Road signs in Karnataka are typically displayed in:

Bilingual format: Kannada and English. Karnataka State Highways and the Karnataka RTO install signs in Kannada alongside English. Symbols and colours follow IRC 67 nationally; the script in place names reflects the state's official language.

A red circle with a white background and the number '40' inside indicates:

Maximum speed limit of 40 km/h. Per IRC 67, a speed limit sign is a red circle on a white background with the maximum permissible speed in km/h shown inside. The limit applies to all classes of vehicle unless a separate sign carves out an exception.

A yellow triangular sign with a black symbol of falling rocks warns of:

A landslide-prone or rockfall area. Karnataka's hill sections in the Western Ghats use rockfall warning signs (a black silhouette of falling rocks inside a red-bordered triangle). Drivers should reduce speed and stay alert, particularly during and after rain.

In Bengaluru city, the default urban speed limit for cars on most arterial roads is around:

50 km/h. Most Karnataka urban arterial roads default to about 50 km/h for cars. Schools, hospital zones, and BMTC bus priority sections often carry posted 30 to 40 km/h limits.

When climbing a hill in the Western Ghats, the right of way is given to:

The vehicle going uphill. Standard hill-driving etiquette under the Rules of the Road Regulations gives priority to the uphill vehicle, because restarting on a steep gradient is much harder. The downhill driver should pull over at the nearest safe spot.

Overtaking on a Karnataka state highway is prohibited:

On curves, hill crests, at junctions, and where visibility is restricted. The Rules of the Road Regulations 1989 ban overtaking where visibility is poor or where it would endanger oncoming traffic. The rule applies on every Karnataka highway and city road.

At an uncontrolled intersection in Karnataka, you must give way to:

Vehicles approaching from your right. Per Section 119 of the MV Act and the Rules of the Road Regulations, drivers yield to traffic coming from the right at uncontrolled intersections in left-hand-traffic India.

Going downhill on a long descent in the Western Ghats, the safest approach is to:

Use the same gear that would be used to climb the slope and engine-brake. Driving in neutral or with the clutch pressed in removes engine braking and can overheat the brakes. The standard rule taught in safe-driving guidance is to use the same gear you would need to climb that slope, so the engine slows the vehicle naturally.

The legal BAC limit for drivers in Karnataka under the MV Act is:

30 mg per 100 ml of blood (0.03%). Section 185 of the MV Act 1988 sets the BAC limit at 30 mg per 100 ml of blood. Karnataka enforces this through state police and city traffic checks, with penalties including imprisonment for repeat offences.

A motorcycle rider and pillion rider on Karnataka roads must wear:

ISI / BIS-marked protective helmets. Section 129 of the MV Act 1988 requires both rider and pillion to wear a BIS-marked protective helmet. Bengaluru City Police actively enforce this, including for pillion riders.

Driving & Licensing· Karnataka Transport Department

Karnataka RTO Learner's Licence Test

Practice for the Karnataka LL test: MV Act, IRC signs, bilingual Kannada and English signage, hill driving

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10-question exam

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About the Karnataka RTO Learner's Licence Test

The Karnataka Learner's Licence (LL) test is administered by the Karnataka Transport Department through Regional Transport Offices across the state. Applications go through the national Sarathi portal at parivahan.gov.in; tests are taken at the relevant Karnataka RTO (for example, Bengaluru Central in Koramangala, Bengaluru East at K R Puram, or Mangaluru).

Content follows the Motor Vehicles Act 1988, the Central Motor Vehicles Rules 1989, and IRC 67 road sign standards, with bilingual Kannada and English signage on Karnataka roads. This reviewer adds Karnataka specifics: Western Ghats hill-driving etiquette, Bengaluru urban limits, and the KA state code for vehicle plates.

What this practice test covers

IRC 67 road signs and bilingual Kannada and English signage
Rules of the road including hill-road right of way
Safe driving: BAC, helmets, hill braking, monsoon practice
Karnataka RTO licensing: KA plate codes, LL validity, fees

Frequently asked

Where can I book the Karnataka Learner's Licence test?

Book online through Sarathi at parivahan.gov.in. Select the Karnataka RTO in your jurisdiction (for example, Bengaluru Central, Bengaluru East, Mysuru, Mangaluru, Hubballi), pay the fee online, and attend the slot at the RTO.

What does KA on a Karnataka plate mean?

KA is the state code in the format KA-XX-LL-NNNN. The two-digit number after KA identifies the RTO district (for example, KA-01 Bengaluru Central, KA-03 Bengaluru East, KA-05 Bengaluru South).

Who has the right of way on a Western Ghats hill road?

The vehicle going uphill has the right of way. The downhill driver should pull over at the nearest safe spot. The reason: starting again on a steep gradient is much harder than slowing or stopping briefly.

Sample questions from the Karnataka RTO Learner's Licence Test

Preview the kind of questions you will see. Tap any one for the answer, explanation, and related questions.