Iowa Driver License: Your License, Signs, Signals, Railroad Crossings and Markings

33 questions with the correct answer and an explanation for each. Topic: Your License, Signs, Signals, Railroad Crossings and Markings. Free, no account needed.

1. A driver has lived in Iowa continuously for 30 days but has not registered to vote, enrolled a child in school, taken a permanent job, filed a homestead exemption, or received state assistance. Do they count as an Iowa resident for licensing purposes?

Only after 90 days of continuous residence
Yes, 30 days of continuous residence alone establishes residency
No, continuous residence alone never establishes residency
Only if they also register to vote

Answer: B — Yes, 30 days of continuous residence alone establishes residency

Living in Iowa continuously for 30 days is by itself one of the listed triggers for counting as a resident for licensing.

2. A farmer wants to drive a tractor without a license along a public road between the home farm and a field 1.5 miles away. Is this allowed?

Yes, but only at night
No, the exemption only applies within one mile
No, a license is always required to drive farm equipment on public roads
Yes, farm equipment may be driven without a license between the home farm and farmland or a farm operation within two miles

Answer: D — Yes, farm equipment may be driven without a license between the home farm and farmland or a farm operation within two miles

No license is needed to drive farm equipment between the home farm and farmland or a farm operation within two miles.

3. A driver is stopped by police and can produce their driver's license but not proof of registration or an insurance card. What is the consequence?

They face fines and possibly impoundment of the vehicle
Nothing, only the license is legally required
A warning only, since registration and insurance need not be carried
The vehicle is impounded but no fine applies

Answer: A — They face fines and possibly impoundment of the vehicle

Registration and proof of insurance must be carried along with the license; without them the driver faces fines and possible impoundment.

4. A 17-year-old has completed an Iowa-approved driver education course. Do they still need to pass a separate driving test to get a license?

No, completing the driver education requirement means the driving test is not required
No, but only if they are over 18
Yes, but only the vision screening may be skipped
Yes, a driving test is always required regardless of driver education

Answer: A — No, completing the driver education requirement means the driving test is not required

The driving test is not required when the driver education requirement is satisfied.

5. A sign is colored blue. What kind of information is it giving?

Traveler services such as rest areas, hospitals, lodging or fuel
A general warning of a hazard ahead
An enforceable regulatory law
Directions and distance to a place

Answer: A — Traveler services such as rest areas, hospitals, lodging or fuel

Blue marks traveler services such as rest areas, tourist sites, hospitals, lodging, fuel, restaurants and attractions.

6. A driver sees the blue Emergency Notification System sign posted at a railroad crossing. What is it for?

Reporting a stalled vehicle, malfunctioning signal or hazard at that crossing to the railroad
Marking the crossing as exempt from stopping
Advertising the nearest hospital
Showing the maximum safe speed through the crossing

Answer: A — Reporting a stalled vehicle, malfunctioning signal or hazard at that crossing to the railroad

The blue ENS sign carries a phone number and crossing ID used to report stalled vehicles, malfunctioning signals, or hazards at that crossing.

7. A driver on a main road passes a yellow diamond merging traffic sign. What does it tell them to do?

Move immediately into the opposite lane
Speed up to pass before the merge point
Be ready for vehicles blending into your lane on the main road
Stop and wait for all merging traffic to clear

Answer: C — Be ready for vehicles blending into your lane on the main road

A merging traffic warning tells drivers to be ready for vehicles blending into their lane on the main road.

8. A slow-moving farm vehicle displays a reflective orange triangle on its rear. What does that symbol indicate?

The vehicle is carrying hazardous materials
The vehicle travels 35 mph or less
The vehicle is exempt from all traffic laws
The vehicle must yield at every intersection

Answer: B — The vehicle travels 35 mph or less

A reflective orange triangle on the rear of a vehicle means it travels 35 mph or less.

9. A driver traveling on an interstate wants to know exactly how far they are from their exit and needs their exact location for an emergency call. What roadside feature provides this?

Route shield signs
Blue service signs
Guide signs listing city names
Mile markers counting distance from where the interstate entered the state

Answer: D — Mile markers counting distance from where the interstate entered the state

Mile markers count the miles from where the interstate entered the state, useful for computing distance to an exit and giving exact location in an emergency.

10. A traffic light shows solid yellow as a driver approaches an intersection they can still stop for safely. What must they do?

Treat it the same as a flashing red light
Proceed through with caution
Speed up to clear the intersection before it turns red
Not enter the intersection, since they can stop safely

Answer: D — Not enter the intersection, since they can stop safely

On solid yellow, a driver who can stop safely must not enter the intersection; only if they cannot stop safely should they proceed through with caution.

11. A driver waiting to turn left sees a flashing yellow arrow for their turn while oncoming traffic has a green light. What should they do?

