BOTH INTERNATIONAL & INLAND What is the minimum vessel length which must show two white masthead lights, one forward and one aft, when underway at night?
- A 100 meters
- B 50 meters
- C 20 meters
- D 7 meters
Free USCG practice tests
Rules of the Road Practice Test
Think you know your Rules of the Road? Take our USCG Rules of the Road practice test and find out!
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90% required to pass · Practice until it's easy
Passing your USCG licensing exam can be extremely hard, as you may have heard from friends who have already been through it.
The problem is that the USCG has a huge database of questions, and many of them test very obscure facts or are structured as trick questions.
What makes matters worse: you can only get 3 questions wrong in the Rules of the Road section of the exam before you fail. So you had better know these questions by heart!
Luckily, we have collected the exact same bank of questions and built a proven system to help you study and pass. We have helped over 15,000 mariners prepare for their Coast Guard Rules of the Road test so far, and we can help you too.
How to Study the Rules of the Road Questions
There are several ways to study these USCG Rules of the Road exam questions.
First, you can study in “answer” mode, which lets you browse the questions while instantly seeing the correct answer. We actually do not recommend this approach.
Much better is “normal” mode: you are presented with the question and its multiple-choice answers, you select your answer, and you instantly see whether you are correct. If you are wrong, the system clearly shows you the correct choice.
Take the online Rules of the Road quiz right now to see how it works.
Once you have tested yourself against literally hundreds of questions and feel ready, go ahead and generate a formal Coast Guard Rules of the Road practice test. It simulates the real exam: you answer all the questions and only see your results at the end.
Continue to study questions and take mock exams until you pass with 100%.
Remember: the same Rules of the Road test questions apply to a Sailing, Captain’s License (OUPV / 6-Pack), Masters License, or basically any maritime credential. Everybody has to follow the same rules on the water!
What the Rules of the Road Questions Cover
The Rules of the Road module tests the COLREGs (the International Regulations for Preventing Collisions at Sea) together with the U.S. Inland Navigation Rules. Many questions hinge on whether the situation is international or inland, so read every question carefully. Expect questions on:
- Steering and sailing rules: right of way, crossing, meeting, and overtaking situations
- Lights and shapes: what a vessel must display at night and in restricted visibility
- Sound and light signals: maneuvering signals, fog signals, and distress signals
- Definitions and responsibilities: give-way and stand-on vessels, safe speed, and lookout duties
- Special situations: narrow channels, traffic separation schemes, and vessels with limited maneuverability
Whether your paperwork calls it a Rules of the Road test, a COLREGs test, or a navigation rules exam, it is the same body of material, and these are the questions the Coast Guard draws from.
Sample Rules of the Road Questions
These are real questions from the U.S. Coast Guard question pool, exactly as they appear in the bank. Click through to any question to answer it and see whether you got it right.
BOTH INTERNATIONAL & INLAND Which vessel would have no white lights visible when meeting her head-on?
- A A vessel mineclearing
- B A vessel trawling
- C A vessel not under command
- D A vessel restricted in her ability to maneuver
BOTH INTERNATIONAL & INLAND For identification purposes at night, U.S. Navy submarines on the surface may display an intermittent flashing light of which color?
- A Red
- B Blue
- C White
- D Amber (yellow)
Practice Test Modules
Rules of the Road Practice Test
The complete USCG rules pool, inland and international.
1,025 questions · Start an instant quiz →
Navigation General Practice Test
Charts, aids to navigation, compasses, tides, and currents.
2,138 questions · Start an instant quiz →
Navigation Problems Practice Test
Chart plotting and time, speed, and distance problems.
1,708 questions · Start an instant quiz →
Rules of the Road Test FAQ
Q What score do I need on the USCG Rules of the Road exam?
90 percent. It is the strictest module on the exam. On a typical 30-question module you can miss no more than three questions, which is why rules practice should be the core of your study plan.
Q Does the exam cover inland or international rules?
Both. Many questions specify 'Inland only', 'International only', or 'Both international and inland', and the correct answer often changes with the jurisdiction. Learning where the two rule sets differ is one of the highest-value things you can study.
Q Is this the same as a COLREGs test?
Yes. COLREGs is the formal name for the international collision regulations. USCG exams combine COLREGs material with the U.S. Inland Navigation Rules in a single Rules of the Road module.
Q How many Rules of the Road questions are in the USCG pool?
The published pool contains well over a thousand rules questions, all of which you can practice on this site for free, with instant grading and the correct answer shown when you miss.
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