California Permit Practice Test

All 36 questions, the length in the DMV's December 2006 test evaluation

Every question below comes from the California question bank on this page. Open a question to see the correct answer and the explanation. Nothing here is hidden behind a signup.

1. 1. A 35-year-old California driver is on probation for a prior DUI. At what BAC is it illegal for this driver to drive?

   1. 0.08% or higher, like any adult
   2. 0.01% or higher
   3. 0.10% or higher
   4. 0.04% or higher
   Show answer

   0.01% or higher. A driver on DUI probation is held to a 0.01% BAC limit at any age, so a 35-year-old on probation cannot use the ordinary adult 0.08% limit. Full explanation in Test 1

   Study this in the handbook: Alcohol, drugs and DUI

2. 2. May a child in a rear-facing child restraint ride in the front seat of an airbag-equipped vehicle?

   1. Yes, if the child is at least one year old
   2. No, the handbook prohibits that seating position
   3. Yes, if the restraint is federally approved
   4. Yes, if the vehicle has no rear seat
   Show answer

   No, the handbook prohibits that seating position. A child in a rear-facing child passenger restraint may not ride in the front seat of an airbag-equipped vehicle. Full explanation in Test 2

   Study this in the handbook: Seat belts, child seats and cell phones

3. 3. How should you adjust your speed on packed snow?

   1. Reduce it by only 2 mph
   2. Reduce it by half
   3. Keep your dry-road speed
   4. Double it to maintain momentum
   Show answer

   Reduce it by half. For packed snow, the handbook calls for reducing speed by half. Full explanation in Test 3

   Study this in the handbook: Speed limits and the Basic Speed Law

4. 4. For an adult driver, what point total within 24 months can lead to license suspension?

   1. 4 points
   2. 6 points
   3. 8 points
   4. 10 points
   Show answer

   6 points. An adult driver’s license may be suspended when the record reaches six points in 24 months. Full explanation in Test 4

   Study this in the handbook: Tickets, points and suspensions

5. 5. What does a solid yellow traffic signal light mean?

   1. Speed up to clear the intersection
   2. Stop immediately even in the intersection
   3. Prepare to turn; through traffic must stop
   4. Caution: the light is about to turn red; stop if you can do so safely
   Show answer

   Caution: the light is about to turn red; stop if you can do so safely. Yellow is the transition warning between green and red, giving drivers already close a moment to clear while telling everyone farther back t Full explanation in Test 5

   Study this in the handbook: Traffic lights and pedestrian signals

6. 6. If oncoming headlights are too bright at night, where should you look?

   1. Directly into the headlights until your eyes adjust
   2. At your rearview mirror to avoid the glare
   3. Toward the right edge of your lane
   4. At the centerline between the vehicles
   Show answer

   Toward the right edge of your lane. When oncoming lights are too bright, avoid staring into them and guide your path by looking toward the right edge of your lane. Full explanation in Test 6

   Study this in the handbook: Scanning, following distance and skids

7. 7. This round yellow sign warns of a railroad crossing ahead. If the crossing has several tracks, what should you expect?

   
   1. Trains only on the track nearest you
   2. Trains only during posted hours
   3. A train on any track, at any time, traveling in either direction
   4. No train once one has just passed
   Show answer

   A train on any track, at any time, traveling in either direction. The handbook tells drivers to expect a train on any track, at any time, traveling in either direction. Full explanation in Test 7

   Study this in the handbook: School buses and railroad crossings

8. 8. Where may a California driver attach a sticker no larger than a 7-inch square?

   1. In the center of the windshield behind the rearview mirror
   2. The lower corner of the passenger's side windshield
   3. Anywhere along the top edge of the windshield
   4. The lower corner of the driver's side of the windshield
   Show answer

   The lower corner of the passenger's side windshield. California limits what you may stick on your glass so that your view stays clear. Full explanation in Test 8

   Study this in the handbook: Tickets, points and suspensions

9. 9. Which road surfaces tend to freeze before the rest of the road?

   1. Bridges and overpasses
   2. Freshly painted lane markings only
   3. Flat city blocks with heavy traffic
   4. Downhill shoulders after sunrise only
   Show answer

   Bridges and overpasses. Bridges and overpasses can freeze before other pavement, so slow before reaching them on cold wet days and expect hidden icy spots. Full explanation in Test 9

   Study this in the handbook: Speed limits and the Basic Speed Law

10. 10. What must you do before driving on any medication?

    1. Assume all medications are safe for driving
    2. Ask passengers whether you seem impaired
    3. Drive first and judge the effects later
    4. Read labels and know the effects of every drug you take
    Show answer

    Read labels and know the effects of every drug you take. Many prescriptions and over-the-counter remedies warn against driving precisely because drowsiness, dizziness, and slowed reactions sneak up Full explanation in Test 10

    Study this in the handbook: Alcohol, drugs and DUI

11. 11. A California school bus ahead of you in your lane is flashing its red lights, and you drive past without stopping. What penalty can follow?

