The Virginia permit test signs section is part one of the knowledge exam: 10 road sign questions, and you must answer all 10 correctly. You cannot move on to the 30 general knowledge questions until you pass the signs, so one wrong sign answer stops the whole exam.
Quick answer: how the Virginia permit test signs section is scored
The Virginia Department of Motor Vehicles (dmv.virginia.gov) gives the knowledge exam in two parts on a computer, at DMV customer service centers or at participating high schools. Both parts are multiple choice.
| Part | Questions | To pass |
|---|---|---|
| Part one: road signs | 10 | All 10 correct |
| Part two: general knowledge | 30 | 24 correct (80 percent) |
All questions come from the Virginia Driver's Manual. Because part one allows no mistakes, the signs deserve more study time than their small number suggests.
Sign shapes and colors
Road signs in Virginia follow the national standard, so shape and color carry meaning before you read a word. Learn this gallery and you can answer many sign questions even when the picture is unfamiliar.
Octagon (8 sides)
- Stop. Only stop signs use this shape.
- Red with white letters.
- Come to a full stop at the line, crosswalk or corner.
Upside-down triangle
- Yield. Only yield signs use this shape.
- Red and white.
- Slow down, give the right of way, and stop if you need to.
Diamond
- Warning of a hazard ahead: curves, merges, lane ends, crossings.
- Yellow with black symbols.
- Orange diamonds warn of work zones.
Pentagon (5 sides)
- School zone or school crossing ahead.
- Fluorescent yellow-green or yellow.
Round
- Railroad crossing ahead. This is the advance warning, before the tracks.
- Yellow with a black X and the letters RR.
Crossbuck (X shape)
- At the railroad tracks themselves.
- Treat it like a yield sign: look, listen and be ready to stop.
Pennant (sideways triangle)
- No passing zone begins.
- Yellow, on the left side of the road.
Vertical rectangle
- Regulatory: rules you must follow, such as speed limits and turn rules.
- Usually white with black letters.
Horizontal rectangle
- Guide signs: directions, distances and services.
- Green for directions, blue for motorist services, brown for parks and recreation.
What each color means
| Color | What it usually means |
|---|---|
| Red | Stop, yield or something you must not do |
| White | Regulatory: a rule you must follow |
| Yellow | General warning |
| Fluorescent yellow-green | School, pedestrian or bicycle warning |
| Orange | Work zone |
| Green | Directions and distances |
| Blue | Motorist services such as gas, food and hospitals |
| Brown | Parks, recreation and scenic areas |
The signs people miss most
From years of teaching new drivers, these are the signs students confuse most often on practice tests:
- Pennant: no passing zone begins. People mix it up with yield because both are triangles.
- Pentagon: school zone or school crossing. The five-sided shape is only for schools.
- Round yellow RR sign: a railroad crossing is ahead. The crossbuck is the sign at the tracks.
- Divided highway begins: the median starts and traffic on your side stays to the right of it.
- Divided highway ends: two-way traffic is coming, so keep right.
- Lane ends or merge: one lane is ending, so adjust speed and merge smoothly.
- Advisory speed plate: the small yellow plate under a curve sign is the recommended safe speed for that curve.
- Slow-moving vehicle emblem: an orange triangle with a red border on the back of farm equipment and other slow vehicles.
- Red circle with a slash: the action shown, such as a U-turn or right turn, is not allowed.
- Two-way traffic ahead: you are leaving a one-way road and oncoming traffic will share it.
Practice: 10 sign questions
Try these before you look at the answers. These are DMVZone study questions, not real DMV exam questions. Aim for 10 of 10, because that is what Virginia requires.
- An eight-sided red sign means: A) yield, B) stop, C) do not enter.
- A five-sided sign warns of: A) a school zone or crossing, B) a hospital, C) a construction zone.
- A yellow pennant on the left side of the road means: A) yield ahead, B) no passing zone begins, C) merge left.
- A round yellow sign with an X and RR means: A) railroad crossing ahead, B) road closed, C) rest area.
- An orange diamond sign usually means: A) a school zone, B) a work zone, C) a park entrance.
- A small yellow plate showing 25 MPH under a curve sign is: A) the legal minimum speed, B) the recommended safe speed for the curve, C) the speed limit for trucks only.
- A red circle with a slash over a U-turn arrow means: A) U-turns allowed, B) no U-turns, C) U-turns on green only.
- A blue rectangular sign usually shows: A) motorist services, B) a warning, C) a regulation.
- An orange triangle with a red border on the back of a tractor means: A) a slow-moving vehicle, B) hazardous materials, C) a wide load.
- An upside-down triangle means you must: A) always stop, B) slow down and give the right of way, stopping if needed, C) speed up to merge.
Answers: 1 B, 2 A, 3 B, 4 A, 5 B, 6 B, 7 B, 8 A, 9 A, 10 B. Missed one? Go back to the gallery above and say the meaning out loud for that shape.
How the signs section fits into the full test
Think of part one as a gate. Pass all 10 sign questions and you go on to the 30 general knowledge questions on traffic laws and safe driving. Miss one and the exam ends there.
- Under 18: if you fail, the DMV says you must wait a full 15 days before you retake the exam.
- 18 or older: you can test once per day.
- Three failures at any age: you must complete the classroom portion of a Virginia-approved driver training school program before you test again.
- Each retake means reapplying for the learner's permit with your identity and residency documents.
- If you do not get your permit within one year of passing, you must retest.
Part two then covers topics such as right of way, speed, passing, alcohol and safe following, which is where many people who already know their signs lose points.
FAQ
How many signs are on the DMV test in Virginia?
10. Part one of the Virginia knowledge exam has 10 road sign questions, and all 10 must be correct.
Is the road sign test multiple choice?
Yes. Both parts of the Virginia knowledge exam are multiple choice and taken on a computer. Oral exams are available by request at customer service centers.
What happens if I miss one sign question?
You do not pass part one, so you cannot continue to the general knowledge part. Under 18, you wait 15 days to retest; 18 and older, you can test once per day.
How many questions can I miss on part two?
Six. You need 24 of 30 correct.
Where do the sign questions come from?
The Virginia Driver's Manual. Study its signs section and use practice tests to find the shapes you mix up.
