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CHEAT SHEET · LOUISIANA ROAD SIGNS

Louisiana Road Signs Cheat Sheet.
The night-before summary, built like the exam.

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Weighted to the current exam outline·15-minute scanVerified against the official content outline
By Vincent Ruan, EA, CFP®Published August 9, 2026
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The numbers to remember

  • 40 questions on the knowledge test, computer-based, drawn straight from the driver's manual.
  • Need 80% correct to pass — that's 32 of 40, so you can only afford 8 misses.
  • Learner's permit: minimum age 15.
  • Intermediate license: minimum age 16, and the permit must be held at least 180 days first.
  • Full, unrestricted license: minimum age 17.
  • 50 hours of supervised driving required before licensing, including at least 15 hours of nighttime driving.
  • Driver-ed program minimums: 30 hours classroom instruction, 8 hours behind the wheel.
  • Vision standard checked before licensing: 20/40.

Sign shapes at a glance

  • Octagon, red = stop. Nothing else uses this shape.
  • Downward-pointing triangle = yield.
  • Round, yellow = railroad crossing ahead.
  • Diamond, yellow = general warning — curves, crossings, merges, animals.
  • Pentagon = school zone or school crossing.
  • Rectangle, white = regulatory — speed limits, turn rules, parking.
  • Rectangle, green = guide sign — distances, exits, destinations.
  • Orange = temporary construction/work zone.
  • Blue = motorist services (gas, food, hospital).

Right-of-way in one breath

First vehicle to arrive at an uncontrolled intersection or four-way stop goes first; on a tie, the driver on the right goes first. Left-turning traffic yields to oncoming through-traffic and to pedestrians, even with a green light. Pedestrians in a crosswalk — marked or unmarked — outrank every turning or crossing vehicle. Merging traffic yields to traffic already established in the lane it's entering. Emergency vehicles running lights and siren always get priority: pull right and stop until they pass.

Top traps

  • Picking "proceed" instead of "yield" when right-of-way looks ambiguous — yielding is almost always the safer test answer.
  • Forgetting that posted speed limits are a ceiling for ideal conditions, not a target to hit in rain, fog, or heavy traffic.
  • Confusing sign-shape categories — locking in octagon-always-means-stop and diamond-always-means-warning clears most sign-ID misses instantly.
  • Underestimating fatigue and phone distraction as impairment-equivalent hazards on scenario-style questions.
  • Skipping review of missed practice questions — recognizing *why* an answer is correct under test conditions matters far more the night before than re-reading the whole manual cover to cover.

Frequently asked questions

What should I memorize the night before the Louisiana road signs test?

Focus on sign shapes and colors (octagon = stop, diamond = warning, yellow round = railroad crossing), right-of-way basics at uncontrolled intersections, and the fact that you need 80% correct out of 40 questions to pass. Recognizing patterns matters more than re-reading the whole manual.

How long is the real Louisiana knowledge test?

The knowledge test itself is 40 questions, taken on a computer at the testing office or through an approved driver education provider. There's no fixed time limit stated for the test, so most applicants finish well within a normal office visit.

What score do I need to pass?

You need to answer at least 80% of the 40 questions correctly, which works out to 32 correct answers. Missing more than 8 questions means a retake.

Is the cheat sheet free and printable?

Yes — this cheat sheet is free to read and formatted for a quick, printable one-page review, so you can go through it once the night before or right before you walk into the OMV office.

Do I need to know exact ages and fees, or just signs?

Both. The knowledge test itself is almost entirely sign identification, right-of-way, and rules of the road, but many applicants also get asked about permit and licensing requirements at the counter, so knowing the minimum permit age of 15 and the 180-day permit hold before moving up to an intermediate license is worth having straight.

What happens if I fail the knowledge or skills portion?

If you fail, you can return at a later date to retest — if you don't already hold a permit, one may be issued so you can keep practicing in the meantime.

Sources

  1. 1.Graduated Licensing Program - LA DPS Office of Motor VehiclesLouisiana Office of Motor Vehicles (OMV), Dept. of Public Safety & Corrections (accessed Aug 9, 2026)
  2. 2.Louisiana Class D & E Driver's Guide (OMV, DPSMV2052 R08/25)Louisiana Office of Motor Vehicles (OMV), Dept. of Public Safety & Corrections (accessed Aug 9, 2026)
  3. 3.Class E - First Time Driver's License - Adults - LA DPS Office of Motor VehiclesLouisiana Office of Motor Vehicles (OMV), Dept. of Public Safety & Corrections (accessed Aug 9, 2026)

Official sources

Every exam fact on this page traces to a primary document published by the body that administers the exam.

Last verified against the official exam content outline: