West Virginia DMV · Quick Reference 2026

West Virginia DMV Test Cheat Sheet

Every key number, rule, and fact from the West Virginia Driver's Licensing Handbook (07/2022) — on one page. Bookmark it or print it.

🏎️ Speed Limits

Interstate maximum70 mph

Interstate minimum55 mph

Open country highway55 mph

Business / residential area25 mph

School zone (children present)15 mph

School zone length from grounds125 feet

Low-speed vehicle max road25 mph or less

Speeding 20+ mph over6 points

💡 WV law requires a speed "reasonable and prudent for existing conditions." Driving the posted limit on ice can still be illegal. Emergency vehicles may exceed posted limits only when signal equipment is operating. (p. 42)

🅿️ Parking Distances

From fire hydrant15 feet MEMORIZE

From crosswalk at intersection20 feet

From mailbox (carrier served)20 feet

From stop sign / yield / signal30 feet

From railroad crossing (rail)50 feet

From curb (parallel parking)18 inches

In front of a drivewayNever — prohibited (§17C-13-3, W.Va. State Code) (p. 45)

🍺 Alcohol & DUI Laws

BAC limit — drivers 21+0.08%

BAC limit — under 210.02% Zero Tolerance

BAC — relevant evidence0.05%–0.08%

Refuse breath test (1st)1 year revocation

Refuse breath test (subsequent)Up to LIFETIME

1st DUI (BAC<0.15)15-day min revocation

1st DUI (BAC≥0.15)45-day revocation

Zero Tolerance (under 21, 1st)30-day revocation

2nd DUI10-year revocation

3rd+ DUI (felony)LIFETIME revocation

⚠️ Under WV's Implied Consent Law, every licensed driver is deemed to have consented to the designated Breathalyzer. Refusing = 1 year to lifetime revocation. Only TIME removes alcohol — coffee, cold showers, and fresh air do NOT lower BAC. Safety and Treatment program is required before reinstatement after any DUI. The Interlock Program may allow some drivers to continue driving. (p. 21–23)

⚖️ DUI Penalties (Adults)

Offense	Fine	Jail	Suspension
1st DUI (BAC < 0.15)	$100–$500	Up to 6 mo	15 days min
1st DUI (BAC ≥ 0.15)	$200–$1,000	2 days – 6 mo	45 days
DUI w/ child endangerment	$200–$1,000	48 hrs – 6 mo	60 days
DUI w/ body injury	$200–$1,000	48 hrs – 12 mo	60 days – 1 yr
DUI w/ death (felony)	$1,000–$3,000	2 – 10 yrs prison	1 year
2nd DUI	$1,000–$3,000	6 – 12 mo	10 years
3rd+ DUI (felony)	$3,000–$5,000	1 – 3 yrs	LIFETIME

📏 Key Distances & Rules

Turn signal before turn100 feet

Following distance (good)3–4 seconds

Following (dark/raining)4 seconds minimum

Following (snow/ice)6 seconds minimum

Stopping on ice vs. dryUp to 12× distance

No passing near intersection100 feet

No passing near RR crossing100 feet

Dim high beams (oncoming)500 feet

Dim high beams (following)200 feet

Headlights — visibility triggerLess than 500 feet

Return to lane after passingSee both headlights

Bicycle headlight visible from500 feet

Bicycle bell audible from100 feet

U-turn crest of hill — visibility500 feet each way

💡 Turn on headlights from sunset to sunrise and anytime visibility is less than 500 ft (fog, smoke, rain). Use LOW beams in fog — high beams reflect back into your eyes. Signal distance is a flat 100 ft in West Virginia — no city/country split. (p. 43–44, 51)

🔷 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.
→WV: A blind person on foot using a white cane or guide dog has the right-of-way regardless of whether they are in a crosswalk. Police officer directions overrule any sign, signal, or road marking. (p. 40, 49)

