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Iowa driving lessons

Iowa driving lessons.

Read 53 lessons across 12 course units, from licensing basics to the driving rules in Iowa’s handbook. Every public lesson includes its full study text, examples, and source page references.

Continue in the study app Read the handbook guide

Your course, in order

Start at the beginning or choose a topic you want to understand better. Open a lesson in the study app when you want to take its checkpoint and save your progress.

Unit 1 · 2 lessons

Your License

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

  1. Who needs an Iowa license 3 min · 6 checkpoint questions
  2. What to carry and how you get licensed 3 min · 6 checkpoint questions

Unit 2 · 8 lessons

Signs, Signals & Markings

Colors, shapes, signals, crossings, and lane markings

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

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 3 min · 6 checkpoint questions
  2. Emergency vehicles 2 min · 6 checkpoint questions
  3. Stopping for school buses 3 min · 6 checkpoint questions
  4. Parking rules 3 min · 6 checkpoint questions
  5. Move Over law and Steer It-Clear It 3 min · 6 checkpoint questions

Unit 4 · 7 lessons

Vehicle Readiness

Equipment, adjustments, and driver-assistance technology

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

Unit 5 · 5 lessons

Seat Belts, Distractions & Impaired Driving

Protect yourself and stay fully alert behind the wheel

  1. Blind spots 2 min · 5 checkpoint questions
  2. Seat belts, child restraints, and loose objects 3 min · 6 checkpoint questions
  3. Distracted driving and the hands-free law 3 min · 6 checkpoint questions
  4. Alcohol, drugs, and OWI 3 min · 6 checkpoint questions
  5. Drowsy driving and trip planning 2 min · 5 checkpoint questions

Unit 6 · 4 lessons

Speed, Stopping & Following Distance

Control your speed and leave room to stop

  1. Starting, shifting, and accelerating 3 min · 6 checkpoint questions
  2. Braking, stopping distance, and required stops 3 min · 6 checkpoint questions
  3. Following distance and ABS 2 min · 6 checkpoint questions
  4. Speed limits 2 min · 6 checkpoint questions

Unit 7 · 4 lessons

Turning, Lane Changes & Passing

Steer, signal, and pass with precision

  1. Steering and backing 3 min · 6 checkpoint questions
  2. Turning, turn signals, and turns on red 3 min · 6 checkpoint questions
  3. Changing lanes 2 min · 5 checkpoint questions
  4. Passing safely 3 min · 6 checkpoint questions

Unit 8 · 3 lessons

Defensive Driving & Communicating

Expect mistakes and make yourself seen

  1. Defensive driving techniques 3 min · 6 checkpoint questions
  2. Keeping pace, slow vehicles, and tailgaters 2 min · 5 checkpoint questions
  3. Headlights, horn, and hazard lights 3 min · 5 checkpoint questions

Unit 9 · 4 lessons

Intersections, Interchanges & Roundabouts

Cross, merge, and circulate safely

  1. Approaching any intersection 2 min · 6 checkpoint questions
  2. Rural four-lane crossings and on-ramps 2 min · 6 checkpoint questions
  3. Reduced-conflict intersections and diverging diamonds 2 min · 6 checkpoint questions
  4. Roundabouts 3 min · 6 checkpoint questions

Unit 10 · 5 lessons

Rural Roads, Night Driving & Sharing the Road

Gravel, darkness, animals, and other road users

  1. Rural and gravel road driving 3 min · 6 checkpoint questions
  2. Night driving 2 min · 5 checkpoint questions
  3. Deer, other animals, and hot cars 2 min · 6 checkpoint questions
  4. Sharing the road with large trucks 3 min · 6 checkpoint questions
  5. Motorcycles, bicyclists, and pedestrians 3 min · 6 checkpoint questions

Unit 11 · 4 lessons

Weather & Emergencies

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

  1. Inclement weather, wet roads, and hydroplaning 3 min · 6 checkpoint questions
  2. Flooded roads, fog, and tornadoes 3 min · 6 checkpoint questions
  3. Ice, snow, and snowplows 3 min · 6 checkpoint questions
  4. Equipment failure emergencies 3 min · 6 checkpoint questions

Unit 12 · 2 lessons

Crashes & Law Enforcement

What to do after a crash or during a traffic stop

  1. Involvement in a crash 3 min · 6 checkpoint questions
  2. Law enforcement interactions 2 min · 6 checkpoint questions