Idaho Driver’s Knowledge Tests & License Practice Tests
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#1. When may you legally drive around a lowered gate at a railroad crossing?
Gates are used to stop automobile traffic at many particularly dangerous crossings. You must never drive through, under or around a crossing gate that is closed or being closed.
#2. When driving in fog, you should:
It is safest not to drive in fog, dust storms, or in heavy rain. If you must drive during these conditions, reduce your speed, and dim your lights to low beam.
Light from high beams will reflect back, causing glare and making it more difficult to see ahead.
#3. This hand signal means:
Left turn – left arm extended horizontally out of an open window .
#4. What should you use the area in the center of this road for?
Shared center lanes are reserved for making left turns (or U-turns when they are permitted) but can be used by vehicles traveling in both directions. On the pavement, left-turn arrows for traffic in one direction alternate with left-turn arrows for traffic coming from the other direction. These lanes are marked on each side by solid yellow and dashed yellow lines.
#5. On which side should you pass a barricade with this panel?
If the stripes angle down to the right, go to the right. If the stripes angle to the left, go to the left.
#6. What is the best advice for a friend who has been drinking too much?
When you are out with friends or giving a party, be a good friend. If they drink too much, do not let them drive. Drive them yourself or call a taxi.
#7. Where should you stop if there is a stop sign at an intersection but no stop line or crosswalk?
Idaho law requires you to stop before the stop line or crosswalk at any intersection posted with a stop sign. If there is no stop line or crosswalk, stop before entering the intersection, but close enough to see cross traffic.
#8. When you see this sign, you should:
There is a school ahead. Slow down and watch for children at all times.
#9. When approaching a stationary emergency vehicle with flashing lights and it is unsafe to move over and change lanes, you must:
When you are approaching an emergency or police vehicle that is stopped with lights flashing, you are required to immediately reduce your speed below the posted speed limit and proceed with caution. If you are traveling on a road with two or more lanes traveling in the same direction, you are also required to change lanes into a lane that is not adjacent to the emergency vehicle as soon as possible, if it is safe to do so.
#10. Which road signs have an eight-sided shape?
The stop sign is the only eight-sided traffic sign. It means that you must come to a complete stop before entering the intersection ahead and yield to traffic close enough to be an immediate hazard. If there is a crosswalk, stop before entering it.
You should learn to recognize road signs by color and shape as well as the messages or symbols they carry.
#11. A HAWK signal is showing steady red lights. What signal will follow next?
HAWK stands for High-Intensity Activated CrossWalk. It is a new kind of signal designed to help pedestrians cross busy streets.
The signal light is unlit until the pedestrian pushes the crosswalk button, then it turns to a flashing yellow light that warns drivers approaching the crosswalk to slow down.
The flashing yellow light is followed by a solid yellow light, telling drivers to prepare to stop. The signal changes to solid red lights indicating to drivers to stop at the stop line.
The light will then begin flashing red. This allows drivers to treat the flashing light like a stop sign. Normal vehicle traffic can resume when the light turns dark again.
#12. If your car has an airbag on the passenger side, you should:
All children younger than 13 years should ride in the back seat.
#13. In Idaho, driving under the influence carries stiffer penalties than normal if you have a Blood Alcohol Concentration (BAC) of:
In Idaho, an alcohol concentration of .20 or more carries stiffer penalties.
#14. When driving at higher speeds, which method helps you determine a safe following distance between you and a vehicle ahead?
There is no perfect formula for following distance, but the three-second following distance rule is the minimum recommended safest procedure to use. At high speeds or in bad weather you will need to increase your following distance.
#15. If you park facing uphill on a street with a curb and turn the front wheels to the left:
To keep your vehicle from rolling into traffic when parked on a hill, turn your front wheels sharply toward and against the curb or edge of the road if you are facing downhill, or if you are facing uphill, turn your wheels sharply away and against the curb (if there is no curb, turn the wheels sharply toward the edge of the road).
Study the illustrations in the driver’s manual.
#16. When being passed by another vehicle, it is dangerous to:
Help other drivers pass you safely. Move to the right side of your lane to give them more room and a better view of the road ahead. Do not speed up. Maintain a steady speed or slow down.
#17. When a traffic signal is showing a solid red light:
A steady red circular indication means stop. Come to a complete stop before you reach the stop line, crosswalk, or intersection. Remain stopped until the light changes and cross traffic clears the intersection.
You may turn right after stopping and yielding to cross traffic except where posted otherwise. You may turn left into a one-way street after stopping and yielding to cross traffic unless posted as no-left turns allowed.
