Oregon DMV · Quick Reference 2026

Oregon DMV Test Cheat Sheet

Every key number, rule, and fact from the 2026-2027 Oregon Driver Manual — on one page. Bookmark it or print it.

🏎️ Speed Limits

Interstate highwayPosted (varies)

Default (unposted highway)55 mph

Residential district25 mph

Business district20 mph

School speed zone20 mph

Public parks / ocean shores25 mph

Alley / narrow residential15 mph

Work zone — finesDOUBLED

💡 The "School Hours" sign applies 7 a.m. – 5 p.m. on a school day. The "When Children Are Present" sign applies any day, any time children are in or about to enter a crosswalk. Posted work-zone speed limits apply at all times, even when no workers are visible (pages 19, 49, 59).

🅿️ Parking Distances

From fire hydrant10 feet MEMORIZE

From crosswalk at intersection20 feet

From fire station driveway15 ft same side / 75 ft opposite

From signal/sign your car would hide50 feet

From railroad / light rail rail50 feet (or 7½ ft if doesn't interfere)

From curb (parallel parking)12 inches max

Disabled-space violation$165–$1,000 fine without a Disabled Person Parking Permit

🍺 Alcohol & DUII Laws

BAC presumption — drivers 21+0.08%

BAC limit — under 21Any amount Zero tolerance

DUII below 0.08% (impaired)Still arrestable

Implied ConsentBy driving you've agreed to breath / blood / urine test

Refuse chemical testFine + license suspension

Substances coveredAlcohol, cannabis, prescription, OTC, any drug that impairs

Open containerMust be in trunk; broken seal = open

Loud sound systemIllegal if heard 50 ft from vehicle

Oregon's termDUII = Driving Under the Influence of Intoxicants

⚠️ Refusing the breath/blood/urine test under Oregon's Implied Consent law brings a fine and license suspension on top of any DUII penalty. Marijuana impairment is enforced the same as alcohol — the manual specifically warns that combining alcohol and cannabis sharply reduces driving ability (pages 82–83).

⚖️ DUII Consequences

Situation	What Oregon law does
21+ at 0.08% BAC or above	Presumed impaired — DUII arrest
Below 0.08%, alcohol/drugs affecting driving	Still arrestable for DUII
Under 21, any measurable BAC	Fail the test — Zero Tolerance penalties
Refusing breath / blood / urine test	Fine + license suspension under Implied Consent
Open container in passenger area	Open Container violation — bottles must go in the trunk

Specific fine amounts, jail terms, and suspension/revocation lengths are set by Oregon Revised Statutes and change. Check OregonDMV.com for current figures.

📏 Key Distances & Rules

Turn signal before turn / lane change100 feet

Hand-and-arm signals visible1,000 feet (daylight only)

Following distance — basic2–4 seconds

Following distance — over 30 mph4 seconds or more

Stop at RR (no stop line)15 feet from nearest rail

Stay behind emergency vehicle500 feet (after it passes)

Dim high beams — oncoming500 feet

Dim high beams — following350 feet

Headlights required when can't see1,000 feet ahead

Headlight hoursSunset to sunrise (page 76)

Pass cyclist over 35 mphEnough room to clear if rider falls

Stopped vehicle warningFlares/flags 200 ft each direction

Stopping distance at 60 mph359 feet (longer than a football field)

U-turn forbidden — cityIf can't be seen 500 ft each way

U-turn forbidden — outside cityIf can't be seen 1,000 ft each way

Move Over law — slow by≥ 5 mph below the limit if can't change lanes

💡 Stopping distances at typical speeds (Oregon manual): 20 mph = 69 ft · 30 mph = 123 ft · 40 mph = 189 ft · 50 mph = 268 ft · 60 mph = 359 ft (page 29).

🔷 Sign Shapes

Shape	Meaning	Example
Octagon (8 sides)	STOP	Stop sign
Inverted triangle	YIELD	Yield sign
Diamond	WARNING	Curves, merges, hills
Pentagon (5 sides)	SCHOOL	School zone/crossing
Circle	RAILROAD	Advance RR warning
Pennant	NO PASSING	No passing zone (left side)
Vertical rectangle	REGULATORY	Speed limits, rules
Horizontal rectangle	GUIDE	Directions, distances
Crossbuck (X)	RR CROSSING	At the crossing itself

