North Carolina Road Sign Practice Test

How road signs are tested in North Carolina

The North Carolina Driver Handbook describes a separate road sign test as part of the North Carolina driver exam. It doesn't give that test's pass mark, so the 20-sign test here shows your score without a pass or fail.

Signs from the North Carolina Driver Handbook (Revised May 2025). What every kind of sign means, by shape and color: our road sign guide.

Signs the North Carolina Driver Handbook adds

• Roundabouts

  The Roundabout Ahead sign warns of a roundabout; slow down and follow roundabout rules. p. 59

• Wildlife

  Wildlife can appear anywhere, any time, but is most active at dawn, dusk and the first hours after dark, and during spring and fall migrations. Slow down, leave more following distance, scan the road edges for movement and eye shine, and heed yellow wildlife crossing signs. p. 74

• Warning Signs

  The Stop Ahead sign warns of a stop sign ahead; be prepared to stop. p. 84

• Adjusting Your Speed to Driving Conditions

  A speed limit is the maximum speed in ideal conditions; slow down for hills, curves, bad weather and other hazards. p. 53

• Traffic Signals

  A steady red light means stop. Unless a NO TURN ON RED sign is posted, you may turn right after a complete stop, yielding to traffic and to pedestrians in or about to start across the intersection. Failing to yield to such a pedestrian brings a fine. p. 80

• Regulatory Signs

  The DO NOT STOP ON TRACKS sign reminds you never to stop on railroad tracks for any reason. p. 86

• Work Zones

  A highway work zone runs from the first sign marking its start to the last sign marking its end. Driving over the posted work zone limit is unlawful, and if a sign at the start lists a penalty, speeding there adds that penalty on top of the usual one. p. 70

• Work Zones

  Orange signs with black letters are used only for work zones. They warn of the zone ahead and give directions inside it. A Flagger sign means a worker in an orange vest with a STOP/SLOW paddle is ahead controlling traffic. p. 70

• Regulatory Signs

  The handicap parking sign reserves a space for people who qualify and display a handicap license plate or dashboard placard. p. 83

• Guide/Informational Signs

  Odd-numbered highways generally run north–south and even-numbered ones east–west. U.S. route markers are shields, interstates use a red, white and blue shield, North Carolina route markers are diamond-shaped and NC secondary road signs are rectangular. p. 85

• Guide/Informational Signs

  Blue and white signs point to a nearby hospital, Highway Patrol station or telephone. Guide signs are rectangles in green, brown or blue. If you're lost, don't stop in the road to read a sign; pull onto the shoulder when it's safe and work out your route. p. 85

• Warning Signs

  The round yellow RR sign warns of a railroad crossing ahead: slow down and stop if needed to be sure you can clear it. p. 84

• Warning Signs

  The five-sided sign warns of a school zone or crossing; watch especially for children. In many school zones the speed limit drops during certain school hours. p. 85

• Regulatory Signs

  A stop sign is usually placed 6 to 50 feet before the intersection. You must come to a full stop and not go until the way is clear. Without a stop line or crosswalk, stop before entering where you can see the cross street. p. 83

• Regulatory Signs

  An eight-sided (octagon) sign always means stop. p. 83

• Regulatory Signs

  A downward-pointing triangle sign means yield. p. 83

• Warning Signs

  A pennant-shaped sign (a sideways triangle) marks a no-passing zone. p. 84