Tennessee DMV Permit Test Practice 9

4.8 out of 5 (231 votes)
80% Passing score
20 Questions
4 Mistakes allowed
This Tennessee DMV practice test gives you a closer look at school bus rules, and that is a bigger deal than some new drivers realize at first. Not because the topic is complicated in some grand, dramatic way, but because Tennessee expects drivers to know exactly when to stop, how to react when children are loading or unloading, and what those flashing lights actually require you to do. It is the kind of material that feels obvious until the question asks about a specific roadway, a specific direction of travel, or a bus stopped in a place you were not picturing. This ninth Tennessee permit practice test includes 20 questions based on the official Tennessee driver’s manual, the same general source used for the real Class D knowledge test. The practice format is shorter than the official exam, but the scoring expectation lines up neatly: Tennessee’s real knowledge test has 30 multiple-choice questions, a 60-minute limit, and an 80% passing score, meaning you need 24 correct answers. On this practice test, that same 80% standard means answering at least 16 of 20 correctly. Fair enough. Also, a little unforgiving if you skim the school bus section and assume common sense will carry the whole thing. The official Tennessee DMV permit test reaches beyond school buses, of course. It covers traffic laws, road signs and signals, safe driving habits, alcohol and drug rules, pavement markings, and the general responsibilities that come with being allowed behind the wheel. Road signs are included in the full knowledge test rather than treated as a separate road-sign-only exam for standard Class D applicants, so it is worth keeping sign shapes, colors, lane markings, and signals in the rotation while you study. And this practice test is not just for adults, either. Tennessee applicants ages 15 to 17 may be eligible to take the official knowledge test online under parent or legal guardian supervision through the Tennessee Proctor ID App. Adults applying for a first Regular Class D license still need to complete the Driver Services process, including documents, vision screening, and the knowledge test. New Tennessee residents should pay attention, too, since the state generally expects them to obtain a Tennessee license within 30 days of establishing residency. Use this Tennessee DMV practice test as a focused review, not as your only stop. Pair it with the handbook, road sign practice, and a few broader permit practice tests. School bus questions are not filler. They are safety questions, and Tennessee treats them that way.
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Sample Tennessee Permit Test Questions

Question 1

When parking downhill where there is no curb, how should you position the front wheels?

  1. A. Turn them toward the center of the road
  2. B. Keep them parallel with the road
  3. C. Turn them toward the roadway edge
  4. D. Turn them left only when the hill is steep

Correct answer: C. – Turn them toward the roadway edge

Turn the front wheels toward the edge of the roadway when parking downhill without a curb. If the vehicle begins to roll, this position directs it away from the center of the road. Set the parking brake and place an automatic transmission in park or a manual transmission in gear.

Source: Tennessee Comprehensive Driver License Manual — Section B, “Parking”

Question 2

Which habit prevents a driver from scanning the roadway effectively?

  1. A. Keeping at least a two-second following interval in normal conditions
  2. B. Fixing your gaze only on the center of your lane
  3. C. Using low-beam headlights during bad weather
  4. D. Maintaining open space around your vehicle

Correct answer: B. – Fixing your gaze only on the center of your lane

Avoid staring at one point in the roadway. Effective scanning involves keeping your eyes moving and checking ahead, to both sides, and behind your vehicle. This helps you identify signs, pedestrians, vehicles, and other possible hazards early enough to respond safely.

Source: Tennessee Comprehensive Driver License Manual — Section C, Ch. 1, “Scanning the Road and Traffic for Defensive Reactions”, Tennessee Comprehensive Driver License Manual — Section B, “Following Distances”

Question 3

While preparing to merge onto an interstate, how should you check the lane beside you?

When you enter a freeway, you should check traffic by using:
  1. A. Use the inside and outside mirrors only
  2. B. Use only the inside rearview mirror
  3. C. Check the mirrors and briefly look over your shoulder
  4. D. Use only the left outside mirror

Correct answer: C. – Check the mirrors and briefly look over your shoulder

Use your mirrors to observe traffic behind and beside you, then briefly look over your shoulder for a vehicle in the blind spot. Adjust your speed to locate a safe opening in the traffic lane. Merge only after verifying that the space is clear and the movement can be completed safely.

Source: Tennessee Comprehensive Driver License Manual — Section B, “Interstate Driving”, Tenn. Code Ann. § 55-8-142 — Turning movements

Question 4

What may you do at a double solid yellow centerline?

  1. A. Cross it carefully to turn into a private driveway
  2. B. Treat the road as a one-way street
  3. C. Use the area as a shared left-turn lane
  4. D. Cross it to pass a vehicle traveling below the speed limit

Correct answer: A. – Cross it carefully to turn into a private driveway

In Tennessee, double solid yellow lines prohibit passing in either direction. A driver may cross them when making a permitted left turn into or from a driveway or private road. Before crossing, signal as required, check opposing traffic, and verify that the turn can be made safely.

Source: Tennessee Comprehensive Driver License Manual — Section B, “Lane Markings”, Tenn. Code Ann. § 55-8-142 — Turning movements

Question 5

On a two-lane road, an ordinary pass of a vehicle traveling in your direction is made:

  1. A. On the right shoulder
  2. B. On the left
  3. C. Only after the other driver signals
  4. D. Whenever your vehicle can accelerate quickly

Correct answer: B. – On the left

In Tennessee, a driver overtaking another vehicle generally passes to its left at a safe distance. The driver must not return to the right side until safely clear of the overtaken vehicle. Passing on the right is permitted only under specified conditions and may not be accomplished by leaving the roadway.

Source: Tenn. Code Ann. § 55-8-117 — Overtaking a vehicle on the left, Tenn. Code Ann. § 55-8-118 — When passing on the right is permitted

Question 6

A driver under 18 hears a phone ring while the vehicle is moving. Which response avoids interacting with the phone?

If you are a minor and your cell phone rings while you are driving, you should:
  1. A. Answer through a hands-free feature
  2. B. Allow the call to go to voicemail
  3. C. Answer only if a parent is calling
  4. D. Send a short message explaining that you are driving

Correct answer: B. – Allow the call to go to voicemail

Allowing the call to go to voicemail keeps the driver from handling or responding to the device while driving. In Tennessee, drivers may not physically hold or support a wireless device, read or send text-based communications, or engage in other specified device uses while operating a vehicle. A bona fide emergency is subject to statutory exceptions.

Source: Tenn. Code Ann. § 55-8-199 — Use of wireless telecommunications device while driving, Tennessee Comprehensive Driver License Manual — Section C, Ch. 1, “Concentration and Alertness Are Important Elements”

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