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

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

All answers are correct.

Is less than one year old.

Weighs less than 20 lbs.

Is in a rear-facing child passenger restraint system.

2 / 36

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

75 feet

100 feet

200 feet

50 feet

3 / 36

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

Check the number and send them a text

Answer the call if you think it may be an emergency

Check the incoming number before answering the call

Let the call go to voicemail

4 / 36

Any time you merge with other traffic, you:

Must accelerate to a speed faster than other vehicles.

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

Must come to a complete stop.

Need a gap of at least four seconds.

5 / 36

When you see this sign you should stop and:

Let all vehicles that arrive before or after you go first

See if someone is quickly approaching from behind

Look for vehicles to your right

Check traffic in all directions before proceeding

6 / 36

This sign means:

Exit ahead on the left

Merging Traffic ahead

Lane ends ahead

One lane ahead

7 / 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?

10 mph.

30 mph.

25 mph.

15 mph.

8 / 36

The speed limit for a blind intersection is what?

15 mph.

10 mph.

20 mph.

30 mph.

9 / 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.

Always pass the truck on the right side.

Look for the truck driver's side view mirrors.

Honk twice and wait for a response.

10 / 36

If you become involved in a road-rage incident, it is best NOT to:

Make eye contact.

Get out of their way.

Focus on your own driving.

Ignore any gestures from the other driver.

11 / 36

If you start to skid,

ease off the gas pedal.

all answers are correct.

stop braking.

turn in the direction of the skid.

12 / 36

While driving up a mountain road, you come up to another vehicle and there is not enough room for you to pass. What should you do?

Discuss your options with the other driver.

Reverse down the hill until you find a place to pull off the road.

Wait for the other vehicle to reverse back up the hill until there is room for you to pass.

Park your car and walk.

13 / 36

After an accident, the most important thing you can do to reduce the chances of secondary crashes is:

If possible, move your vehicle out of the traffic lane.

Manually signal traffic to drive around.

Open your doors.

Stand in the roadway and wave your arms.

14 / 36

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

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.

Be at least 18 years of age.

15 / 36

If you approach a flashing yellow traffic signal at an intersection it means

You can pass through at full speed

You should treat the signal like a stop sign

You should slow down and be alert

You should stop immediately

16 / 36

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

500

300

100

17 / 36

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

365

18 / 36

When approaching a school zone while children are outside, you must drive no faster than 25 mph if you are within ________ feet of the school.

500-1000

400-600

50-100

100-200

19 / 36

This sign means:

Slower traffic must exit on the right

Stay in the right lane if other traffic is moving faster than you

You should pass anyone in the right lane

You should slow down and move to the right lane

20 / 36

What does this sign mean?

A hospital is ahead.

There is a side road ahead.

Prepare to stop.

You must turn left or right ahead.

21 / 36

A space cushion around your vehicle allows you to

Drive well below the speed limit if you choose

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

Have drivers weave around you more effectively

Have time to react if another driver makes a mistake

22 / 36

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

Toward the side of the road.

Away from the side of the road.

You should not park there.

Parallel to the road.

23 / 36

This sign means that you must not pass:

Any other vehicle for any reason.

Until it seems safe to do so.

Until you pass this sign.

On two lane roads only.

24 / 36

Enter a roundabout:

When there is a big enough gap in traffic.

After coming to a complete stop and looking both ways.

At a high rate of speed to avoid traffic behind you.

Immediately, you have the right of way at all times.

25 / 36

When you see this sign you:

No railroad is ahead, proceed freely

Stop and wait for a signal before crossing the railroad tracks

Are approaching a railroad crossing; prepare to stop

No trespassing

26 / 36

How soon after becoming a resident of California must you apply for a California driver's license if you plan on driving in California?

Within 10 days.

Within 60 days.

Immediately.

Within 90 days.

27 / 36

If your vehicle has broken down but you are unable to move it from the road, where should you stop?

In the middle of the road

Near a stop sign

In a spot where your vehicle can be seen from behind

In an intersection

28 / 36

Safe driving requires personal responsibility to use ______

Sound judgement, reflexes, experience, and common sense.

Experience and a willingness to share the road.

None of the listed answers.

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

29 / 36

If your vehicle has a lap belt and also a separate shoulder belt, you are

Only required to use the lap belt

Not required to use either if the car has an airbag

Required to use both

Only required to use the shoulder belt

30 / 36

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

Never

In rural areas

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

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

31 / 36

Studies show that speeding ______.

Can sometimes cut a long commute in half.

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

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

None of the listed answers.

32 / 36

What is a safety zone?

The road's shoulder.

The median in a divided highway.

A space set aside for pedestrians.

An area for construction workers.

33 / 36

Out of state drivers over the age of 18 can drive in California as long as they _________.

Apply for special permission to drive in California.

Drive with their headlights on at all times.

Have California license plates.

Possess a valid driver license from their home states.

34 / 36

What conditions should you be aware of when driving on gravel roads?

Shorter stopping distance.

Improved traction.

Increased risk of skidding.

Better visibility.

35 / 36

When driving on a multilane street with two way traffic:

You should drive ahead or behind the other vehicles

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

Always stay in the farthest left lane

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

36 / 36

Written evidence of financial responsibility is needed:

For purchasing a car.

Whenever you drive.

When a law enforcement officer requires it.

When driving with other people in the vehicle.

Your score is

The average score is 72%

3.7/5 - (11 votes)

Drivers License

How To Get A California Drivers 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. For those between 17.5 and 18 years old, they 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.

Pass The Test

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.

California DMV Practice Test