Virginia: Sign shapes and colors Practice Test
What the shape and color of a road sign tell you before you can read it.
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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 23 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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In poor visibility such as heavy fog, what may you be able to make out about a sign?
- Only its message
- Only the symbol on it
- Only its shape
- Nothing at all
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Correct answer: Only its shape
In heavy fog you may see only the shape of a sign, which still tells you something about its message.
Source: Virginia Driver's Manual (DMV 39 (April 27, 2026)), page 6 · Open this page in the manual (Manual page 6)
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As you approach a sign from a distance, what may you see long before you can read its message?
- Its border thickness
- Its mounting height
- Its reflective letters
- Its color
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Correct answer: Its color
The color of a sign can be seen from far away, giving you advance information.
Source: Virginia Driver's Manual (DMV 39 (April 27, 2026)), page 6 · Open this page in the manual (Manual page 6)
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Which sign color combination conveys stop, yield, do not and no?
- Black used with white
- Red used with white
- Yellow used with black
- Orange used with black
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Correct answer: Red used with white
Red with white is used for stop, yield, do not and no messages.
Source: Virginia Driver's Manual (DMV 39 (April 27, 2026)), page 6 · Open this page in the manual (Manual page 6)
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What do black-and-white signs convey?
- A warning
- Destination information
- Regulatory information
- Motorist services
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Correct answer: Regulatory information
Black used with white conveys regulatory information, meaning the operation is regulated by law.
Source: Virginia Driver's Manual (DMV 39 (April 27, 2026)), page 6 · Open this page in the manual (Manual page 6)
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Which sign is an example of black used with white?
- A speed limit sign
- A stop ahead sign
- A wrong way sign
- A destination sign
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Correct answer: A speed limit sign
Speed limit, do not pass and no turn signs are black-and-white because the operation is regulated by law.
Source: Virginia Driver's Manual (DMV 39 (April 27, 2026)), page 6 · Open this page in the manual (Manual page 6)
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What do yellow signs with black symbols or words convey?
- A warning
- Regulatory information
- Motorist services
- Historical or cultural interest
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Correct answer: A warning
Yellow used with black conveys a warning.
Source: Virginia Driver's Manual (DMV 39 (April 27, 2026)), page 6 · Open this page in the manual (Manual page 6)
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Which sign is an example of yellow used with black?
- A stop sign
- A speed limit sign
- A stop ahead sign
- A do not enter sign
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Correct answer: A stop ahead sign
Curve ahead, stop ahead, overhead clearance and slippery when wet signs are yellow with black because they warn.
Source: Virginia Driver's Manual (DMV 39 (April 27, 2026)), page 6 · Open this page in the manual (Manual page 6)
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A strong yellow/green color with black is used on signs that advise of what?
- Construction and incident areas on the road
- School zone, pedestrian and bicyclist activities
- Destinations and distances to the next towns
- Historical and cultural sites in the area
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Correct answer: School zone, pedestrian and bicyclist activities
This specialized class of warning signs advises of school zone, pedestrian and bicyclist activities.
Source: Virginia Driver's Manual (DMV 39 (April 27, 2026)), page 6 · Open this page in the manual (Manual page 6)
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What kind of information does a green sign provide?
- Motorist services
- Historical or cultural interests
- Construction warnings
- Destination information
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Correct answer: Destination information
The green sign provides destination types of information.
Source: Virginia Driver's Manual (DMV 39 (April 27, 2026)), page 6 · Open this page in the manual (Manual page 6)
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What kind of information does a blue sign provide?
- Destinations
- Motorist services
- Historical or cultural interests
- Regulations that apply only in work zones
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Correct answer: Motorist services
The blue sign informs drivers about motorist services.
Source: Virginia Driver's Manual (DMV 39 (April 27, 2026)), page 6 · Open this page in the manual (Manual page 6)
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What does a brown sign advise of?
- Motorist services such as fuel and food
- Destinations and distances
- Incident areas on the road ahead
- Historical or cultural interests in the area
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Correct answer: Historical or cultural interests in the area
The brown sign advises of historical or cultural interests that might exist in the area.
Source: Virginia Driver's Manual (DMV 39 (April 27, 2026)), page 6 · Open this page in the manual (Manual page 6)
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What do orange-and-black signs advise and warn of?
- Construction areas
- Incident areas
- School zones
- Historical sites
Show answer
Correct answer: Construction areas
Orange and black signs are used in construction areas.
Source: Virginia Driver's Manual (DMV 39 (April 27, 2026)), page 6 · Open this page in the manual (Manual page 6)
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What do pink-and-black signs advise and warn of?
