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California · June 2025 edition

California DMV practice questions

198 questions written from the California Driver's Handbook, grouped into 8 topics. Each one opens its own page with the correct answer, the explanation and the handbook page it comes from. When you are ready, take a full practice test.

Treat this page as a study plan rather than a list. Each topic opens with a short note on what its questions tend to check and on the details that are easy to mix up, then points you to our full guide on that topic and to the matching part of our handbook summary. The page numbers in each note are the ones printed in the handbook, so you can check any rule against the source in a few seconds.

Signs, signals and pavement markings 28 questions

Most questions here hinge on two signals that look alike but mean different things. After a full stop you may turn right on a solid red light unless a sign forbids it, but never on a red arrow. A flashing red light works like a stop sign, while a flashing yellow light only asks you to slow down and stay alert. A signal that is out turns the crossing into an all-way stop. Shapes come up too: a five-sided sign means a school is near. With pavement markings, watch the double yellow lines: one set may be crossed to turn left into a driveway, but two sets spaced two feet or more apart work as a barrier.

Handbook pages 13, 33, 34, 38.

  1. You are approaching an intersection and the traffic signal turns solid yellow. What should you do?
  2. You are stopped at a signal showing a red arrow and want to turn in the direction the arrow points. What must you do?
  3. The center of the road is marked with two sets of double solid yellow lines spaced two or more feet apart. What do these markings mean?
  4. You come to an intersection where the traffic signal is a flashing red light. What does it require you to do?
  5. You arrive at an intersection where the traffic signal is completely dark because of a power failure. What should you do?
  6. The light is green, but traffic ahead is backed up and you are not sure you can get all the way across the intersection before the light turns red. What should you do?
  7. You are driving next to a carpool (HOV) lane that is separated from your lane by double solid white lines. When may you cross them to enter the HOV lane?
  8. You see a five-sided (pentagon-shaped) sign ahead. What does it tell you?
  9. You are waiting in a left turn lane when the green arrow changes to a solid yellow arrow. What is that signal telling you?
  10. The left turn signal ahead of you shows a flashing yellow arrow. What may you do?
  11. A line of solid white triangles is painted across your lane as you approach an intersection, with the points aimed at you. What is it?
  12. You are driving at night and the reflectors along the road ahead shine red in your headlights. What does that tell you?
  13. On a two-way road with only one lane going your direction, a single solid yellow line runs along your side of the center. May you pass the slow vehicle ahead?
  14. A single set of double solid yellow lines separates your side of a two-way street from oncoming traffic. When may you cross them?
  15. The yellow center line right next to your lane is broken rather than solid. What does that tell you?
  16. You see a shared roadway bicycle marking painted in your travel lane. What does it tell you?
  17. Looking only at the pavement, how can you recognize a carpool (HOV) lane?
  18. In the middle of a two-way street, a lane is bordered on each side by a broken line on the inside and a solid line on the outside. What may you use it for?
  19. A green arrow lets you make a protected turn. What makes the turn protected?
  20. A pedestrian signal at a crosswalk shows a number that keeps going down. What do the numbers mean?
  21. An intersection has crisscross and diagonal crosswalks that let pedestrians cross in any direction at the same time. When may a pedestrian cross diagonally?
  22. You are walking up to an intersection with traffic lights but no pedestrian signals. What should guide when you cross?
  23. You come to a STOP sign at a corner that has no limit line and no crosswalk. Where should you stop?
  24. You are approaching a red YIELD sign. What does it require of you?
  25. Which warning signs are you required to obey?
  26. A sign shows a picture inside a red circle with a red line through it. What does it mean?
  27. Up ahead you see a round yellow-and-black sign. What is it warning you about?
  28. What kind of message does a white rectangular sign usually give?

Right-of-way and intersections 25 questions

These questions describe a scene and ask who moves first. At a corner with no signs or signals, the driver who got there first goes first, and when two arrive together, the one on the left waits for the one on the right. At a T intersection, traffic on the through road keeps going. In a roundabout you yield to whoever is already circling and travel counterclockwise. An unmarked crosswalk gives the walker the same priority as a painted one. On a narrow mountain road where nobody can pass, the driver facing downhill is the one who backs up. And when a siren comes up behind you, pull to the right edge and stop, but finish crossing an intersection first.

