Quick Answer
A solid yellow arrow means the protected turn phase is ending — finish the turn you already started or stop if you can do so safely. A flashing yellow arrow means you may turn in the direction of the arrow, but you must yield to oncoming traffic and pedestrians.
Both appear on the DMV written test. The difference between them matters for your score.
Solid Yellow Arrow
A steady yellow arrow behaves like a steady yellow light, but only for the direction the arrow points. It means the green arrow is about to end and a red arrow or red light is next.
What to do:
Failing to treat a solid yellow arrow as a warning to stop is one of the most common mistakes new drivers make during the road test.
Flashing Yellow Arrow
A flashing yellow arrow is newer and increasingly common in the United States. It replaced older "green ball" permissive turn signals in many intersections. It tells you two things at once:
When the flashing yellow arrow is displayed, oncoming traffic has a green light. You must pull forward into the intersection only when a safe gap appears, then complete the turn. If no gap appears before the signal cycles back to solid yellow and then red, you wait for the next cycle.
How It Shows Up on the DMV Test
The most common question forms are:
The correct answer always hinges on two facts: flashing yellow = proceed with caution and yield; solid yellow = prepare to stop.
What About Red and Green Arrows?
For completeness:
Rules for turning on a red arrow vary by state. Some states (like California) do allow a right turn on a red right-arrow after stopping; others prohibit it outright. Check your state handbook.
Ready to Practice?
The best way to lock this in is to see the question a few times on real practice tests. Start a free DMV practice test and filter by the Traffic Signs topic. Every question comes with a plain-English explanation so the rule sticks the first time.