Permit Test Cheat Sheet: Every Number You Need to Memorize

Let's be clear about one thing up front: this permit test cheat sheet is not something you sneak into the DMV. It's a study tool. Permit tests reward exact numbers, and numbers are the hardest thing to absorb from a 100-page manual. So we pulled them onto one page: distances, seconds, speeds and alcohol limits, with notes wherever states commonly disagree. Read it once, quiz yourself twice, and you'll walk in knowing the facts most people guess on.

What a legit permit test cheat sheet is (and isn't)

A good cheat sheet is a condensed summary of facts from your state's official driver manual. It is not:

• A list of "real DMV answers." Tests draw from large, changing question pools, and anyone selling the exact questions is selling something else.
• A replacement for the manual. Signs, right-of-way and judgment questions need understanding, not memorization.
• Something to use during the test. Notes and phones are banned in the testing area, and cheating can get your test voided.

What it is good for: the last few days before your test, when you need to lock in the numbers. The figures below are common across many states, but laws differ. Where a state is known to use a different figure, we say so. Always cross-check with your own manual, which you can find through USA.gov's state motor vehicle directory.

Distances: feet from hydrants, crosswalks and railroads

These are the parking and stopping numbers test writers love, because every wrong answer looks reasonable.

Parking distances

• Fire hydrant: 15 feet is the most common rule. New Jersey uses 10 feet.
• Crosswalk at an intersection: commonly 20 feet. New Jersey uses 25 feet.
• Stop sign, yield sign or traffic signal: commonly 30 feet. New Jersey uses 50 feet for stop signs.
• Fire station driveway: commonly 20 feet on the same side of the street, with a longer distance on the opposite side in some states.
• Railroad crossing: many states ban parking within 50 feet of the nearest rail.
• Distance from the curb when parallel parked: usually within 12 inches; some states allow up to 18.

Stopping distances

• Railroad crossing (when you must stop): between 15 and 50 feet from the nearest rail.
• Signal before a turn: at least 100 feet in most states for city driving. Some manuals ask for more at highway speeds.
• Dim your high beams: within 500 feet of an oncoming vehicle; when following, commonly within 300 feet, though some states use a shorter distance.

Times: following distance and signaling

Seconds are easier to use than feet because they scale with speed.

• Following distance: at least 3 to 4 seconds in good conditions, depending on the manual. Pick a fixed object, and when the car ahead passes it, count. If you reach it before the count is done, back off.
• Bad conditions: add time. Many manuals suggest doubling it on wet roads, and more on snow or ice.
• Behind motorcycles and large trucks: leave extra space; trucks block your view, and motorcycles can stop quickly.
• Scan ahead: manuals often say to look 10 to 15 seconds down the road in town and farther on highways. Check your own manual's figure.
• Mirror checks: every few seconds, and always before slowing or changing lanes.
• Headlights: many states require them from sunset to sunrise (some say 30 minutes after sunset to 30 minutes before sunrise), and whenever visibility drops or wipers are on. Rules vary.

Speed: school zones, residential and highways

Speed limits are where states vary most, so treat this section as a list of what to look up, not answers to memorize.

The "basic speed law" question shows up on nearly every test. If road conditions make the posted limit unsafe, the posted limit is not a defense.

Alcohol: BAC limits and implied consent

Alcohol questions are some of the most predictable on the test.

• Adult drivers (21+): 0.08% BAC is the legal limit in every state except Utah, which uses 0.05%.
• Commercial drivers: 0.04% under federal rules.
• Drivers under 21: zero tolerance. States set the threshold at 0.00, 0.01 or 0.02 depending on the state.
• Implied consent: by driving, you've agreed to a chemical test if lawfully requested. Refusing usually means an automatic license suspension, separate from any DUI charge.
• Only time sobers you. Coffee, cold showers and fresh air do not lower BAC.
• Open containers: generally illegal in the passenger area of a moving vehicle.

For a deeper dive, read our guide to alcohol questions on the permit test.

Printable one-page version

Copy this into your notes or print the page. Fill in the "My state" column from your manual.

How to study this in 15 minutes

1. Minutes 1–5: read the sheet aloud once.
2. Minutes 6–10: cover the middle column and say each number from memory.
3. Minutes 11–15: take a short practice test and see whether the numbers stick under pressure.

Our free permit practice tests are organized by state, so you'll see your own state's figures rather than a generic version. DMV Permit Prep's Premium pass also includes a per-license cheat sheet inside the app. For the questions that trip people up beyond the numbers, see the hardest permit test questions, and for a topic-by-topic plan read what to study for the permit test.

Frequently asked questions

Is there a cheat sheet for the permit test?

There's no official one, but you can make a legitimate study sheet from your state's driver manual. Focus on numbers like parking distances, following distance and BAC limits, since those are the facts people most often guess on.

What numbers are on the permit test?

Expect parking distances from hydrants, crosswalks and stop signs, railroad crossing stopping distances, how far before a turn to signal, following distance in seconds, speed limits and blood alcohol limits.

How far do you park from a fire hydrant?

In many states it's 15 feet, but some differ; New Jersey, for example, uses 10 feet. Check your own state's driver manual for the exact figure.