In Iowa, if you are under 21, at what BAC are you considered to be driving while intoxicated?

0.02%. Underage drivers are considered intoxicated at 0.02 percent or more and lose their license for at least 60 days.

What is the minimum age for an instruction permit in Iowa?

14. Iowa issues instruction permits starting at age 14 with a parent's consent.

With an Iowa intermediate license, during what hours may you drive without a supervising adult?

5 am to 12:30 am. From 12:30 am to 5 am you need a qualified adult beside you, unless you have a waiver for school activities or work.

On a four-lane road in Iowa, a school bus in the opposite lanes is stopped with its stop arm out. What do you do?

Keep going; no need to stop. On roads with four or more lanes, oncoming traffic need not stop; traffic behind the bus must always stop.

Under Iowa's hands-free law, what may an adult driver do with a phone while driving?

Make a call by voice command. Iowa allows only hands-free or voice-activated use; holding the phone, reading texts and video calls are banned.

In Iowa, which of these stopped vehicles is also covered by the Move Over or Slow Down law?

A car with its hazard lights on. Iowa's law covers any stopped vehicle continually displaying hazard lights, not just emergency and work vehicles.

In Iowa, if the speed limit is 55 mph, how far ahead must you signal before turning?

300 feet. Iowa requires 300 feet when the limit is over 45 mph, and 100 feet at 45 mph or less.

In Iowa, you may not park closer than how many feet to a fire hydrant?

5 feet. Iowa bans parking within 5 feet of a fire hydrant or in a designated hydrant red zone.

In Iowa, how close to a fire hydrant may you park, at minimum?

5 feet. Do not park within 5 feet of a fire hydrant.

In Iowa, at least how far ahead must you signal before turning?

100 feet. Signal 100 feet before a turn, or 300 feet if the speed limit is over 45 mph.

State guides · Iowa

Iowa DMV written test guide

Everything you need to know about the written test in Iowa, with the rules your state asks about and practice questions with answers.

Agency	Iowa Department of Transportation, Motor Vehicle Division (Iowa DOT)
Official handbook	Iowa Driver's License Manual ↗
Questions	Not published
To pass	80% correct
Test in Spanish?	Yes

Iowa DOT does not publish the number of questions on the real knowledge test. Its official practice test has 25 questions taken from the same pool and needs 80% to pass. The test is given at Iowa DOT service centers and county treasurer offices; applicants under 18 may also take it at home with a parent as proctor or at school through Skip the Trip. A failed test may be retaken at the examiner's discretion, and a passing score is valid for 180 days (761 IAC 604.9).

Iowa rules you need to know

Alcohol, 21 and over: In Iowa the legal limit for drivers 21 and over is 0.08% BAC. Official source ↗
Alcohol, under 21: Under 21, you are considered intoxicated at a BAC of 0.02% or more. Official source ↗
Following distance: Use the 3 to 4 second rule; beginning drivers should keep at least 3 seconds. Official source ↗
High beams: Dim your high beams within 1,000 feet of oncoming traffic and 400 feet when following. Official source ↗
Turn signal: Signal 100 feet before a turn, or 300 feet if the speed limit is over 45 mph. Official source ↗
Fire hydrant: Do not park within 5 feet of a fire hydrant. Official source ↗
School bus: Oncoming drivers on a road with 4 or more lanes need not stop for a stopped school bus. Official source ↗
Right on red: Right on red is allowed after a complete stop unless a sign prohibits it. Official source ↗
Left on red: Left on red is allowed from a one-way street onto another one-way street. Official source ↗
Cell phone: No driver may hold a phone while driving, only hands-free; drivers under 18 may not make calls at all. Official source ↗
Move Over law: Move out of the lane next to any stopped vehicle with flashing or hazard lights; if you can't, slow down. Official source ↗
Permit age: You can get an instruction permit at age 14. Official source ↗

Iowa test FAQ

How many questions are on the Iowa written test?