Handbook pages 39, 40, 41, 42, 45.

  1. You reach an intersection that has no STOP or YIELD signs at the same time as another vehicle, which is on your right. What should you do?
  2. What should you do as you approach a roundabout and prepare to enter it?
  3. An ambulance with its siren and red lights on is coming up behind you while you are in the middle of an intersection. What should you do?
  4. A pedestrian with a white cane is waiting at the corner as you approach the intersection. Which of these is correct?
  5. Two vehicles meet on a steep, narrow mountain road where neither can pass. Which vehicle must back up?
  6. You are on a road that ends at a T intersection with no STOP or YIELD signs. Who has the right-of-way?
  7. You are inside a roundabout and realize you have just gone past the exit you wanted. What should you do?
  8. A funeral procession led by a traffic officer is crossing the intersection ahead of you. What are you required to do?
  9. A fire engine ahead of you has its siren and flashing lights on. How close behind it may you legally drive?
  10. A tow truck is stopped on the shoulder ahead of you with its amber warning lights flashing. What does the law require of you?
  11. A person on a skateboard is crossing the street ahead of you. Under California right-of-way rules, how is that person treated?
  12. The car in the lane beside you has stopped at a crosswalk. Your light is green and your own lane looks clear. What should you do?
  13. A firefighter at the scene of a collision waves you through a red light. What should you do?
  14. You are on an on-ramp, about to merge onto the highway. Who has the right-of-way?
  15. You are waiting to turn left. An oncoming car has its right turn signal on. When should you start your turn?
  16. You come up to a solid red light and want to turn right. No NO TURN ON RED sign is posted. What must you do?
  17. Your light turns green, but a bicyclist who started across late is still in the intersection in front of you. What should you do?
  18. You pull up to an intersection with a STOP sign on every corner. A car on the cross street had already stopped there before you arrived. Who goes first?
  19. You are pulling out of a shopping center driveway onto a busy street. Who has to yield?
  20. You are about to make a right turn at an intersection. What does the handbook tell you to check for every time?
  21. You are entering a roundabout with two lanes and plan to go straight through. Which lane should you choose?
  22. You are already driving inside a roundabout. Which of these does the handbook require?
  23. A pedestrian waiting at the corner looks right at you and makes eye contact as you approach. What does the handbook say this means?
  24. You approach a crosswalk that has built-in flashing lights, but right now the lights are not flashing. What should you do?
  25. You drive an electric car and are backing out of a driveway while a pedestrian with a guide dog walks nearby. Why does the handbook ask for extra care with hybrid and electric vehicles here?

Speed limits 18 questions

One rule sits above every number. The Basic Speed Law says you never drive faster than is safe for the conditions, whatever the sign says. Numbers that get confused: 25 mph near a school (within 500 feet) while children are outside, and in business or residential districts; 15 mph at a blind intersection, in an alley and within 100 feet of a railroad crossing when you cannot see 400 feet down the tracks both ways, with no gate or signal; and 55 mph on a two-lane undivided highway and 65 on most highways. Weather questions ask for amounts: 5 to 10 mph slower on a wet road, half your speed on packed snow and 5 mph at most on ice.

Handbook pages 50, 51, 52, 61, 67.

