Learner's licence practice questions with answers

58 questions in four groups, each with the answer and the reason. Read them once, then take the practice test.

Road signs

What does this sign mean?
- Stop
- No entry
- Give way
Answer: Stop. The red octagon is the Stop sign. You must come to a full stop.
What does this sign mean?
- Parking not allowed
- Give way
- Road closed
Answer: Give way. The triangle standing on its point means Give way to traffic on the other road.
What does this sign mean?
- One way ahead
- No entry
- No stopping
Answer: No entry. A red disc with a white bar means vehicles must not enter.
What does this sign mean?
- Parking place
- No parking
- Petrol pump
Answer: No parking. The letter P with a red slash means parking is not allowed.
What does this sign mean?
- No stopping or standing
- Road crossing
- No parking
Answer: No stopping or standing. A blue disc with a red cross means do not stop here at all.
What does this sign mean?
- Drive at 50 km an hour or more
- Do not go above 50 km an hour
- 50 metres to the next junction
Answer: Do not go above 50 km an hour. A number in a red ring is the highest speed allowed.
What does this sign mean?
- Sound the horn
- Horn prohibited
- Loud music allowed
Answer: Horn prohibited. A horn with a red slash means do not sound the horn.
What does this sign mean?
- U-turn prohibited
- Sharp bend
- Roundabout
Answer: U-turn prohibited. A U-shaped arrow with a red slash means you may not turn back here.
What does this sign mean?
- Turn right only
- Right turn prohibited
- Right hand curve
Answer: Right turn prohibited. A right-turn arrow with a red slash means no right turn.
What does this sign mean?
- Left turn prohibited
- Compulsory turn left
- Left hand curve
Answer: Compulsory turn left. A white arrow on a blue disc is a direction you must take.
What does this sign mean?
- Compulsory ahead only
- One way street
- Overtaking allowed
Answer: Compulsory ahead only. A white arrow pointing up on a blue disc means go straight only.
What does this sign mean?
- Hospital ahead
- Cross road ahead
- Railway crossing
Answer: Cross road ahead. A plus shape inside a warning triangle means a cross road is ahead.
What does this sign mean?
- Right hand curve
- Compulsory turn right
- U-turn ahead
Answer: Right hand curve. A bent arrow in a warning triangle warns of a curve.
What does this sign mean?
- Bridge ahead
- Hump or rough road
- Hill ahead
Answer: Hump or rough road. A bump shape in a warning triangle means a hump or rough road.
What does this sign mean?
- Narrow road ahead
- Road widens
- Two-way traffic
Answer: Narrow road ahead. Two lines coming closer mean the road narrows.
What does this sign mean?
- No parking
- Parking
- Police station
Answer: Parking. A white P on a blue board shows a parking place.
What does this sign mean?
- Hospital
- First aid test
- Church
Answer: Hospital. A red cross on a blue board shows a hospital nearby.
A triangular sign with a red border is a:
- Sign that gives an order
- Sign that warns
- Sign that gives information
Answer: Sign that warns. Triangles warn of a hazard ahead.
A round sign with a red border is a:
- Sign that gives an order
- Sign that warns
- Sign that gives information
Answer: Sign that gives an order. Circles give orders, such as speed limits and prohibitions.
A blue rectangular sign usually:
- Warns of danger
- Gives an order
- Gives information
Answer: Gives information. Blue rectangles inform: parking, hospital, fuel and so on.

