Oregon DMV Cheat Sheet
A condensed study guide for the Oregon DMV written knowledge test — test logistics, plus the Oregon-specific rules most likely to differ from what you already know. This isn't a substitute for the official Oregon driver's manual, or for practicing the real questions. Looking for the core rules and signs that apply everywhere, not just Oregon? Check the general driving theory cheat sheet instead.
35Questions
80%To Pass
Varies -- see OregonDMV.com for current feesFee
- Test length varies: Oregon's Class C knowledge test has 35 multiple-choice questions, and you must answer 28 correctly (80%) to pass. This site's own Oregon practice test pulls the same 35-question sample size from a combined national and Oregon-specific question bank.
- Fee: The manual directs applicants to the DMV fee schedule at oregon.gov/odot/DMV/Pages/Fees/Driver.aspx rather than printing fixed dollar amounts, since fees can change.
- Documents required:
- Proof of identity and date of birth (e.g., a U.S. birth certificate, passport, or other DMV-accepted document)
- Proof of current residence address
- Social Security Number, or an electronic certification that you do not have one
- For under-18 first-time applicants: a parent/guardian certification of school enrollment, or a diploma/GED if not enrolled
- If you don't pass: If you fail a knowledge test in a DMV office, you may test again the same day depending on office testing resource availability. Online through DMV2U, you may retest up to two times in a 24-hour period, and up to four times total online -- after four online attempts you must test at a DMV office.
- Online testing: Oregon lets nearly any applicant take the knowledge test online through DMV2U, using a webcam to verify identity instead of an in-person office visit. If the applicant is under 18, a Proctor at least 21 years old must supervise the test, and one Proctor can only supervise two tests within a 24-hour period.
Oregon-Specific Rules
Testing & DMV2U
- The Class C knowledge test has 35 multiple-choice questions, and you must answer 28 correctly (80%) to pass.
- DMV2U lets nearly any applicant test online with webcam identity verification; a Proctor at least 21 years old must supervise an under-18 applicant, and one Proctor can only supervise two tests within a 24-hour period.
- Online, you may retest up to two times within a 24-hour period, and up to four times total, before you must test at a DMV office.
- The behind-the-wheel drive test can be waived for a new resident surrendering a valid or recently-expired out-of-state license, or with proof of an ODOT-Approved Driver Education Course completed within the past two years.
Minor & Provisional Licensing
- Apply for an instruction permit at 15 years old; apply for a driver license at 16 years old.
- Under-18 license applicants must have held an instruction permit (Oregon or out-of-state) for at least 6 months.
- Under-18 applicants need 100 hours of supervised driving, or 50 hours plus an ODOT-approved traffic safety course, supervised by someone at least 21 years old who has held a valid license for at least 3 years.
- A first-time under-18 applicant needs a parent/guardian's certification of school enrollment, or a diploma/GED if not in school.
Speed Regulations
- By law, regardless of posted signs, the speed limit is 15 mph in alleys and narrow residential areas.
- By law, regardless of posted signs, the speed limit is 20 mph in business districts and school speed zones.
- By law, regardless of posted signs, the speed limit is 25 mph in residential districts, public parks, and on ocean shores where vehicles are permitted.
- The default speed limit is 55 mph on roads and highways not otherwise defined, unless a different speed is posted.
- Racing on any road is illegal -- defined as any acceleration or speed contest, or the making of a speed record.
Turns, U-Turns & Roundabouts
- U-turns are banned at signal-controlled intersections (unless a sign permits it), between intersections in a city, at railroad crossings, and anywhere you can't be seen by traffic within 500 feet in a city (1,000 feet outside a city).
- You cannot turn left onto a two-way road against a red light; if a left-turn lane exists, you must turn from it.
- Before entering a roundabout, yield to traffic already inside and to exiting traffic; never try to pass another vehicle once inside.
Night Driving & Weather
- Dim your high beams within 500 feet of an oncoming vehicle, and within 350 feet when following another vehicle.
- Studded tires are generally allowed only from November 1 through March 31.
Parking Rules
- Parallel park no more than 12 inches from the curb.
- No parking within 10 feet of a fire hydrant.
- No parking within 20 feet of a marked or unmarked crosswalk at an intersection.
- Illegally parking in a disabled-permit space carries fines from $165 to $1,000 -- even for "just a few minutes."
Pedestrians & Bicycles
- Before turning at a signaled intersection, a pedestrian must be 6 feet or more from the lane you're turning into; at an unsignaled intersection, past that lane plus the next lane.
- An unmarked crosswalk exists at every intersection -- at least 6 feet wide -- even without painted lines or a sidewalk.
- Above 35 mph, you may only pass a bicyclist in your lane if you leave enough room to avoid contact if they fall.
- No right turns are allowed at a bike box intersection when the signal is red.
School Buses & Stopped Vehicles
- On a divided highway with an unpaved median, only same-side traffic must stop for a stopped school bus; a painted median or turn lane does not create separate roads, so all lanes must stop.
- Approaching a stopped vehicle with flashing lights on a multi-lane road: change lanes away from it if you can, or slow to at least 5 mph under the posted speed limit.
Railroad, Streetcars & Work Zones
- Always let streetcars and light rail trains go first, and wait for a proper left-turn signal before turning left across the tracks.
- Traffic fines are doubled in all work zones.
Distracted Driving
- Drivers under 18 years old may not use a cell phone at all while driving -- it must be off or in the back seat.
- Drivers 18 years old or older must use a hands-free accessory requiring only minimal finger use.
- No TV, tablet, or other video display may be visible to the driver while driving.
- No playing a radio or sound system loud enough to be heard 50 feet away from the vehicle.
DUII & Alcohol
- A BAC of 0.08% or more is presumed impairment for drivers 21+; drivers under 21 fail the test with any measurable BAC (zero tolerance).
- Open Container law: no open alcohol containers anywhere in the vehicle on any road -- they must be in the trunk.
- Implied Consent law: driving means you've agreed to a breath, blood, or urine test if asked; refusal can bring a fine and/or suspension.
Child Safety & Insurance
- Children must ride in an approved safety seat until 8 years old or 4 feet 9 inches tall (whichever comes first), and infants must ride rear-facing until 2 years old.
- Minimum insurance: $25,000/$50,000 bodily injury, $20,000 property damage, $15,000 per-person PIP, $25,000/$50,000 uninsured motorist.
- File a collision report within 72 hours if vehicle damage exceeds $2,500, or there's injury or death.
Vehicles, Passengers & Towing
- Anyone under 18 years old is prohibited from riding on the hood, fender, running board, or other external part of a vehicle, including a pickup bed.
- A passenger or recreational vehicle may tow a maximum of one boat, general utility trailer, or other vehicle -- towing a second trailer is not allowed.
Rules and fees change — always confirm current details with Oregon DMV before your exam. Cheat sheet v1.0, last checked 2026-08-02.