#18. When your gas pedal sticks:
Keep your eyes on the road. Push the clutch in on a manual transmission or push the gear shift lever of an automatic transmission into neutral and brake to a safe stop. Then turn the ignition off. Never turn your vehicle’s ignition to the lock position while it is still in motion because the steering will lock, and you will not be able to steer the vehicle.
If you have time and are driving at a slow speed, lightly tap the accelerator pedal a few times to see if your engine speed returns to normal. If tapping fails, try prying it up with your toe.
#19. When sharing the road with a motorcyclist, it is illegal and highly hazardous to:
Motorcycles are entitled to the same full lane width as all other vehicles. Never move into the same lane alongside a motorcycle, even if the lane is wide and the motorcyclist is riding far to one side.
#20. In general, backing your vehicle:
Backing requires extra caution because it is difficult for drivers to see behind their vehicles. Here are some rules you should follow whenever you have to back up:
- Check behind the vehicle before you get in. Children or small objects are hard to see from the driver’s seat.
- Put your right arm on the back of the seat and look over your shoulder directly through the rear window. Do not rely on your mirrors.
- Back slowly. Your vehicle is more difficult to control while backing. Continue looking back until you come to a complete stop.
#21. When driving past this sign:
Be alert for Do Not Enter and Wrong Way signs that might indicate that you are about to begin going the wrong way on an exit ramp or one-way road. The Wrong Way sign supplements the Do Not Enter sign. It is placed along the exit ramp or the one-way roadway farther from the crossroad. It tells you that you have already entered a one-way road and are driving in the wrong direction.
#22. If it is raining when you approach this sign, you should:
Slippery when wet.
Road ahead becomes slippery in wet weather. Slow down under these conditions.
This sign is often located near bridges and overpasses. Ice may form sooner or remain on bridges and overpasses longer, since they are exposed on their undersides and are deprived of ground warmth.
#23. When two vehicles from different directions arrive simultaneously at an intersection with no signs or signals, which should have the right-of-way?
At an unmarked or uncontrolled intersection (no signs or signals), the vehicle that arrives first, goes first. If two vehicles arrive at the same time, the vehicle on the left must yield to the vehicle on the right.
#24. Which of the following is required equipment on motor vehicles in Idaho?
All motor vehicles must be equipped with wipers to keep the windshield clear of rain, snow, or other moisture.
A bell, siren, or exhaust whistle is not allowed.
A red light showing from the front is not allowed.
Up to two cowl or fender lights are optional equipment.
#25. What should you do when the road ahead is dusty, and visibility is reduced?
It is safest not to drive in fog, dust storms, or in heavy rain. If you must drive during these conditions, reduce your speed. You are required to turn on your headlights in the daytime when vision is reduced to 500 feet or less. Low beams are best at such times.
| This Practice Test | |
|---|---|
| Number of questions on each practice test: | 25 |
| Question pool: | 1,000+ |
| This is a randomized practice test | |
Facts about Your Idaho Driver’s Knowledge Tests
| DMV Knowledge Test for Learner’s Permit and Driver’s License | |
|---|---|
| Number of questions on exam: | 40 questions |
| Passing score: | 85 percent |
| Correct answers to pass: | 34 |
| Allotted time to complete test: | 25 minutes |
| Wait time before retest: | 3 days (There is a new fee for each test) |
This Idaho Practice Test
We have designed these practice tests to help you study for and pass the knowledge examination for a Class D (Non-Commercial) license or instruction permit in Idaho.
It has 25 questions drawn from a large bank of DMV questions and answers. Each one is specific to the traffic laws in the state of Idaho. It is, however, shorter than the actual knowledge test. We recommend taking at least a handful of tests to cover all items in the driver’s Handbook.
After each question, you will see the correct answer. If you answered a question incorrectly, there is a brief explanation for each question. Use the explanation to find more information in the Idaho Driver’s Handbook.
Remember, the actual examination and this Idaho practice test aim to check your knowledge of Idaho traffic laws, highway signs by shape and symbol, traffic signals, pavement markings, and equipment required on motor vehicles.
A practice test is not a cheat sheet and does not include all questions on the official knowledge test. Before taking the official test, you must study the Idaho Driver’s Manual.
The practice test, however, helps you prepare as much as possible and predict how likely you are to pass the Idaho knowledge examination.
1 Get the Driver’s Manual
Your first step is to get the latest version of the Driver’s Handbook from itd.idaho.gov. It would help if you only used the practice tests to verify your progress after studying the manual. Do not use the practice test as a replacement for the manual.
In the Driver’s Manual, you can find all the questions and answers you need to pass the written test for a class D license or instruction permit. It remains your best friend when studying for your first instruction permit.
