Updated for 2026 testing — 500+ questions based on the official Kentucky Driver Manual (Revised September 2023). Realistic exam simulator with instant scoring. No signup required.
40 random questions, 30-minute timer. Based on the official Kentucky KYTC exam format. Need 32/40 to pass.
Practice road signs exclusively — shapes, colors, and meanings. Perfect for targeting the sign section before your exam.
Test only the critical numbers — speed limits, distances, BAC limits, suspension periods. The most memorized facts on the real exam.
Fast 15-question session — perfect for a daily warm-up or quick review before bed.
Every question, random order, no timer. Best for deep study before your test date.
Key chapters from the official handbook — organized, summarized, and exam-focused. Read before your test!
Everything important from the Kentucky Driver's Manual handbook — organized for the exam
Memorize these numbers first. Kentucky test questions are frequently built around specific distances, speeds, BAC levels, and time periods. These come up constantly.
Road signs are tested heavily. Know each sign's shape, color, and meaning. The real test often shows a sign description and asks what it means.
| Shape | Meaning | Example |
|---|---|---|
| Octagon (8-sided) | STOP — always and only | Stop sign |
| Triangle (pointing down) | YIELD — give right of way | Yield sign |
| Diamond | WARNING — hazard ahead | Curve, pedestrian, deer |
| Pentagon (5-sided) | SCHOOL ZONE | School crossing |
| Pennant (triangle right) | NO PASSING ZONE | No-passing pennant |
| Round (circle) | RAILROAD CROSSING advance warning | RR crossing sign |
| Rectangle (vertical) | REGULATORY — rules you must follow | Speed limit, turn restrictions |
| Rectangle (horizontal) | GUIDE or INFORMATION | Street name, mile marker |
| X-shaped crossbuck | RAILROAD CROSSING — treat like yield | Railroad crossbuck |
| Color | Category | What It Means |
|---|---|---|
| Red | Regulatory — STOP / PROHIBIT | Stop, yield, do not enter, wrong way, no-turn circles |
| Yellow | WARNING | General hazard warnings — curves, hills, intersections, animals |
| Orange | WORK ZONE / CONSTRUCTION | Construction ahead, road crew, fines doubled |
| Green | GUIDE / DIRECTIONAL | Highway exits, distances, direction, mile markers |
| Blue | SERVICES | Gas, food, lodging, hospital, rest area |
| Brown | RECREATION / CULTURAL | Parks, campgrounds, historical sites, scenic areas |
| White | REGULATORY | Speed limits, lane rules, turn restrictions |
| Fluorescent Yellow-Green | WARNING — pedestrian / school / bike | School zones, crosswalks, bike lanes |
Right of way is the #1 failure topic on the Kentucky KYTC test. Master every scenario below — these questions will be on your exam.
| Signal | What You Must Do |
|---|---|
| Solid GREEN | Proceed — but yield to traffic already in intersection |
| Solid YELLOW | Prepare to stop if safe; proceed only if stopping would be dangerous |
| Solid RED | Stop completely; may turn right on red after stop and yield (unless posted) |
| GREEN ARROW | Protected turn — cross traffic is stopped. You may turn without yielding. |
| YELLOW ARROW | Protected turn is ending — prepare to yield or stop |
| Flashing YELLOW ARROW | Unprotected turn — you MAY turn but MUST yield to oncoming and pedestrians |
| Flashing RED | Treat exactly like a STOP sign — stop, yield, proceed when safe |
| Flashing YELLOW | Caution — slow down and proceed carefully. Do not need to stop. |
| RED + GREEN ARROW | Stop for through traffic; turn in direction of arrow only |
| Signal NOT working | Treat as ALL-WAY STOP — all traffic stops |
DUI questions appear on virtually every Kentucky KYTC test. Know the BAC levels, implied consent law, and penalties. Kentucky uses "DUI" (Driving Under the Influence) — not "OWI," "DWI," or "OVI."
| Situation | Consequence |
|---|---|
| BAC of .08%+ (driver 21+) | DUI — criminal charge (KRS 189A.010) |
| BAC of .15%+ | Aggravating circumstance — mandatory additional jail time |
| BAC of .02%+ (under 21) | Zero Alcohol Tolerance violation — license suspension |
| Refusing chemical test | License suspension by court; refusal is admissible as evidence |
| First DUI | $200–$500 fine, 48 hrs–30 days jail, 4–6 month suspension |
| 2nd+ DUI + test refusal | Mandatory minimum jail doubled (aggravating circumstance) |
| DUI + passenger under 12 | Aggravating circumstance — mandatory additional jail time |
| DUI + 30+ mph over limit | Aggravating circumstance — mandatory additional jail time |
| DUI causing death or serious injury | Aggravating circumstance — mandatory additional jail time |
| DUI lookback period | 10 years — penalties increase for repeat offenses |
School bus rules are heavily tested — especially the 4+ lane highway exception. Many people fail this question. Learn the exact rule.
| Rule | Requirement |
|---|---|
| General parking rule | Always park in a designated area, as far from traffic as possible |
| Curb parking | Park as close to the curb as possible when along a roadway |
| Handicapped space (without placard) | Unlawful — punishable by a fine. Must display official permit AND transport a disabled person |
| Leaving your vehicle | Turn off engine, remove key, lock doors — required by law |
| Inside an intersection or on a crosswalk | Never — always illegal |
| No-Parking zones | Check for signs or painted curbs that prohibit or limit parking |
| Exiting vehicle | Safest to exit on curb side. If using street side, check traffic first |
The rule: always turn wheels so that if the car rolls, it rolls away from traffic or is caught by the curb.
