K53 Road Markings Test
— Free Practice 2026
This free K53 road markings test covers every painted line, barrier and symbol you will meet on a South African road. Markings are examined inside the road signs section — the section with the highest pass mark — and they are where well-prepared candidates most often drop marks.
The section is formally road signs, signals and markings. There is no separate markings score — a marking question you get wrong costs you exactly as much as a sign you cannot name, against a pass mark of 23 out of 30. Candidates who drill signs and skip markings are studying two thirds of the section.
The 3 Types of Road Marking
Longitudinal lines
Lines running along the road. These decide where you may drive and when you may cross.
Transverse lines
Lines running across the road. These tell you where to stop and who yields.
Symbols and words
Painted directly on the surface. Mandatory, not advisory.
The Marking Rules Most Often Tested
What Exactly Is Tested?
You are shown a marking and asked what it means
- Whether you may cross it
- Whether you may overtake across it
- Whether you may stop or park on it
- Who it applies to
You are given a situation and asked what is lawful
- Overtaking as a line changes
- Using the shoulder to let a car pass
- Entering a box junction
- Choosing a lane by its arrow
K53 Road Markings — Frequently Asked Questions
Are road markings on the K53 test?▼
Yes. Road markings are examined as part of the road signs section, which is formally "road signs, signals and markings". That section is 30 questions with a pass mark of 23, so markings compete for the same marks as the signs themselves.
What is the difference between a solid and a broken white line?▼
A solid line is a barrier line you may not cross except in specific circumstances, such as avoiding an obstruction, and it prohibits overtaking. A broken line is a lane division you may cross when it is safe to do so, including to overtake.
What does a yellow line on the edge of the road mean?▼
A solid yellow line marks the edge of the roadway. Outside urban areas you may travel on the shoulder to the left of it only in daylight, in clear conditions, and only to let a faster vehicle pass. It is not a driving lane.
What do the painted arrows in a lane mean?▼
Lane direction arrows are mandatory, not advisory. If a lane is marked with a left arrow only, you must turn left from it. Selecting the wrong lane and then changing your mind across a solid line is an offence.
What does a yellow box marked at an intersection mean?▼
A yellow cross-hatched box may not be entered unless your exit is clear, so that you do not stop inside it and block cross traffic. The exception is when you are waiting to turn right and are prevented only by oncoming traffic.