California
DMV Practice Test

Few states offer more to explore than California and having a California driver’s license is one of the keys to enjoying everything the state has to offer. If you want to earn your license you’ll need to pass the California driving test. The test has two parts, a knowledge test and a skills test. In our practice knowledge tests, you will have to answer test questions that are very similar to the official California Driving written knowledge test. You will be presented with 36 questions and you must answer 30 questions correctly to pass. If you are over 18, our California DMV practice test will match the number of questions that you’ll see on the official test. If you are under 18, the official license test you take will contain 46 questions and you’ll need 38 correct answers to pass. To begin your practice test, click the “Start Test” button below.

1 / 36

This sign means:

Three lane road ahead

There is a traffic signal ahead

Be prepared to stop if the light is flashing

A traffic light is out

2 / 36

To make sure you are not driving in a truck's blind spot, you should:

Remain at least 200 feet behind trucks at all times.

Look for the truck driver's side view mirrors.

Honk twice and wait for a response.

Always pass the truck on the right side.

3 / 36

Any time you merge with other traffic, you:

Need a gap of at least four seconds.

Must come to a complete stop.

Should speed up and insist on the right-of-way.

Must accelerate to a speed faster than other vehicles.

4 / 36

In open country at night you should drive with

parking lights.

low-beam headlights.

high-beam headlights.

no headlights.

5 / 36

When there is no curb and you are parking uphill, turn the wheels so that the vehicle will roll ______ the center of the road if the brakes fail.

Away from

Parallel to

On top of

Towards

6 / 36

In which of these situations should you leave extra space between your vehicle and the one in front of you?

When the driver behind you is trying to pass

All of the listed answers are correct

When following a semi

When driving on slick roads

7 / 36

With an instruction permit you may drive alone:

During daylight hours.

With a licensed adult.

In no situation.

With a special permit.

8 / 36

When should you turn on your headlights?

Any time in open country with a clear road ahead.

When it is raining hard.

Before noon.

After sunrise.

9 / 36

If you start to skid,

stop braking.

all answers are correct.

turn in the direction of the skid.

ease off the gas pedal.

10 / 36

This sign means:

Slow down

Turn right to exit

There is a sharp turn to the right ahead

Right turn permitted on green arrow only

11 / 36

If your vehicle is parked on a level street, in which direction should the tires point?

To the left

Away from the curb

Toward the curb

Parallel to the curb

12 / 36

How much space should you leave between your vehicle and the vehicle in front of you to avoid tailgating?

2 seconds

1 second

3 seconds

10 seconds

13 / 36

If a 19 year old is caught in their vehicle with an open alcoholic beverage, which of the following can happen?

The vehicle may be impounded for 30 days.

All of the listed answers.

Their driving privilege may be revoked for one year, or issuance of their license may be suspended for one year.

The court may fine them up to $1,000.

14 / 36

Why should you always check for motorcycles before changing lanes?

They can be difficult to see.

Motorcycles have different speed limits.

Motorcycles always have the right of way.

Motorcycles can change lanes without signaling.

15 / 36

You are involved in a minor collision at an intersection. No one is injured and the damage is minor, what should you do?

Move your car into the middle of the road

Stop traffic until you get instructions from law enforcement

Move your vehicle out of the traffic lane, if possible

Leave your vehicle and call the authorities

16 / 36

May you park your vehicle beside a white curb?

No.

Not without a permit.

Yes, but only long enough to pick up or drop off passengers or mail.

Yes, if you are handicapped.

17 / 36

When you see this sign:

Prepare for a delay

Be prepared to stop if children are in the crosswalk

Always stop at the crosswalk

Look for a crossing guard and wait for a signal to proceed

18 / 36

Drivers are required by law to obey instructions from

flaggers (also known as signal persons) at construction sites

any person in an official uniform

security guards patrolling parking lots

drivers using roadside flares

19 / 36

Safe driving requires personal responsibility to use ______

Sound judgement, reflexes, experience, and a calm demeanor.

Sound judgement, reflexes, experience, and common sense.

Experience and a willingness to share the road.

None of the listed answers.

20 / 36

If you sell a vehicle, you must report it to the DMV within ______ days.

365

21 / 36

When driving on a multilane street with two way traffic:

Always stay in the farthest left lane

Drive along side the other vehicles so the drivers can see you

You should drive ahead or behind the other vehicles

It is safest to drive in the lane next to the center line

22 / 36

A space cushion around your vehicle allows you to

Have drivers weave around you more effectively

It inflates to protect you from injury in case of a collision

Drive well below the speed limit if you choose

Have time to react if another driver makes a mistake

23 / 36

The California "Basic Speed Law" means that

you must never drive faster than what is safe for current road conditions.

the speed limit is the same throughout the state.

you should always drive the speed limit.

you should never drive faster than the posted speed limit.

24 / 36

When you park facing up a hill and there is no curb, you should turn your front wheels:

Parallel to the road.

Toward the side of the road.

You should not park there.

Away from the side of the road.

25 / 36

If you receive a phone call and you do not have a hands free device what should you do?

Let the call go to voicemail

Check the incoming number before answering the call

Answer the call if you think it may be an emergency

Check the number and send them a text

26 / 36

What are the criteria for an adult to obtain a California license for the first time?

Be at least 18 years of age.

Meet the requirements for a permit and then pass the behind-the-wheel driving test.

Pass the behind-the-wheel driving test.

All of the answers listed.

27 / 36

You must remain at least ____ feet behind any emergency vehicle with a siren or flashing lights.