  1. You are driving past a school, less than 500 feet from it, and there are children outside or crossing the street. Unless a lower limit is posted, what is the speed limit?
  2. Unless a different limit is posted, what is the maximum speed limit on a two-lane undivided highway in California?
  3. An intersection has no STOP signs on any corner and your view of the cross street is blocked. What is the speed limit as you approach?
  4. In a heavy rainstorm you cannot see farther than 100 feet ahead. According to the handbook, what is the fastest it is safe to drive?
  5. The road is covered in ice. By how much does the handbook say you should reduce your speed?
  6. You turn into an alley behind a row of shops. Unless a sign says otherwise, how fast may you drive?
  7. You are driving on a residential street and there are no speed limit signs posted. What is the speed limit?
  8. You are towing a trailer on a divided highway that is posted at 65 mph. How fast may you drive?
  9. The road is wet from rain. By how much does the handbook say you should cut your speed?
  10. You are driving on packed snow. What does the handbook tell you to do with your speed?
  11. Traffic is light and the weather is clear, but you are driving well under the speed limit and cars are stacking up behind you. What does the handbook say about that?
  12. You are on a California highway and there are no speed limit signs in sight. What is the maximum speed limit?
  13. Can a school zone have a speed limit lower than 25 mph?
  14. Near a railroad crossing where you cannot see far down the tracks, the limit is normally 15 mph. When may you drive faster than 15 mph there?
  15. Which of these does the handbook define as an alley?
  16. You reach an intersection with no stop signs on any corner, and buildings block your view of the cross street. Besides keeping within the speed limit, what does the handbook tell you to do?
  17. At night you drive out of a brightly lit parking lot onto a dark road. What does the handbook advise?
  18. You are driving in strong, gusty winds. Which of these does the handbook recommend?

Turns, lanes, passing and parking 27 questions

This topic leans on exact distances. You signal at least 100 feet before a turn. A center left turn lane is good for no more than 200 feet of driving. Turning left on red is legal only from a one-way street onto another one-way street. For a U-turn the number is 200 feet of clear view in each direction. Parking brings the curb colors: red means no stopping, standing or parking, white is only for picking up or dropping off passengers, and blue is for disabled parking. On a hill, front wheels go toward the curb when you face downhill and away from it when you face uphill. Keep 15 feet away from a fire hydrant.

Handbook pages 11, 16, 20, 27, 28.

  1. You are using a two-way center left turn lane to prepare for a left turn. What is the maximum distance you may drive in that lane?
  2. In which of these situations is a U-turn NOT permitted?
  3. You park facing uphill on a street that has a curb. Which way should you turn your front wheels?
  4. On a city street, how far before you turn should you begin signaling?
  5. When may you turn left at a red light in California?
  6. You want to pass a slow vehicle on a two-lane road. Within what distance of an intersection, bridge, tunnel, or railroad crossing is passing NOT allowed?
  7. In which situation may you pass another vehicle on its right?
  8. When you finish parallel parking, how far from the curb may your vehicle be at most?
  9. You are on the freeway and want to move into the next lane. How far ahead of the move should you signal?
  10. What are you allowed to do at a curb painted yellow?
  11. You are driving slowly on a two-lane road where it is not safe for anyone to pass, and five cars are now following you. What does the handbook require?
  12. How close to a fire hydrant may you legally park?
  13. When does the handbook tell you to use hand-and-arm signals instead of your signal lights?
  14. You are about to cross an intersection and plan to turn into a driveway just beyond it. When should you turn on your signal?
  15. Traffic lanes are often referred to by number. On a road with several lanes in your direction, which one is the Number 1 Lane?
  16. You are parked at the curb and about to pull out onto a street with several lanes in your direction. Which lane do the handbook's tips point you to?
  17. Coming from a two-way street, you turn left onto a one-way street that has three lanes going your way. In which lane may you finish the turn?
  18. You are coming up on the street where you meant to turn, but you are in the wrong lane and the lane beside you is full. What should you do?
  19. Signs mark the right-hand lane of a street for public transit buses only. Which of these may you do in your car?
  20. You are stopped, waiting for oncoming traffic to clear so you can turn left. Which way should your front wheels point?
  21. You are joining traffic on the highway. How much space does the handbook say you need in order to merge?
  22. Where does the handbook say you must NOT pass another vehicle?
  23. To parallel park, you pull up alongside the vehicle parked in front of the empty space. About how much room should you leave between the two vehicles?
  24. You park on a hill on a road that has no curb. Which way should you turn your front wheels?
  25. What are you allowed to do at a curb painted white?
  26. Your car breaks down and you have to stop on a freeway. What does the handbook tell you to do while you wait for help?
  27. You are towing a trailer on a highway with four lanes in your direction and no lane marked for slower vehicles. Which lanes may you use?

