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:

Is less than one year old.

All answers are correct.

Weighs less than 20 lbs.

Is in a rear-facing child passenger restraint system.

2 / 36

This sign means:

Lane ends ahead

Merging Traffic ahead

Exit ahead on the left

One lane ahead

3 / 36

Double parking

Is allowed unless there is a sign prohibiting it.

Is not allowed.

Is allowed if there are no parking spaces.

Is allowed on a one-way street.

4 / 36

When should you turn on your headlights?

Any time in open country with a clear road ahead.

Before noon.

After sunrise.

When it is raining hard.

5 / 36

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

Legal, if it is your child

Not restricted by law

Illegal at all times

Legal, but not recommended

6 / 36

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

Be prepared to stop.

Drive alongside the bus until it stops.

Pass quickly.

Stop immediately.

7 / 36

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

Ignore any gestures from the other driver.

Focus on your own driving.

Get out of their way.

Make eye contact.

8 / 36

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

Honk twice and wait for a response.

Look for the truck driver's side view mirrors.

Always pass the truck on the right side.

Remain at least 200 feet behind trucks at all times.

9 / 36

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

2-3 seconds

5-10 seconds

200 feet or more

10-15 seconds

10 / 36

When driving on a multilane street with two way traffic:

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

Always stay in the farthest left lane

You should drive ahead or behind the other vehicles

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

11 / 36

What does this sign mean?

Prepare to stop.

A hospital is ahead.

You must turn left or right ahead.

There is a side road ahead.

12 / 36

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

with written permission from a medical professional

under no circumstances

if it is prescribed by a physician

as long as you are not on a highway

13 / 36

The speed limit for a blind intersection is what?

30 mph.

10 mph.

15 mph.

20 mph.

14 / 36

A space cushion around your vehicle allows you to

Drive well below the speed limit if you choose

Have time to react if another driver makes a mistake

Have drivers weave around you more effectively

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

15 / 36

This sign means:

Right turn permitted on green arrow only

Turn right to exit

Slow down

There is a sharp turn to the right ahead

16 / 36

This sign means that you must not pass:

Until it seems safe to do so.

On two lane roads only.

Any other vehicle for any reason.

Until you pass this sign.

17 / 36

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

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.

You should only use your headlights at night.

18 / 36

When driving within 500 to 1,000 feet of a school while children are outside, what is the speed limit?

15 mph unless otherwise posted.

25 mph unless otherwise posted.

5 mph unless otherwise posted.

10 mph unless otherwise posted.

19 / 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?

Immediately.

Within 90 days.

Within 60 days.

Within 10 days.

20 / 36

When you see this sign:

Always stop at the crosswalk

Prepare for a delay

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

Be prepared to stop if children are in the crosswalk

21 / 36

Drivers are required by law to obey instructions from

any person in an official uniform

drivers using roadside flares

security guards patrolling parking lots

flaggers (also known as signal persons) at construction sites

22 / 36

For which of the following traffic lights must you always stop your vehicle:

Solid red lights, red arrows and flashing yellow lights

Flashing yellow arrows, solid red lights and flashing red lights

Solid red lights, flashing red lights and blacked out traffic signals

Solid red lights, flashing red lights and yellow lights

23 / 36

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

Hit and run.

Using your vehicle as a weapon.

Speeding.

Reckless driving.

24 / 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

0.0005

0.0008

25 / 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.

slow down.

reduce your speed by half.

26 / 36

When you see this sign you:

Are approaching a railroad crossing; prepare to stop

No railroad is ahead, proceed freely

Stop and wait for a signal before crossing the railroad tracks

No trespassing

27 / 36

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

Pass the behind-the-wheel driving test.

Be at least 18 years of age.

All of the answers listed.

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

28 / 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

Slower traffic must exit on the right

You should pass anyone in the right lane

29 / 36

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

You should slow down and be alert

You can pass through at full speed

You should treat the signal like a stop sign

You should stop immediately

30 / 36

When traveling at 55 mph with quality tires, new brakes, and dry pavement, how far will your car travel before it comes to a complete stop?

300 ft.

200 ft.

400 ft.

500 ft.

31 / 36

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

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

using turn signals to change lanes.

paying close attention for pavement markings.

following a counter-clockwise path.

32 / 36

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

Only required to use the lap belt

Required to use both

Only required to use the shoulder belt

Not required to use either if the car has an airbag

33 / 36

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

Proceed as the officer has directed.

Change lanes, but not proceed against the right light.

Wait for a green signal.

Ask the officer what you should do.

34 / 36

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

Shorter stopping distance.

Improved traction.

Better visibility.

Increased risk of skidding.

35 / 36

Why should you always check for motorcycles before changing lanes?

They can be difficult to see.

Motorcycles can change lanes without signaling.

Motorcycles have different speed limits.

Motorcycles always have the right of way.

36 / 36

When you see this sign you should stop and:

Let all vehicles that arrive before or after you go first

Check traffic in all directions before proceeding

See if someone is quickly approaching from behind

Look for vehicles to your right

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

How To Get A California Driver's License

How To Pass the California Driver's License Test

California License Frequently Asked Questions

Additional Information

Information on the California Department of Motor Vehicles

Additional California Drivers License Helpful Links

Even More California Drivers Tests

California
DMV Practice Test