A useful Texas permit test cheat sheet pairs each number with the situation it applies to. For example, the Texas Driver Handbook sets a 70% knowledge-test passing standard, but speed and parking questions need more than a percentage to answer correctly. Use this sheet to review before testing; it is a study aid, not something to use during an exam.
Last verified: November 2, 2026
Check which Texas car rules you remember. Start a free practice test, then use this sheet to review the numbers behind your mistakes.
Which speed limits should you memorize for Texas?
Learn the default road categories, then check whether a posted limit or hazard changes the answer. The Texas speed statute requires reasonable and prudent speed for the conditions. A default number is not permission to ignore a sign or drive too fast for poor visibility.
| Situation | Number to review | Official source |
|---|---|---|
| Urban street other than an alley | 30 mph default | Texas handbook |
| Urban alley | 15 mph default | Texas handbook |
| Numbered highway outside an urban district, including FM/RM roads | 70 mph default | Texas handbook |
| Unnumbered highway outside an urban district | 60 mph default | Texas handbook |
| Beach | 15 mph | Texas handbook |
| Designated higher-speed highway section | Follow posted limit; some sections allow 75, 80, or 85 mph | TxDOT speed-limit guidance |
| School zone | Follow the posted active limit; no single statewide school-zone number | TxDOT school-zone guidance |
These ordinary-car defaults do not cover every vehicle class or locally altered limit. Read the sign, road category, and conditions together. Our Texas speed limits guide explains why “Texas allows 85” is not a complete answer to a question about an ordinary road.
What parking distances belong on your review sheet?
The handbook parking chapter distinguishes places where you must not stop or stand from places where parking is restricted. Memorize both the distance and the object it belongs to. Do not carry a number from a hydrant question into a crosswalk question.
| Location | Distance restriction to review | Source |
|---|---|---|
| Fire hydrant | Do not park or stand within 15 feet | Texas handbook |
| Crosswalk at an intersection | Do not park or stand within 20 feet | Texas handbook |
| Approach to a roadside stop sign, yield sign, or flashing/traffic signal | Do not park or stand within 30 feet | Texas handbook |
| Nearest rail of a railroad crossing | Do not park within 50 feet | Texas handbook |
These are not the complete parking rules. Signs, driveways, accessible spaces, and other locations add restrictions. Draw a simple intersection and label the distances so you can remember which boundary a question refers to. Read the full handbook passage when you are unsure whether a rule concerns stopping, standing, or parking.
What following-distance and signaling numbers matter?
The DPS drive-test guide recommends the two-second rule for following space, with a larger gap when weather, road, or traffic conditions are poor. It also tells drivers to signal 100 feet before a turn or lane-change maneuver. Increase following space as conditions require.
Try counting from a fixed roadside point when a vehicle ahead passes it. If road conditions worsen, give yourself more room to respond. During supervised practice, ask your accompanying driver to help you notice when a gap is shrinking instead of waiting until you have to brake sharply.
Which alcohol and learner-license numbers should you know?
Texas uses a 0.08% intoxication threshold, but impairment is illegal below that level; drivers under 21 may not drive with any detectable alcohol. Do not memorize “under 0.08 is safe.” The relevant decision is to avoid driving after drinking, not calculate how close you can get to a threshold.
For teen licensing, remember 15 for learner eligibility and a supervisor age 21 or older in the front seat. Keep those age requirements separate from provisional milestones. Our Texas GDL guide covers practice hours and later driving restrictions.
Can you match a number to the right road type?
Try this app question without looking back at the table, then explain why its road category matters.
Unless otherwise posted, the speed limit in an alley is:
- A. 15 mph.
- B. 30 mph.
- C. 45 mph.
- D. 55 mph.
Show answer
A. 15 mph. The alley default is 15 mph, subject to a different posted limit. Conditions may require an even slower speed.
If you remembered only the number but not “unless otherwise posted,” reread the question. Our Texas written test guide helps you connect details like that with the exam’s broader topics.
Key takeaways
- Pair each number with its road, location, age group, and exceptions.
- Posted limits and unsafe conditions can change a speed answer.
- Review the handbook passage when similar parking distances blur together.
Put your Texas car review to the test. Try a free practice test without this sheet open, then revisit the rules you missed.
Find more study resources in the Texas car hub.


