The USCG Rules of the Road Test: What's on It and How to Pass
If you're working toward a Coast Guard license, the Rules of the Road test is the module people talk about most. It isn't the longest part of the exam, but it has the highest bar. This page explains what the test covers, how the questions are written, and how to study so you walk in calm instead of guessing.
Everything below is based on the official sources: the National Maritime Center (NMC), which runs Coast Guard credential exams, the U.S. Coast Guard Navigation Center (NAVCEN) Navigation Rules, and the Inland Rules in 33 CFR Part 83. Always check the current NMC page for your exact endorsement before you test, because requirements can change.
What the Rules of the Road test actually is
The Rules of the Road test is a module inside the larger Coast Guard deck exam. NMC lists two Rules of the Road modules:
- Q100, Rules of the Road: International and Inland. This one covers both rule sets.
- Q300, Rules of the Road: Inland. This one covers Inland rules only, and it shows up as an option on some Great Lakes and Inland routes.
On NMC's topic charts, the Q100 module sits under Watchkeeping, with two subjects listed: COLREGS and the Inland Navigational Rules. In plain terms, you need to know the International Regulations for Preventing Collisions at Sea (the 72 COLREGS) and the U.S. Inland Navigation Rules, and you need to know where they differ.
NMC's deck examination guide lists the Q100 module at 50 questions with a passing score of 90 percent. That means you can miss up to 5 questions. Many of the other deck modules in that same guide have a 70 percent passing score, which is why Rules of the Road gets so much attention. It's the one place where "pretty good" isn't enough.
Which license exams include it
The Rules of the Road module appears across the deck exams, from small passenger vessel licenses up to unlimited tonnage. A few examples from NMC's exam pages:
| Exam code | Endorsement | Rules of the Road module |
|---|---|---|
| ONC07 | OUPV, Near Coastal | Q100 |
| GLI07 | OUPV, Great Lakes and Inland | Q100, with Q300 listed for Inland |
| ONC01 | Master or Chief Mate, unlimited tonnage | Q100 |
If you're going for an OUPV (often called a six-pack) license, our OUPV Rules of the Road practice test goes deeper on that route.
One thing to know before you choose an Inland-only module: NMC's exam guide notes, for its Great Lakes and Inland deck exams, that taking the Inland Rules of the Road module results in a geographic COLREGS limitation on the credential. If there's any chance you'll run outside the demarcation lines, ask NMC which module fits your plans.
How the questions are worded
Coast Guard style questions have a few habits, and learning them is half the battle.
They tell you which rules apply. Many questions start with a label such as "BOTH INTERNATIONAL & INLAND," "INLAND ONLY," or "INTERNATIONAL ONLY." In our free question bank of 1,272 questions, 900 are labeled for both rule sets, 219 are Inland only, and 153 are International only. Read that label first, every time. A correct International answer can be the wrong Inland answer.
They love fill in the blank. A lot of questions end with a blank line and four choices that all sound reasonable.
They use "All of the above" and "None of the above." Don't assume either one is a trap or a gift. Check each choice against the rule.
They test exact wording. Words like "underway," "in sight of one another," "restricted visibility," and "power-driven vessel" are defined in Rule 3. Many questions turn on one of those definitions.
Some questions use diagrams. You'll see lights, shapes, and vessel situations drawn out, and you need to identify what's happening.
Here's a real question from the bank so you can see the style:
Practice question 1. BOTH INTERNATIONAL & INLAND You see another vessel approaching, and its compass bearing does not significantly change. This would indicate that __________.
- you are the stand-on vessel
- risk of collision exists
- a special circumstances situation exists
- the other vessel is dead in the water
Show answer
B. risk of collision exists
What's covered, part by part
The International and Inland rules share the same numbering, which makes studying easier. Here's the map, with the topics that tend to need the most attention:
- Part A, General (Rules 1 to 3). Where the rules apply, responsibility, and definitions. See Rule 1, Rule 2, and Rule 3.
- Part B, Steering and Sailing (Rules 4 to 19). Look-out, safe speed, risk of collision, narrow channels, traffic separation schemes, overtaking, head-on, crossing, give-way and stand-on duties, the pecking order in Rule 18, and conduct in restricted visibility in Rule 19.
- Part C, Lights and Shapes (Rules 20 to 31). What each type of vessel shows at night and by day. Our navigation lights cheat sheet covers this part.
- Part D, Sound and Light Signals (Rules 32 to 37). Whistle signals, fog signals, and distress signals. See the sound signals guide.
