USCG Rules of the Road Study Guide

If you're getting ready for a U.S. Coast Guard license exam, the Rules of the Road section can feel like a wall of near-identical scenarios. The good news: the rules themselves are logical once you see how they fit together. This guide gives you a plan you can actually follow, plus the rule numbers to anchor each step.

How the Navigation Rules are organized

The International Regulations for Preventing Collisions at Sea (the 72 COLREGS) and the U.S. Inland Navigation Rules (33 CFR Part 83) share the same numbering. That's a big help, because Rule 14 is always the head-on situation and Rule 35 is always sound signals in restricted visibility, no matter which set you're reading. The parts break down like this:

Part A, General (Rules 1 to 3): who the rules apply to, responsibility, and definitions. Rule 3 defines terms like "power-driven vessel," "underway," and "restricted visibility," and many exam questions hinge on those words.
Part B, Steering and Sailing (Rules 4 to 19): conduct in any visibility (Rules 4 to 10), vessels in sight of one another (Rules 11 to 18), and restricted visibility (Rule 19).
Part C, Lights and Shapes (Rules 20 to 31): what each vessel shows by night and by day.
Part D, Sound and Light Signals (Rules 32 to 37): whistle, bell, and light signals, including distress (Rule 37).
Part E, Exemptions (Rule 38) and the Annexes, which cover technical details like light positioning and distress signals.

Knowing this map means that when you miss a question, you can say "that was a Part C problem" and go straight to the right chapter.

Step 1: Take a baseline quiz

Before you reread anything, take a mixed quiz. It feels backward, but it saves hours. Write down which areas trip you up most: International, Inland, lights and shapes, sound signals, or diagram questions. Most people find their misses cluster in two or three places, and that's where your time should go first.

Step 2: Learn the core steering rules cold

A handful of rules show up again and again, so give them extra attention:

Rule 5, Lookout: every vessel keeps a proper lookout by sight, hearing, and all available means.
Rule 6, Safe speed: a speed that lets you take proper and effective action and stop in a distance appropriate to conditions.
Rule 7, Risk of collision: if a compass bearing of an approaching vessel doesn't appreciably change, risk of collision is deemed to exist. If in doubt, assume it does.
Rule 8, Action to avoid collision: action should be positive, made in ample time, and large enough to be readily apparent.
Rule 13, Overtaking: you're overtaking when coming up from more than 22.5 degrees abaft the other vessel's beam, and the overtaking vessel keeps out of the way.
Rule 14, Head-on: two power-driven vessels meeting on reciprocal or nearly reciprocal courses each alter course to starboard.
Rule 15, Crossing: the power-driven vessel that has the other on her own starboard side keeps out of the way.
Rules 16 and 17: the give-way vessel takes early and substantial action, and the stand-on vessel keeps course and speed, though she may act once it's clear the give-way vessel isn't acting, and must act when collision can't be avoided by the give-way vessel alone.
Rule 18, Responsibilities between vessels: the general pecking order, with vessels not under command and vessels restricted in their ability to maneuver near the top.
Rule 19, Restricted visibility: here there is no stand-on or give-way vessel. Each vessel avoids an alteration of course to port for a vessel forward of the beam (other than one being overtaken), and avoids turning toward a vessel abeam or abaft the beam.

A trick that helps: say the rule number out loud with the scenario. "Vessel on my starboard bow, crossing, I'm power-driven: Rule 15, I give way." Tying scenarios to numbers makes them stick.

Step 3: Drill lights, shapes, and sound signals separately

Lights and sound signals are pure recognition, and they reward short daily practice more than long sessions. Spend 10 to 15 minutes a day on them instead of cramming. Our navigation lights cheat sheet walks through Rules 20 to 31, and the sound signals guide covers Rules 32 to 37.

Practice this on your phone. COLREGS: Rules of the Road has 1,272 questions, 83 diagrams, and spaced repetition. Get the iOS app

Step 4: Study Inland and International differences as their own topic

Because the two rule sets share numbers, it's easy to answer an Inland question with International logic. The biggest differences sit in Rule 9 (narrow channels), Rule 14 and Rule 15 on the Great Lakes and Western Rivers, Rule 24 (pushing ahead), and Rule 34 (maneuvering signals). Rule 28 (constrained by her draft) exists only in International; Inland lists it as reserved. Read our Inland vs International guide for the full rundown.

Step 5: Read the rule behind every miss

When you get a question wrong, don't just note the right answer. Open the cited rule and read the whole paragraph. Then ask: "What fact in the scenario triggered this rule?" That habit turns one missed question into understanding you can reuse on ten others.

Step 6: Use diagrams without peeking at the answers

For diagram questions, cover the answer choices first. Name the vessel type, its aspect (are you seeing her port side, starboard side, bow, or stern?), and whether she's underway, anchored, or aground. Then look at the choices. This trains the same skill you'll use on the water at night.

Step 7: Repeat weak questions, then test fresh

Spaced repetition works: review a missed question the next day, then a few days later, then a week later. When your weak categories hold up across several sessions, finish with a fresh mixed quiz under exam-like conditions. If a category slips, loop back to Step 5.

A sample two-week rhythm

Days 1 and 2: baseline quiz, then Part A definitions and Rules 4 to 10.
Days 3 to 5: Rules 11 to 19, with daily lights practice on the side.
Days 6 to 8: Rules 20 to 31 (lights and shapes) as your main focus.
Days 9 and 10: Rules 32 to 37 (sound signals) and Inland vs International differences.
Days 11 to 13: missed-question review only.
Day 14: full mixed practice test.

Adjust the pace to your schedule. The order matters more than the speed.

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 should I study first for the Rules of the Road exam?

Start with a mixed baseline quiz, then focus on the rule parts behind your misses. For most people that means the steering rules (Rules 4 to 19) first, then lights (Rules 20 to 31) and sound signals (Rules 32 to 37).

Are the Inland and International rules numbered the same?

Yes. Both use Rules 1 to 38 with matching topics, which is why you need to check which waters a question is about before you answer.

Where can I read the official Navigation Rules?

The U.S. Coast Guard Navigation Center (navcen.uscg.gov) publishes the Navigation Rules and Regulations Handbook. The Inland Rules are also in 33 CFR Part 83 on ecfr.gov.

Should I memorize answers?

Memorizing a single answer is fragile because exam questions reword the same scenario many ways. Learn the rule behind it so you can recognize it in any wording.

Mini quiz: test yourself

Under Rule 7, what does a steady compass bearing on an approaching vessel tell you?
Two power-driven vessels are crossing. Which one keeps out of the way under Rule 15?
At what angle abaft the beam does a vessel count as overtaking under Rule 13?
In restricted visibility (Rule 19), is there a stand-on vessel?
Which rule covers vessels constrained by their draft, and does it apply on Inland waters?

Answers: 1) Risk of collision is deemed to exist (Rule 7). 2) The vessel that has the other on her own starboard side (Rule 15). 3) More than 22.5 degrees abaft the beam (Rule 13). 4) No. Rule 19 has no stand-on or give-way roles; each vessel follows the Rule 19 maneuvering guidance. 5) Rule 28. It applies under International rules only; Inland Rule 28 is reserved.