North Carolina DMV is administered by the North Carolina Division of Motor Vehicles (NCDMV), headquartered in Raleigh. The official North Carolina written knowledge exam has 25 questions, and drivers must answer 20 correctly (80%) to pass. Our practice tests match the exact format, topics, and difficulty of the real North Carolina DMV test.
What makes the North Carolina DMV test unique?
North Carolina's exam covers coastal hurricane evacuation (Outer Banks), Blue Ridge Parkway mountain driving, and textless-driving enforcement.
North Carolina is a primary-enforcement state for texting while driving — officers can stop you for texting alone without another violation.
Know mountain driving rules (engine braking, downshifting) if testing in the western part of the state.
Browse all North Carolina questions
278 indexed questions with full answers, explanations, and law citations.
What does this sign indicate?
US DMV standard (applies in all states)
What does this sign indicate?
US DMV standard (applies in all states)
What does this sign indicate?
US DMV standard (applies in all states)
What does a Wrong Way sign indicate?
US DMV standard (applies in all states)
What does a ONE WAY sign indicate?
US DMV standard (applies in all states)
What does this sign means?
US DMV standard (applies in all states)
What does a Speed Limit sign indicate?
US DMV standard (applies in all states)
What does this sign mean?
US DMV standard (applies in all states)
What does a lane-use control sign indicate?
Alabama Driver Manual
What does a railroad crossbuck sign indicate?
US DMV standard (applies in all states)
What does a DIVIDED HIGHWAY ENDS sign indicate?
Alabama Driver Manual
What does a ROAD WORK / construction sign indicate?
Alabama Driver Manual
Children should ride in ____.
US DMV standard (applies in all states)
Drugs can affect driving ____.
Alabama Driver Manual
Texting while driving is dangerous because ____.
Alabama Driver Manual
Which option is NOT a good way to reduce distraction?
US DMV standard (applies in all states)
What should you do before driving after taking medicine?
Alabama Driver Manual
At night you should ____.
Alabama Driver Manual
What should you do if an oncoming vehicle's headlights are bright?
US DMV standard (applies in all states)
In fog you should generally use ____.
US DMV standard (applies in all states)
What should you do if your vehicle starts to skid?
US DMV standard (applies in all states)
What should you do if your vehicle breaks down?
Alabama Driver Manual
If your brakes fail, you should first ____.
US DMV standard (applies in all states)
What should you do if your engine catches fire while driving?
Alabama Driver Manual
What should you do if road or weather conditions are poor?
Alabama Driver Manual
What should you do before passing another vehicle?
Alabama Driver Manual
What should you do when approaching a stopped emergency or service vehicle with flashing lights?
US DMV standard (applies in all states)
Which statement about roadside emergency scenes is NOT correct?
US DMV standard (applies in all states)
Before changing lanes or merging you should check ____.
US DMV standard (applies in all states)
Good steering control begins with ____.
US DMV standard (applies in all states)
What is the purpose of a speed limit?
US DMV standard (applies in all states)
Why is following distance important?
US DMV standard (applies in all states)
What does the 3-second rule for following distance mean?
US DMV standard (applies in all states)
Why are lane markings important?
US DMV standard (applies in all states)
What is the purpose of a passing zone (broken yellow center line)?
US DMV standard (applies in all states)
Which of the following statements about right-of-way at a four-way stop is correct?
US DMV standard (applies in all states)
When two vehicles arrive at an uncontrolled intersection at about the same time, who should usually go first?
US DMV standard (applies in all states)
At a four-way stop, the vehicle that should go first is usually the one that ____.
US DMV standard (applies in all states)
What should you do if you see a blind pedestrian using a white cane or guide dog?
US DMV standard (applies in all states)
What should you do when an emergency vehicle approaches with siren or flashing lights?
US DMV standard (applies in all states)
What should you do when entering a roundabout?
US DMV standard (applies in all states)
Once you are inside a roundabout you should generally ____.
Alabama Driver Manual
What should you do when entering a freeway from an acceleration lane?
Alabama Driver Manual
When a stopped school bus is using red warning signals and a stop arm, what is the correct response?
US DMV standard (applies in all states)
Which statement about a school bus stopped with red warning signals is NOT correct?
US DMV standard (applies in all states)
What should you do before backing out of a driveway?
Alabama Driver Manual
What should you do if another driver fails to yield when you have the right-of-way?
Alabama Driver Manual
Which statement about roundabouts is NOT correct?
US DMV standard (applies in all states)
Why should you watch carefully for motorcycles?
Alabama Driver Manual
What should you do when following a motorcycle?
Alabama Driver Manual
Large trucks have ____.
US DMV standard (applies in all states)
What should you do when avoid cutting in front of a large truck because?
Alabama Driver Manual
What should you do when passing a large truck?
Alabama Driver Manual
Bicyclists generally have ____.
Alabama Driver Manual
What should you do when passing a bicycle?
Alabama Driver Manual
Pedestrians are at greatest risk ____.
Alabama Driver Manual
What should you do when approaching slow-moving farm equipment or other slow vehicles?
Alabama Driver Manual
What should you do when waiting behind another vehicle at railroad tracks?
US DMV standard (applies in all states)
What does 'sharing the road' mean for drivers?
US DMV standard (applies in all states)
What is a 'bike lane' and what does it mean for drivers?
US DMV standard (applies in all states)
A left turn on red may be allowed only ____.
Alabama Driver Manual
What should you do before backing your vehicle?
US DMV standard (applies in all states)
What should you do when parking on a hill?
US DMV standard (applies in all states)
What should you do before getting out of a parked vehicle on the traffic side?
Alabama Driver Manual
Backing is safest when you ____.
Alabama Driver Manual
What should you do when preparing for a turn?
Alabama Driver Manual
What does 'parallel parking' mean?
US DMV standard (applies in all states)
What does a red curb indicate?
US DMV standard (applies in all states)
What does a yellow curb indicate?
US DMV standard (applies in all states)
What is the purpose of handicap parking spaces?
US DMV standard (applies in all states)
What does it mean to 'double park'?
US DMV standard (applies in all states)
What should you do when make a U-turn only?
US DMV standard (applies in all states)
Real-format questions with the reasoning behind every answer.
Explanation: The legal BAC limit in North Carolina is 0.08% for drivers 21 and over. Drivers under 21 face zero tolerance for any detectable alcohol.
Explanation: Crashes involving death, injury, or $1,000 or more in property damage — or any damage to a seized vehicle — must be reported to police/DMV.
Explanation: Never stop in an intersection. If you are in one when an emergency vehicle approaches, drive through it first, then pull to the right edge of the road and stop.
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Answers to the questions North Carolina test-takers ask most.
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