Massachusetts DMV Practice Test 2026

1. It's correct as long as the drink was consumed more than an hour ago
2. It's correct if the driver weighs more than 200 pounds
3. It's incorrect - even one drink can measurably affect driving ability
4. It's incorrect only for drivers under 21

Correct answer: It's incorrect - even one drink can measurably affect driving ability. Driving skills can be affected before a person feels intoxicated at all, so 'just one drink' is not a safe amount before driving.

Source: Florida Driver Handbook, Drinking & Driving p.35 - 'Even one drink of alcohol can affect your driving.'

1. The lanes ahead meet at different height levels
2. The shoulder ahead is lower than the surface of the road
3. The road ahead has no shoulder at all
4. The pavement ahead has grooves cut into its surface

Correct answer: The lanes ahead meet at different height levels. This warning sign means the lanes ahead meet at different height levels. Be ready to react safely as you approach this part of the road.

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

1. Holding it in one hand is fine
2. Only while parked in a driveway
3. Only in hands-free mode
4. Any way they choose

Correct answer: Only in hands-free mode. Drivers 18 and older may only use devices in hands-free mode.

Source: Massachusetts Driver Handbook, p.47, Hands-Free Mobile Phone Use

1. 60 days
2. 30 days
3. 180 days
4. One year

Correct answer: 60 days. A first conviction brings a 60-day suspension.

Source: Massachusetts Driver Handbook, p.72, Mandatory Suspensions — Junior Operators

1. Maintain the same speed regardless of conditions
2. Reduce speed to what's safe for the conditions
3. Stop completely no matter what the situation
4. Flash their own hazard lights and continue on

Correct answer: Reduce speed to what's safe for the conditions. The move-over law requires reducing speed to what's safe for conditions.

Source: Massachusetts Driver Handbook, p.128, Stationary Emergency Vehicles

1. OTC medicines never affect driving since they are not prescription drugs
2. Only allergy medicine taken in liquid form can affect driving
3. Many OTC cold and allergy medicines can cause drowsiness and impair driving ability
4. Cold medicine only affects driving ability at night

Correct answer: Many OTC cold and allergy medicines can cause drowsiness and impair driving ability. Common cold and allergy medications are a leading cause of unintentional drowsy driving because many people don't realize an OTC drug can impair them.

Source: California Driver Handbook, Alcohol and Drugs p.100 - 'Most drugs taken for colds, hay fever, allergy, or to calm nerves or muscles can make a person drowsy.'

1. Visual, auditory, and emotional
2. Manual, verbal, and physical
3. Cognitive, sensory, and reactive
4. Visual, manual, and cognitive

Correct answer: Visual, manual, and cognitive. Visual distraction means eyes off the road, manual means hands off the wheel, and cognitive means the mind is not focused on driving.

Source: Occupant Protection-Distracted Driving p.28 - 'The following are the 3 types of driver distractions: Visual...Cognitive...Manual.'

1. The teen's school principal
2. The teen's employer
3. The local newspaper
4. A parent or guardian

Correct answer: A parent or guardian. A parent or guardian is always notified of the suspension.

Source: Massachusetts Driver Handbook, p.73, Mandatory Suspensions — Junior Operators

1. Nothing at all - only crashes that involve an injury ever legally need to be reported
2. File a written crash report with the state motor vehicle agency within about 10 days
3. Wait a full 30 days to see if the other driver involved files a claim first
4. Only report it to the state if a lawyer specifically advises them to do so

Correct answer: File a written crash report with the state motor vehicle agency within about 10 days. Most states require drivers to self-report a crash above a certain damage threshold within about 10 days when police did not investigate the scene.

Source: California Driver Handbook, Financial Responsibility-Collisions on Your Record p.120 - 'you must report it to DMV within 10 days if...more than $1,000 in damage.'

1. True
2. False

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

1. The same .08 as adults
2. There is no threshold under 21
3. .10 or higher
4. .02 or higher

Correct answer: .02 or higher. A BAC as low as 0.02 triggers administrative penalties for drivers under 21.

Source: Massachusetts Driver Handbook, p.77, 81, Zero-Tolerance Law

1. From about 30 minutes after sunset until about 30 minutes before sunrise
2. Only when it is completely dark outside with no moonlight or streetlights at all
3. Only inside city limits, never out on rural or unlit country roads
4. Only when other vehicles are already out and visibly driving on the road

Correct answer: From about 30 minutes after sunset until about 30 minutes before sunrise. In Massachusetts, headlights are required beginning around 30 minutes after sunset and continuing until about 30 minutes before sunrise, even if the sky doesn't look fully dark yet.

Source: California Driver Handbook, Horn, Headlights, and Emergency Signals-Use Your Headlights, p.75 (2020 handbook PDF)

1. The entering driver, since they are merging from the ramp
2. Whoever is driving the larger vehicle
3. The traffic already on the highway
4. Neither; both must stop and take turns

Correct answer: The traffic already on the highway. Traffic already moving on the highway has the right-of-way over a vehicle entering from a ramp. The entering driver must find a safe gap and match the flow of traffic rather than expecting highway traffic to yield.

