DriveFinch
ENES

Connecticut DMV Practice Test 2026

25 free questions for the Connecticut written permit test. Choose an answer to see right away whether it is correct and why. No sign-up.

Question 1 of 25

Under good conditions, about how many seconds of following distance does the Connecticut handbook recommend keeping behind the vehicle ahead?

All 25 questions with answers

Open a question to see the correct answer and the explanation.

Under good conditions, about how many seconds of following distance does the Connecticut handbook recommend keeping behind the vehicle ahead?
  1. 5 seconds
  2. 6 seconds
  3. 8 seconds
  4. 3 seconds

Correct answer: 3 seconds. In Connecticut, the handbook recommends counting at least 3 seconds between when the vehicle ahead passes a fixed point and when you reach the same point.

Why is parking barred within 25 feet of a stop sign in Connecticut?
  1. It is only an old tradition, not an actual legal rule
  2. It can block sight lines for other drivers
  3. It damages the pavement
  4. It is only banned downtown

Correct answer: It can block sight lines for other drivers. Parking that close to a stop sign can block the sight lines other drivers need at that intersection.

Source: Connecticut Driver Handbook, p.39, No-Parking Zones

How many hours of behind-the-wheel practice must a 16- or 17-year-old permit holder complete before the road test?
  1. At least 20 hours
  2. At least 40 hours
  3. At least 10 hours
  4. At least 60 hours

Correct answer: At least 40 hours. A 16- or 17-year-old permit holder must log at least 40 hours of on-the-road practice before the road test.

Source: Connecticut Driver Handbook, p.9, Driver Education Requirements

What is this warning sign telling drivers about the road ahead?
  1. The bridge surface ahead is metal, which can become slippery, especially when wet
  2. The shoulder ahead is soft and could trap your tires if you drive onto it
  3. The road ahead has no painted center line
  4. The shoulder ahead is lower than the surface of the road

Correct answer: The bridge surface ahead is metal, which can become slippery, especially when wet. This warning sign means the bridge surface ahead is metal, which can become slippery, especially when wet. Be ready to react safely as you approach this part of the road.

Source: MUTCD 2009 Sec. 2C (Warning Signs)

You are driving at night and notice the traffic signal ahead is flashing yellow in all directions. What should you do?
  1. Stop completely, just as you would at a stop sign
  2. Speed up, since flashing yellow means the light is broken and can be ignored
  3. Slow down and proceed carefully; no full stop is required
  4. Wait for it to turn solid green before proceeding

Correct answer: Slow down and proceed carefully; no full stop is required. A flashing yellow signal only requires drivers to slow down and proceed with caution; unlike a flashing red, it does not require a complete stop.

Source: California Driver Handbook, PDF p.42, Flashing Yellow: proceed with caution, you do not need to stop

A driver in Connecticut is holding their phone to their ear to make a voice call - they are not texting. Based only on that state's general handheld-phone law, is this illegal? (True = illegal, False = not illegal under this general rule)
  1. True
  2. False

Correct answer: True. In Connecticut, holding the phone to make a voice call while driving is illegal under the general handheld rule: True.

How much following distance should a driver maintain behind a motorcycle under normal conditions?
  1. The same 1-2 second gap used for any other vehicle
  2. At least a 4-second gap, more so in poor conditions
  3. No specific distance since motorcycles stop quickly
  4. Right behind them so they can see you in the mirror

Correct answer: At least a 4-second gap, more so in poor conditions. Because a motorcyclist braking hard or being thrown from the bike needs extra room, drivers should allow at least a 4-second following distance, increasing it in bad weather or on poor road surfaces.

Source: California Driver Handbook, Sharing the Road-Motorcycles, p.88 (2020 handbook PDF): "Allow a 4 second following distance"

A driver signals for a right turn only at the very last moment, just before reaching the intersection, then quickly moves into the right lane. What is the main problem with this?
  1. It gives other drivers too little time to react.
  2. It is fine as long as a signal was used at some point.
  3. Drivers are required to signal only in the final moment.
  4. Signaling early is against the law on busy roads.

Correct answer: It gives other drivers too little time to react.. Signaling and changing lanes only at the last second doesn't give nearby drivers enough time to notice and adjust, which raises the chance of a crash.

Source: California Driver Handbook, Turns p.62

Which time marks the START of the GDL nighttime driving restriction for a newly licensed teen in Connecticut?
  1. 11:00 p.m.
  2. 12:00 a.m.
  3. 8:00 p.m.
  4. 10:00 p.m.

