Driving Test Practice
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Virginia: Vehicle controls and equipment — Part 1 Practice Test

Questions in this part include: “After you complete a turn or lane change, what should you make sure of?” · “During which hours must you use your headlights?”

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23 questions · About 9 min

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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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  1. If your steering wheel were a clock, at which positions should your hands be placed?

    A steering wheel seen from the driver's seat, with the numbers 1 to 12 of a clock face placed around its rim
    • 8 o’clock and 4 o’clock
    • 10 o’clock and 2 o’clock
    • 9 o’clock and 3 o’clock
    • 7 o’clock and 5 o’clock
    Show answer

    Correct answer: 8 o’clock and 4 o’clock

    The manual says your hands belong at the 8 o’clock and 4 o’clock positions on the wheel.

    Source: ⁨Virginia Driver's Manual (DMV 39 (April 27, 2026))⁩, page 14 · Open this page in the manual

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  2. How should you hold the steering wheel?

    A steering wheel seen from the driver's seat, with the numbers 1 to 12 of a clock face placed around its rim
    • With your palms pressed flat against the rim
    • With your fingertips only, keeping your thumbs off the wheel
    • With your fingers and thumbs, not gripping it with your palms
    • With one hand at the top and the other resting in your lap
    Show answer

    Correct answer: With your fingers and thumbs, not gripping it with your palms

    The manual says to hold the wheel with your fingers and thumbs and to avoid gripping it with your palms.

    Source: ⁨Virginia Driver's Manual (DMV 39 (April 27, 2026))⁩, page 14 · Open this page in the manual

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  3. What should you remember about antilock brakes?

    A car's driver footwell with two pedals: a wide brake pedal and a narrower gas pedal
    • Pump them in short, quick presses
    • Never pump them
    • Pump them only on wet pavement
    • Pump them only when stopping from high speed
    Show answer

    Correct answer: Never pump them

    The manual says never to pump antilock brakes.

    Source: ⁨Virginia Driver's Manual (DMV 39 (April 27, 2026))⁩, page 15 · Open this page in the manual

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  4. If your vehicle has antilock brakes, what should you do before you go out on the road?

    A car's driver footwell with two pedals: a wide brake pedal and a narrower gas pedal
    • Have them replaced with standard brakes first
    • Check your vehicle owner’s manual and practice braking
    • Drive only on dry pavement until they warm up
    • Turn the antilock system off before braking
    Show answer

    Correct answer: Check your vehicle owner’s manual and practice braking

    You should understand how the brakes work by reading the owner’s manual and practicing braking before driving on the road.

    Source: ⁨Virginia Driver's Manual (DMV 39 (April 27, 2026))⁩, page 15 · Open this page in the manual

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  5. Whether you are changing lanes, passing, or entering or exiting a highway, what should you always do?

    A blue car on a road with two lanes of same-direction traffic, and a red car farther along the road in the other lane.
    • Use your turn signals and check traffic to the rear and sides
    • Sound your horn and speed up to get ahead of traffic
    • Turn on your hazard flashers
    • Move to the left lane first
    Show answer

    Correct answer: Use your turn signals and check traffic to the rear and sides

    The manual says always to use your turn signals and check traffic to the rear and sides.

    Source: ⁨Virginia Driver's Manual (DMV 39 (April 27, 2026))⁩, page 17 · Open this page in the manual

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  6. Using your turn signal when you change lanes, turn, or enter or exit a highway is:

    • Required only on roads with several lanes
    • Required by law
    • Required only when other traffic is nearby
    • Recommended but not required by law
    Show answer

    Correct answer: Required by law

    The manual says using your turn signal is required by law and lets nearby drivers know your intended movement.

    Source: ⁨Virginia Driver's Manual (DMV 39 (April 27, 2026))⁩, page 18 · Open this page in the manual

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  7. What does the manual say about using turn signals or hand signals when no other traffic is on the road?

    Top view of an empty intersection with striped crosswalks across the blue car’s street, one on each side of the junction; the blue car approaches from below and a yellow dashed curve bends right into the cross street.
    • Skip them, since no one can see them
    • Use them only after dark
    • Use them only at intersections
    • Use them anyway, as a good habit
    Show answer

    Correct answer: Use them anyway, as a good habit

    You should develop the habit of signaling even when no other traffic is on the road.

    Source: ⁨Virginia Driver's Manual (DMV 39 (April 27, 2026))⁩, page 18 · Open this page in the manual

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  8. A driver gives a hand signal with the left hand and arm pointing straight out. What does this signal mean?

