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 may drive in a bike lane

No more than 200 feet before making a right turn

whenever bicyclists are not present

whenever you choose

if you drive slower than 15mph

2 / 36

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

Legal, if it is your child

Not restricted by law

Legal, but not recommended

Illegal at all times

3 / 36

Enter a roundabout:

After coming to a complete stop and looking both ways.

When there is a big enough gap in traffic.

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

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

4 / 36

How much space does an airbag need to safely inflate?

24 inches.

5 inches.

10 inches.

None.

5 / 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

Check the incoming number before answering the call

Answer the call if you think it may be an emergency

Check the number and send them a text

6 / 36

Which of these situations is appropriate to use your horn?

To scare cyclists

To express anger at another driver

To let pedestrians know they should get off the road

To get the attention of another driver

7 / 36

Written evidence of financial responsibility is needed:

When a law enforcement officer requires it.

Whenever you drive.

When driving with other people in the vehicle.

For purchasing a car.

8 / 36

You must notify the DMV within 5 days if you:

Sell or Transfer your vehicle

Have driven without insurance

Have allowed your license to expire

Paint your vehicle of a different color

9 / 36

When you see this sign you should stop and:

Look for vehicles to your right

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

10 / 36

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

Are not allowed to pass

Next to the solid line may pass

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

In both directions may pass

11 / 36

Any time you merge with other traffic, you:

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

Need a gap of at least four seconds.

Must come to a complete stop.

Must accelerate to a speed faster than other vehicles.

12 / 36

This sign means:

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

Slower traffic must exit on the right

You should slow down and move to the right lane

You should pass anyone in the right lane

13 / 36

According to California's "Basic Speed Law" says you must

Never drive faster than is safe for current conditions

Keep your speed close to that of other traffic

Remain under the posted speed limit at all times

Always drive at the posted speed limit

14 / 36

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

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

In rural areas

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

Never

15 / 36

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

Not required to use either if the car has an airbag

Only required to use the lap belt

Only required to use the shoulder belt

Required to use both

16 / 36

Is talking on your cell phone permitted while driving?

Yes, but only if you are driving the speed limit.

Only if you are using a hands-free device.

Yes, but only if you are not in the city.

No.

17 / 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.

Whenever you drive in the state of California.

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

Only if an accident has occurred.

18 / 36

If a 19 year old is caught in their vehicle with an open alcoholic beverage, which of the following can happen?

All of the listed answers.

The vehicle may be impounded for 30 days.

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

Their driving privilege may be revoked for one year, or issuance of their license may be suspended for one year.

19 / 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.

All of the answers listed.

Pass the behind-the-wheel driving test.

Be at least 18 years of age.

20 / 36

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

10 feet behind the stop sign.

At the corner and before entering the intersection.

Out far enough to see cross traffic.

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

21 / 36

With an instruction permit you may drive alone:

With a licensed adult.

In no situation.

During daylight hours.

With a special permit.

22 / 36

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

Parallel to the road.

You should not park there.

Toward the side of the road.

Away from the side of the road.

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

What is a safety zone?

An area for construction workers.

A space set aside for pedestrians.

The road's shoulder.

The median in a divided highway.

25 / 36

What is the DMV's standard vision requirement?

20/80

20/100

30/90

20/40

26 / 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

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

Have drivers weave around you more effectively

27 / 36

When merging into freeway traffic, who has the right-of-way?

The vehicle that is merging

The freeway traffic

The vehicle on the left

The vehicle on the right

28 / 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.

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

following a counter-clockwise path.

29 / 36

An orange-colored sign like this means:

There is road work ahead

You must change lanes ahead

Traffic delays are ahead

Be prepared to stop

30 / 36

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

To the left

Parallel to the curb

Toward the curb

Away from the curb

31 / 36

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

2-3 seconds

10-15 seconds

200 feet or more

5-10 seconds

32 / 36

Drivers are required by law to obey instructions from

any person in an official uniform

flaggers (also known as signal persons) at construction sites

security guards patrolling parking lots

drivers using roadside flares

33 / 36

When driving on a multilane street with two way traffic:

Always stay in the farthest left lane

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

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

You should drive ahead or behind the other vehicles

34 / 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.

400-600

100-200

500-1000

50-100

35 / 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.

Within 90 days.

Immediately.

36 / 36

In open country at night you should drive with

parking lights.

high-beam headlights.

no headlights.

low-beam headlights.

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