- Construction areas
- Pedestrian activity
- Incident areas
- Motorist services
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Correct answer: Incident areas
Pink and black signs are used in incident areas, while orange is used for construction.
Source: Virginia Driver's Manual (DMV 39 (April 27, 2026)), page 6 · Open this page in the manual (Manual page 6)
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Which sign shape always means stop?
- Triangle
- Diamond
- Pentagon
- Octagon
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Correct answer: Octagon
The eight-sided octagon always means stop.
Source: Virginia Driver's Manual (DMV 39 (April 27, 2026)), page 6 · Open this page in the manual (Manual page 6)
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At a stop sign, what must you do after you come to a complete stop at the sign, stop line, pedestrian crosswalk or curb?
- Proceed at once if you are on the larger road
- Wait for any vehicle or pedestrian to clear the way
- Honk to let others know you are going
- Proceed once other drivers wave you through
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Correct answer: Wait for any vehicle or pedestrian to clear the way
After stopping you must wait until any vehicle or pedestrian has cleared your way.
Source: Virginia Driver's Manual (DMV 39 (April 27, 2026)), page 6 · Open this page in the manual (Manual page 6)
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A sign beneath a stop sign reads “All Way” or “4 Way.” What does it mean?
- Only vehicles on the cross street must stop
- Traffic from four directions may proceed without stopping
- All vehicles on all roads leading into the intersection must stop
- Only vehicles turning left must stop
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Correct answer: All vehicles on all roads leading into the intersection must stop
An All Way or 4 Way plate means every vehicle on every road entering the intersection must stop.
Source: Virginia Driver's Manual (DMV 39 (April 27, 2026)), page 6 · Open this page in the manual (Manual page 6)
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What shape is a yield sign?
- Triangle
- Octagon
- Diamond
- Pentagon
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Correct answer: Triangle
The triangle is the yield sign shape.
Source: Virginia Driver's Manual (DMV 39 (April 27, 2026)), page 6 · Open this page in the manual (Manual page 6)
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What must you do as you come to an intersection with a yield sign?
- Come to a complete stop every time, then proceed when it is clear
- Maintain your speed if no other vehicles are visible nearby
- Slow down, be prepared to stop, and let others safely pass first
- Stop only if pedestrians are in the crosswalk ahead of you
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Correct answer: Slow down, be prepared to stop, and let others safely pass first
At a yield sign you slow down, are prepared to stop, and let others pass safely first.
Source: Virginia Driver's Manual (DMV 39 (April 27, 2026)), page 6 · Open this page in the manual (Manual page 6)
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Which sign shape warns you of special conditions or hazards ahead?
- Octagon
- Diamond
- Triangle
- Rectangle
Show answer
Correct answer: Diamond
Diamond-shaped signs warn of special conditions or hazards ahead.
Source: Virginia Driver's Manual (DMV 39 (April 27, 2026)), page 7 · Open this page in the manual (Manual page 7)
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What should you do when you see a diamond-shaped sign?
- Come to a complete stop and look both ways
- Maintain your speed unless a hazard appears
- Pull over and wait for traffic to clear
- Slow down, drive with caution and be ready to stop
Show answer
Correct answer: Slow down, drive with caution and be ready to stop
Diamond signs warn of hazards, so you slow down, use caution and are ready to stop.
Source: Virginia Driver's Manual (DMV 39 (April 27, 2026)), page 7 · Open this page in the manual (Manual page 7)
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What do vertical rectangular signs generally give?
- Directions or information
- Instructions or the law
- A warning of hazards ahead
- The location of a school crossing
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Correct answer: Instructions or the law
Vertical rectangles generally give instructions or tell you the law.
Source: Virginia Driver's Manual (DMV 39 (April 27, 2026)), page 7 · Open this page in the manual (Manual page 7)
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What may horizontal rectangular signs give?
- Instructions or the law
- A warning of hazards ahead
- The speed limit only
- Directions or information
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Correct answer: Directions or information
Horizontal rectangles may give directions or information.
Source: Virginia Driver's Manual (DMV 39 (April 27, 2026)), page 7 · Open this page in the manual (Manual page 7)
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What does a five-sided (pentagon) sign mark?
- School zones and school crossings
- Railroad crossings and rail lines
- Construction and work zone areas
- Pedestrian hybrid beacons ahead
Show answer
Correct answer: School zones and school crossings
The pentagon marks school zones and warns of school crossings.
Source: Virginia Driver's Manual (DMV 39 (April 27, 2026)), page 7 · Open this page in the manual (Manual page 7)