🎨 Sign Colors

Color	Meaning
🔴 Red	Stop, yield, do not enter, prohibition
⬜ White	Regulatory — rules and laws
🟡 Yellow	Warning — hazards ahead
🟢 Green	Guide — directions, distances
🔵 Blue	Services — gas, food, hospital
🟠 Orange	Construction / work zone
🟤 Brown	Parks, recreation, historic
💛 Yellow-Green	Pedestrian, school, bicycle

↗️ Right-of-Way Rules

→At a 4-way stop: first to arrive goes first. If tied, driver on the RIGHT goes first.
→At an uncontrolled intersection: yield to the vehicle on the RIGHT.
→Turning left: always yield to oncoming straight-through traffic.
→Entering from alley, driveway, or private road: stop and yield to ALL traffic.
→At a T-intersection (no signs): the vehicle on the terminating road yields.
→Pedestrians in a crosswalk: ALWAYS yield — marked or unmarked.
→Emergency vehicles with lights/sirens: pull to the RIGHT and stop.
→Pedestrian with a white cane or guide dog: stop and remain stopped until they cross the entire road, even if you have a green light.

🚌 School Bus Rules

→Flashing red lights: stop before reaching the bus and remain stopped until the driver turns the red lights off.
→Flashing amber lights: warn that the bus is about to stop. Prepare to stop.
→Painted median or center turn lane does NOT separate the road — all lanes must stop.
→Divided highway with unpaved median or barrier: stop only if you are on the same side of the road as the bus.
→Same rule applies to flashing-light worker / places-of-worship buses.
→School buses, hazmat vehicles, and some school activity vehicles must stop at every railroad crossing — be ready to stop when following them (page 55).

🎓 Teen / Under-18 Driver Laws

Minimum age for instruction permit15

Minimum age for driver license16

Minimum permit hold (under 18)6 months

Supervised driving (no course)100 hours

Supervised driving (with ODOT course)50 hours + course

Supervisor — minimum age21+ with 3 years valid driving

Phone use — under 18No use at all (even hands-free)

Phone use — 18 and overHands-free only

Sound system audible 50 ft awayIllegal

Under-18 BAC limit (Zero Tolerance)Any amount = fail

External-rider rule (under 18)No riding on hood/fender/pickup bed

Cheating on knowledge test90-day testing ban

Note: Oregon does not have a separate Provisional/Intermediate license phase with curfew or non-family-passenger caps. Once you hold your Class C license, the only special rules until age 18 are the under-18 cell-phone ban and external-rider rule.

🛡️ Child Restraint & Safety Belts

Infants under 2 yearsMust ride rear-facing

Until age 8 OR 4'9" tallApproved child safety seat

After age 8 / 4'9" tallAdult lap/shoulder belt that fits properly

All drivers & passengersBelt mandatory in every available seat

Shoulder strap positionNever under arm or behind back

Source2026-2027 Oregon Driver Manual, page 73–74

🏦 Mandatory Insurance Minimums

Bodily injury — per person$25,000

Bodily injury — per collision$50,000

Property damage — per collision$20,000

Personal Injury Protection (PIP)$15,000 per person

Uninsured Motorist (UM)$25k / $50k bodily injury

Drive testNo valid proof of insurance = drive test rescheduled

📋 Crash Reports & DMV Admin

DMV crash report (Form 735-32)Within 72 hours

Triggers a reportVehicle damage > $2,500 · injury / death · any vehicle towed

Report drunk driversCall 911

DMV statewide phone503-945-5000

DMV Portland-area phone503-299-9999

Online servicesDMV2U.Oregon.gov

Road conditionsTripCheck.com

DMV Headquarters1905 Lana Avenue NE, Salem, OR 97314

🚗 Other Must-Know Oregon Rules

→Cell phone, drivers 18+: hands-free only — accessory must require minimal use of a finger.
→Cell phone, drivers under 18: NO use at all, even hands-free.
→Headlights: sunset to sunrise; also any time visibility is less than 1,000 feet. Driving with parking lights only is illegal.
→Hill parking: downhill against curb → wheels TOWARD curb. Uphill against curb → wheels AWAY from curb. No curb either way → wheels TOWARD road edge.
→U-turns: illegal at signalized intersections (unless a sign permits), between intersections in a city, in city limits where you can't be seen 500 ft each way, outside city where you can't be seen 1,000 ft each way, and at railroad crossings.
→Skidding: stay off the brakes — steer in the direction you want the vehicle to go.
→Studded tires: only allowed November 1 – March 31 in Oregon.
→Move Over law: approaching any stopped vehicle with flashing lights, change lanes — or slow down at least 5 mph below the limit if you can't.
→Funeral procession: yield right-of-way; do not join or drive between vehicles in the procession.

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