Iowa DMV practice test
Prepare for the Iowa learner permit knowledge test with questions written from the official driver handbook, in English, Russian and Spanish.
Iowa practice tests
Every test is free and works in English, Russian and Spanish. Your progress is saved in this browser.
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Full practice tests in the format of the real Iowa knowledge test. Questions do not repeat between tests.
Road signs
Shapes, colors and meanings of the signs on the test.
Rules of the road
Right of way, turns, parking and sharing the road.
Iowa laws
Rules that are specific to Iowa.
Final exam prep
Check that you are ready before test day.
Key rules from the Iowa handbook
These numbers come straight from the official handbook. Each one is also a question in our tests.
Rules of the road
- Stop at least 15 feet from the nearest rail.
- Stay at least 500 feet behind a fire truck responding to an alarm.
- Stop at least 15 feet from a school bus with flashing red lights.
- Drivers under 18 years old may not use any wireless device while driving.
- Keep at least 3 seconds behind the vehicle ahead; add more in bad weather.
- Signal at least 100 feet before a turn where the speed limit is 45 mph or less (300 feet where it is higher).
- Do not pass within 100 feet of an intersection, bridge, tunnel or railroad crossing.
- Amber lights: slow to 20 mph or less and be ready to stop; when it stops, stop no closer than 15 feet.
- The SMV emblem means the vehicle travels 35 mph or less.
- 100 feet where the limit is 45 mph or less; at least 300 feet where it is higher.
- Up to $50 per passenger, and $100 per passenger under 18.
- You must be able to see at least 200 feet behind in the rearview mirror.
- Tinting must let at least 70 percent of the light through.
- A violation may result in a suspension of up to one year.
- 18 hours awake impairs you about as much as a 0.08 BAC.
Speed limits
- 20 mph in business districts unless posted otherwise.
- 25 mph in residential districts unless a sign shows otherwise.
- Up to 70 mph on rural interstates where posted.
- Interstates have a 40 mph minimum; rural interstates allow up to 70 mph.
- Suburban districts: 45 mph (also for vehicles pulling another vehicle).
Parking
- Do not park within 5 feet of a fire hydrant.
- Do not park within 10 feet of a STOP sign.
- Do not park within 20 feet of a fire station driveway on the same side of the street.
- Do not park within 50 feet of a railroad crossing.
- Park with your wheels within 18 inches of the curb.
Alcohol and drugs
- 0.08% BAC or higher is the legal limit for drivers 21 and older.
- For drivers under 21 the limit is 0.02%.
- Refusing the test means an automatic one-year (12-month) revocation.
- OWI: revocation for a minimum of 180 days; refusing the test: automatic one-year revocation and at least a $1,250 fine.
- Refusal: automatic one-year revocation and at least $1,250.
- Up to $200 for each driver and passenger.
Iowa driving rules in numbers
Speed limits by state
- Business district
- 20 mph
- Residential district
- 25 mph
- Rural interstate (max)
- 70 mph
Drunk driving laws by state: BAC limits
- Drivers 21+
- 0.08%
- Under 21
- 0.02%
- Refusing a chemical test (1st time)
- 12 months
Cell phone laws for drivers by state
- No phone at all for drivers under
- 18 years old
Parking distances by state
- Fire hydrant
- 5 feet
- STOP sign or signal
- 10 feet
- Fire station driveway
- 20 feet
- Railroad crossing
- 50 feet
- Wheels from the curb
- 18 inches
School bus, move over and bicycle passing laws by state
- Stop from a school bus at least
- 15 feet
Sample questions
In Iowa, you may not park within how many feet of a fire hydrant?
- 5 feet
- 10 feet
- 15 feet
- 20 feet
Iowa: do not park within 5 feet of a fire hydrant.
In Iowa, when you must stop at a railroad crossing, stop no closer to the nearest rail than:
- 5 feet
- 10 feet
- 15 feet
- 20 feet
Iowa: stop at least 15 feet from the nearest rail.
In Iowa, a driver 21 or older is legally intoxicated starting at what blood alcohol content (BAC)?
- 0.04%
- 0.05%
- 0.08%
- 0.10%
Iowa: 0.08% BAC or higher is the legal limit for drivers 21 and older.
Iowa permit test: questions and answers
From the official Iowa driver handbook (Iowa Driver's License Manual (iowadot.gov)). We write our own questions; the DMV does not publish its real exam questions.