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Am I Ready for the North Carolina Permit Test?
12-question diagnostic · 4 easy, 4 medium, 4 hard · Updated July 12, 2026
Twelve questions, deliberately mixed: four easy, four medium, four of the hardest in our verified North Carolina bank. The real test needs 80% — but a diagnostic this short needs a margin, so read your result like this: 11+ of 12, you're ready to book; 9–10, you're close — drill the 25 hardest first; below that, work the full test ladder before test day.
Answer each question to see the explanation. Your score is tallied against the real passing bar at the end.
1. For an adult driver, everyone’s driving is legally considered impaired at a blood alcohol concentration (BAC) of:
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Correct answer: 0.08 percent
Everyone’s driving is impaired at a BAC of 0.08 percent, though many people are affected at much lower levels. A BAC of 0.08 or more is enough to prove Driving While Impaired.
2. What does a North Carolina Regular Class C license allow you to drive?
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Correct answer: A noncommercial vehicle with a gross vehicle weight rating of less than 26,001 pounds
A Regular Class C license covers any noncommercial single vehicle with a GVWR of less than 26,001 pounds. Most drivers need only a Regular Class C license to operate personal automobiles and small trucks.
3. Before you get into your vehicle to back up, you should:
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Correct answer: Walk around and check behind the vehicle for children or small objects
Small objects and children are hard to see once you are in the driver’s seat, so check behind the vehicle before you get in and back up.
4. If you are involved in a crash, the first thing North Carolina law requires you to do is:
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Correct answer: Stop the vehicle immediately
You must stop your vehicle immediately if you are involved in a crash. If you do not stop, you have violated the law.
5. What is the correct way to see behind you while backing up?
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Correct answer: Steer with your left hand and look over your right shoulder through the back window
To keep a full view of what is behind you, steer with your left hand and look back over your right shoulder through the rear window — do not depend on mirrors alone.
6. Besides your speed, your total stopping distance also depends on:
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Correct answer: Your reaction time
Stopping distance also depends on your reaction time. A vehicle travels farther during the driver’s reaction time at higher speeds, and it takes more braking distance to come to a full stop.
7. When you are traveling slower than the posted speed limit on a multi-lane highway, which lane should you use?
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Correct answer: The extreme right lane, unless passing, turning left, or avoiding an obstruction
When moving slower than the posted speed limit on a multi-lane highway, drive in the extreme right lane unless you are passing, turning left, or avoiding an obstruction.
8. Driving While Impaired can be proven by:
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Correct answer: Showing the driver was appreciably impaired by alcohol or drugs, OR that the BAC was 0.08 or more
DWI can be proven two ways: by showing the driver’s physical or mental faculties were appreciably impaired by alcohol, drugs, or both; or by showing a BAC of 0.08 or more (0.04 for a commercial vehicle).
9. At night, North Carolina law requires a bicycle to have:
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Correct answer: A front light visible for at least 300 feet and a rear red light or reflector visible for at least 200 feet
At night a bicycle must have a front light visible for at least 300 feet and a red rear light or reflector visible for at least 200 feet.
10. Even under ideal conditions, a vehicle traveling 55 mph needs approximately how far to stop completely?
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Correct answer: About 211 feet
Even with ideal conditions, if you are traveling 55 mph your vehicle requires approximately 211 feet to stop completely.
11. Where curbs are present, you may not park within how many feet of the curb line of an intersecting street?
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Correct answer: 25 feet
You may not park within 25 feet of the curb line of an intersecting street (or within 15 feet of the intersecting right-of-way lines where there is no curb).
12. Parking on the road shoulder is against the law unless your parked vehicle can be seen by approaching drivers from both directions for at least:
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Correct answer: 200 feet
You may not park on the paved or main-travel portion of a highway, and parking on the shoulder is illegal unless the vehicle is visible to drivers from both directions for at least 200 feet.
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