Rules of the road

On which side of the road should you drive in India?
- Left
- Right
- Whichever is empty
Answer: Left. Traffic in India keeps to the left.
From which side should you overtake another vehicle?
- From its left
- From its right
- From either side
Answer: From its right. Overtake from the right, after checking that the road ahead is clear.
The traffic light turns yellow as you come near the stop line. What should you do?
- Speed up to cross
- Stop before the line if you can do so safely
- Sound the horn and go
Answer: Stop before the line if you can do so safely. Yellow means stop, unless you are so close that stopping would be unsafe.
What does a red traffic light mean?
- Slow down
- Stop before the stop line
- Go if no police is present
Answer: Stop before the stop line. Red means stop and wait behind the line.
A red light is blinking at a junction. What should you do?
- Stop, then go when it is safe
- Go without stopping
- Wait until it turns green
Answer: Stop, then go when it is safe. A blinking red light is treated like a Stop sign.
A yellow light is blinking at a junction. What should you do?
- Stop and wait
- Slow down and cross with care
- Speed up
Answer: Slow down and cross with care. Blinking yellow means slow down and go ahead with caution.
People are crossing at a zebra crossing with no signal. What should you do?
- Sound the horn so they hurry
- Stop and let them cross
- Drive between them slowly
Answer: Stop and let them cross. Pedestrians have the right of way at a zebra crossing.
An ambulance with its siren on is behind you. What should you do?
- Keep your speed
- Move to the side and let it pass
- Race ahead of it
Answer: Move to the side and let it pass. Give free passage to ambulances and fire engines.
When is overtaking not allowed?
- On a straight, empty road
- At a bend, a hill top or a junction
- In daylight
Answer: At a bend, a hill top or a junction. Do not overtake where you cannot see far enough ahead.
The vehicle behind you has started to overtake you. What should you do?
- Speed up
- Keep left and do not speed up
- Move to the right
Answer: Keep left and do not speed up. Let it pass: keep left and hold or reduce your speed.
You want to turn right at a junction. What should you do first?
- Turn from the left lane
- Give a signal and move towards the centre of the road
- Stop in the middle and wait
Answer: Give a signal and move towards the centre of the road. Signal in time and take position near the centre before turning right.
Where should you not park?
- In a marked parking place
- On a footpath or near a road junction
- Along the left edge of a wide road
Answer: On a footpath or near a road junction. Parking on footpaths, at junctions and where it blocks others is not allowed.
At an unmanned railway crossing you should:
- Cross quickly
- Stop, look both ways and cross only if no train is coming
- Follow the vehicle in front
Answer: Stop, look both ways and cross only if no train is coming. There is no gate or guard, so you must stop and check yourself.
At night, a vehicle is coming from the front. Which headlight beam should you use?
- High beam
- Low (dipped) beam
- Headlights off
Answer: Low (dipped) beam. Dip your lights so the other driver is not blinded.
On a narrow hill road, two vehicles meet. Who should give way?
- The vehicle going uphill
- The vehicle going downhill
- The bigger vehicle
Answer: The vehicle going downhill. The vehicle coming down stops and lets the one climbing go first.
When should you use the horn?
- Only when needed for safety
- To greet friends
- Continuously in traffic jams
Answer: Only when needed for safety. Use the horn only to warn of danger. It is banned in silence zones.
You are on a road with lanes marked. When should you change lanes?
- Any time, without a signal
- After checking the mirror and giving a signal
- Only at traffic lights
Answer: After checking the mirror and giving a signal. Look, signal, then move when it is safe.
What should you do before you start from the kerb?
- Just drive off
- Check the mirrors, signal, and look over your shoulder
- Sound the horn and pull out
Answer: Check the mirrors, signal, and look over your shoulder. Make sure no one is coming from behind before you pull out.