- Part E, Exemptions (Rule 38) and the Annexes, which cover technical details like light positioning, sound appliances, and distress signals.
The Inland vs International differences deserve their own study time. Rule 9 (narrow channels), Rule 14 and Rule 15 on the Great Lakes and Western Rivers, Rule 24 (pushing ahead and towing alongside), and Rule 34 (maneuvering signals) are where most of the differences live. Our Inland vs International guide lays them out rule by rule.
Practice this on your phone. COLREGS: Rules of the Road puts all 1,272 questions, with diagrams and spaced repetition, on your iPhone and iPad. Get the iOS app
A plan to pass
You don't need a complicated system. You need steady reps and an honest look at what you miss.
1. Start with a baseline. Take a mixed set of 50 questions before you study anything. Note the categories you miss. That's your study list.
2. Learn the steering rules first. Rules 4 to 19 drive a big share of the scenario questions. Know Rule 7 (risk of collision), Rule 13 (overtaking), Rule 14 (head-on), and Rule 15 (crossing) well enough to explain them out loud.
3. Drill lights and sounds in short daily sessions. These are recognition skills. Ten or fifteen minutes a day beats one long cram session.
4. Treat Inland vs International as its own subject. Whenever you see an "INLAND ONLY" label, ask yourself what the International answer would be, and why it's different.
5. Read the rule behind every miss. Open the rule and read the whole paragraph, not just the answer. Our rule pages quote the official text and explain it in plain English.
6. Repeat your misses. Go back to missed questions the next day, then a few days later, then a week later. When your weak areas hold up, take a fresh mixed set under timed conditions.
7. Aim higher than 90. If your practice scores sit right at 90 percent, you have no cushion. Keep going until you're comfortably above it on fresh mixed sets.
Our step by step study guide has a sample two-week schedule if you want a ready-made plan.
Try a few more real questions
These come word for word from the same 1,272-question bank used in the free tool and the app.
Practice question 2. BOTH INTERNATIONAL & INLAND Two vessels meeting in a "head-on" situation are directed by the Rules to __________.
- alter course to starboard and pass port to port
- alter course to port and pass starboard to starboard
- decide on which side the passage will occur by matching whistle signals
- slow to bare steerageway
Show answer
A. alter course to starboard and pass port to port
Practice question 3. BOTH INTERNATIONAL & INLAND A sailing vessel is NOT required to keep out of the way of a __________.
- power-driven vessel
- vessel not under command
- vessel restricted in her ability to maneuver
- vessel engaged in fishing
Show answer
A. power-driven vessel
Practice question 4. INLAND ONLY When power-driven vessels are crossing, a signal of one short blast by either vessel means __________.
- "I intend to leave you on my port side"
- "I intend to hold course and speed"
- "I intend to change course to starboard"
- "I request a departure from the Rules"
Show answer
A. "I intend to leave you on my port side"
Practice question 5. BOTH INTERNATIONAL & INLAND The term "restricted visibility" as used in the Rules refers __________.
- only to fog
- only to visibility of less than one-half of a mile
- to visibility where you cannot see shore
- to any condition where visibility is restricted
Show answer
D. to any condition where visibility is restricted
Test day tips
- Read the label, then the last line. Know which rules apply and what's actually being asked before you look at the choices.
- Picture the scenario. For crossing and meeting questions, sketch the two vessels on scratch paper if you're allowed to.
- Watch for "NOT." Questions like "Which term is NOT defined" flip the logic.
- Don't change answers on a hunch. Change one only when you spot a specific word you misread.
Ready for exam-style practice? Drill your weak spots with missed-question review in COLREGS: Rules of the Road for iPhone and iPad. Download on the App Store
Frequently asked questions
What is the passing score for the USCG Rules of the Road exam?
NMC's deck examination guide lists the Q100 Rules of the Road module at 50 questions with a 90 percent passing score, so you can miss up to 5. Confirm the current requirements for your endorsement with NMC before you test.
Is the Rules of the Road test International or Inland?
The Q100 module covers both the International Rules (72 COLREGS) and the U.S. Inland Rules. NMC also lists a Q300 Inland-only module on some Great Lakes and Inland routes.
How should I study for the Rules of the Road test?
Take a baseline quiz, learn the steering rules (Rules 4 to 19) first, drill lights and sound signals daily, study Inland vs International differences on their own, and read the rule behind every question you miss.
Are the practice questions the same as the real exam?
Our bank has 1,272 Coast Guard style Rules of the Road questions, and we never change their wording. The real exam draws its own set of questions, so focus on understanding the rules rather than memorizing answers.