Cheat sheet
Florida DMV Permit Cheat Sheet
Signs, Signals & Markings
- 20% of exam
- Sign Shapes Sign Colors Traffic Signals Pavement Markings Railroad Crossings
Traffic Laws & Right-of-Way
- 20% of exam
- Speed Defaults Right-of-Way Turns & Signaling Passing Lane Use
Safe Driving & Conditions
- 20% of exam
- Following Distance Headlights Adverse Conditions Collisions Night Driving
Sharing the Road & Parking
- 20% of exam
- Pedestrians Bicyclists Move Over Law School Buses Parking Distances
Alcohol, DUI & Licensing
- 20% of exam
- BAC Limits Implied Consent Points & Suspensions Permit Process Insurance Minimums
Quick Facts
- Exam FL Class E
- Owner FLHSMV
- Questions 50
- Pass 80% (40/50)
- Format Multiple choice
- Permit age 15
- Permit hold 12 months
- Adult BAC 0.08%
- Under-21 BAC 0.02%
Shape Ladder SI
- Octagon stop, triangle yield, diamond warns, pentagon school
- Octagon Triangle Diamond Pentagon
Solid vs Broken Line SI
Solid yellow
- No passing
- Opposing traffic
Broken yellow
- Passing allowed
- When safe, clear
- No cross vs may cross
Signal + Sign Picker SI
- Steady red light → Stop
- Steady yellow light → Stop if safe
- Flashing red → Stop, then go
- Flashing yellow → Proceed with caution
- Dark signal → Treat as 4-way stop
- Octagon sign → Full stop
- Triangle sign → Yield
- Diamond sign → Expect a hazard
Sign Shapes SI
- Octagon Stop
- Triangle Yield
- Diamond Warning ahead
- Pentagon School zone
- Round Railroad crossing ahead
- Crossbuck Railroad crossing
- Rectangle Regulatory or guide
- Pennant No passing zone
Regulatory vs Warning SI
Regulatory
- White/red, rectangle
- Legal requirement
- Speed, stop, yield
Warning
- Yellow, diamond
- Advance notice
- Curve, hazard ahead
- Must obey vs be alert
Sign Colors SI
- Red Stop, yield, prohibit
- Yellow General warning
- Yellow-green School, pedestrian, bike
- Orange Work zone
- Green Guide, directions
- Blue Motorist services
- Brown Parks, recreation
- White Regulatory law
Signals + Markings SI
- Red light Stop
- Yellow light Stop if safe
- Green light Go, yield first
- Flashing red Stop, then proceed
- Flashing yellow Proceed with caution
- Dark signal Treat as 4-way stop
- Red arrow No turn
- Green arrow Protected turn
- Double yellow No passing
- Broken yellow Passing permitted
Speed Ladder RU
- 20 school, 30 town, 55 road, 70 interstate
- 20 school 30 town 55 road 70 interstate
Right Red vs Left Red RU
Right on red
- Stop first
- Most intersections
Left on red
- One-way to one-way
- Stop first
- Common vs limited
Right-of-Way Picker RU
- Same-time arrival → Driver on right
- Turning left → Yield oncoming traffic
- Entering roundabout → Yield circulating traffic
- Pedestrian in crosswalk → Always yield
- Emergency vehicle siren → Pull right, stop
- School bus reds → Stop, both directions
- Divided highway, bus reds → Opposing side may proceed
- Merging onto highway → Match speed, find gap
Speed Defaults RU
- Business/residential 30 mph
- Other roads 55 mph
- Rural interstate 70 mph
- School zone 20 mph
- Basic law Safe for conditions
- Work zone Reduced, fines double
Right-of-Way RU
- No signs Yield to right
- 4-way stop tie Yield to right
- Left turn Yield oncoming traffic
- Roundabout Yield circulating traffic
- T-intersection Yield to through road
- Crosswalk Pedestrian always first
- Emergency siren Pull right, stop
- Merging traffic Yield, find gap
Turns, Passing, Lanes RU
- Signal Before every turn
- Right on red Full stop first
- Left on red One-way to one-way
- U-turn Legal unless posted
- Passing Left lane, check clear
- Bike lane Merge before turning
High Beam vs Low Beam SA
High beam
- Open, dark roads
- Dim for others
Low beam
- Oncoming, following, fog
- Rain, wipers on
- Empty road vs traffic near
Following + Headlights SA
- Following gap 3-4 second rule
- Wipers on Headlights on
- High beam oncoming Dim within 500ft