100

500

300

28 / 36

Which of the following crimes can result in a permanent revocation of your driver's license?

Speeding.

Using your vehicle as a weapon.

Hit and run.

Reckless driving.

29 / 36

While driving in a center left-turn lane, you may only drive for ____ feet.

100

200

500

30 / 36

Drive into a special "turnout" area if you need to

go to the bathroom.

exit the highway.

allow vehicles to pass you.

park for the night.

31 / 36

You are driving on a city street and see an emergency vehicle with flashing lights behind you. What should you do?

Drive to the right edge of the road and stop

Make the first available turn

Stop immediately

Stay in your lane, slow down, and let it pass

32 / 36

If a street has a center left turn lane, a person should not drive more than _________ in the center left turn lane.

50 feet

100 feet

75 feet

200 feet

33 / 36

You are getting ready to make a right turn ahead. You should:

Always stop before making the turn.

Signal the last 100 feet before you reach the turn.

Make sure to signal as you begin to turn.

Come to a complete stop before turning.

34 / 36

When you see this sign you:

Stop and wait for a signal before crossing the railroad tracks

No railroad is ahead, proceed freely

No trespassing

Are approaching a railroad crossing; prepare to stop

35 / 36

How much space does an airbag need to safely inflate?

5 inches.

24 inches.

None.

10 inches.

36 / 36

It is illegal for a person 21 years of age or older to drive with a blood alcohol concentration of __________ or higher

0.001

0.0012

0.0008

0.0005

Your score is

The average score is 82%

3.7/5 - (12 votes)

How To Get A California Driver's License

There are certainly some hoops that you need to jump through to get a California driver’s permit or license. While there is some legwork to do to earn your license, it’s not an insurmountable task. We’ll walk you through the necessary steps and documentation to help you get comfortable with the process and ready to hit the road.

What are the age requirements for getting a California instruction permit and driver’s license? You can apply for your permit at age 15 ½ by going to your local California DMV location. At this age, you’ll need to complete a licensed driver’s education course, pass the DMV written knowledge test and pass the vision test to earn an instruction permit.

What are the steps for obtaining an instruction permit in California? For aspiring drivers under the age of 18, they will be required to complete an application. You can receive a permit if a parent or legal guardian signs your driver’s license or ID application. You will also need some documents and information:

Proof of insurance
Social security number
Legal proof of ID - such as a birth certificate or passport
Proof of residency

For minors less than 17.5 years old, they will also need to prove that they have completed or are in the process of completing a state-approved driver’s education program. People between 17.5 and 18 years old can obtain an instruction permit without driver’s ed certification, but will still need to turn 18 before they can take the driver’s test to earn their license.

For those who have moved to California after completing driver’s training out of state, California’s DMV will acknowledge the training if the school provides the necessary information on official letterhead, signed by a school official from the California DL33 form.

How To Pass the California Driver's License Test

Practice makes perfect, and that certainly holds true when it comes to preparing for your driving test. The number one piece of study material you’ll need to spend time with is the California Driver’s Manual. The manual contains everything you’ll need to know to pass the test, but it can be hard to digest so you’ll definitely want to supplement it with other tools. It can be worthwhile to utilize free resources like this site’s California permit practice test, which contains questions similar in format and content to what you’ll see on the official DMV test. As you progress through the driver’s manual, take these practice tests and record your scores to see how you’re progressing. If you’re struggling with questions related to signs, you can try our road signs practice test and work to improve in that area as well.

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Where to find a California driver’s manual?

Any DMV office should have a free copy on hand for you, or you can also find downloadable copies in a number of languages on the California DMV website here.

California License Frequently Asked Questions

You can renew your license in person at any California DMV location, by mail, or online. There are some stipulations for the latter two options. You can only renew by mail if your license expires in less than 60 days, are under age 70, do not have any current suspensions, and have not had two consecutive mail-in renewals. You can renew online if you received a renewal ID number by mail, can pay via credit card, and still have the same address from your previous license.

While some states require additional testing or an eye test during a license renewal, California does not require these unless a physician specifies the need for an eye test.

All is not lost if you fail your first attempt at the road test. California does require that you wait at least two weeks before scheduling your next test, however. You are allowed three attempts to pass the test before the DMV will require you to start the entire application process over again.

More than anything, you need to convince your evaluator that you are a safe and confident driver who can manage a vehicle on your own. Common skills you’ll be expected to demonstrate during your road test typically include:

Maintaining an acceptable speed - not too fast, and not too slow.
Understanding of right of way.
Completely stopping and proceeding at intersections.
Using proper driving mechanics, like keeping both hands on the wheel.
Safely parking the vehicle.
Stopping behind crosswalks.
Safely moving the car while in reverse.
Changing lanes and merging into traffic.

If you have a valid out of state license you have ten days to apply for a California license. If you have a current copy of your license, you can surrender it and you can avoid taking the California driver’s test. If you don’t have your current license, you’ll be required to take the California DMV test.

Additional Information

Information on the California Department of Motor Vehicles

Student testing and licensing in California is handled by the California DMV. Use the information below to contact them for any questions you have about licensing, or scheduling testing and training.

Website: https://www.dmv.ca.gov
Phone: 800.368.4327

To find the California DMV location nearest you please visit: https://drivingtestsample.com/dmv-locations/california/

Additional California Drivers License Helpful Links

The links below can help you answer common questions people have about the California driver’s license test or other California driver’s license-related topics.

Even More California Drivers Tests

We have put together ten additional tests to help you practice for your California Driver's License. Click below and get practicing!

California DMV Practice Test