Licence and papers

For how long is a learner's licence valid?
- 3 months
- 6 months
- 1 year
Answer: 6 months. A learner's licence is valid for six months.
How soon after getting a learner's licence can you take the driving test?
- The same day
- After 30 days
- After 6 months
Answer: After 30 days. You must hold the learner's licence for at least 30 days.
What is the minimum age for a licence to drive a car?
- 16 years
- 18 years
- 21 years
Answer: 18 years. You must have completed 18 years for a motor vehicle other than a transport vehicle.
What must a learner show on the vehicle?
- A red flag
- The letter L in red on a white background, front and back
- Nothing
Answer: The letter L in red on a white background, front and back. The L plate tells others that a learner is driving.
Who must be with a learner while driving a car?
- Nobody
- A person who holds a regular driving licence
- Any adult
Answer: A person who holds a regular driving licence. A learner must be accompanied by a holder of a regular licence for that vehicle.
Which of these should you carry or be able to show while driving?
- Driving licence, registration, insurance and pollution certificate
- Only the driving licence
- Only the vehicle purchase bill
Answer: Driving licence, registration, insurance and pollution certificate. These papers can also be shown in DigiLocker or mParivahan.
A learner on a two-wheeler may carry on the pillion:
- Any friend
- Only the instructor
- Two persons
Answer: Only the instructor. Only the instructor may ride pillion with a learner.
When can a driving licence be renewed?
- Only after it expires
- From one year before to one year after it expires
- Only on your birthday
Answer: From one year before to one year after it expires. Renewal can be done within one year before or after expiry.
A private driving licence is first issued to a 25 year old. It is valid until the holder is:
- 30 years old
- 40 years old
- 50 years old
Answer: 40 years old. If you are under 30 at issue, the licence runs until you turn 40.
A learner's licence allows you to:
- Drive alone anywhere
- Learn to drive under supervision
- Drive a taxi
Answer: Learn to drive under supervision. It is only for learning, with an experienced licence holder beside you.

Safety

Who must wear a helmet on a two-wheeler?
- Only the rider
- Both rider and pillion
- Nobody inside city limits
Answer: Both rider and pillion. Both the rider and the pillion rider must wear protective headgear.
When should you wear a seat belt in a car?
- Only on highways
- Whenever the car is moving
- Only at night
Answer: Whenever the car is moving. Seat belts save lives at every speed.
Is it allowed to use a hand-held mobile phone while driving?
- Yes
- No
- Yes, below 40 km an hour
Answer: No. Using a hand-held phone while driving is an offence and a major cause of crashes.
You have had alcoholic drinks. What should you do?
- Drive slowly
- Not drive at all
- Drive after a cup of coffee
Answer: Not drive at all. Driving under the influence of alcohol is an offence. Take a taxi or ask someone else to drive.
You feel sleepy while driving. What should you do?
- Open the window and keep going
- Stop at a safe place and rest
- Drive faster to reach early
Answer: Stop at a safe place and rest. Tired drivers react slowly. Stop and rest.
How much distance should you keep from the vehicle in front?
- As little as possible
- Enough to stop safely if it brakes suddenly
- Exactly one metre
Answer: Enough to stop safely if it brakes suddenly. The faster you go, the more distance you need.
It is raining heavily. What should you do?
- Drive faster to get out of the rain
- Slow down and keep a larger gap
- Switch on hazard lights and overtake
Answer: Slow down and keep a larger gap. Wet roads are slippery and braking takes longer.
You are involved in an accident in which someone is hurt. What should you do?
- Drive away
- Stop, help the injured to get medical care and inform the police
- Wait for the other party to act
Answer: Stop, help the injured to get medical care and inform the police. The driver has a duty to get medical help for the injured and report the accident.
Children are getting off a school bus that has stopped ahead. What should you do?
- Overtake quickly
- Slow down and be ready to stop
- Sound the horn continuously
Answer: Slow down and be ready to stop. Children may run across the road without looking.
Before reversing, you should:
- Reverse quickly
- Make sure no person or vehicle is behind
- Rely only on the horn
Answer: Make sure no person or vehicle is behind. Look behind, and reverse slowly.

Questions people ask

Are these the official learner's licence questions?

No. They are our own practice questions on the same subjects. Your state's sample questions and mock test are on sarathi.parivahan.gov.in under the Learner Licence menu.

How many questions are in the real test?

It differs by state. In Delhi the Transport Department says a person who answers 60% of the questions correctly passes.

What subjects does the learner's test cover?

Road signs, traffic signals, rules of the road and the duties of a driver, including what to do after an accident.

Check before you go. These facts were read on the official Parivahan website and the Delhi Transport Department website on 11 November 2026. Rules and fees change, and states add their own charges and steps. Your state's page on sarathi.parivahan.gov.in is the final word. This is not a government site.

Next step

Take the practice test Road signs