What safe driving rules are on the Iowa permit test?

Iowa's safe driving questions come from its own statutes and the Iowa Department of Transportation handbook. QuizLane covers 4 Iowa-specific safe driving items, drawn from 4 distinct source sections, alongside 10 questions on rules that apply in every state.

How many safe driving questions are on the Iowa permit test?

Iowa Department of Transportation does not publish a per-topic breakdown. The test as a whole has 35 questions and you need 28 correct (80%) to pass, so safe driving is worth studying alongside every other topic rather than in isolation.

Are these official Iowa DMV safe driving questions?

No. These are original study questions written against Iowa law and the official handbook, each carrying the section it came from. They are not endorsed by Iowa Department of Transportation and are not copies of the real exam.

Do I need an account to practice Iowa safe driving questions?

No. Practice starts immediately as a guest. An account is optional and only saves your attempt history across devices.

Iowa’s hands-free law generally means that while driving you:

May not hold your phone or manually scroll, type, or interact with it (hands-free/voice activation only for calls)

May stream video if using voice commands

May hold the phone below the dash

Iowa drivers under 18 with an instruction permit, intermediate license, or special minor restricted license may talk on the phone while driving only if:

The vehicle is at a complete stop off the traveled portion of the roadway

Under Iowa law, a child under six years old must generally be secured in:

A child restraint system (safety seat or booster seat, not a seat belt alone)

No restraint if in the back seat

IASafe driving

Iowa safe driving practice questions

4 questions below test Iowa’s own safe driving law, each with the statute or Iowa Department of Transportation handbook section it came from, plus 10 more on safe driving rules that apply in every state.

The Iowa permit knowledge test has 35 questions in total and needs 28 correct (80%) to pass.

Practice safe driving All Iowa topics

Iowa law

4 questions on Iowa’s own safe driving rules

These differ from the rules that hold nationally — they are the ones that catch out drivers who studied another state’s handbook.

1. Iowa’s hands-free law generally means that while driving you:
- AMay stream video if using voice commands
- BMay hold the phone below the dash
- May not hold your phone or manually scroll, type, or interact with it (hands-free/voice activation only for calls)
- DMay text at red lights
Answer: May not hold your phone or manually scroll, type, or interact with it (hands-free/voice activation only for calls). The Iowa Driver’s License Manual’s hands-free law states you can’t hold your phone, can’t manually scroll/type/interact with it, can’t enter a GPS address while driving, can’t stream videos or make video calls even with voice commands, and can’t call, text, or dial unless using hands-free or voice activation.
Source: Iowa Driver's License Manual — Iowa’s Hands-Free Law
2. Iowa drivers under 18 with an instruction permit, intermediate license, or special minor restricted license may talk on the phone while driving only if:
- ADriving under 25 mph
- BUsing speakerphone
- The vehicle is at a complete stop off the traveled portion of the roadway
- DA parent is in the car
Answer: The vehicle is at a complete stop off the traveled portion of the roadway. The Iowa Driver’s License Manual states drivers under 18 with an instruction permit, intermediate license, or special minor restricted license are prohibited from making and receiving calls and talking on the phone while driving unless their vehicle is at a complete stop off the traveled portion of the roadway.
Source: Iowa Driver's License Manual — Talking on the Phone
3. Iowa seat-belt law requires all passengers in the front seats to wear seat belts, and also applies to back-seat passengers who are:
- Under age 18
- BAny age
- CUnder age 6 only
- DUnder age 12 only
Answer: Under age 18. The Iowa Driver’s License Manual states Iowa requires all passengers in the front seats to wear seat belts, and the law also applies to passengers in the back seats who are under age 18.
Source: Iowa Driver's License Manual — Seat Belts and Child Restraints
4. Under Iowa law, a child under six years old must generally be secured in:
- A child restraint system (safety seat or booster seat, not a seat belt alone)
- BNo restraint if in the back seat
- CA lap belt only
- DA seat belt alone
Answer: A child restraint system (safety seat or booster seat, not a seat belt alone). The Iowa Driver’s License Manual states a child under six years old must be secured in a child restraint system (a safety seat or booster seat, not a seat belt).
Source: Iowa Driver's License Manual — Seat Belts and Iowa Law

Sources for the Iowa items above

Applies everywhere

Safe driving rules that hold in every state

A sample of the national safe driving bank. All 10 are in the practice run, combined with the Iowa items above for 14 questions in total.

1. When must low-beam headlights be turned on in most jurisdictions?
- AWhenever driving above 45 mph
- BOnly during heavy snowfall
- From 30 minutes after sunset until 30 minutes before sunrise
- DOnly when driving on dark rural roads
Answer: From 30 minutes after sunset until 30 minutes before sunrise. Headlights must be used from 30 minutes after sunset to 30 minutes before sunrise, and whenever visibility is reduced to 500 feet or less.
Source: Official state driver handbook — Lighting requirements — headlights
2. How far ahead should you normally be looking while driving?
- AOnly at the vehicle directly in front
- BAs far as your headlights reach, at all speeds
- CJust past the hood of your car
- About 12 to 15 seconds of travel ahead
Answer: About 12 to 15 seconds of travel ahead. Looking well ahead gives time to spot hazards and react smoothly instead of braking or swerving at the last moment.
Source: Official state driver handbook — Safe driving — visual search
3. How often should you check your mirrors in normal driving?
- AAbout once a minute
- BOnly when slowing down
- Every 5 to 8 seconds
- DOnly before changing lanes
Answer: Every 5 to 8 seconds. Frequent mirror checks keep you aware of vehicles approaching or sitting in your blind areas before a situation develops.
Source: Official state driver handbook — Safe driving — visual search

Practice all 14 safe driving questions

Safe driving rules in other states

Safe driving law is set state by state — compare how another state handles it.

IndianaIN · 4 questions KansasKS · 3 questions MichiganMI · 2 questions MinnesotaMN · 3 questions MissouriMO · 2 questions NebraskaNE · 5 questions North DakotaND · 5 questions OhioOH · 3 questions

Confirm current Iowa rules

Statutes and handbooks change. Iowa Department of Transportation is authoritative for Iowa safe driving rules and for the permit test itself.

Visit Iowa Department of Transportation

Common questions

About Iowa safe driving rules and this practice set.