Sharing the road 24 questions

This topic covers road users that do not behave like a car. With a large truck, if you cannot see its side mirrors, its driver cannot see you. Motorcycles have the same rights as any vehicle, and lane splitting, sharing a lane with one, is legal. If you pass a bicyclist without changing lanes, leave at least three feet. The school bus rule has an exception worth learning: flashing red lights stop you from either direction, unless the bus is across a divided or multilane highway. Never drive through a transit safety zone, although a streetcar, trolley or bus stopped beside one can be passed at 10 mph or less. Work zone fines double when workers are present.

Handbook pages 42, 43, 44, 48, 49, 51.

  1. A bicyclist is riding in your travel lane and you cannot move into another lane to pass. How much space must you leave between your vehicle and the bicyclist?
  2. A school bus ahead of you on a two-lane road has stopped and its red lights are flashing. What must you do?
  3. You are driving behind a large truck. How can you tell whether the truck driver can see you?
  4. Which statement about sharing the road with motorcycles in California is correct?
  5. A streetcar is stopped at a safety zone marked on the road. What is the fastest you may pass it?
  6. Which vehicles are required to stop before crossing railroad tracks, even when no train is in sight?
  7. A school bus with its red lights flashing is stopped on the far side of a divided highway that has two lanes in each direction. Must you stop?
  8. An average passenger vehicle at 55 mph can stop within 300 feet. How much room can a large vehicle need at the same speed?
  9. The large truck ahead of you swings out to the left as it comes up to a corner. What is the safest reading of that move?
  10. When may you overtake and pass a light rail vehicle or a streetcar on its left side?
  11. Who is required to wear a helmet when riding a bicycle in California?
  12. You are riding a bicycle after dark. From how far away must the white light of your front lamp be visible?
  13. A neighborhood electric vehicle (NEV) pulls out in front of you. What does the handbook say about which roads these vehicles may use?
  14. A bicyclist ahead of you holds their left arm straight out to the side, pointing left. What are they telling you?
  15. A bicycle lane runs along the right side of the street you are on. Which of these is a time you may drive in it?
  16. Two trucks of the same size are traveling at the same speed. One is fully loaded and the other is empty. Which statement is correct?
  17. You want to get past a large truck on the freeway. What does the handbook tell you to do?
  18. Raised buttons mark off a space on the road where people wait to board a streetcar. When may you drive through that space?
  19. You are waiting to turn left across light rail tracks. Which of these is correct?
  20. You come up behind a road maintenance vehicle with an orange and red triangle on its back. What does the triangle tell you?
  21. You ride a bicycle after dark. From how far away must your rear red reflector or red light be visible?
  22. Ahead of you, a rider on horseback is moving cattle along a rural road. What does the handbook tell you to do?
  23. On a one-way street, a bicyclist is riding near the left curb. Is that allowed?
  24. When does the handbook allow a bicyclist to ride on the sidewalk?

Safe driving and emergencies 27 questions

Look at least 10 seconds down the road and keep three seconds behind the vehicle ahead. Before a lane change, turn your head to check the blind spot. In a skid on a slippery road, ease off the accelerator, stay off the brakes and steer the way the skid is taking you. In heavy fog, use low beams, since high beams bounce back as glare, and never drive on parking or fog lights alone. Child seats depend on age and height: under 8 or under 4 feet 9 inches means a child seat. Stalled on tracks with a train coming? Get out and run at an angle away from the tracks, toward the train.

Handbook pages 57, 58, 60, 64, 66, 70.