    The back of a blue car on a two-lane road; the driver's left arm is held straight out of the window to the side.
    • Left turn
    • Right turn
    • Slow or stop
    • Pass on the left
    Show answer

    Correct answer: Left turn

    A left arm pointing straight out signals a left turn.

    Source: ⁨Virginia Driver's Manual (DMV 39 (April 27, 2026))⁩, page 18 · Open this page in the manual

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  9. A driver gives a hand signal with the left hand and arm pointing upward. What does this signal mean?

    The back of a blue car on a two-lane road; the driver's left arm is out of the window, bent at the elbow with the hand pointing up.
    • Left turn
    • Slow or stop
    • Right turn
    • Pass on the right
    Show answer

    Correct answer: Right turn

    A left arm pointing upward signals a right turn.

    Source: ⁨Virginia Driver's Manual (DMV 39 (April 27, 2026))⁩, page 18 · Open this page in the manual

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  10. A driver gives a hand signal with the left hand and arm pointing downward. What does this signal mean?

    The back of a blue car on a two-lane road; the driver's left arm is out of the window, bent at the elbow with the hand pointing down.
    • Left turn
    • Slow or stop
    • Right turn
    • Back up
    Show answer

    Correct answer: Slow or stop

    A left arm pointing downward signals that the driver is slowing or stopping.

    Source: ⁨Virginia Driver's Manual (DMV 39 (April 27, 2026))⁩, page 18 · Open this page in the manual

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  11. After you complete a turn or lane change, what should you make sure of?

    • That the turn signal is left on for a few seconds
    • That your hazard flashers are turned on
    • That you sound the horn to alert drivers behind you
    • That the turn signal stops flashing
    Show answer

    Correct answer: That the turn signal stops flashing

    The turn signal should be off once the turn or lane change is complete.

    Source: ⁨Virginia Driver's Manual (DMV 39 (April 27, 2026))⁩, page 18 · Open this page in the manual

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  12. How should the inside rear view mirror be adjusted before you drive?

    Driver's-seat view: the road ahead through the windshield, a mirror at its top and one at each front door, every mirror filled with a pale silver sheen.
    • So it shows mostly the road surface behind you
    • So it shows the sides of your vehicle
    • So it frames the entire back window
    • So it is tilted toward the left side mirror
    Show answer

    Correct answer: So it frames the entire back window

    The inside mirror should frame the whole back window.

    Source: ⁨Virginia Driver's Manual (DMV 39 (April 27, 2026))⁩, page 20 · Open this page in the manual

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  13. How should the side mirrors be adjusted before you drive?

    Driver's-seat view: the road ahead through the windshield, a mirror at its top and one at each front door, every mirror filled with a pale silver sheen.
    • So you can see as much of your vehicle as possible
    • So you can barely see the sides of your vehicle
    • So they show only the lane next to your vehicle
    • So they point straight down at the road
    Show answer

    Correct answer: So you can barely see the sides of your vehicle

    The side mirrors should be set so you can barely see the sides of your own vehicle.

    Source: ⁨Virginia Driver's Manual (DMV 39 (April 27, 2026))⁩, page 20 · Open this page in the manual

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  14. What are blind spots?

    A blue car on a road with two lanes of same-direction traffic, and a red car farther along the road in the other lane.
    • Places on the road where signs are hidden by trees or buildings
    • Areas behind your vehicle that mirrors show only in poor light
    • Parts of an intersection that are hidden from the driver ahead
    • Danger areas where vehicles around you cannot be easily seen
    Show answer

    Correct answer: Danger areas where vehicles around you cannot be easily seen

    Blind spots are danger areas around your vehicle where other vehicles cannot be easily seen.

    Source: ⁨Virginia Driver's Manual (DMV 39 (April 27, 2026))⁩, page 20 · Open this page in the manual

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  15. What is the best way to see a car in your blind spot?

    Top view of a road with two lanes in the same direction: the blue car drives in the right lane just beside and slightly behind a white car in the left lane.
    • Quickly turn your head and glance over your shoulder
    • Look into your rearview mirror for a few seconds
    • Look into your side mirror and then slow down
    • Sound your horn and watch for a reaction
    Show answer

    Correct answer: Quickly turn your head and glance over your shoulder

    A quick glance over your shoulder before changing lanes or passing is the best way to check a blind spot.

    Source: ⁨Virginia Driver's Manual (DMV 39 (April 27, 2026))⁩, page 20 · Open this page in the manual

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  16. According to the manual, what is the most common mistake drivers make when backing up?