Aim for a High Score on Each Practice Test
The number of questions on the real test in Idaho is 40, and the passing score is 85%, higher than in many other states. Only Maryland and Virginia have higher passing scores
You must correctly answer 34 out of the 40 questions, meaning you can only miss 6. With a poorly designed test and a high passing score, the Idaho knowledge test can be one of the hardest to pass, especially if you haven’t completed a classroom course.
It will help if you aim for the highest possible score on the practice tests. Take as many tests as you need, as often as you like.
On each test, you should make sure you truly understand why an answer is correct and why other options are incorrect.
Learn more about Risky Study Tactics .
Known Issues with the Idaho Knowledge Test
Idaho DMV tends to use four choices for each test question. On a lengthy test, it can be easy to skip reading all of the choices carefully enough.
Idaho DMV also has a disclaimer at the beginning of the test saying that there may be more than one correct answer and that you must select the best answer.
Idah still uses “All of the above” as one alternative, meaning all alternatives can be correct, a test practice no other states use today.
A nervous test taker may identify the first alternative as correct and read no further.
The same is true for: “Both of the above.”
Remember to read all choices carefully.
You may also see “None of the above” as the last choice. This alternative is also a poorly designed question since it doesn’t check if you know the correct answer.
Even if it is less common, you may see a negative question that contains the word not or never. In this case, you must look for an incorrect statement. It is easy to forget this and pick the correct statement instead.
You can overcome these flaws by not rushing through the test, being alert, and ensuring you read everything.
More about the Idaho Knowledge Test
The test is available in English, Arabic, Chinese, Farsi, French, Korean, Russian, Serbo-Croatian, Spanish, Vietnamese, and ASL (American Sign Language).
It is a closed-book test, meaning you cannot use any aid (written, audio, or electronic) while taking the exam.
If you fail the knowledge examination, you must wait at least three days before you can retake it. You must pay a new fee each time you take the test.
Who Must Take the Idaho Knowledge Test?
All new drivers applying for an original driver’s license must pass the knowledge exam.
If you are under 17 years old, you must complete a driver training program and comply with the Graduated Driver Licensing (GDL) Program requirements. After the supervised instruction period, you must take and pass the written knowledge test before receiving your driver’s license.
If you are 17 years or older, the GDL requirements don’t apply. You start the application process by taking the written knowledge test and a vision screening at a county sheriff’s office.
You must pass a Class D written knowledge test when transferring from another state, U.S. Territory, or the District of Columbia. Unlike many other states, DMV does not waive the written test for drivers with out-of-state driver’s licenses.
You must also pass all tests with a foreign driver’s license.
If you let your Idaho Driver’s license expire for 25 months or more, you must also retake the knowledge test.
Idaho Graduated Driver’s License (GDL) program
Anyone under 17 years who applies for their first driver’s license in Idaho must complete an approved driver’s training program and comply with the requirements of the GDL Program.
Unlike other states, Idaho does not require you to pass the written test before issuing a permit under this program (the test comes later).
The first permits are the Driver Training (DT) and the Supervised Instruction Permit (SIP). They allow anyone at least 14 1/2 years and under 17 to attend public school or a private driver’s training program. You must have your DT permit before taking any DT class.
The training program consists of a required 1,800 minutes (30 hours) of classroom instruction, 360 minutes (6 hours) of in-car observation in a DT car, and 360 minutes (6 hours) of behind-the-wheel driving with a DT instructor.
While enrolled in a training class, the DT permit allows you to drive while a training instructor supervises. When you have completed the program, the instructor will release the permit, and it becomes a Supervised Instruction Permit.
In this next phase, you can practice your driving skills when accompanied by any licensed driver at least 21 years old and occupying the front seat beside you (no other passengers are allowed in the front seat).
While You Hold an Idaho Supervised Instruction Permit
You cannot drive alone. You must always be supervised by an adult at least 21 years with a valid driver’s license.
All passengers must wear seat belts or child restraints. Only the supervising driver can sit beside you in the front seat.
You must observe all laws regarding alcohol and other intoxicating substances.
You must complete a minimum 6-month, violation-free supervised instruction period and log at least 50 hours of driving practice. 10 of these 50 hours must be at night.
If you violate any traffic laws while you practice driving under this program, DMV will cancel your SIP. After the cancellation, you must reapply for a new SIP, and the six months of supervised driving start over again.
Only after meeting these requirements under GDL will you be allowed to take the Idaho knowledge test.
You can schedule your road skills test if you pass the knowledge test.
After passing all tests, DMV will issue an Idaho Driver’s License.