Correct answer: 11:00 p.m.. Connecticut's GDL nighttime restriction begins at 11:00 p.m. for a newly licensed teen driver.

Which of the following is a recognized warning sign of drowsy driving?
  1. Feeling slightly hungry partway through a long afternoon drive on the highway
  2. Driving noticeably faster than the posted speed limit on purpose the whole trip
  3. Listening to upbeat music on a long trip to help pass the time comfortably
  4. Not remembering the last few miles you drove, or drifting between lanes

Correct answer: Not remembering the last few miles you drove, or drifting between lanes. Memory gaps, lane drifting, and frequent yawning are classic signs that a driver's brain is losing the fight to stay awake.

Source: New York Driver Handbook, Ch8 Defensive Driving-Drowsy and Fatigued Driving p.51 - 'You do not remember driving the last few miles...You drift between lanes, tailgate or miss traffic signs.'

Why can alcohol make a driver's decisions more dangerous even before they feel drunk?
  1. It actually sharpens the driver's attention to risk and makes them far more cautious overall
  2. It only affects the passengers riding along, never the person actually driving the car
  3. It has no measurable effect on decision-making until full intoxication
  4. It reduces inhibitions and can create false confidence in the driver's own driving ability

Correct answer: It reduces inhibitions and can create false confidence in the driver's own driving ability. Alcohol lowers inhibitions and can make a driver feel more confident than their actual abilities justify, leading them to take chances they normally would not.

Source: New York Driver Handbook, Ch9 What Alcohol Does p.54 - 'You can gain confidence about driving, when you should not be driving at all.'

Some highways post a minimum speed limit in addition to a maximum. What is the purpose of a minimum speed limit?
  1. It only exists to generate more traffic tickets
  2. Driving too slowly can interfere with traffic flow and be dangerous too
  3. It applies only to trucks and buses, never to cars
  4. It guarantees a driver will never get a speeding ticket

Correct answer: Driving too slowly can interfere with traffic flow and be dangerous too. A minimum speed limit exists because driving well below the flow of highway traffic can be just as dangerous as driving too fast, since it can cause other vehicles to brake suddenly or make unsafe passing moves.

Source: New York Driver Handbook, Highway Driving, p.47

A driver treats the center two-way left-turn lane as a regular driving lane, traveling in it for several blocks instead of just entering briefly to turn. What is the problem with this?
  1. Nothing at all, as long as they use a signal.
  2. It is allowed only for licensed taxi and delivery drivers.
  3. It carries no real safety concern whatsoever.
  4. It's shared by both directions, not for through driving.

Correct answer: It's shared by both directions, not for through driving.. Because traffic from both directions uses the center left-turn lane to prepare for turns, driving in it continuously puts a vehicle in the path of oncoming traffic doing the same.

Source: California Driver Handbook, Lane Control-Center Left Turn Lanes p.58

If you pick a fixed roadside marker, how many seconds should pass between the car ahead passing it and you reaching the same marker, per Connecticut's guidance?
  1. 8 seconds
  2. 1 second
  3. 5 seconds
  4. 3 seconds

Correct answer: 3 seconds. Connecticut recommends at least 3 seconds between the two vehicles passing the same fixed point under normal conditions.

How do the passenger limits relate to the overnight curfew for young drivers?
  1. They replace the curfew entirely
  2. They only apply if the curfew is violated
  3. They apply on top of the curfew
  4. They cancel each other out

Correct answer: They apply on top of the curfew. The passenger limits apply in addition to the overnight curfew, not instead of it.

Source: Connecticut Driver Handbook, p.10, Passenger Restrictions

You start to pass a slower vehicle, but as you pull alongside it, you realize you won't have enough room to complete the pass before an oncoming car arrives. What should you do?
  1. Speed up as much as possible to finish first.
  2. Ease back into your lane behind that vehicle.
  3. Force the oncoming driver onto the shoulder.
  4. Continue at the same speed and hope for the best.

Correct answer: Ease back into your lane behind that vehicle.. If you realize a pass won't be completed safely, the safest choice is to slow down and drop back into your original lane behind the vehicle rather than push forward into oncoming traffic.

Source: Texas Driver Handbook, Ch6 Passing p.38

As a driver, what should this sign make you prepare for?
  1. The road ahead becomes especially slippery when it is wet
  2. The road surface ahead is rough or broken
  3. The shoulder ahead is lower than the surface of the road
  4. The pavement ahead has grooves cut into its surface

Correct answer: The pavement ahead has grooves cut into its surface. Seeing this sign means the pavement ahead has grooves cut into its surface. Drivers should reduce speed and stay alert for this condition.