🚌 School Bus Rules

→Stop for a school bus with red flashing lights on any road (public, private, parking lot, driveway) — traffic in BOTH directions must stop. Applies to school property and private property too.
→The ONLY exception: on an Interstate highway with a median, oncoming traffic (other side of the median) need not stop.
→Penalty for passing a stopped school bus (1st offense): minimum $500 fine + 60-day driver's license suspension. If the driver can't be identified, the registered owner or lessee is charged.
→Yellow/amber flashing lights = bus preparing to stop. Red flashing lights = stopped; stop and wait. Proceed only after the bus resumes motion, the driver signals, or the visual signals are no longer activated. (p. 50)

🎓 Teen / GDL Laws

Level 1 GDL (permit) age15 years

Hold Level 1 before Level 2180 consecutive days

Parent-certified BTW hours50 hrs (10 at night)

Alternative to 50-hr logApproved driver's ed

Road skills test attemptsMax 3

Level 2 (intermediate) age16 years

Level 3 (full) age17 years

Hold Level 2 before Level 312 months conviction-free

Level 1 & 2 driving hours5 a.m. – 10 p.m.

Level 2 supervised hours10 p.m. – 5 a.m. (21+ adult)

Level 2 first 6 months passengerNo non-family under 20

Level 2 second 6 months passengerMax 1 non-family under 20

Phone use (under 18)Prohibited (9-1-1 only)

Level 1 permit fee$7.50

Knowledge test fee$7.50 per attempt

🛡️ Child Restraint & Safety Belts

Under 8 years oldChild passenger safety device

Under 8 AND ≥ 4'9" tallSafety belt is sufficient

All passengers any ageMust be buckled

Level 1 & Level 2 driversRequire all occupants to buckle

EnforcementDriver is responsible for requiring all occupants to follow the safety belt law (p. 10-11, 67)

🏦 Insurance & Financial Responsibility

Bodily injury (per person)$25,000

Bodily injury (per accident)$50,000

Property damage (per accident)$25,000

Proof of insuranceRequired at traffic stops — electronic proof on phone accepted

📋 License Fees & Administration

Class E license$5.00 per year

Knowledge test$7.50 per attempt

Level 1 GDL permit$7.50

Duplicate license$7.50

REAL ID add-on+$10.00

Drive for Five renewalBirthday divisible by 5 ($5/yr)

Retest if expired6 months or more

Address change deadlineWithin 20 days (in writing)

New resident deadlineWithin 30 days

Organ donor registrydonatelife.wv.gov · add/remove at any time

🚗 Other Must-Know Rules

→Handheld phone: illegal unless hands-free. Fines: 1st $100 (0 pts), 2nd $200 (0 pts), 3rd+ $300 and 3 points. Drivers under 18 may not use any wireless device except to contact 9-1-1. (p. 17–18)
→Headlights required: sunset to sunrise, during fog/smoke/rain, or anytime persons and vehicles cannot be seen at 500 ft. (Note: WV has NO "wipers on = headlights on" rule.) (p. 51)
→Hill parking: downhill = turn wheels TO curb. Uphill with curb = turn wheels AWAY from curb. No curb = always turn wheels to the right (so vehicle rolls off the road if it moves). (p. 46)
→U-turns: illegal near the crest of a hill where a driver approaching within 500 ft in either direction cannot see you. (p. 45)
→Skidding: take foot off the gas and steer in the direction of the skid. (p. 71)
→Crash reporting: crashes with injury, death, or property damage > $1,000 must be reported within 5 days to local police, county sheriff, or the nearest WV State Police office. (p. 16, 74)
→Points: license suspended at 12 points; caution letter at 6 points; points stay on record 2 years; approved 8-hour defensive driving class removes 3 points (once per 12 months). (p. 18)
→Windshield tint: cannot be less than 35% light transmission. Red or blue flashing lights are illegal on non-emergency vehicles. (p. 25)

Choose Your Practice Test

Free, no signup · Questions verified against the official state driver manual

Take Real Test

Start a fresh practice exam with new questions.

Start →

Take Sign Test

Practice identifying road signs and their meanings.

Start →

Take Number Test

Drill speed limits, distances, BAC limits and fines.

Start →