roadwise.Open study app

Iowa · DOT study resources

Iowa permit test prep.

Build your knowledge of Iowa driving rules with 53 short lessons, 62 road-sign illustrations, and 629 study questions based on the course’s driver handbook edition.

Start learning See the practice test
A winding country road with a red car and road signs
Study questions
629
Driving lessons
53
Signs & illustrations
62
Course units
12

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Practice

Iowa practice test

See the 25-question simulation, the 20-correct passing threshold, sample questions, and source notes.

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Recognition

Iowa road signs

Browse 62 signs and illustrations, with their meanings and the action to take.

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Reference

Iowa driver handbook

Find the chapter list, source PDF, and companion lessons for the handbook in this course.

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A clear route through the handbook

The 53 lessons below follow 12 course units. Open a lesson to read its rules, examples, and source page references, or use the study app for its checkpoint quiz.

Unit 1 · 2 lessons

Your License

Who needs one, what to carry, and how to get licensed

  1. Who needs an Iowa license
  2. What to carry and how you get licensed

Unit 2 · 8 lessons

Signs, Signals & Markings

Colors, shapes, signals, crossings, and lane markings

  1. Sign colors, shapes, and guide signs
  2. Regulatory signs
  3. Warning signs and the slow-moving vehicle emblem
  4. Traffic signals
  5. Railroad crossings
  6. Work zones
  7. Lane markings and lane use
  8. Pedestrians, bike lanes, and crosswalk beacons

Unit 3 · 5 lessons

Right-of-Way, School Buses & Parking

Who yields, when to stop, and where you can't park

  1. Right-of-way at intersections
  2. Emergency vehicles
  3. Stopping for school buses
  4. Parking rules
  5. Move Over law and Steer It-Clear It

Unit 4 · 7 lessons

Vehicle Readiness

Equipment, adjustments, and driver-assistance technology

  1. Brakes, lights, windows, and tires
  2. Steering, exhaust, engine, horn, and mirrors
  3. Seat and mirror adjustment
  4. Driver-assistance technology and your driving test
  5. Warning systems: backing, blind spots, and cameras
  6. Warning systems: detection, collision, and speed alerts
  7. Automatic systems and convenience technology

Unit 5 · 5 lessons

Seat Belts, Distractions & Impaired Driving

Protect yourself and stay fully alert behind the wheel

  1. Blind spots
  2. Seat belts, child restraints, and loose objects
  3. Distracted driving and the hands-free law
  4. Alcohol, drugs, and OWI
  5. Drowsy driving and trip planning

Unit 6 · 4 lessons

Speed, Stopping & Following Distance

Control your speed and leave room to stop

  1. Starting, shifting, and accelerating
  2. Braking, stopping distance, and required stops
  3. Following distance and ABS
  4. Speed limits

Unit 7 · 4 lessons

Turning, Lane Changes & Passing

Steer, signal, and pass with precision

  1. Steering and backing
  2. Turning, turn signals, and turns on red
  3. Changing lanes
  4. Passing safely

Unit 8 · 3 lessons

Defensive Driving & Communicating

Expect mistakes and make yourself seen

  1. Defensive driving techniques
  2. Keeping pace, slow vehicles, and tailgaters
  3. Headlights, horn, and hazard lights

Unit 9 · 4 lessons

Intersections, Interchanges & Roundabouts

Cross, merge, and circulate safely

  1. Approaching any intersection
  2. Rural four-lane crossings and on-ramps
  3. Reduced-conflict intersections and diverging diamonds
  4. Roundabouts

Unit 10 · 5 lessons

Rural Roads, Night Driving & Sharing the Road

Gravel, darkness, animals, and other road users

  1. Rural and gravel road driving
  2. Night driving
  3. Deer, other animals, and hot cars
  4. Sharing the road with large trucks
  5. Motorcycles, bicyclists, and pedestrians

Unit 11 · 4 lessons

Weather & Emergencies

Rain, floods, fog, tornadoes, winter, and breakdowns

  1. Inclement weather, wet roads, and hydroplaning
  2. Flooded roads, fog, and tornadoes
  3. Ice, snow, and snowplows
  4. Equipment failure emergencies

Unit 12 · 2 lessons

Crashes & Law Enforcement

What to do after a crash or during a traffic stop

  1. Involvement in a crash
  2. Law enforcement interactions

Know which test you are studying for

Iowa Knowledge Test

This Roadwise course uses a 25-question practice test with 20 correct answers needed to pass. The format can depend on your age, license class, or application type.

Changed from 35/28 (third-party only, traced to stale 2015-16 manual wording) to the official practice-test format, 25 questions at 80%. Iowa does not publish the live test's length. One combined test covering traffic laws and highway signs. Verified 2026-10-25.

See format details and sample questions