Turn left immediately since the arrow is yielding, not stopping, traffic
Treat it as a steady red arrow and not turn at all
Come to a complete stop and wait for a green arrow
Yield to oncoming traffic and pedestrians, then turn left with caution

Answer: D — Yield to oncoming traffic and pedestrians, then turn left with caution

A flashing yellow arrow means yield to oncoming traffic, which has a green light, and to pedestrians, then turn left with caution.

12. A rideshare driver carrying a passenger for hire approaches a railroad crossing with no officer, signal, or EXEMPT marking present. What must they do before crossing?

Proceed normally since only school buses must stop
Slow to the posted advisory speed but need not stop
Stop within 15 to 50 feet of the tracks before crossing
Stop only if lights are flashing

Answer: C — Stop within 15 to 50 feet of the tracks before crossing

School buses, charter buses, drivers carrying passengers for hire, and placarded hazmat vehicles must stop within 15 to 50 feet of the tracks before crossing, unless directed otherwise or the crossing is marked EXEMPT.

13. A flagger in a fluorescent vest in a work zone holds up a stop paddle. What must a driver do?

Follow the flagger's instructions
Proceed if no arrow board is visible
Ignore the flagger and follow the posted speed limit sign instead
Stop only if a police officer is also present

Answer: A — Follow the flagger's instructions

Flagger instructions in a work zone must be followed.

14. On a two-way road, a driver sees a solid yellow line on their side paired with a dashed yellow line on the oncoming side. Can they pass?

Yes, but only oncoming vehicles on the solid side may pass
No, neither side may pass regardless of line type
Yes, passing is allowed from either side
No, passing is not allowed from the solid side, but vehicles on the dashed side may pass when safe

Answer: D — No, passing is not allowed from the solid side, but vehicles on the dashed side may pass when safe

On a two-way road with a solid line beside a dashed one, passing is not allowed from the solid side, while vehicles on the dashed side may pass when safe.

15. A driver enters a center lane marked with alternating left-turn arrows between solid and dashed yellow lines to prepare for a left turn from a busy street. Can this lane also be used to pass slower traffic?

Yes, once stopped in the lane it may be used to pass
Yes, but only if oncoming traffic is clear
No, the lane may not even be entered before turning
No, a shared left-turn lane may be entered and stopped in before a left turn but never used for passing

Answer: D — No, a shared left-turn lane may be entered and stopped in before a left turn but never used for passing

A shared left-turn lane may be entered and stopped in before a left turn but never used for passing.

16. What must a driver do on seeing this sign?

Slow down and be ready to stop, letting vehicles, pedestrians and bicyclists pass
Every road at this intersection stops; drivers arriving together yield to the driver on the right
Stop completely at the sign, stop line or crosswalk and wait for vehicles and pedestrians
The maximum legal speed in good weather

Answer: C — Stop completely at the sign, stop line or crosswalk and wait for vehicles and pedestrians

The octagon is reserved for stop signs, requiring a full stop at the intersection.

17. What must a driver do on seeing this sign?

Slow down, be ready to stop, and let vehicles, pedestrians and bicyclists pass
Come to a complete stop regardless of other traffic
Proceed since it only marks a school zone
Merge left because the lane is ending

Answer: A — Slow down, be ready to stop, and let vehicles, pedestrians and bicyclists pass

The triangle yield sign means slow down, be ready to stop, and let vehicles, pedestrians and bicyclists pass.

18. What does this plaque, mounted beneath a stop sign, mean?

Only cross traffic must stop
The intersection has a traffic signal ahead
Trucks are prohibited at this intersection
Every road at the intersection stops; drivers arriving together yield to the driver on the right

Answer: D — Every road at the intersection stops; drivers arriving together yield to the driver on the right

The 4-Way plaque means every approach stops, and drivers arriving together yield to the driver on the right.

19. What does this sign indicate to a driver?

The maximum legal speed in good weather; driving too fast for conditions can still be ticketed
The speed limit only while lights are flashing
The recommended speed only for exit ramps
The minimum speed required at all times

Answer: A — The maximum legal speed in good weather; driving too fast for conditions can still be ticketed

A speed limit sign gives the maximum legal speed under good conditions, though driving too fast for actual conditions can still result in a ticket.

20. What is prohibited where this sign is posted?

Right turns
Entering the roadway in this direction
Left turns, and also U-turns, which count as two left turns
Passing other vehicles

Answer: C — Left turns, and also U-turns, which count as two left turns

This sign prohibits left turns, and U-turns are also illegal here since a U-turn counts as two left turns.