  1. Which method does the California Driver's Handbook recommend for keeping a safe following distance behind the vehicle ahead?
  2. Under California rules, when must you turn on your headlights?
  3. Your rear wheels begin to skid on an icy road. What should you do first?
  4. Your vehicle starts to hydroplane on a wet freeway. What should you do?
  5. You must drive through heavy fog. Which lights should you use?
  6. A child is under 2 years old, weighs less than 40 pounds, and is shorter than 3 feet 4 inches. How must the child ride in your vehicle?
  7. A front tire blows out while you are driving at highway speed. What should you do?
  8. You are 17 and hold a provisional license. When may you use a cell phone while driving?
  9. You have to run into a shop for a few minutes. Under what condition may you leave your five-year-old in the car?
  10. Your car stalls on a railroad crossing, a train is coming and the warning lights are flashing. Once you are out of the car, which way should you run?
  11. An oncoming vehicle's headlights are so bright that you can barely see the road. Where should you look?
  12. How far back from the air bag cover should you sit, and how is that distance measured?
  13. You are using hand-to-hand (push/pull) steering. How should you hold the wheel?
  14. In which situation does the handbook call for hand-over-hand steering?
  15. You are turning while backing up and need to look behind you to see where you are going. How should you hold the steering wheel?
  16. You are on a narrow mountain road and a curve ahead keeps you from seeing at least 200 feet down the road. What does the handbook tell you to do?
  17. You are driving at night with your high beams on and come up behind a vehicle going the same way. Within what distance of it must you switch to low beams?
  18. You are carrying lumber that sticks out 5 feet past your rear bumper. What must you display during the day?
  19. Your friends want to ride in the open bed of your pickup truck for a short trip. When is that allowed?
  20. How does the handbook tell you to check your blind spots?
  21. At night, a vehicle showing only one headlight is coming toward you. What should you do?
  22. Your car has four-wheel antilock brakes (ABS) and goes into a locked wheel skid. What should you do with the brake pedal?
  23. You have just driven through water and your brakes are wet. How does the handbook tell you to dry them?
  24. On a cold, wet day, which part of the road tends to freeze before the rest?
  25. A patrol car ahead turns on its emergency lights and starts weaving slowly across all the lanes. What should you do?
  26. Your 6-year-old normally rides in a child passenger restraint system in the back seat. In which situation may the child ride in front, still in that restraint system?
  27. Your car runs out of gas on a freeway during the morning commute, in an area covered by the CHP Freeway Service Patrol (FSP). What can FSP do for you?

Alcohol and drugs 22 questions

Alcohol questions turn on which limit applies to the driver in the question, so read the age and the type of vehicle before the options. The limit is 0.08% for drivers over 21, 0.01% for anyone under 21 or on DUI probation, and 0.04% for a vehicle that needs a commercial license or carries a passenger for hire. Medicines count: DUI covers any drug that affects your driving, prescription and over-the-counter included. Refusing a blood or urine test leads to a one-year suspension or revocation. An open container belongs in the trunk or where passengers do not sit, and the glove box is not allowed. After a DUI arrest you have 10 days to ask for a DMV hearing.

Handbook pages 72, 73, 74.

  1. You are 19 years old. At what blood alcohol concentration (BAC) does it become illegal for you to drive in California?
  2. You are carrying a bottle of wine that has already been opened. Where may it legally ride in your car?
  3. A law enforcement officer suspects you of driving under the influence and asks you to take a breath, blood, or urine test. What happens if you refuse?
  4. How long does a DUI conviction stay on your California driver's record?
  5. You are 30 years old and not on DUI probation. You are driving your own car, which needs no commercial license and carries no passengers for hire. At what blood alcohol concentration (BAC) does it become illegal for you to drive?
  6. You are 40 years old and on DUI probation. At what blood alcohol concentration (BAC) does it become illegal for you to drive?
  7. A friend is driving and you are in the passenger seat of their car. May you drink a beer?
  8. You are convicted of a DUI in California. What does DMV do to your driving privilege, and what must you do?
  9. You are arrested for DUI and the officer takes your driver's license. What are you given instead, and for how long?
  10. You have been arrested for DUI and want a DMV administrative hearing. By when must you ask for one?
  11. You are 19 and a friend asks you to carry an unopened bottle of wine in your car. When is that legal?
  12. You are 16 and are convicted of riding a bicycle while under the influence of alcohol. What can happen to your driving privilege?
  13. Your doctor has prescribed a medicine that makes you drowsy. How does California's DUI law treat it?
  14. What does the handbook say about how age affects a driver's tolerance to alcohol?
  15. After a DUI stop you agreed to a preliminary alcohol screening (PAS) and a breath test. Can you still be required to take a blood or urine test?
  16. In which of these vehicles does the open container rule for alcohol NOT apply to a passenger?
  17. You are 35, not on DUI probation, and drive for a ride service, carrying a passenger who pays for the trip. At what blood alcohol concentration (BAC) does it become illegal for you to drive?
  18. Can you be convicted of DUI if your blood alcohol concentration (BAC) was never measured?
  19. In the handbook's BAC table, one drink means 12 ounces of 5% beer. How much 12% wine counts as one drink?
  20. Your BAC is 0.10%. According to the handbook's glossary, what does that number mean?
  21. You are taking a jet ski out on a lake. What does California law say about drinking alcohol while you operate it?
  22. You are 19 and an officer has you take a preliminary alcohol screening (PAS). It shows a BAC of 0.05%. What may the officer do next?

