Tennessee DMV Permit Practice Test 2024

The Tennessee DMV permit test consists of 30 questions, and you must answer at least 24 questions correctly to get a passing score (80%). The questions in our sample tests are nearly identical to those on the official TN exam.

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Questions

What do flashing yellow or amber lights on a school bus mean?

Flashing amber lights are used by school buses in Tennessee to indicate that they are slowing down and preparing to stop. Motorists should slow down and prepare to stop when they see these lights. The amber lights are generally activated 100-300 feet before the bus will stop depending on the speed limit.

Where do drivers have to stop when approaching a school bus that is loading or unloading passengers?

In Tennessee, motorists from both directions have to stop for school buses loading or unloading passengers, shown by flashing red lights and a mechanical stop arm. Do not proceed until the school bus has started driving again and the lights have stopped flashing and/or the stop arm has been retracted. If the school bus stops to load or unload passengers at an intersection, traffic from all directions must stop until the bus resumes motion. A stop is not required when driving on the opposite side of a roadway divided by a median space or barrier, but morotists should still display caution. A turn lane is not considered a median.

Which passengers have to wear a seat belt?

In Tennessee, the driver and all front-seat passengers age 16 and older must wear a seat belt. Violation of the seat belt law is a standard offense. In addition, the child passenger safety law also requires that all children wear an appropriate child restraint. What is appropriate depends on the size, height and weight of the child. For children ages 9 until 16, the appropriate restraint is a seat belt.

What is the penalty for leaving the scene of a crash resulting in serious injury?

Leaving a crash scene resulting in death or personal injury in Tennessee is a Class A Misdemeanor, meaning drivers will have their license revoked, receive a fine of no more than $2,500, and face imprisonment for up to 11 months and 19 days. However, if the driver knew or should have know that the crash resulted in death, it's a Class E Felony punishable by imprisonment for up to 6 years and a fine of no more than $3,000.

What is the maximum speed limit on rural interstate highways unless otherwise posted?

On most Tennessee interstate highways, the speed limit is 70 mph. On any interstate highway in Tennessee, it is unlawful to drive in the left-most lane at a speed less than 55 mph unless traffic congestion and/or traffic flow prevent the safe driving at this speed. The minimum speed limit in the right-most lane is 45 mph. If you cannot travel at least this fast, you must not use the interstate highway.

For how long must you signal a turn or lane change?

Other drivers need to know what you're planning to do. In Tennessee, you must signal for at least 50 feet before a turn or lane change. At higher speeds, you should consider signaling for far longer.

Why must you be prepared to stop when driving behind a school bus and approaching a railroad crossing?

School buses, vehicles carrying passengers for hire, and vehicles transporting hazardous material must stop at all railroad crossings in Tennessee. If you are driving behind any of these vehicles, you should be prepared to stop as well.

When are studded tires permitted?

Studded tires have studs embedded in the tread that provide added traction. They are permitted in Tennessee between October 1 to April 15.

Which of the following is a 6-point violation?

Tennessee has a point system to keep unsafe drivers off the roads, likt most other states. Failure to yield to emergency vehicles is a 6-point violation. Erratic driving or suddenly changing speeds is a 3-point violation. Failing to yield right-of-way is a 4-point violation. Adults accumulating 12 or more points within any 12-month period causes a suspension of the driver's license. For juvenile drivers, the limit is set to 6 points within a 12-month period.

Does your trailer need to be equipped with independent braking?

The added weight of the trailer to your vehicle can drastically increase the distance needed to come to a full stop. For this reason, most states have laws regarding independent braking on trailers over a certain gross vehicle weight (GVW). In Tennessee, the gross weight limit is 3,000 lbs.

What is the standard speed limit on primary and secondary state and federal highways unless otherwise posted?

The standard speed limit on primary and secondary state and federal highways in Tennessee is 55 mph unless otherwise posted. These roads include most small backroads and local routes. However, be aware that this speed will likely drop to 30 mph or less when entering a residential or heavily-trafficked area.

Is it generally recommended to gesture at other drivers that you think did something wrong in traffic?

Gestures can be misunderstood or interpreted as hostile. Avoid gesturing at other drivers even if you think they did something wrong.

You drive past a sign with this shape on the highway. Which statement is true?

‘No Passing Zone’ signs have the shape of a pennant. Do NOT attempt to pass in this zone for any reason.

You’re driving and notice that your brakes aren’t working. You should:

If your brakes fail:

Pump hard and fast on the brake pedal
Apply handbrake carefully to prevent skidding
Change to a lower gear
Sound your horn to alert other drivers
Do your best to steer your vehicle to avoid a severe collision

If your car's wheels are unbalanced:

If your wheels are out of balance, the steering wheel will vibrate at certain speeds.

If your wheels are unbalanced, you need to have it fixed.

What’s a T-intersection?

T-intersections generally look like a ‘T’, and are intersections where one street ends and the other continues. Vehicles on the terminating street must yield the right-of-way to traffic on the through street.

You should leave your manual transmission car in which gear when parking facing uphill?

When parked facing uphill, turn your wheels away from the curb, pull the parking brake, and shift the car into ‘1st gear’. By doing so, you will minimize the risk of your vehicle rolling if the parking brake fails. This is because your transmission is set in the opposite direction, and will act as a brake.

You’re driving on a well-lit road at night. How will using low-beam headlights help?

On well-lit roads, low-beam headlights will often not help you see further. However, other drivers may be able to see you more easily.

You’re driving in extreme fog, and the visibility is so low that you are unable to see more than a couple of feet ahead. What should you do?

Remember that you must never stop on the road in extreme fog - if you decide to stop, do so COMPLETELY away from traffic.

When is it extra important to know how traffic is moving behind you?

Braking and changing lanes. It’s important to know your surroundings when braking or changing lanes since you may cause a collision otherwise.

When driving on level roads. It’s false that you should be extra careful if the road is level. Rather, you should be extra aware of traffic behind you if driving down a long or steep hill. Large vehicles take a long time to stop when driving down steep hills, and their brakes can fail.