21. What is a driver allowed to do in the lane marked by this sign?

Use it only to pass slower traffic
Use it exclusively for right turns
Drive in it only when carrying two or more people
Enter and stop in it before turning left from either direction, but never pass in it

Answer: D — Enter and stop in it before turning left from either direction, but never pass in it

The center lane left-turn-only marking reserves the lane for left turns from either direction; drivers may enter and stop in it before turning but never pass there.

22. What must a driver do on seeing this sign, even with a clear road ahead?

Merge into the right lane immediately
Not pass, since this marks the start of a no-passing zone
Pass only if no oncoming traffic is visible
Reduce speed but passing is still permitted

Answer: B — Not pass, since this marks the start of a no-passing zone

This sign marks the start of a no-passing zone; drivers must not pass even with a clear road.

23. What does this sign mean?

The driver has turned into oncoming traffic and must pull over and turn around
Traffic may not drive in this direction
A one-way street begins ahead
An intersection with cross traffic is ahead

Answer: B — Traffic may not drive in this direction

This sign marks an opening drivers must not enter, such as an exit ramp or one-way road spot.

24. What must a driver do on seeing this sign?

Continue since it only marks a divided highway
Yield to traffic entering from the right
Recognize they have turned into oncoming traffic and pull over and turn around as quickly and safely as possible
Slow down for a sharp curve ahead

Answer: C — Recognize they have turned into oncoming traffic and pull over and turn around as quickly and safely as possible

This sign means the driver has turned into oncoming traffic, so they must get off the traveled roadway and turn around as soon as safely possible.

25. What must a driver do on seeing this sign at a signal?

Stop completely regardless of the signal
Turn right if the way is clear
Not turn on red and wait for a green light
Yield only to pedestrians before turning

Answer: C — Not turn on red and wait for a green light

This sign forbids turning on red; the driver must wait for a green light.

26. What should a driver do on seeing this sign?

Look, listen, slow down and be ready to stop for trains from either direction
Only slow down if gates are visibly lowered
Proceed normally since crossbucks mark abandoned tracks
Speed up to clear the crossing before a train arrives

Answer: A — Look, listen, slow down and be ready to stop for trains from either direction

A railroad crossbuck warns of a railroad crossing; drivers must look, listen, slow down and be ready to stop for trains from either direction.

27. What must a driver do on approaching this intersection?

Yield to traffic already in the circle and travel counterclockwise around it
Turn only in the direction of an arrow board
Proceed straight through without slowing
Stop completely and wait for a gap in traffic

Answer: A — Yield to traffic already in the circle and travel counterclockwise around it

A circular intersection sign warns of a roundabout ahead, where drivers yield to traffic already in the circle and travel counterclockwise.

28. A driver in the right lane sees this sign ahead. What should they do?

Merge left as space opens, since the right lane is ending
Stop and wait for oncoming traffic to clear
Continue in the right lane since it does not affect them
Speed up to pass vehicles in the left lane before it ends

Answer: A — Merge left as space opens, since the right lane is ending

This sign warns that the right lane ends, so right-lane drivers must merge left when space opens.

29. What should a driver expect and do on seeing this sign?

A narrow bridge is ahead; slow down
The median ends and two-way traffic resumes; keep right
The highway will split into two one-way roadways; keep right
An additional lane will join without needing to merge

Answer: C — The highway will split into two one-way roadways; keep right

This sign warns that the divided highway is beginning, splitting into two one-way roadways, so drivers should keep right.

30. What should a driver do on seeing this sign?

Reduce speed and avoid hard braking or sudden turns on wet pavement
Maintain normal speed since the warning only applies in winter
Shift into a lower gear and accelerate through the area
Brake hard immediately to test traction

Answer: A — Reduce speed and avoid hard braking or sudden turns on wet pavement

This sign warns of slippery pavement when wet, so drivers should reduce speed and avoid hard braking or sudden turns.

31. What should a driver do on seeing this sign?

Expect livestock being herded across the road by a farmer
Slow down, be alert and be ready to stop for animals crossing
Proceed at normal speed since it only applies at night
Sound the horn continuously through the area

Answer: B — Slow down, be alert and be ready to stop for animals crossing

This sign warns of deer crossing, so drivers should slow down, stay alert, and be ready to stop.

32. What should a driver do on seeing this sign?

Prepare for a roundabout ahead
Expect a reduced speed limit only on weekends
Watch for children and obey crossing guards in this school zone or crossing
Expect a railroad crossing ahead

Answer: C — Watch for children and obey crossing guards in this school zone or crossing

The pentagon shape marks a school zone or crossing, requiring drivers to watch for children and obey crossing guards.

33. What does this sign indicate to a driver?

A blue service sign for fuel
An exit-only lane on the highway
The shield of a U.S. highway route
The shield of an interstate highway route

Answer: D — The shield of an interstate highway route

This marker is the shield identifying an interstate highway route.