Virginia: Highway driving Practice Test
Entering a highway, the left lane, toll plazas and E-ZPass lanes, and HOV lanes.
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Questions are original and based on the official manual "Virginia Driver's Manual" (DMV 39 (April 27, 2026)), Virginia Department of Motor Vehicles (DMV).
All 15 questions in this practice test
Take the test above first, then use this list to study. Tap “Show answer” to see the correct answer and explanation.
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What do all toll facilities in Virginia accept as payment?
- Cash only
- Credit cards only
- Checks mailed to the DMV
- E-ZPass toll transponders
Show answer
Correct answer: E-ZPass toll transponders
All toll facilities in Virginia accept E-ZPass toll transponders, which let drivers pay electronically without stopping to pay cash.
Source: Virginia Driver's Manual (DMV 39 (April 27, 2026)), page 13 · Open this page in the manual (Manual page 13)
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If you have a transponder, which signs should you look for and follow as you approach a toll plaza?
- Signs with the green cash logo
- Signs with the purple E-ZPass logo
- Signs with the red toll logo
- Signs with the blue DMV logo
Show answer
Correct answer: Signs with the purple E-ZPass logo
Drivers with a transponder follow signs with the purple E-ZPass logo.
Source: Virginia Driver's Manual (DMV 39 (April 27, 2026)), page 13 · Open this page in the manual (Manual page 13)
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If you do not have a transponder, which signs should you follow as you approach a toll plaza?
- Signs for cash only lanes
- Signs for E-ZPass lanes
- Signs for high speed lanes
- Signs for exit-only lanes
Show answer
Correct answer: Signs for cash only lanes
Drivers without a transponder look for and follow signs for cash only lanes.
Source: Virginia Driver's Manual (DMV 39 (April 27, 2026)), page 13 · Open this page in the manual (Manual page 13)
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Why should you be extra cautious as you approach, enter and depart a toll plaza?
- Toll plazas have lower speed limits than the roads leading to them
- Toll lanes may close without warning during periods of heavy traffic
- Other drivers may be changing lanes and toll employees may be crossing the lanes
- Toll employees direct each vehicle to a lane by hand signals
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Correct answer: Other drivers may be changing lanes and toll employees may be crossing the lanes
The manual says to slow down because other drivers may change lanes and toll employees may cross the lanes.
Source: Virginia Driver's Manual (DMV 39 (April 27, 2026)), page 13 · Open this page in the manual (Manual page 13)
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Who may enter the high speed lanes on some toll roads?
- Vehicles with cash ready
- Vehicles with E-ZPass transponders
- Vehicles with two or more passengers
- Vehicles in the left lane only
Show answer
Correct answer: Vehicles with E-ZPass transponders
Some toll roads have high speed lanes reserved for vehicles with E-ZPass transponders, so you should not enter them without one.
Source: Virginia Driver's Manual (DMV 39 (April 27, 2026)), page 13 · Open this page in the manual (Manual page 13)
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You enter an E-ZPass high speed lane by mistake and you have no transponder. What should you do?
- Stop and back up
- Stop and pay the toll in cash
- Stop on the shoulder and call the toll operator
- Do not stop
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Correct answer: Do not stop
Stopping is unsafe and could cause a rear-end crash, so you should not stop.
Source: Virginia Driver's Manual (DMV 39 (April 27, 2026)), page 13 · Open this page in the manual (Manual page 13)
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What happens if you enter an E-ZPass high speed lane without a transponder?
- A police officer is called to the toll plaza to write you a traffic ticket
- Your license is suspended until the toll is paid
- The toll is added to your next vehicle registration only
- Cameras photograph the license plate and the registered owner is billed for the toll
Show answer
Correct answer: Cameras photograph the license plate and the registered owner is billed for the toll
Cameras photograph the car’s license plate number and the registered owner is billed for the toll.
Source: Virginia Driver's Manual (DMV 39 (April 27, 2026)), page 13 · Open this page in the manual (Manual page 13)
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How are High Occupancy Vehicle (HOV) lanes marked on highways?