Source: California Driver Handbook, Space to Merge, p.79 (2020 handbook PDF)

1. Continue through, then pull over and stop once clear
2. Stop immediately, even though you are in the intersection
3. Reverse out of the intersection right away
4. Turn left quickly to get out of the way

Correct answer: Continue through, then pull over and stop once clear. Never stop inside an intersection. Continue through it, then move to the right and stop once you are clear.

Source: California Driver Handbook, Sharing the Road-Emergency Vehicles, p.86 (2020 handbook PDF): "never stop in an intersection...continue through, and then drive to the right"

1. That lane is closed to all traffic
2. You must exit at the next ramp
3. Prepare to stop, the lane is closing soon
4. You may drive in that lane

Correct answer: You may drive in that lane. A green arrow above a lane means that lane is open and you may use it.

Source: Florida Driver Handbook, PDF p.60, Green Arrow: you may use this lane

1. Stop completely, then go when clear; cross traffic just slows
2. Treat the intersection as if both directions must stop
3. Proceed without stopping, since cross traffic is cautioned
4. Wait for the cross traffic to stop as well before moving

Correct answer: Stop completely, then go when clear; cross traffic just slows. A flashing red requires you to stop completely and yield, while a flashing yellow only requires the cross traffic to slow down and proceed with caution.

Source: California Driver Handbook, PDF p.42, Flashing Red: STOP, then proceed when safe

1. Start out slowly and test the brakes gently once moving
2. Accelerate hard from a stop to feel how the wheels spin
3. Wait until reaching highway speed, then brake hard
4. There is no way to know until a skid actually happens

Correct answer: Start out slowly and test the brakes gently once moving. Traction on snow or ice can vary block by block. Starting out slowly and gently testing the brakes once the vehicle is moving helps a driver judge how much grip is available before conditions demand a real stop.

Source: Texas Driver Handbook, Ch9 Winter Driving-Table 23: Get a Feel for the Road, p.55

1. Stay close to the limit no matter what others do.
2. Match your speed to the traffic flow, no matter what.
3. Drive as fast as you can to avoid a rear-end hit.
4. Only slow down when a police car comes into view.

Correct answer: Stay close to the limit no matter what others do.. Other drivers exceeding the speed limit doesn't make it legal for you to do the same; you're still responsible for following the posted limit.

Source: California Driver Handbook, Laws and Rules of the Road-Speed Limits p.46-53

1. .05
2. .10
3. .08
4. .12

Correct answer: .08. A BAC of 0.08 or higher fails the chemical test.

Source: Massachusetts Driver Handbook, p.77, License Suspension Periods for Failed Chemical Tests

1. It keeps running normally through the suspension
2. It pauses and resumes after reinstatement
3. It resets to zero and restarts from day one
4. It ends immediately with no restriction afterward

Correct answer: It pauses and resumes after reinstatement. The clock pauses during a suspension and resumes after reinstatement.

Source: Massachusetts Driver Handbook, p.18, JOL License Restrictions

1. You must never cross this type of line
2. It simply marks the edge of the roadway
3. It only indicates a pedestrian crossing area
4. You may cross it to change lanes or pass safely

Correct answer: You may cross it to change lanes or pass safely. A broken or dashed line permits you to cross it to pass another vehicle or change lanes, as long as it can be done safely.

Source: Texas Driver Handbook, PDF p.33, broken or dashed lines permit you to pass or change lanes, if safe

1. Slow down, but you do not need to come to a stop
2. The same as a stop sign: stop, then go when it is safe
3. Proceed with extra caution, no stop required here
4. The signal is broken and can safely be ignored

Correct answer: The same as a stop sign: stop, then go when it is safe. A flashing red signal means the same thing as a stop sign: come to a complete stop, then proceed only when it is safe and the right-of-way is clear.

Source: California Driver Handbook, PDF p.42, Flashing Red: STOP, then proceed when safe

1. Park there anyway if it's only for a few minutes.
2. Park there if no one else is around.
3. Look for a different, unrestricted parking spot.
4. It's fine as long as you leave your hazard lights on.

Correct answer: Look for a different, unrestricted parking spot.. A marked accessible parking space is reserved for vehicles with the required placard or plate; without one, a driver should park in a different, unrestricted spot.

Source: California Driver Handbook, Parking-Illegal Parking p.68-77

1. 10 hours
2. 25 hours
3. 20 hours
4. 40 hours

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

1. Yes, hands-free use is banned too
2. No, hands-free is always allowed
3. Only if the car is moving fast
4. Only on highways

Correct answer: Yes, hands-free use is banned too. The under-18 ban covers even hands-free use.

Source: Massachusetts Driver Handbook, p.19, JOL License Restrictions