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

In open country at night you should drive with

low-beam headlights.

high-beam headlights.

no headlights.

parking lights.

2 / 36

You may be considered a "negligent operator" under the Negligent Operator Treatment System if your driving record shows the following "point count" totals:

12 points in 12 months, 24 points in 24 months, or 36 points in 36 months.

4 points in 12 months, 6 points in 24 months, or 8 points in 36 months.

8 points in 12 months, 12 points in 24 months, or 16 points in 36 months.

9 points in 12 months, 12 points in 24 months, or 15 points in 36 months.

3 / 36

You should reduce your speed by half when the road is

packed with snow.

under construction.

icy.

all answers are correct.

4 / 36

Studies show that speeding ______.

None of the listed answers.

Saves only a few minutes in the course of an hour, making it dangerous and not worthwhile.

Saves a moderate amount of time, about ten minutes out of an hour of driving.

Can sometimes cut a long commute in half.

5 / 36

As you approach a school bus from behind it displays yellow flashing lights at the top. You must:

Be prepared to stop.

Pass quickly.

Drive alongside the bus until it stops.

Stop immediately.

6 / 36

Driving under the influence of any medication which impairs your driving is permitted

with written permission from a medical professional

as long as you are not on a highway

under no circumstances

if it is prescribed by a physician

7 / 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

Answer the call if you think it may be an emergency

Check the incoming number before answering the call

Check the number and send them a text

8 / 36

You are at a red light but a police officer signals you to proceed. What should you do?

Change lanes, but not proceed against the right light.

Ask the officer what you should do.

Wait for a green signal.

Proceed as the officer has directed.

9 / 36

A road with a solid yellow line next to a broken yellow line means that vehicles

Can pass if they are on the side with the broken line

Next to the solid line may pass

In both directions may pass

Are not allowed to pass

10 / 36

Any time you merge with other traffic, you:

Need a gap of at least four seconds.

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

Must accelerate to a speed faster than other vehicles.

Must come to a complete stop.

11 / 36

You must notify the DMV within 5 days if you:

Have allowed your license to expire

Paint your vehicle of a different color

Have driven without insurance

Sell or Transfer your vehicle

12 / 36

When can a left turn be made at a red light?

When turning from a one-way street onto another one-way street

In rural areas

Never

When turning from a two-lane road onto a one-lane road

13 / 36

This sign means:

Exit ahead on the left

One lane ahead

Merging Traffic ahead

Lane ends ahead

14 / 36

When should you turn on your headlights?

Before noon.

When it is raining hard.

After sunrise.

Any time in open country with a clear road ahead.

15 / 36

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

Signal the last 100 feet before you reach the turn.

Come to a complete stop before turning.

Always stop before making the turn.

Make sure to signal as you begin to turn.

16 / 36

When driving on a multilane street with two way traffic:

You should drive ahead or behind the other vehicles

Always stay in the farthest left lane

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

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

17 / 36

The speed limit for a blind intersection is what?

15 mph.

10 mph.

30 mph.

20 mph.

18 / 36

Why should you always check for motorcycles before changing lanes?

Motorcycles always have the right of way.

They can be difficult to see.

Motorcycles have different speed limits.

Motorcycles can change lanes without signaling.

19 / 36

After stopping and yielding, you may turn right at a red light unless:

There is a car behind you.

A no turn on red sign is posted.

You are in the far right lane.

You are turning from a two-way street.

20 / 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.

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

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.

21 / 36

Children CANNOT ride in the front seat of an airbag equipped car if he/she:

Is less than one year old.

Is in a rear-facing child passenger restraint system.

Weighs less than 20 lbs.

All answers are correct.

22 / 36

You have consented to take a test for the alcohol content of your blood, breath, or urine:

Only if you have already been convicted of drinking and driving.

Only If you have been pulled over for suspected drunk driving.

Whenever you drive in the state of California.

Only if an accident has occurred.

23 / 36

Drivers are required by law to obey instructions from

any person in an official uniform

drivers using roadside flares

flaggers (also known as signal persons) at construction sites

security guards patrolling parking lots

24 / 36

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

Stop immediately

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

Drive to the right edge of the road and stop

Make the first available turn

25 / 36

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

2 seconds

1 second

10 seconds

3 seconds

26 / 36

Which of these situations is appropriate to use your horn?

To get the attention of another driver

To express anger at another driver

To scare cyclists

To let pedestrians know they should get off the road

27 / 36

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

exit the highway.

allow vehicles to pass you.

park for the night.

go to the bathroom.

28 / 36

Within 100 feet of a railroad crossing, assuming you cannot see the tracks for 400 feet in both directions, what is the speed limit?

15 mph.

25 mph.

10 mph.

30 mph.

29 / 36

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

All of the listed answers are correct

When following a semi

When driving on slick roads

When the driver behind you is trying to pass

30 / 36

Safe driving requires personal responsibility to use ______

Sound judgement, reflexes, experience, and common sense.

None of the listed answers.

Experience and a willingness to share the road.

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

31 / 36

When are minors allowed to talk on cell phones while driving?

Only during an emergency.

Whenever they choose.

If they are talking to their parents.

Never.

32 / 36

What is a safety zone?

The road's shoulder.

An area for construction workers.

The median in a divided highway.

A space set aside for pedestrians.

33 / 36

Smoking inside a vehicle with a passenger under 18 years of age is

Illegal at all times

Legal, if it is your child

Legal, but not recommended

Not restricted by law

34 / 36

When in a roundabout, you should do all of the following except

come to a stop until you know which exit to take.

paying close attention for pavement markings.

following a counter-clockwise path.

using turn signals to change lanes.

35 / 36

How much space does an airbag need to safely inflate?

24 inches.

10 inches.

None.

5 inches.

36 / 36

If weather conditions require the use of windshield wipers, you must also

reduce your speed by half.

stay five car lengths from the car in front of you.

have your headlights on.

slow down.

Your score is

The average score is 80%

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