 35 mph
The limit is 35 mph with anyone in the bed, and children under 18 generally may not ride there at all.
Source: Pennsylvania Driver's Manual (PUB 95), Chapter 3, Special Circumstances and Emergencies: Passengers in an Open-Bed Truck
The brakes on your older car suddenly fail. What does Pennsylvania's manual list as your first step?
Turn off the ignition and lock the steering Open your door to signal other drivers Shift down to low gear and find a stopping place Shift to neutral and hold your speed Show the answer
Shift down to low gear and find a stopping place
Next, pump the brake pedal quickly. If that fails, use the parking brake.
Source: Pennsylvania Driver's Manual (PUB 95), Chapter 3, Special Circumstances and Emergencies: If You Have an Older Vehicle and Your Brakes Suddenly Fail
May an adult driver hold a phone to talk while driving in Pennsylvania?
Only on roads posted under 35 mph Yes, if it is held on a speaker setting No, hand-held use is banned for all drivers Yes, adults may hold a phone to talk Show the answer
No, hand-held use is banned for all drivers
Paul Miller's Law bans using a hand-held device while driving, for any driver.
Source: PennDOT Distracted Driving page, Pennsylvania's Distracted Driving Law
You approach an intersection in Pennsylvania where a school bus is stopped on the cross street, red lights flashing. What must you do?
Go ahead if you have a green light Stop until the lights and arm are off and children are safe Slow down and turn away from the bus Stop only if children are in your lane Show the answer
Stop until the lights and arm are off and children are safe
The stopping rule also covers drivers approaching an intersection at which the bus is stopped.
Source: Pennsylvania Driver's Manual (PUB 95), Chapter 3, Special Circumstances and Emergencies: School Buses
In which vehicle may a passenger legally drink alcohol on a Pennsylvania highway?
A family pickup truck A friend's private car A taxi or limousine A rented passenger car Show the answer
A taxi or limousine
The ban on open containers and drinking excepts passengers in vehicles used mainly to carry people for pay.
Source: Pennsylvania Vehicle Code (75 Pa.C.S.), Section 3809
You are 17 and fail your Pennsylvania road test. How long must you wait to retake it?
Six months One day Seven days 30 days Show the answer
Seven days
The law requires a seven-day wait for drivers under 18, which gives you time to practice.
Source: Pennsylvania Driver's Manual (PUB 95), Chapter 1, Testing: Road Test
A medicine's label says not to operate heavy machinery. Does that include driving your car?
Yes, a car counts as heavy machinery No, not unless the trip is a long one Only if you also had a drink of alcohol No, it means only large farm or factory gear Show the answer
Yes, a car counts as heavy machinery
Check the label before you drive, and ask your doctor or pharmacist if you have questions.
Source: Pennsylvania Driver's Manual (PUB 95), Chapter 3, Driver Factors: Drugs and Driving
On a short weaving lane in Pennsylvania, you are entering the highway while another driver is exiting. Who must yield?
Whichever car is smaller You, the entering driver Whoever signaled last The exiting driver Show the answer
You, the entering driver
Both drivers share the weaving lane, and the driver entering the highway must yield to the one leaving it.
Source: Pennsylvania Driver's Manual (PUB 95), Chapter 3, Negotiating Highways and Interchanges: Entering Highways
How may a driver in Pennsylvania use an ear piece for communication?
Only on freeways At low volume In both ears In one ear only Show the answer
In one ear only
The manual says headphones and ear pieces can only be used in one ear for communication.
Source: Pennsylvania Driver's Manual (PUB 95), Chapter 3, Driver Factors: Driving Distractions
On which side is it safe to pass a working snow plow, according to Pennsylvania's manual?
The left side, at any time Neither side; you should not pass one Either side, if you pass quickly The right side, along the shoulder Show the answer
Neither side; you should not pass one
Wing plows can stick out several feet on either side and are hard to see, so follow at a safe distance.
Source: Pennsylvania Driver's Manual (PUB 95), Chapter 3, Special Circumstances and Emergencies: Snow Plows
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About these questions
We wrote these practice questions from the facts in the Pennsylvania Driver's Manual (PUB 95) (PUB 95 (4-21) PDF, plus the undated online manual on pa.gov, read 2026-11-06 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 Pennsylvania Department of Transportation (PennDOT), and your actual test will have different questions. Study the handbook, and check the agency's website for current rules.
