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DMV Permit · Right of Way

At an uncontrolled intersection (no signs or signals), who has the right of way?

Reviewed by Jordan Morley, Editorial Lead at 247SimpleTests. Written by the 247SimpleTests Editorial Team from the official source material cited on every question.

Correct answer

The driver who got there first; if simultaneous, the driver on the left yields to the driver on the right

  1. A The driver who got there first; if simultaneous, the driver on the left yields to the driver on the right
  2. B Nobody — you must wait indefinitely
  3. C Whoever has the larger vehicle
  4. D The driver who got there first; if simultaneous, the driver on the right yields to the driver on the left

Why this is the answer

At an uncontrolled intersection (no stop, yield, or signal), the basic rules are: the driver who arrives first has the right of way; if two vehicles arrive simultaneously, the driver on the left yields to the driver on the right; if a driver is making a left turn while another is going straight or turning right, the left-turning driver yields. Uncontrolled intersections are common in residential areas and rural roads. Always slow down, look both ways, and proceed only when clearly safe — do not rely on the other driver to know the rules. Right-of-way rules tell you who must yield; they do not require the priority driver to enter the intersection if doing so would cause a crash.
Source: State driver handbooks, Uncontrolled Intersections

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About this topic: Right of Way

Right-of-way rules are yielding rules — they tell you who must wait. At four-way stops, intersections without signals, and emergency-vehicle situations, knowing them prevents the most common urban crashes. This is one of 13 Rules of the Road questions on right of way, each with a full explanation on a single study page.

New to this exam? Our DMV Permit exam guide explains the format, scoring, and how to prepare.

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