California DMV - 250 questions - Free
California DMV practice, test-day help, and official resources
Start with the 250-question California practice bank, move through the 11 fixed tests, then use the exam-day guide and official DMV links before your appointment.
What the real exam actually requires
First-time applicants (and anyone under 18) get 46 questions and need 38 correct (83%) to pass. Renewing drivers 18 and over get 36 questions and need 30 correct (83%). Questions are drawn randomly from the DMV's own bank, not a fixed order. Our Exam Mode below grades to that same 83% standard so you know your actual readiness, not just a raw score.
Minimum permit age
15 1/2 years old for minors (under 18); 18 for adult applicants
Knowledge test fee
No separate fee; covered by the original driver license/permit application fee of $46 for a Class C license
Permit fee
$46 Class C original application fee (the instruction permit is issued under this application; no separate permit fee)
Initial license fee
$46 Class C application, original (same application fee covers the license issuance)
Questions on the knowledge test
36 questions (DL 5, applicants 18 and older; original applicants complete all 36; the under-18 provisional test DL 5T has 46 questions)
Passing score
A passing score is 80%
Retake fee
You are allowed three attempts to pass before you must reapply (no separate retake fee within an application; minors must wait seven days to retake)
Retake wait after failing
No mandatory wait between knowledge test attempts (3 attempts allowed before reapplying with new fee); a 14-day wait DOES apply before retaking the behind-the-wheel drive test after failing it
Supervised driving before road test
50 hours supervised practice driving with a parent/guardian or licensed driver 25+, including at least 10 hours at night, for first-time teen (under 18) applicants
Documents to bring
Proof of identity, two proofs of residency, and REAL ID documents if applying for a REAL ID; minors also need driver education completion and a parent or guardian signature (both if joint custody)
Find an office / appointment
CA DMV Service Locations and Offices locator plus the Schedule Appointment tool; most DMV business can be completed online.
REAL ID status
REAL ID application requires identity documents (passport or birth certificate) plus residency documents, uploaded online and then brought to a DMV office visit.
Motorcycle license
Riders under 21 must complete a CHP-approved rider training course (DL 389 certificate) and hold an M1/M2 permit for six months; riders 21 and older may take the course or a DMV driving test.
Commercial license (CDL)
Minimum age 18 for intrastate-only CDL; 21 for interstate commerce or hazmat. Requires Commercial Learner's Permit held 14+ days, Entry Level Driver Training (ELDT), knowledge and skills tests, and medical exam.
Official source: California DMV - Instruction and Learner's Permits
Getting your first permit
In California, the minimum permit age is 15 1/2 years old for minors (under 18); 18 for adult applicants. When you apply for a permit or license, bring: proof of identity, two proofs of residency, and REAL ID documents if applying for a REAL ID; minors also need driver education completion and a parent or guardian signature (both if joint custody). CA DMV Service Locations and Offices locator plus the Schedule Appointment tool; most DMV business can be completed online.
Fees, retakes, and practice hours
No separate fee; covered by the original driver license/permit application fee of $46 for a Class C license. If you fail the knowledge test: no mandatory wait between knowledge test attempts (3 attempts allowed before reapplying with new fee); a 14-day wait DOES apply before retaking the behind-the-wheel drive test after failing it. Before the road test, the state requires 50 hours supervised practice driving with a parent/guardian or licensed driver 25+, including at least 10 hours at night, for first-time teen (under 18) applicants.
REAL ID, motorcycle, and CDL
REAL ID application requires identity documents (passport or birth certificate) plus residency documents, uploaded online and then brought to a DMV office visit. For a motorcycle license: riders under 21 must complete a CHP-approved rider training course (DL 389 certificate) and hold an M1/M2 permit for six months; riders 21 and older may take the course or a DMV driving test. For a commercial license (CDL): minimum age 18 for intrastate-only CDL; 21 for interstate commerce or hazmat. Requires Commercial Learner's Permit held 14+ days, Entry Level Driver Training (ELDT), knowledge and skills tests, and medical exam.
A note on memorized answer dumps
The practice bank here is written from the California Driver Handbook, not copied from a leaked exam, because the DMV does not publish its actual question bank. Treat any site claiming to have "the real 2026 questions" with suspicion. What actually transfers to the real test is understanding why an answer is correct, which is why every question here comes with an explanation, not just a checkmark.
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Passed? Add the new driver before the first solo drive
California carriers rate newly licensed drivers differently. Before accepting the first premium you see, ask about driver assignment, good student discounts, and carrier fit.