Virginia permit test the perfect-score gate

Gate 1: how to get all 10 signs right

Because you need a perfect score, don't study signs until you usually get them right. Study until you can't get them wrong:

1. Learn shape before symbol. Octagon means stop, triangle means yield, a pentagon is a school sign, a round sign means a railroad ahead, and a pennant means no passing. On the exam you may see the sign's shape before you can read it.
2. Learn colors by function. Red is stop or prohibition, yellow is warning, orange is a work zone, green is guidance, blue is services and brown is recreation.
3. Drill until you can name every sign in a couple of seconds. Our road signs test uses sign images. Keep going until you score 100% twice in a row.
4. Don't forget the slow-moving-vehicle emblem. The orange triangle means the vehicle travels 25 mph or less.

The text questions below cover the rules. For the visual Part 1, use the dedicated sign drill.

Virginia takes speeding seriously

Virginia treats speeding as a criminal matter sooner than most states, and the exam tests it:

• Reckless driving means 20 mph or more over the limit, or over 85 mph anywhere, whatever the posted limit.
• 81–85 in a 65 zone adds a $100 fine. Radar detectors are illegal.
• Work zones: speeding fines up to $500, and handheld device use costs $250.

Alcohol penalties

• Adults: .08 is DUI. Refusing a test or testing .08+ brings a 7-day administrative suspension for a first offense.
• Under 21: .02 up to under .08 is illegal consumption, with a 1-year suspension and a $500 minimum fine or 50 hours of community service.
• DUI with a passenger 17 or younger adds 5 days' mandatory jail and a $500–$1,000 fine.

Who can sit beside you

A licensed driver 21+ in the front passenger seat, or an 18–20-year-old who is your legal guardian or sibling (including half- and step-siblings). Applicants 19+ hold the permit 60 days unless they show a driver ed certificate. Under 18, the road skills test is part of your driver ed course.

Other facts in the manual

• Stop for school buses showing flashing reds and a stop sign, unless the bus is across a median or barrier. School buses always stop at railroad crossings.
• A first child restraint violation is $50, and later ones up to $500.
• Minimum insurance (policies from January 1, 2022) is $30,000/$60,000/$20,000.
• Report crashes with injury, death or damage over $3,000.
• Bring identity, legal presence, residency and SSN documents as listed in DMV 141. Phones are banned during the test, and so is giving or getting help.

Neighbors

Maryland · D.C. · West Virginia · Kentucky · Tennessee · North Carolina