A compact New Jersey reading view of 20 existing sourced practice explanations. Each card keeps the original question, correct answer and explanation together so that a qualified rule is not detached from its scenario.
A short sample of car driving questions. Read the handbook to cover the other topics you need.
Use this as a review aid after reading the handbook. It is not a state exam aid or a complete list of driving laws. Printing may use several pages; the layout does not shrink the text to promise a single sheet.
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Basic automobile knowledge test: 50 questions. 40 correct are needed to pass. Agency passing statement: 80%.
Ten allowed mistakes is derived from the published 40-of-50 requirement.
The current page separately offers oral English/Spanish and interpretation assistance, including ASL.
A two-part 80%-per-part rule appears in secondary legal text for N.J.A.C. 13:21-8.6, but the regulation was not retrievable; no sectional quota is asserted pending primary verification.
Retained facts checked 2026-10-10.
Review 1 · Stop-line position
A red light faces you, with a painted stop line before the crosswalk. Where should your car stop?
Correct answer: Before the stop line
The marked stop line identifies the stopping position. Stop behind it and leave the crosswalk clear.
Source: 2026 New Jersey Driver Manual, pp. 67, 217, Intersections; Road Markings / White stop lines. Reviewed 2026-09-12. · Original question review: 2026-09-12
Review 2 · Completely dark traffic signal
All signal lights at an intersection are dark after a power failure, and no officer is directing traffic. How should you treat the intersection?
Correct answer: As a four-way stop
The manual directs drivers to treat a completely unlit signal as a four-way stop. Stop, check traffic and proceed only when safe.
Source: 2026 New Jersey Driver Manual, pp. 68, 213, Uncontrolled Intersections; Unlit Signal. Manual cites N.J.S.A.39:4-81; Reviewed 2026-09-12. · Original question review: 2026-09-12
Review 3 · Left turn across oncoming traffic
You have a circular green light and want to turn left. An oncoming car is close enough that your turn would cross its path. What should you do?
Correct answer: Wait and yield to the oncoming car
A left-turning driver yields to oncoming traffic. A circular green light is not a protected left-turn arrow.
Source: 2026 New Jersey Driver Manual, pp. 67, 74, 212, Controlled Intersections; left-turn diagram; Green Light. Reviewed 2026-09-12. · Original question review: 2026-09-12
Review 4 · Normal lane on a multilane road
The right lane is open and available. You are not passing, preparing for a left turn, or following a different posted lane assignment. Where should you normally drive?
Correct answer: In the lane nearest the right edge
The marked-lane rule normally places a vehicle in the available right-hand lane, subject to the specified exceptions and lane designations.
Source: 2026 New Jersey Driver Manual, p. 65, Keeping to the Right. P.L.2013, c.86 §1, complete R.S.39:4-88(a)–(e), especially (a) and (d); effective 2013-08-07; Reviewed 2026-09-12. · Original question review: 2026-09-12
Review 5 · Cooperating when overtaken
Another car is passing you on the left. Which response helps it finish safely?
Correct answer: Hold your lane and ease off your speed
Stay in the proper lane and slow to make the pass easier. Resume your normal speed after the passing vehicle is well ahead.
Source: 2026 New Jersey Driver Manual, p. 97, Passed by Another Vehicle. Manual cites N.J.S.A.39:4-87; Reviewed 2026-09-12. · Original question review: 2026-09-12
Review 6 · Railroad lights still flashing
A train has passed and the crossing gate is rising, but the red warning lights still flash. What should you do?
Correct answer: Remain stopped until all warnings end and it is safe
Do not cross until the gates are raised, bells have stopped and red lights have stopped flashing. Then confirm that crossing is safe.
Source: 2026 New Jersey Driver Manual, pp. 76, 212, Stop at Railroad Crossings; Flashing Red Light. Reviewed 2026-09-12. · Original question review: 2026-09-12
Review 7 · Safe Passing: lower posted limit
A posted 20-mph road leaves no safe lane change or four-foot clearance past a cyclist in a bicycle lane. What should you do?
Correct answer: Slow to 20 mph or less, ready to stop; pass only if safe
The fallback is 25 mph or a lower posted speed, with readiness to stop. It never authorizes an unsafe pass or violating a no-passing restriction.
Source: 2026 New Jersey Driver Manual, pp. 146, 150, 151, Safe Passing Law; Bicycles, Skateboards, and Inline Skates. P.L.2024, c.11 §1, C.39:4-92.4(b)(3), within complete §1(a)–(d); effective 2024-05-02; Reviewed 2026-09-12. · Original question review: 2026-09-12
Review 8 · Coolant preparation
Your car needs coolant before cold weather. What should guide the type you use?
Correct answer: The specifications in the vehicle owner's manual
The cooling system needs sufficient coolant meeting the vehicle manufacturer's specifications; inspect for leaks too.
Source: NHTSA Winter Weather Driving Tips > Preparing Your Vehicle > Cooling System (current HTML practical guidance) ↗ · Original question review: 2026-09-12
Review 9 · Replacement floor mats
A thick replacement mat reaches into the pedal area. What should you do before driving?
Correct answer: Install a correctly fitting mat using its retention system
An incorrectly fitted or unsecured mat can interfere with the accelerator or brake. Follow the vehicle's installation instructions.