Licensing, insurance and the law 27 questions

Licensing questions are mostly deadlines and thresholds, and several sit close enough to swap. A provisional license bars driving between 11 p.m. and 5 a.m. for the first 12 months. A collision goes to DMV on form SR 1 within 10 days when damage passes $1,000 or anyone is hurt or killed, whoever was at fault. A new address must reach DMV within ten days; a vehicle you sold, within five. An adult can be suspended as a negligent driver at 4 points in 12 months, 6 in 24 or 8 in 36. Minimum liability coverage is $30,000 for one person hurt or killed, $60,000 for more than one and $15,000 for property.

Handbook pages 4, 8, 54, 76, 78, 79.

  1. Within any 12-month period, what is the lowest point total at which DMV may consider you a negligent driver and suspend your driving privilege?
  2. You are 17, got your provisional license eight months ago, and want to drive your 16-year-old friend home at 6 p.m. Is that allowed?
  3. You move to a new home within California. Within how many days must you notify DMV of your new address?
  4. What is the minimum liability insurance coverage California requires for property damage?
  5. You are in a collision in which another driver is injured. Within what time must a report be made to law enforcement?
  6. You are 17 and applying for your first driver's license. How much supervised practice driving do you need, and with whom?
  7. How many attempts do you get at the knowledge test before you must reapply, and how long must a minor wait after failing one?
  8. You are in a collision and you do not have proper insurance coverage. What happens to your driving privilege?
  9. You move to California bringing your car with you. How long do you have to register it here?
  10. Your driver's license is about to expire and you are 72 years old. How must you renew it?
  11. A law enforcement officer pulls you over. Which documents must you, as the driver, produce?
  12. You lend your car to someone who turns out to have no driver's license, and they are stopped by police. What can happen to your car?
  13. A physician diagnoses a patient with a condition that can cause a lapse of consciousness. From what age must the physician report it to DMV?
  14. Your California driver's license is not REAL ID compliant. Which of these can you still use it for?
  15. You have a California ID card but no driver's license or instruction permit. What does the ID card let you do?
  16. You are 16 and applying for an instruction permit. Your parents share joint custody of you. Who has to sign your application?
  17. You are under 18 and DMV has just issued your instruction permit. When can you start using it to practice driving?
  18. Your license was lost, so you got a replacement. A week after the new card arrives, you find the old one. What should you do with it?
  19. You are driving in the carpool (HOV) lane when a law enforcement officer signals you to pull over. Where should you stop?
  20. A law enforcement officer stops you for a traffic violation. When must the officer tell you the reason for the stop?
  21. During a traffic stop, an officer asks for your permission to search your car. Which statement matches the handbook?
  22. You signed a traffic ticket but did not show up in court on your date. What can DMV do?
  23. You are 17 with a provisional license. In your first year of driving you are convicted of two traffic violations. What can DMV do?
  24. At your DMV administrative hearing, you want to question the person who prepared a document DMV is using as evidence. What does the handbook say?
  25. You back into a parked car and cannot find its owner. What must you do?
  26. After a traffic stop, an officer gives you a Notice of Priority Reexamination of Driver with the top box checked. How long do you have to contact DMV before your driving privilege is suspended automatically?
  27. You are 60 and have completed the Mature Driver Improvement Program. How long is your certificate valid, and how do you renew it?

How to study with this page

To work through a topic, read its note, then try each question in your head before you open it. On the question page, read the explanation even when you got it right: it also says why the other options are wrong, and those wrong options are often the shape the next question on the same rule will take.

When a topic feels solid, move on to the one you trust least. Once every topic has had a pass, take a full practice test, which mixes questions from all of them, and come back here to review the topics where you lost points.

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Last updated: October 6, 2026