Iowa Driver's Manual

If you're planning to apply for a driver's license in Iowa or you need to renew a license that's been expired for more than 60 days, you'll be asked to complete a written exam that tests your knowledge of how to operate a motor vehicle. The best way to prepare for this exam is to review the Iowa Driver's Manual, which is published by the state's Department of Transportation.

In the Iowa Driver's Manual, you'll learn the rules of the road and basic driving safety skills. The handbook also covers the meaning of traffic signs, signals, and road markings, as well as the procedures you'll need to follow to make sure your vehicle is legally registered. Practice questions are included to help you more effectively prepare for the written exam.

If you would prefer a hard copy of the Iowa Driver's Manual rather than a downloaded version, you can pick up a copy from your nearest driver's license station during regular business hours. The downloaded version requires the free Adobe Reader software and works best with a high-speed Internet connection. You can download the entire manual at once or else view one chapter at a time.

If you have a disability that makes reading difficult, you can call (800) 532-1121 to request an audio version of manual. The Iowa Department of Transportation also offers supplemental study guides in Spanish, Bosnian, Korean, Russian, Vietnamese, and Albanian.

Studying for Your Commercial Driver's License

If you wish to obtain your commercial driver's license (CDL), you can request Iowa's Commercial Driver License Manual at your nearest driver's license station. If you have access to a high-speed Internet connection, you may choose to download the PDF version of the study guide―either chapter-by-chapter or in its entirety―from the Iowa DOT website.

The Commercial Driver License Manual covers topics such as safely transporting passengers, carrying hazardous materials, and driving combination vehicles. Readers will also learn about air brakes, basic vehicle control skills, and how to perform a pretrip vehicle inspection test.

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