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

May you park your vehicle beside a white curb?

Not without a permit.

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

Yes, if you are handicapped.

No.

2 / 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.

Park your car and walk.

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

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

3 / 36

You should reduce your speed by half when the road is

icy.

all answers are correct.

under construction.

packed with snow.

4 / 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.

10 mph.

30 mph.

25 mph.

5 / 36

You must notify the DMV within 5 days if you:

Have allowed your license to expire

Paint your vehicle of a different color

Sell or Transfer your vehicle

Have driven without insurance

6 / 36

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

Toward the curb

Parallel to the curb

To the left

Away from the curb

7 / 36

What is the DMV's standard vision requirement?

30/90

20/100

20/40

20/80

8 / 36

Tailgating other drivers:

Can anger other drivers

Reduces the chance of collision

Is encouraged to make room for other drivers behind you

Is a great way to save gas

9 / 36

Due to their size, trucks often appear to be driving

slower.

recklessly.

faster.

the wrong direction.

10 / 36

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

using turn signals to change lanes.

paying close attention for pavement markings.

following a counter-clockwise path.

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

11 / 36

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

Pass quickly.

Drive alongside the bus until it stops.

Be prepared to stop.

Stop immediately.

12 / 36

How much space does an airbag need to safely inflate?

5 inches.

24 inches.

10 inches.

None.

13 / 36

To sign up to donate your organs and tissue for transplantation upon your death, you should do what?

Notify the DMV by phone.

Coordinate with your family and doctor.

Fill out the online form on the DMV website.

Check the "YES! Add my name to the donor registry." when applying or renewing your license.

14 / 36

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

Stand in the roadway and wave your arms.

Open your doors.

Manually signal traffic to drive around.

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

15 / 36

California residents who drive on public highways or use public parking facilities must have a California driver license, unless ______.

They are an officer or employee of the U.S. government operating a government vehicle on federal business.

Driving or operating an off-highway vehicle across a highway.

They are driving or operating implements used for husbandry not operated or moved over a highway.

All of the listed answers.

16 / 36

This sign means:

One lane ahead

Merging Traffic ahead

Exit ahead on the left

Lane ends ahead

17 / 36

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

Only required to use the shoulder belt

Not required to use either if the car has an airbag

Required to use both

Only required to use the lap belt

18 / 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 60 days.

Immediately.

Within 90 days.

Within 10 days.

19 / 36

Enter a roundabout:

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

When there is a big enough gap in traffic.

After coming to a complete stop and looking both ways.

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

20 / 36

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

Only if an accident has occurred.

Whenever you drive in the state of California.

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

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

21 / 36

To avoid last-second maneuvers, look down the road ________.

5-10 seconds

200 feet or more

2-3 seconds

10-15 seconds

22 / 36

Where should you stop your vehicle when there is no limit line or crosswalk?

Out far enough to see cross traffic.

Wherever you have a line of sight to see cross traffic.

At the corner and before entering the intersection.

10 feet behind the stop sign.

23 / 36

If you are an out-of-state minor who has taken a driving course outside of the state of California, the state DMV may accept what form to verify your attendance?

Form DL 33 - To Secondary Schools Other Than California.

Form DL 38 - Proof of School Attendance.

Form DL 23 - Driver License or Identification Card.

Form DL 45 - Supplementary Materials.

24 / 36

You should signal for at least _____ before changing lanes on the freeway.

3 seconds

50 feet

5 seconds

1/4 mile

25 / 36

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

Focus on your own driving.

Get out of their way.

Ignore any gestures from the other driver.

Make eye contact.

26 / 36

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

100

500

200

27 / 36

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

park for the night.

allow vehicles to pass you.

exit the highway.

go to the bathroom.

28 / 36

When should you turn on your headlights?

Any time in open country with a clear road ahead.

After sunrise.

Before noon.

When it is raining hard.

29 / 36

This sign means:

You should slow down and move to the right lane

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

You should pass anyone in the right lane

Slower traffic must exit on the right

30 / 36

With an instruction permit you may drive alone:

With a special permit.

In no situation.

With a licensed adult.

During daylight hours.

31 / 36

To make a U-turn on a highway with multiple lanes, you must start from:

The shoulder.

The far left lane.

The far right lane.

Any lane.

32 / 36

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

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

have your headlights on.

reduce your speed by half.

slow down.

33 / 36

You may drive in a bike lane

No more than 200 feet before making a right turn

if you drive slower than 15mph

whenever you choose

whenever bicyclists are not present

34 / 36

During which of the following situations should you turn on your headlights?

You should only use your headlights at night.

You should turn on your headlights only when it's foggy outside.

On hilly or mountain roads, as well to help avoid head-on collisions.

You should turn on your headlights whenever it is past noon.

35 / 36

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

Stop traffic until you get instructions from law enforcement

Move your car into the middle of the road

Move your vehicle out of the traffic lane, if possible

Leave your vehicle and call the authorities

36 / 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

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