Iowa doesn't publish the number of questions; you need 80% correct to pass.

Can I take the Iowa driver's test in Spanish?

Yes. Iowa offers the written test in Spanish.

How old do you have to be to get a learner's permit in Iowa?

You can get an instruction permit at age 14.

What documents do I need for a permit in Iowa?

It depends on your situation (identity, residency and Social Security number or an alternative). Check the official list from Iowa Department of Transportation, Motor Vehicle Division (Iowa DOT) before you go.

Documents guide → · How to pass on the first try →

10 Iowa practice questions

1. In Iowa, if you are under 21, at what BAC are you considered to be driving while intoxicated?
1. 0.10%
2. 0.05%
3. 0.02%
4. 0.08%
Show answer
Answer: 0.02%
Underage drivers are considered intoxicated at 0.02 percent or more and lose their license for at least 60 days.
Official source ↗
2. What is the minimum age for an instruction permit in Iowa?
1. 15 and a half
2. 15
3. 14
4. 16
Show answer
Answer: 14
Iowa issues instruction permits starting at age 14 with a parent's consent.
Official source ↗
3. With an Iowa intermediate license, during what hours may you drive without a supervising adult?
1. 6 am to 10 pm
2. 7 am to 11 pm
3. 5 am to 12:30 am
4. 5 am to 9 pm
Show answer
Answer: 5 am to 12:30 am
From 12:30 am to 5 am you need a qualified adult beside you, unless you have a waiver for school activities or work.
Official source ↗
4. On a four-lane road in Iowa, a school bus in the opposite lanes is stopped with its stop arm out. What do you do?
1. Stop 15 feet from the bus
2. Keep going; no need to stop
3. Slow to 20 mph and stop
4. Stop only if you see children
Show answer
Answer: Keep going; no need to stop
On roads with four or more lanes, oncoming traffic need not stop; traffic behind the bus must always stop.
Official source ↗
5. Under Iowa's hands-free law, what may an adult driver do with a phone while driving?
1. Read texts at a red light
2. Make a video call by voice
3. Type an address into the GPS
4. Make a call by voice command
Show answer
Answer: Make a call by voice command
Iowa allows only hands-free or voice-activated use; holding the phone, reading texts and video calls are banned.
Official source ↗
6. In Iowa, which of these stopped vehicles is also covered by the Move Over or Slow Down law?
1. A car with its hazard lights on
2. A city bus at its stop
3. A bike on the shoulder
4. A parked car with no lights
Show answer
Answer: A car with its hazard lights on
Iowa's law covers any stopped vehicle continually displaying hazard lights, not just emergency and work vehicles.
Official source ↗
7. In Iowa, if the speed limit is 55 mph, how far ahead must you signal before turning?
1. 50 feet
2. 100 feet
3. 300 feet
4. 500 feet
Show answer
Answer: 300 feet
Iowa requires 300 feet when the limit is over 45 mph, and 100 feet at 45 mph or less.
Official source ↗
8. In Iowa, you may not park closer than how many feet to a fire hydrant?
1. 20 feet
2. 15 feet
3. 10 feet
4. 5 feet
Show answer
Answer: 5 feet
Iowa bans parking within 5 feet of a fire hydrant or in a designated hydrant red zone.
Official source ↗
9. In Iowa, how close to a fire hydrant may you park, at minimum?
1. 10 feet
2. 5 feet
3. 15 feet
4. 30 feet
Show answer
Answer: 5 feet
Do not park within 5 feet of a fire hydrant.
Official source ↗
10. In Iowa, at least how far ahead must you signal before turning?
1. 500 feet
2. 50 feet
3. 100 feet
4. 25 feet
Show answer
Answer: 100 feet
Signal 100 feet before a turn, or 300 feet if the speed limit is over 45 mph.
Official source ↗

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Facts checked against the official state handbook and website in October 2026. Rules change: always check the official handbook.