Driving Tests

Indiana Roundabout Rules: Right of Way, Lanes and Trucks

informational·how to guide·Published August 5, 2026

Who has the right of way at an Indiana roundabout?

Traffic already in the roundabout has the right of way. The Indiana Driver's Manual says incoming traffic always yields to circulating traffic. You also yield to pedestrians in the crosswalk. Traffic flows counterclockwise, and you enter and exit with right turns. In a multi-lane roundabout, you must also yield to large vehicles that drive through at the same time.

Where these rules come from

This guide uses the Indiana Driver's Manual from the Indiana Bureau of Motor Vehicles (BMV), edition July 2026, and two Indiana Department of Transportation (INDOT) pages: the INDOT roundabouts page and the INDOT roundabout brochure. Where the INDOT pages and the manual word a rule differently, this guide follows the manual. The facts are as of 2026. Confirm the rules with the Indiana Bureau of Motor Vehicles (in.gov/bmv) before you drive.

What an Indiana roundabout is

A roundabout is a circular intersection where traffic moves one way, counterclockwise, around a center island. You enter and exit only with right turns. Pavement markings and raised islands steer you into this one-way flow, and the curve of the road and the entry angles slow you down. A modern roundabout is not the same as a rotary or a traffic circle. The table below shows how to tell them apart.

How to drive through an Indiana roundabout

1
Slow down and stay in your lane
Slow down on the approach and stay in your lane. Obey one-way signs at all times.
2
Yield before you enter
Yield to traffic already in the circle. Also yield to pedestrians and bicycles at the crosswalk.
3
Merge when traffic clears
When there is a safe gap, merge to the right into the circle and stay in your lane.
4
Keep moving to your exit
Keep going around the circle until you reach your exit. Do not stop in the roundabout unless you must.
5
Signal and exit to the right
Turn on your signal and exit to the right.

Which lane do I choose in a roundabout?

Choose the lane before you enter. Signs, pavement markings, or both show the correct lane before the circle. In a multi-lane roundabout, know which lane you need before you reach the yield line. A typical lane control sign has a LEFT LANE panel and a RIGHT LANE panel. Read the signs and markings on your approach, pick the lane they show for your exit and stay in it. The practice question on choosing a lane before a multilane roundabout checks this skill.

Can I change lanes inside a roundabout?

You should not. The Indiana Driver's Manual says drivers should not change lanes in the circulatory roadway, so stay in the lane that you chose at the entry. This is why the lane choice before you enter matters. A lane change inside the circle cuts across the driver next to you, and in a multi-lane roundabout that driver can be a tractor-trailer or a bus.

How do I yield to large trucks in a roundabout?

Some Indiana roundabouts have two or more lanes. Smaller vehicles that drive next to tractor-trailers and buses there can be a hazard. The manual's rule: when you approach or drive through a multi-lane roundabout, you must yield the right of way to large vehicles that drive through at the same time. Slow down or stop so that the truck can pass safely. Tractor-trailer drivers often swing out as the first step of a tight turn, so give the truck room and stay back. The practice question on yielding to a large vehicle in a roundabout checks this skill.

What to do in common roundabout situations

You drive a large truck, and another large truck is in the roundabout at the same time

The truck in the right lane must yield to the truck in the left lane. The right-lane driver slows down or stops so that the left-lane truck can pass safely.

An emergency vehicle approaches while you are in the roundabout

Do the same as on any other road: carefully move as far right as you can and, if necessary, stop until the emergency vehicle passes.

You want to turn left

Enter with a right turn, circle around the center island, then turn right to exit. You never turn left at the entry.

What if I miss my exit?

Do not stop, and do not change lanes to reach the exit. Stay in your lane and keep going around the center island, the same way you make a left turn, until you come back to your exit. Then signal and turn right to leave. The practice question on what to do after you miss a roundabout exit uses a single-lane roundabout as the example.

Roundabout or traffic circle: how to tell

Roundabout or traffic circle: how to tell
Feature	Roundabout	Traffic circle
Direction of traffic	One way, counterclockwise	May have clockwise and counterclockwise traffic
Approach control	Yield at entry: traffic entering the circle yields to traffic already in the circle	May be controlled by stop signs instead of yield signs
What to do	Follow the steps above	Follow the signs on each approach

How many roundabouts are in Indiana?

Roundabouts are a relatively common feature on Indiana roads: more than 256 were built through 2016 by INDOT and by cities and towns. At an intersection with stop signs on every approach, a different rule decides who goes first. See the Indiana four-way stop rules.

Key takeaways

Traffic already in the roundabout has the right of way. Incoming traffic always yields, and you also yield to pedestrians in the crosswalk.
Choose your lane before you enter, with the help of the signs and markings. Do not change lanes inside the circle.
In a multi-lane roundabout, yield to large vehicles. Slow down or stop so that a truck can pass safely.
If you miss your exit, do not stop. Keep circulating and exit to the right on the next pass.
Next step: practice roundabout and right-of-way questions on the free Indiana operator practice test. It is free and in English only.

Indiana roundabout questions

Do I have to stop before I enter a roundabout?

Not always. A yield sign means you slow down and are ready to come to a complete stop if a vehicle or pedestrian with the right of way is coming. Stop when traffic in the circle or a person in the crosswalk needs you to. If both are clear, merge without a full stop.

Do I need to signal in a roundabout?

Yes, when you leave. The INDOT steps for Indiana roundabouts tell drivers to signal and exit to the right. Turn on your right turn signal as you near your exit, then turn right out of the circle. You never turn left out of a roundabout, because entry and exit are right turns only.

Do pedestrians have the right of way at a roundabout?

Yes, in the crosswalk. Drivers who approach a roundabout must yield to pedestrians in the crosswalk and to traffic in the roundabout, and bicycles at a crosswalk get the same care. People on foot should never walk across the circulating lanes to the center island.

Are roundabouts safer than traffic lights?

INDOT uses roundabouts to replace four-way traffic signals, in part to reduce crashes. Compared to most other intersection types, roundabouts show large drops in fatal and injury crashes, with up to a 90 percent reduction in fatalities and a 76 percent reduction in injury crashes in INDOT's list of benefits. Slower speeds also give drivers more time to judge and react to other cars and pedestrians.