Driving Tests

Who Goes First at a Four-Way Stop in Indiana? Right-of-Way Rules

informational·how to guide·Published August 4, 2026

Who goes first at a four-way stop in Indiana?

At a four-way stop in Indiana, stop completely, then the first vehicle to stop goes through first. If two drivers stop at the same time, the vehicle on the left yields to the vehicle on the right. If you doubt who has the right of way, or a crash could happen, yield to the other driver. These rules come from the Indiana Driver's Manual (July 2026).

Where the Indiana four-way stop rules come from

The rules come from Chapters 6, 7 and 8 of the Indiana Driver's Manual (published July 2026) of the Indiana Bureau of Motor Vehicles (BMV). The list of automatic failures on the driving test also comes from the BMV driving test page. The manual is the source here, not the text of the Indiana Code. This guide is current as of 2026. Confirm the rules with the Indiana Bureau of Motor Vehicles (in.gov/bmv) before you drive.

How to take your turn at a four-way stop in Indiana

1
Stop at the right place
Stop at the solid white stop line. With no stop line, stop in line with the stop sign or before the crosswalk on your side of the intersection. With no stop line and no crosswalk, stop before you enter the intersection.
2
Look for traffic and pedestrians
The manual says an all-way stop works like a two-way stop: stop, look for oncoming traffic, then go when it is safe. Always yield the right of way to pedestrians.
3
Take your turn in order of arrival
Let each vehicle that stopped before you go through first. Then it is your turn.
4
Settle a tie with the left-side rule
If another driver stops at the same time as you and you are on that driver's left, you yield the right of way.
5
Yield when you are not sure
If you doubt who has the right of way, or a crash could happen, yield to the other driver. Failure to yield the right of way is the most common factor in Indiana collisions.

Four-way stop: who goes when?

Another driver stopped before you

Wait until that driver goes through. Then go when it is safe.

You and a driver on your right stop at the same time

You are the vehicle on the left, so you yield. The driver on your right goes first.

You and a driver on your left stop at the same time

That driver yields to you. Go when it is safe.

A pedestrian is crossing your path

Wait for the pedestrian, even when it is your turn. Always yield the right of way to pedestrians.

What if two cars arrive at the same time?

When two drivers stop together, check where the other car is. Picture driver A with driver B on A's right. Both stop at the same time, and both want to go straight. Driver A, on the left, yields, so driver B goes first. Then driver A goes when it is safe. The free question on who yields when two drivers arrive together uses this exact case.

Who goes first when you turn left?

The first-to-stop rule covers every vehicle at the stop, including a driver who turns left. The general turning rule adds one check: before you turn left, yield the right of way to oncoming vehicles and pedestrians. Do not make a turn that causes a pedestrian to stop, slow down or make a special effort to avoid a crash. The free question on turning left across an oncoming vehicle gives the answer: you yield before you make the turn.

All-way stop, red flashing light and dark signal compared

All-way stop, red flashing light and dark signal compared
Situation	What the manual says to do
All-way stop sign	The first vehicle to stop goes first. At a tie, the vehicle on the left yields.
Red flashing light, all traffic must stop	Treat it like a stop sign: stop completely. Go only after you yield to vehicles already in the intersection and to vehicles that stopped before you. At a tie, the vehicle on the left yields.
Red flashing light, cross-traffic does not stop	Stop completely, then go only when the intersection is clear and you do not interfere with cross-traffic.
Traffic signal that does not work	Stop before you enter the intersection. Then go with caution only after you yield to cross-traffic already in the intersection, any vehicle that stopped before you, any vehicle that arrived at the same time and is on your right, and any pedestrian.

Is a dead traffic light the same as a four-way stop in Indiana?

The steps are close, but the manual gives a non-operating signal its own rule, shown in the table above. It starts like an all-way stop: stop before you enter the intersection. The order is the same too: a vehicle that stopped before you goes first, and at a tie the driver on the left waits for the driver on the right. The rule also names cross-traffic already in the intersection and pedestrians. Only a red flashing light is called equal to a stop sign.

What the Indiana driving skills test checks at stops

On the driving skills test, the manual and the BMV test page list disobeying a yield or stop sign and failure to yield the right of way as automatic fails. Going past a crosswalk, stop line or stop sign can also lower your score or make you fail. See what happens on the Indiana driving test for the full list of checks.

Key Takeaways

The first vehicle to stop at a four-way stop is the first to go.
When two drivers arrive together, the vehicle on the left yields.
When you are in doubt, or a crash could happen, yield to the other driver.
A left turn needs one more step: yield to oncoming vehicles and pedestrians.
At a dead traffic signal, stop first, then yield to cross-traffic already in the intersection, to vehicles that stopped before you, to a driver on your right who arrived with you, and to pedestrians.
Next step: practice on the free Indiana operator practice test (English only).

Frequently Asked Questions

Where do I stop at a stop sign with no stop line?

Stop in line with the stop sign or before the crosswalk on your side of the intersection. If there is no stop line and no crosswalk, stop before you enter the intersection. Where a solid white stop line is painted, stop at that line.

What does a flashing red light mean in Indiana?

A red flashing light at an intersection is equal to a stop sign, so stop completely first. Where all traffic must stop, go after you yield to vehicles already in the intersection and vehicles that stopped before you. Where cross-traffic does not stop, go only when the intersection is clear.

Does a rolling stop fail the Indiana driving test?

Yes. The BMV lists failure to stop completely at a stop sign as an automatic fail on the driving skills test. Come to a full stop at the line, the crosswalk or the edge of the intersection. If you fail, you must wait seven days before you can take the driving skills test again.

Do I have to stop when I pull out of a driveway or alley?

Yes. Before you enter a street from an alley or driveway, stop and yield the right of way to other vehicles. The manual gives this rule for places with no sign or signal, so it applies even when no stop sign is posted. Always yield to pedestrians too.

Are four-way stop rules on the Indiana permit test?

They can be. The traffic rules part of the knowledge exam draws on Chapters 6, 7 and 8 of the manual, where the all-way stop, red flashing light and dead-signal rules are. You need 80 percent or more on each part to pass. The guide to the Indiana permit test covers the format.