Source: NHTSA Winter Weather Driving Tips > Changes You May Notice > Floor Mats (current HTML practical guidance) ↗ · Original question review: 2026-09-12
Review 10 · Tire vibration
A car develops unusual tire-related vibration during driving. What is a sensible follow-up?
Correct answer: Have a tire service professional investigate
Changes in tire performance, including vibration, merit professional attention rather than being dismissed or masked.
Source: NHTSA TireWise > Aging > Should I replace my tires?, performance-issues paragraph (current HTML practical guidance) ↗ · Original question review: 2026-09-12
Review 11 · Caffeine limitations
A severely sleep-deprived driver feels briefly more awake after coffee. What is the safer interpretation?
Correct answer: Feeling more awake does not prove the risk has passed
NHTSA warns that caffeine's effect is temporary and a seriously sleep-deprived driver can still have brief sleep episodes.
Source: NHTSA Drowsy Driving > Tips to Drive Alert > Short-Term Interventions, item 1 (current HTML practical guidance) ↗ · Original question review: 2026-09-12
Review 12 · Blind-spot warning
A blind-spot warning appears while you are considering a lane change. What is its intended message?
Correct answer: A vehicle may be beside you where it is difficult to see
The warning concerns a detected adjacent vehicle. It is not clearance or a command to change lanes.
Source: NHTSA Driver Assistance Technologies > Technologies Explained > Collision Warning > Blind Spot Warning (current HTML practical guidance) ↗ · Original question review: 2026-09-12
Review 13 · Flood barriers
A barrier closes a flooded roadway, but there is space to drive around it. What should you do?
Correct answer: Respect the closure and find a different route
A barrier may protect against submerged pavement damage as well as water depth. Do not bypass it.
Source: NWS Flood Safety > Opening paragraph beginning Never drive around the barriers (current HTML practical guidance) ↗ · Original question review: 2026-09-12
Review 14 · Attention during conversation
A conversation with passengers is drawing the driver's attention away from traffic. What should the driver do?
Correct answer: Reduce the conversation and refocus on driving
Conversation can distract when it diverts attention; keeping hands on the wheel alone does not ensure full attention.
Source: NHTSA Distracted Driving > What Is Distracted Driving?, definition and full-attention paragraph (current HTML practical guidance) ↗ · Original question review: 2026-09-12
Review 15 · Regulatory signs
At your approach to a crossroads, this sign has no time or vehicle-exception plaque. Which movement does it prohibit?
Correct answer: Turning left onto the intersecting road.
The crossed-out left-turn arrow means NO LEFT TURN. The pictured sign prohibits that movement from the approach; no displayed plaque creates an exception for a time or vehicle class.
Source: FHWA MUTCD, 11th Edition with Revision 1 (December 2025), Section 2B.26, paragraphs 01–03, R3-2; p. 89 · Original question review: 2026-09-12
Review 16 · Warning signs
You have been driving beside a median. What change does this sign warn you to expect?
Correct answer: The physical divider between directions ends.
DIVIDED HIGHWAY ENDS warns that a physically divided section is ending, with two-way traffic ahead. It does not announce that opposing traffic disappears.
Source: FHWA MUTCD, 11th Edition with Revision 1 (December 2025), Section 2C.21, paragraphs 01–02, W6-2; p. 170 · Original question review: 2026-09-12
Review 17 · Warning signs
Before a curve, you pass a yellow sign bearing this symbol. What information does it provide?
Correct answer: A traffic control signal is ahead.
SIGNAL AHEAD gives advance notice of a traffic signal. The three printed colored circles are part of the symbol; they do not report a current signal phase, operating schedule, or camera-enforcement program.
Source: FHWA MUTCD, 11th Edition with Revision 1 (December 2025), Section 2C.35, paragraphs 01–10, W3-3; p. 177 · Original question review: 2026-09-12
Review 18 · Permit validation
A New Jersey special learner has finished the approved course but the permit has not been validated for practice driving. What must happen before family-supervised practice begins?
Correct answer: Have the permit validated by MVC.
Course completion must be followed by MVC permit validation before practice driving. The instructor or family member cannot substitute a private signature for that validation.
Source: 2026 Driver Manual, p. 20, opening paragraphs. · Original question review: 2026-09-12
Review 19 · Darkness within the total
A New Jersey learner covered by the 50-hour practice requirement has completed 50 hours, but only six during darkness. What is still needed for the darkness requirement?
Correct answer: Four more hours during darkness.
At least 10 of the supervised practice hours must occur during darkness. Six leaves four still required; the requirement does not mean 50 daytime hours plus 10 more in darkness.
Source: Implementation notice, first paragraph and Certification of Supervised Driving paragraph, 50 total with 10 during darkness. ↗ · Original question review: 2026-09-12
Review 20 · Online basic-license upgrade
An eligible New Jersey driver has completed the probationary year and meets the age and other upgrade requirements. What upgrade method does the current MVC workflow offer?
Correct answer: Upgrade the probationary license online.
The current first-license workflow links an online basic-license upgrade. Completing the year alone does not perform the transaction. This current procedure differs from the manual's older office-only wording.
Source: Practice driving on your own, online probationary-to-basic upgrade link. ↗ · Original question review: 2026-09-12