- High beam following Dim within 300ft
- Fog Use low beams
- Dusk to dawn Headlights required
Adverse + Collisions SA
- Wet roads Slow, more space
- Hydroplane Ease off gas
- Skid Steer into skid
- Tire blowout Ease off, straight
- Brake failure Pump, downshift, parking brake
- Crash duty Stop, exchange info
- Texting Banned while driving
- Seat belts Required, all seats
Parking Ladder SH
- 15 hydrant, 20 intersection, 30 stop sign
- 15 hydrant 20 intersection 30 stop sign
Move Over vs Slow Down SH
Can move over
- Vacate nearest lane
- When safe
Cannot move over
- Slow 20 mph under
- 5 mph if limit low
- Change lanes vs slow
Sharing the Road SH
- Pedestrians Right of way, crosswalk
- Bicyclists Pass with 3 feet
- Motorcyclists Give full lane
- Large trucks Wide turns, no-zones
- School bus reds Both directions stop
- Divided highway bus Opposing side exempt
- Blind spots Check before merging
Move Over Law SH
- Warning lights stopped Vacate nearest lane
- Cannot move over Slow 20 mph under
- Limit 20 or less Slow 5 mph under
- Applies to Police, tow, utility
- Two-lane road Slow, pass carefully
Parking Distances SH
- Fire hydrant 15 feet
- Intersection/crosswalk 20 feet
- Stop sign/signal 30 feet
- Crosswalk itself Never park
- Bike lane Never park
- Disabled space Permit required
BAC Ladder PE
- Adult 0.08, CDL 0.04, teen 0.02
- 0.08 adult 0.04 CDL 0.02 under 21
Adult vs Under-21 BAC PE
Age 21+
- 0.08% limit
- Standard DUI law
Under 21
- 0.02% limit
- Zero tolerance
- Legal limit vs near-zero
Permit + Points Picker PE
- Turning 15 → Apply for permit
- Under 18 applicant → Complete driver ed
- Holding first permit → Wait 12 months
- Under 21 driver → 0.02% BAC limit
- Adult driver → 0.08% BAC limit
- CDL driver → 0.04% BAC limit
- 12 points in 12 months → 30-day suspension
- 24 points in 36 months → 1-year suspension
Alcohol + DUI PE
- Age 21+ 0.08% BAC limit
- Under 21 0.02% zero tolerance
- CDL holders 0.04% BAC limit
- Implied consent Must submit test
- Test refusal Automatic suspension
- First DUI Revoked 180 days-1 year
- Open container Prohibited in vehicle
- Drugs Same impairment rules
Points Ladder PE
- 12pts=30-day, 18pts=3-month, 24pts=1-year
- 12/30-day 18/3-month 24/1-year
Permit vs Full License PE
Learner permit
- Age 15
- Hold 12 months
Full license
- Age 16+
- Passed skills test
- Supervised vs independent
Points + Suspensions PE
- Speeding 15 or less over 3 points
- Speeding 16+ over 4 points
- 12 points/12 months 30-day suspension
- 18 points/18 months 3-month suspension
- 24 points/36 months 1-year suspension
- Under 18, 6+ points Business purposes only
Permit + Licensing PE
- Learner permit age 15 years old
- Permit hold 12 months, or to 18
- Driver ed Required before permit
- Under 18 test Online, notarized form
- 18 and older Test in person
- Min insurance $10,000 PIP/PD
Common Traps
Rolling stop
- Stop means full ≠ Slow is yield only
Under-21 BAC
- 0.02% limit ≠ Not 0.08%
Left on red
- One-way only ≠ Not any street
School bus reds
- Both directions stop ≠ Unless divided median
Move Over confusion
- Vacate lane first ≠ Slow only if unsafe
Wipers-headlights rule
- Wipers on ≠ Headlights must be on
Basic speed law
- Posted is maximum ≠ Conditions can lower it
Double yellow
- No passing either side ≠ Not just your side
Last Minute
- 1. Official pass: 80% (40/50)
- 2. Octagon = stop
- 3. Triangle = yield
- 4. Adult BAC limit: 0.08%
- 5. Under-21 BAC limit: 0.02%
- 6. CDL BAC limit: 0.04%
- 7. School zone default: 20 mph
- 8. Business/residential default: 30 mph
- 9. Rural interstate default: 70 mph
- 10. Move Over: vacate lane or slow
- 11. Fire hydrant clearance: 15 feet
- 12. 12pts/12mo: 30-day suspension
- 13. Permit age: 15; hold 12 months
Florida DMV Driver License Knowledge Test
- Practice Questions 125 questions Study Guide 19 topics Cheat Sheet 98 facts Flashcards 50 cards