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

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

Make sure to signal as you begin to turn.

Come to a complete stop before turning.

Signal the last 100 feet before you reach the turn.

Always stop before making the turn.

2 / 36

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

5 seconds

50 feet

3 seconds

1/4 mile

3 / 36

What is the maximum speed limit on most of the highways in California?

50 mph.

75 mph.

60 mph.

65 mph.

4 / 36

In open country at night you should drive with

parking lights.

low-beam headlights.

no headlights.

high-beam headlights.

5 / 36

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

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

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

You should only use your headlights at night.

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

6 / 36

An orange-colored sign like this means:

There is road work ahead

Traffic delays are ahead

Be prepared to stop

You must change lanes ahead

7 / 36

What does this sign mean?

Prepare to stop.

You must turn left or right ahead.

A hospital is ahead.

There is a side road ahead.

8 / 36

Studies show that speeding ______.

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

Can sometimes cut a long commute in half.

None of the listed answers.

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

9 / 36

Enter a roundabout:

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

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.

10 / 36

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

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

Never

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

In rural areas

11 / 36

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

Drive alongside the bus until it stops.

Be prepared to stop.

Stop immediately.

Pass quickly.

12 / 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.

13 / 36

A space cushion around your vehicle allows you to

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

Have time to react if another driver makes a mistake

Drive well below the speed limit if you choose

Have drivers weave around you more effectively

14 / 36

Safe driving requires personal responsibility to use ______

None of the listed answers.

Sound judgement, reflexes, experience, and common sense.

Experience and a willingness to share the road.

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

15 / 36

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

1 second

10 seconds

3 seconds

2 seconds

16 / 36

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

Leave your vehicle and call the authorities

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

17 / 36

This sign means that you must not pass:

Until you pass this sign.

On two lane roads only.

Until it seems safe to do so.

Any other vehicle for any reason.

18 / 36

The California "Basic Speed Law" means that

you should always drive the speed limit.

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

the speed limit is the same throughout the state.

you should never drive faster than the posted speed limit.

19 / 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

20 / 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

Towards

Parallel to

On top of

21 / 36

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

Possess a valid driver license from their home states.

Have California license plates.

Drive with their headlights on at all times.

Apply for special permission to drive in California.

22 / 36

Double parking

Is allowed if there are no parking spaces.

Is allowed unless there is a sign prohibiting it.

Is allowed on a one-way street.

Is not allowed.

23 / 36

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

Required to use both

Only required to use the lap belt

Not required to use either if the car has an airbag

Only required to use the shoulder belt

24 / 36

When you see this sign you should stop and:

See if someone is quickly approaching from behind

Let all vehicles that arrive before or after you go first

Check traffic in all directions before proceeding

Look for vehicles to your right

25 / 36

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

Increased risk of skidding.

Better visibility.

Shorter stopping distance.

Improved traction.

26 / 36

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

The shoulder.

The far right lane.

Any lane.

The far left lane.

27 / 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?

400 ft.

500 ft.

200 ft.

300 ft.

28 / 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

29 / 36

When you see this sign:

Prepare for a delay

Always stop at the crosswalk

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

Be prepared to stop if children are in the crosswalk

30 / 36

May you park your vehicle beside a white curb?

Yes, if you are handicapped.

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

No.

Not without a permit.

31 / 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.

Need a gap of at least four seconds.

Must come to a complete stop.

32 / 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.

Proceed as the officer has directed.

Wait for a green signal.

Ask the officer what you should do.

33 / 36

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

if it is prescribed by a physician

as long as you are not on a highway

under no circumstances

with written permission from a medical professional

34 / 36

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

500

100

300

35 / 36

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

Look for the truck driver's side view mirrors.

Always pass the truck on the right side.

Honk twice and wait for a response.

Remain at least 200 feet behind trucks at all times.

36 / 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.

Your score is

The average score is 58%

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