Source: MUTCD 2009 Sec. 2C (Warning Signs)

What is this blue sign with an H symbol directing drivers toward?
  1. A hospital
  2. A pharmacy
  3. A police station
  4. A fire station

Correct answer: A hospital. This sign, showing the letter H, directs drivers toward the nearest hospital.

Source: MUTCD 2009 Part 2D

A parent is helping their teen log supervised driving hours in Connecticut before the road test. How many total hours of practice does the state generally require?
  1. 40 hours
  2. 60 hours
  3. 25 hours
  4. 20 hours

Correct answer: 40 hours. Connecticut generally requires 40 total supervised hours logged before a young driver can take the road test.

What can happen if a driver gets another moving violation within three years of completing the retraining program?
  1. Nothing extra happens
  2. The driver must repeat driver's education
  3. A suspension of at least 30 days can be added
  4. The driver loses their permit permanently

Correct answer: A suspension of at least 30 days can be added. A further moving violation within three years of completing the program can add at least a 30-day suspension.

Source: Connecticut Driver Handbook, p.37, Operator Retraining Program for Repeat Offenders

If another driver fails to yield the right-of-way that is legally yours, what is the safest thing to do?
  1. Insist on your right-of-way and proceed anyway
  2. Flash your headlights repeatedly until they move
  3. Report the other driver to the police right away
  4. Let them go, even though it was your turn

Correct answer: Let them go, even though it was your turn. The right-of-way can never be forced from another driver; if it is not given to you, the safest choice is to wait and avoid a collision instead of insisting on your legal right.

Source: Texas Driver Handbook, PDF p.26, Chapter 4 Right-of-Way introduction

What must a driver do when approaching any vehicle stopped along a Connecticut highway?
  1. Speed up to pass quickly
  2. Honk continuously
  3. Slow down below the posted speed limit
  4. Stop completely in the travel lane

Correct answer: Slow down below the posted speed limit. A driver approaching any stopped vehicle along the road must slow down below the posted speed limit.

Source: Connecticut Driver Handbook, p.18, "Move Over Law"

If an oncoming driver fails to dim their high-beam headlights and you are temporarily blinded by the glare, what is the safest response?
  1. Flash your own high beams repeatedly and stare directly at their headlights
  2. Look toward the right edge of the road or lane markings, and slow down if needed
  3. Close your eyes briefly
  4. Speed up to pass the glare quickly

Correct answer: Look toward the right edge of the road or lane markings, and slow down if needed. Looking directly at oncoming high beams temporarily ruins your night vision. Instead, look toward the right edge of the roadway or the lane markings to keep your bearings, and slow down if you need more time to react.

Source: California Driver Handbook, Driving Hazards-Driving in Darkness, p.99 (2020 handbook PDF)

Why do some Connecticut applicants wait 120 days while others wait 180 days after getting a permit?
  1. It depends on which training path they completed
  2. It depends on the applicant's home city
  3. It depends on the color of the practice vehicle
  4. It depends on the applicant's favorite driving school

Correct answer: It depends on which training path they completed. Applicants who finish a full commercial classroom course may test sooner than those who train mostly at home.

Source: Connecticut Driver Handbook, p.9, Commercial Driving School or Secondary School Training

A bicyclist moves away from the right edge and rides in the middle of a narrow lane that is too tight for a car and a bicycle to share side by side. Is this allowed?
  1. Yes, a bicyclist may take the full lane when it is too narrow to share safely
  2. No, a bicyclist must always stay within one foot of the curb
  3. Only if a police escort is present
  4. No, this is only allowed on one-way streets

Correct answer: Yes, a bicyclist may take the full lane when it is too narrow to share safely. A bicyclist is not required to hug the right edge when the lane is too narrow for a car and a bicycle to travel side by side safely, when passing another vehicle, when preparing for a left turn, or to avoid a hazard. In these cases, taking the full lane is allowed.

Source: Texas Driver Handbook, Ch9 Share the Road with Bicycles-Rules for Motorists and Bicyclists #3, p.53

Connecticut permit test: common questions

How many questions are on the Connecticut permit test?

25 questions, pass with 20 correct.

Are these the real Connecticut test questions?

No. They are practice questions that cover the same topics: traffic laws, road signs and safe driving. The real test is set by Connecticut Department of Motor Vehicles (DMV).

Is this practice test free?

Yes. There is nothing to sign up for. The DriveFinch app has the full question bank, works offline and is free (one small banner ad).