Permito

Texas permit practice test

Here are 10 practice questions written for Texas, based on the Texas driver handbook and vehicle code. Think of your answer first, then open “Show answer” to see the explanation and the source.

This is practice, not the state test, and the questions are not taken from it. The set changes every quarter (this one is 2026-Q4).

Question 1

You are outside town on an unnumbered county road, and a speed sign is missing. What is the default limit?

  1. 55 mph, as on a rural lane
  2. 50 mph, as on a gravel road
  3. 70 mph, as on a numbered highway
  4. 60 mph, the default here
Show answer

Answer: D. 60 mph, the default here

Outside town, a road without a Texas or U.S. number has a 60 mph default. Numbered highways get 70 mph, so the route number makes the difference.

Sources: TTC 545.352; Driver handbook, Chapter 8: Speed and Speed Limits

Question 2

When must you signal a turn or lane change?

  1. Every time you turn or change lanes
  2. Only when other cars are close behind
  3. Only when driving at night
  4. On highways, but not on city streets
Show answer

Answer: A. Every time you turn or change lanes

Signal before changing lanes, turning, slowing, stopping, pulling over, or leaving a parked spot. A surprise move is a common cause of crashes, so give warning every time.

Sources: TTC 545.104; Driver handbook, Chapter 6: Signaling, Passing, and Turning

Question 3

You stop at a steady red light to turn right. No sign bans the turn, and the way is clear. What may you do?

  1. Turn right without stopping, if no one is near
  2. Turn right after a full stop, yielding to people and cars
  3. Wait for the light to turn green before any turn
  4. Turn right only if a police officer waves you on
Show answer

Answer: B. Turn right after a full stop, yielding to people and cars

After a full stop at a steady red light, a driver may turn right unless a sign bans it. Yield to pedestrians and other traffic first, since they have the green.

Sources: TTC 544.007; Driver handbook, Chapter 5: Signals, Signs, and Markers

Question 4

Police find an open bottle of beer in the passenger area of your parked car on a public street. What is true?

  1. It is legal, since the bottle belongs to a passenger
  2. It is legal, since nobody is drinking
  3. It is a crime only while the car is moving
  4. It is a crime, even though the car is parked
Show answer

Answer: D. It is a crime, even though the car is parked

An open alcohol container in the passenger area of a car on a public road is an offense, even if the car is parked. The law is about possession, not about whether anyone is drinking.

Sources: Tex. Penal Code 49.031; Tex. Penal Code 12.23; Driver handbook, Chapter 10: Alcohol and Drug Impact on the Driving Ability

Question 5

The light turns steady yellow while you are well back from the crosswalk. What should you do?

  1. Keep going, since yellow means go
  2. Speed up so you get through before red
  3. Stop in the middle of the crosswalk
  4. Stop before the crosswalk if you can do it safely
Show answer

Answer: D. Stop before the crosswalk if you can do it safely

A steady yellow warns that red is next. Stop before the crosswalk if you can do so safely, and go on with care only if stopping would be unsafe.

Sources: TTC 544.007; Driver handbook, Chapter 5: Signals, Signs, and Markers

Question 6

A stopped utility truck with flashing lights is on a road with a 20 mph limit. You cannot move over. How fast may you go?

  1. 20 mph
  2. 5 mph
  3. 15 mph
  4. 10 mph
Show answer

Answer: B. 5 mph

When the posted limit is under 25 mph, slow to 5 mph at most for a stopped emergency or service vehicle. Taking 20 mph off a low limit would leave almost no speed at all.

Sources: TTC 545.157; Driver handbook, Chapter 4: Right-of-Way

Question 7

How close behind a fire truck answering an alarm may you follow?

  1. No closer than 200 feet
  2. No closer than 500 feet
  3. No closer than 100 feet
  4. No closer than 300 feet
Show answer

Answer: B. No closer than 500 feet

Stay at least 500 feet behind a fire truck that is answering an alarm. Following closer puts you at risk when it stops or turns suddenly.

Sources: TTC 545.156; Driver handbook, Chapter 4: Right-of-Way

Question 8

When must you turn on your headlights in Texas?

  1. From one hour after sunset to one hour before sunrise
  2. Only when it is completely dark outside
  3. 30 minutes after sunset to 30 minutes before sunrise
  4. From noon until midnight each day
Show answer

Answer: C. 30 minutes after sunset to 30 minutes before sunrise

Texas requires headlights from 30 minutes after sunset until 30 minutes before sunrise, and any time visibility is under 1,000 feet. Lights help others see you, not only help you see.

Sources: TTC 547.302; Driver handbook, Chapter 9: Some Special Driving Situations

Question 9

Who must wear a safety belt in a Texas passenger vehicle that has belts?

  1. The driver and all passengers
  2. Only the driver and front seat riders
  3. Only people under 17 years old
  4. Everyone except adults in the back seat
Show answer

Answer: A. The driver and all passengers

Texas requires the driver and all passengers in a seat with a safety belt to use it, whatever their age. Belts keep people from being thrown out of the car and keep the driver in control.

Sources: TTC 545.413; Driver handbook, Chapter 14: Additional Safety Tips

Question 10

You plan a left turn into a gravel lot beside a feed store. At the least, how early must your turn signal be on?

  1. Flashing for the last 500 feet before the turn
  2. Switched on as you begin turning the wheel
  3. Flashing for the last 100 feet before the turn
  4. Flashing for the last 30 feet before the turn
Show answer

Answer: C. Flashing for the last 100 feet before the turn

Signal at least 100 feet before a turn. Then cancel the signal once the turn is finished so it does not mislead others.

Sources: TTC 545.104; Driver handbook, Chapter 6: Signaling, Passing, and Turning

More Texas practice

Practice the rest in the app

Permito has a much larger Texas question set, mock exams, a readiness score and an explanation for every answer. It is free to start and needs no account.

Coming soonApp StoreComing soonGoogle Play

The app is not in the App Store or Google Play yet. These buttons will link to it when it is.