    A blue car parked nose-in on a house driveway with its white backup lights on, and a dashed path showing it backing toward the sidewalk and the street
    • Failing to look both ways behind them
    • Backing up with the headlights on
    • Glancing quickly to either side while backing
    • Turning their head to look out of the rear window
    Show answer

    Correct answer: Failing to look both ways behind them

    The most common backing mistake is failing to look both ways behind the vehicle; mirrors do not give a full view.

    Source: ⁨Virginia Driver's Manual (DMV 39 (April 27, 2026))⁩, page 22 · Open this page in the manual

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  17. When backing up, how should you position yourself to see as much as possible?

    A blue car parked nose-in on a house driveway with its white backup lights on, and a dashed path showing it backing toward the sidewalk and the street
    • Turn your body and head to the left and look out through the side window
    • Stay facing forward and rely on your inside and outside mirrors
    • Turn your body and head to the right and look out through the rear window
    • Keep both hands on the wheel and look only at the side mirrors
    Show answer

    Correct answer: Turn your body and head to the right and look out through the rear window

    Turning your body and head to the right lets you look out through the rear window, which shows more than the mirrors do.

    Source: ⁨Virginia Driver's Manual (DMV 39 (April 27, 2026))⁩, page 22 · Open this page in the manual

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  18. How should you back up?

    A blue car parked nose-in on a house driveway with its white backup lights on, and a dashed path showing it backing toward the sidewalk and the street
    • Quickly, so that you block the road for as little time as possible
    • Slowly, glancing quickly to either side for pedestrians and traffic
    • Slowly, keeping your eyes fixed only on the rear window
    • At normal speed, using only your mirrors to check for traffic
    Show answer

    Correct answer: Slowly, glancing quickly to either side for pedestrians and traffic

    You should back up slowly and glance quickly to either side to check for pedestrians and approaching traffic.

    Source: ⁨Virginia Driver's Manual (DMV 39 (April 27, 2026))⁩, page 22 · Open this page in the manual

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  19. You must use your headlights at night and at which other times?

    The front of a blue car with both headlights lit, amber lights at its corners, a grille and a blank white license plate
    • Only when you are driving on a highway
    • At other times when it’s hard to see
    • Only when you are stopped on a shoulder
    • Only when you are following another vehicle
    Show answer

    Correct answer: At other times when it’s hard to see

    Besides night, you must use headlights whenever it is hard to see.

    Source: ⁨Virginia Driver's Manual (DMV 39 (April 27, 2026))⁩, page 22 · Open this page in the manual

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  20. Virginia law requires headlights in rain, fog, snow or sleet when visibility is reduced to how many feet?

    A blue car on a two-lane road in thick fog, with the faint shape of another car ahead
    • 500 feet
    • 100 feet
    • 300 feet
    • 1,000 feet
    Show answer

    Correct answer: 500 feet

    Headlights are required in inclement weather when visibility drops to 500 feet.

    Source: ⁨Virginia Driver's Manual (DMV 39 (April 27, 2026))⁩, page 22 · Open this page in the manual

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  21. When must you use your headlights because of your windshield wipers?

    A driver's view through a clear windshield of a two-lane road under a blue sky with a few clouds, both wiper blades resting along the bottom of the glass, and a gray car ahead.
    • Only if the wipers are on their fastest setting
    • Only if you are also driving at night
    • Whenever you use the wipers because of bad weather
    • Only if fog is present as well
    Show answer

    Correct answer: Whenever you use the wipers because of bad weather

    Using the wipers because of bad weather means your headlights must be on too.

    Source: ⁨Virginia Driver's Manual (DMV 39 (April 27, 2026))⁩, page 22 · Open this page in the manual

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  22. What does using headlights at all times, including during the day, do for your vehicle?

    The front of a blue car with both headlights lit, amber lights at its corners, a grille and a blank white license plate
    • It reduces glare for other drivers
    • It increases your vehicle’s visibility
    • It makes your turn signals unnecessary
    • It lets you skip using low beams
    Show answer

    Correct answer: It increases your vehicle’s visibility

    Daytime headlights make your vehicle easier for others to see.

    Source: ⁨Virginia Driver's Manual (DMV 39 (April 27, 2026))⁩, page 22 · Open this page in the manual

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  23. During which hours must you use your headlights?

    • Only after it is completely dark
    • From sunset to sunrise
    • From sunset until midnight
    • Only on roads that have no lighting
    Show answer

    Correct answer: From sunset to sunrise

    Headlights are required from sunset to sunrise, and should go on as soon as light begins to fade.

    Source: ⁨Virginia Driver's Manual (DMV 39 (April 27, 2026))⁩, page 23 · Open this page in the manual

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