| Situation | Turn Wheels | Why |
|---|---|---|
| Facing DOWNHILL, WITH curb | RIGHT (into curb) | Car rolls into curb and stops |
| Facing DOWNHILL, NO curb | RIGHT (away from road) | Car rolls away from traffic |
| Facing UPHILL, WITH curb | LEFT (away from curb) | Car rolls back, caught by curb |
| Facing UPHILL, NO curb | RIGHT (away from road) | Car rolls away from traffic |
GDL questions appear on many tests, especially for younger test-takers. Know the three phases, the restrictions in each, and the specific numbers.
| Equipment | Requirement |
|---|---|
| Headlights (on) | ½ hour after sunset to ½ hour before sunrise |
| High beams (dim) | Within 500 ft of oncoming vehicle; within 300 ft when following another vehicle |
| High beams (reveal) | Must reveal a person at 350 feet; low beams at 100 feet |
| Tail light | Red, visible from 500 feet behind vehicle |
| Tinted windows | Prohibited on front windshield; side/rear windows have limits |
| TVs / video screens visible to driver | Prohibited while vehicle is in motion (navigation is excepted) |
| Muffler | Must prevent excessive or unusual noise |
| Brakes | Required on all four wheels; must stop within a safe distance |
| Wipers | Must adequately clean the windshield when used |
| Tail lights / rear reflector | At least one red tail light visible from 500 feet |
| Tires | Must have adequate tread depth and be in safe condition |
| Hazard lights | For use when parked/stopped in an emergency — not while driving normally |
| Seat belts | Required for ALL occupants in every seat — primary enforcement law |
A proven 4-phase approach that builds real understanding — not just memorization. Work through each phase at your own pace, and you'll walk into the DMV ready to pass on your first try.
| Your Score | Status | What to Do Next |
|---|---|---|
| Under 75% | Needs more work | Go back to Phase 3 — run Weak Spots mode on your wrong answers. Re-read the Study Guide for those topics. Then try the simulator again. |
| 75% – 89% | Almost there | Run Weak Spots on what you missed, then take the simulator again. You're close — one more round should get you there. |
| 90%+ | Ready! 🎉 | Run the simulator one more time to confirm. Score 90%+ twice → you are ready for the real test. |
Before you walk into the Kentucky Transportation Cabinet office:
40 questions · need 32 correct (80%) · you can miss up to 8 and still pass
2025 edition · Published by KYTC
Download Official Manual →Source: Kentucky Transportation Cabinet · Free download
We've distilled the official manual into 12 focused study sections. Every number, rule, and fact verified against the handbook. Click any topic to start studying.
The Kentucky Transportation Cabinet written knowledge test has 40 multiple-choice questions with a single combined score. You must answer at least 32 correctly (80%) to pass.
DUI stands for Driving Under the Influence. Kentucky uses DUI, and the legal BAC limit is 0.08% for drivers 21 and over and 0.02% for drivers under 21 (Zero Tolerance). Aggravating factors can trigger mandatory jail time on a first offense.
You can apply for a Kentucky instruction permit at age 16. You must pass a vision test and the written knowledge test at a Circuit Court Clerk's office.
Yes, this practice test is completely free. Every question is verified against the Kentucky Driver Manual published by the Kentucky Transportation Cabinet and Kentucky State Police.
No, Kentucky requires the knowledge test to be taken in person at a Circuit Court Clerk's office. You can practice unlimited times here, but the actual test must be completed in person.
Kentucky school zones have a 20 mph speed limit when the school zone lights are flashing. This differs from some neighboring states that use 'when children are present' as the trigger.
Kentucky is one of a small handful of states where driver licensing is split between two agencies: the Kentucky Transportation Cabinet (KYTC) issues the actual license, but the Kentucky State Police (KSP) administers the written knowledge test at regional testing centers. That quirk confuses people searching for practice material — they don't know whether to search for the KYTC manual or the KSP manual. The answer is both: the Kentucky Driver Manual is a joint publication used by both agencies, and every question on this page is verified against that manual.
The Kentucky written test is 40 questions scored as a single combined result, with an 80% passing score (32 correct out of 40). There are no separate signs sections, no sectional minimums, and no hidden sub-scores. This makes Kentucky's test format closer to Michigan and Iowa than to Indiana or Ohio. Kentucky uses DUI (Driving Under the Influence), not OWI or DWI. The BAC limit is 0.08% for drivers 21 and over and 0.02% for those under 21.
Kentucky's school zone speed limit drops to 20 mph when the warning lights are flashing — a detail the real test likes to ask about. Signal distance before turning is 100 feet. Following distance uses the 4-second rule. Kentucky's Graduated Driver License program starts at age 16 with a permit, includes a 180-day permit hold and 60 hours of supervised driving (10 at night), and progresses to an intermediate license with nighttime and passenger restrictions. These details are heavily tested, and our Teen Laws study tab walks through each stage exactly as the manual presents it.
This Kentucky practice test is built for residents studying at regional KSP testing centers in Louisville, Lexington, Bowling Green, Owensboro, Covington, Richmond, Hopkinsville, Frankfort, Paducah, and every smaller Kentucky town with a testing office. Free, no signup, no paywall — just the real Kentucky Driver Manual, the real 40-question single-score format, and the real DUI penalty structure as it appears on the actual written exam.