Free New Jersey Permit Practice Test 3 (2026)
Real questions from the official New Jersey driver handbook, each with a plain-English explanation. Free, unlimited retakes, no signup.
Get Smart Review & Mock Exams
Smart Review drills only the questions you get wrong. Full-length mock exams in the real format. Progress saved on every device — and the same account unlocks the mobile app.
Get Smart Review & Mock Exams
What this test covers
This draw of 20 questions breaks down like this:
- Traffic Signs & Signals — 8
- Emergencies & Crashes — 3
- Right-of-Way & Intersections — 2
- Safe Driving — 2
- Traffic Lanes, Passing & Turning — 2
- Adverse Conditions — 1
- Sharing the Road — 1
- Speed Limits & Speed Management — 1
Heaviest on Traffic Signs & Signals (8 of 20) — that is the section to revise first if you miss several here.
Every question here applies nationwide.
Each test on this site draws a different set, so Test 1, 2 and 3 never repeat a question.
Questions on this test
1. If you miss your exit on a highway, you should:
- Continue to the next exit
- Cross the median
- Stop and reverse
- Back up
Show answer
Answer: Continue to the next exit
Never back up or cross the median — go on to the next exit and turn around safely.
2. If a front tire blows out, you should:
- Accelerate
- Grip the wheel firmly, ease off the gas, and steer straight, then slow gradually
- Turn sharply to the shoulder
- Brake hard immediately
Show answer
Answer: Grip the wheel firmly, ease off the gas, and steer straight, then slow gradually
Hold the wheel firmly, keep straight, ease off the accelerator, and brake gently once under control.
3. What does this sign mean?
- No left turn
- No U-turn
- Do not enter
- No right turn
Show answer
Answer: No left turn
This sign prohibits left turns.
4. If your headlights suddenly go out at night, you should:
- Turn on high beams only
- Stop in the lane
- Keep driving normally
- Use hazard lights, slow down, and pull off the road safely
Show answer
Answer: Use hazard lights, slow down, and pull off the road safely
Switch on hazards, slow down, and carefully pull off the road.
5. What does this sign tell you to do?
- No left turn
- Turn left only
- Merge left
- Keep to the left of a divider or obstruction
Show answer
Answer: Keep to the left of a divider or obstruction
A keep-left sign directs you to pass to the left of a median or obstacle.
6. A broken (dashed) yellow center line means:
- Bike lane ahead
- No passing at any time
- The road is one-way
- You may pass when it is safe to do so
Show answer
Answer: You may pass when it is safe to do so
A broken yellow line means passing is permitted from your side when it's safe.
7. Most car-motorcycle crashes happen at intersections. Before you turn, you should:
- Look twice for motorcycles — they're small and easy to miss
- Assume no motorcycles are near
- Only check for cars
- Turn quickly
Show answer
Answer: Look twice for motorcycles — they're small and easy to miss
Motorcycles are easy to miss. Look carefully — 'look twice' — for them before turning.
8. A steady yellow traffic light means:
- Speed up to beat the red
- The light is about to turn red — stop if you can do so safely
- Go, the intersection is yours
- Yield only to pedestrians
Show answer
Answer: The light is about to turn red — stop if you can do so safely
Steady yellow warns the signal is about to turn red. Stop if you can do so safely.
9. Failing to yield to an emergency vehicle can result in:
- Nothing
- A reward
- A discount
- A citation and endangering lives
Show answer
Answer: A citation and endangering lives
Not yielding to emergency vehicles is illegal and dangerous.
10. A safe U-turn requires:
- A clear view of traffic in both directions and no prohibiting sign
- A red light
- A hill
- Heavy traffic
Show answer
Answer: A clear view of traffic in both directions and no prohibiting sign
Only make a U-turn where you can see well both ways and it isn't prohibited.
11. On a long trip, to stay alert you should:
- Drink energy drinks only
- Take regular breaks and share driving if possible
- Drive faster to finish sooner
- Drive straight through
Show answer
Answer: Take regular breaks and share driving if possible
Take breaks about every couple of hours, and share the driving on long trips.
12. If you feel your steering go light on a wet road (hydroplaning), you should:
- Brake hard
- Ease off the gas and hold the wheel steady
- Turn sharply
- Accelerate
Show answer
Answer: Ease off the gas and hold the wheel steady
Ease off the gas and keep the wheel steady until the tires regain grip.
13. A stop sign is the only sign shaped as a(n):
- Pentagon
- Circle
- Diamond
- Octagon
Show answer
Answer: Octagon
Only the stop sign is an octagon.
14. Looking well ahead while driving lets you:
- Go faster
- Relax
- Skip mirror checks
- Spot and plan for hazards early
Show answer
Answer: Spot and plan for hazards early
Scanning far ahead gives you time to react to developing hazards.
15. Tailgating (following too closely) is dangerous because:
- It improves visibility
- It is required in traffic
- It saves time
- You won't have room to stop if the car ahead brakes suddenly
Show answer
Answer: You won't have room to stop if the car ahead brakes suddenly
Following too closely leaves no room to react — the leading cause of rear-end crashes.
16. When a traffic signal is not working (dark), the safest rule is:
- First car always goes
- Everyone stops forever
- Highest speed goes
- Treat it as a four-way stop
Show answer
Answer: Treat it as a four-way stop
A dark signal = four-way stop; take turns in the order you arrive.
17. During a tire blowout you should avoid:
- Easing off the gas
- Steering straight
- Braking hard or turning sharply
- Holding the wheel
Show answer
Answer: Braking hard or turning sharply
Hard braking or sharp steering in a blowout can cause loss of control.
18. This sign warns that you are approaching:
- A rest area
- A roundabout only
- A railroad crossing
- A toll booth
Show answer
Answer: A railroad crossing
A round yellow sign is the advance warning for a railroad crossing.
19. What does this sign mean?
- Tunnel
- Divided highway
- Narrow bridge ahead
- Road widens
Show answer
Answer: Narrow bridge ahead
A narrow-bridge warning — the bridge ahead is narrower than the road; use caution.
20. A flashing yellow ARROW means:
- Stop
- You may turn, but must yield to oncoming traffic and pedestrians
- Do not turn
- Turn is protected
Show answer
Answer: You may turn, but must yield to oncoming traffic and pedestrians
A flashing yellow arrow allows the turn after yielding to oncoming traffic and pedestrians.
More free New Jersey practice