- By a bicycle symbol in the center of the lane
- By a green stripe along the right edge
- By a diamond shape in the center of the lane
- By a line of triangles across the lane
Show answer
Correct answer: By a diamond shape in the center of the lane
HOV lanes are marked on highways by a diamond shape in the center of the lane.
Source: Virginia Driver's Manual (DMV 39 (April 27, 2026)), page 13 · Open this page in the manual (Manual page 13)
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How may HOV lanes be separated from other lanes?
- By a barrier or solid double white lines
- By a broken yellow line or a raised curb
- By a solid single white line only
- By a row of orange cones only
Show answer
Correct answer: By a barrier or solid double white lines
HOV lanes may be special lanes separated by a barrier or solid double white lines.
Source: Virginia Driver's Manual (DMV 39 (April 27, 2026)), page 13 · Open this page in the manual (Manual page 13)
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Which of these may use HOV lanes during heavy traffic periods?
- Tractor-trailers
- Motorcycles
- Slow moving farm vehicles
- Any passenger car with a transponder
Show answer
Correct answer: Motorcycles
During heavy traffic periods, HOV lanes are reserved for buses, vanpools, carpools, other high occupancy vehicles, motorcycles, and certain clean special fuel vehicles.
Source: Virginia Driver's Manual (DMV 39 (April 27, 2026)), page 13 · Open this page in the manual (Manual page 13)
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What do road signs show about HOV lanes?
- The maximum speed allowed in the lane and the toll rates charged for each type of vehicle
- The number of vehicles allowed in the lane and the last exit available
- The vehicles banned from the lane and the fines for using it
- The minimum number of passengers a vehicle must carry and the times that HOV restrictions are in effect
Show answer
Correct answer: The minimum number of passengers a vehicle must carry and the times that HOV restrictions are in effect
Signs show the minimum passenger count (not for motorcycles or clean fuel vehicles) and when the HOV restrictions apply.
Source: Virginia Driver's Manual (DMV 39 (April 27, 2026)), page 13 · Open this page in the manual (Manual page 13)
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What does it mean when HOV lanes separated by a barrier are reversible?
- Traffic flows one way at certain times of day and the opposite way at other times
- Traffic may enter and exit the lane from either side at any time of day
- Vehicles may drive in either direction at all times of day
- The lanes may be used by any vehicle after the rush hour ends
Show answer
Correct answer: Traffic flows one way at certain times of day and the opposite way at other times
If HOV lanes are separated by a barrier, they are reversible: the direction of traffic changes during the day.
Source: Virginia Driver's Manual (DMV 39 (April 27, 2026)), page 13 · Open this page in the manual (Manual page 13)
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What must drivers entering an interstate from an entrance ramp do?
- Speed up and expect the highway traffic to move over
- Yield the right-of-way to traffic already on the highway
- Merge first because they are entering from the right
- Stop at the end of every entrance ramp
Show answer
Correct answer: Yield the right-of-way to traffic already on the highway
Entering drivers must yield to the traffic already on the highway.
Source: Virginia Driver's Manual (DMV 39 (April 27, 2026)), page 16 · Open this page in the manual (Manual page 16)
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On a multi-lane highway, which lane should you use if you are driving slower than the traffic around you?
- The left lane
- The center lane
- The right lane
- Any open lane
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Correct answer: The right lane
Drivers moving slower than surrounding traffic should stay in the right lane.
Source: Virginia Driver's Manual (DMV 39 (April 27, 2026)), page 17 · Open this page in the manual (Manual page 17)
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On a multi-lane highway, what is the left lane for?
- Cruising at the speed limit
- Passing only, not cruising
- Vehicles turning left only
- Slower vehicles that want to stay together
Show answer
Correct answer: Passing only, not cruising
The left lane is for passing only, not cruising.
Source: Virginia Driver's Manual (DMV 39 (April 27, 2026)), page 17 · Open this page in the manual (Manual page 17)