    1. A fine of up to $1,000 and a possible one year suspension
    2. A $35 fine with no effect on the license
    3. A warning for a first offense
    4. A fine of up to $100
    Show answer

    A fine of up to $1,000 and a possible one year suspension. Failing to stop for a school bus with flashing red lights can bring a fine of up to $1,000, and the driving privilege could be suspended for Full explanation in Test 11

    Study this in the handbook: School buses and railroad crossings

12. 12. For a California driver age 21 or older operating a noncommercial vehicle, what is the lowest general per-se DUI BAC threshold?

    1. 0.04% or higher only when not towing
    2. 0.08% or higher
    3. 0.10% or higher after midnight
    4. Any reading only if a crash occurs
    Show answer

    0.08% or higher. For a noncommercial driver over 21, California sets the illegal BAC threshold at 0.08% or higher. The 0. Full explanation in Test 12

    Study this in the handbook: Alcohol, drugs and DUI

13. 13. Your vehicle begins to skid on a slippery surface. What should you do with the brake pedal?

    1. Press it hard until the vehicle stops
    2. Tap it rapidly while turning away from the skid
    3. Avoid using it while you ease off the accelerator
    4. Hold it halfway down to keep the wheels straight
    Show answer

    Avoid using it while you ease off the accelerator. For a slippery-surface skid, ease off the accelerator and do not use the brakes. Full explanation in Test 13

    Study this in the handbook: Scanning, following distance and skids

14. 14. In extreme heat, which step does the handbook list for overheating conditions?

    1. Drive faster so air cools the engine
    2. Open the radiator cap immediately
    3. Watch the temperature gauge and turn off the air conditioner
    4. Idle the engine in park for ten minutes
    Show answer

    Watch the temperature gauge and turn off the air conditioner. Extreme heat pushes cooling systems toward their limits, so the handbook advises watching the temperature gauge for early warning and switch Full explanation in Test 14

    Study this in the handbook: Blowouts, breakdowns and brake failure

15. 15. What is allowed at a white painted curb?

    1. Loading freight while the driver leaves
    2. Parking all day if no sign gives a time limit
    3. Stopping briefly to pick up or drop off passengers
    4. Parking only with a disabled placard
    Show answer

    Stopping briefly to pick up or drop off passengers. A white curb permits only a short stop for passenger pickup or dropoff. Full explanation in Test 15

    Study this in the handbook: Parallel parking, hills and colored curbs

16. 16. What does a flashing red traffic signal require at an intersection?

    1. Stop first, then continue only when it is safe
    2. Slow to a crawl without stopping if cross traffic is clear
    3. Wait for a green light before moving again
    4. Treat the signal as a warning that cross traffic must stop
    Show answer

    Stop first, then continue only when it is safe. A flashing red signal is handled like a stop control. Full explanation in Test 16

    Study this in the handbook: Traffic lights and pedestrian signals

17. 17. What minimum liability insurance must California drivers carry for property damage?

    1. $5,000 for property damage
    2. $15,000 for property damage
    3. $10,000 for property damage
    4. $30,000 for property damage
    Show answer

    $15,000 for property damage. California minimum liability coverage includes at least $15,000 for property damage. Full explanation in Test 17

    Study this in the handbook: Insurance, collisions and paperwork deadlines

18. 18. What does this DO NOT ENTER sign tell you?

    
    1. The road may be entered after stopping
    2. Only trucks are barred from the ramp
    3. Do not enter the road or ramp where it is posted
    4. The lane is closed only during rush hour
    Show answer

    Do not enter the road or ramp where it is posted. A DO NOT ENTER sign is a regulatory sign that bars entry to the road or ramp where it stands. Stopping first does not make entry legal. Full explanation in Test 18

    Study this in the handbook: Road sign shapes, colors and meanings

19. 19. A preliminary alcohol screening shows a 20-year-old California driver at 0.05% BAC. What may the officer do?

    1. Nothing, because 0.05% is under the adult limit
    2. Require a breath or blood test
    3. Issue a parking citation
    4. Only call the driver's parents
    Show answer

    Require a breath or blood test. If a preliminary alcohol screening shows 0.05% or higher for a driver under 21, the officer may require a breath or blood test. Full explanation in Test 19

    Study this in the handbook: Alcohol, drugs and DUI

20. 20. A California applicant under 18 wants an instruction permit. What is the youngest age at which they can apply?

    1. 15
    2. 15 and a half
    3. 16
    4. 14 and a half
    Show answer

    15 and a half. California lets a minor apply for an instruction permit at 15 and a half, provided they also complete a driver education program and a paren Full explanation in Test 20

    Study this in the handbook: Instruction permit and provisional license rules

21. 21. A pedestrian using a wheelchair is crossing. How should a driver treat that person?

    1. As a pedestrian or vulnerable road user
    2. As a slow vehicle that must yield
    3. As a bicyclist only in a marked lane
    4. As traffic only when using a motor
    Show answer

    As a pedestrian or vulnerable road user. California includes a person with a disability using a wheelchair for transportation among pedestrians or vulnerable road users. Full explanation in Test 21

    Study this in the handbook: Right of way: who goes first

22. 22. What should you carry if you drive in snowy areas?

    1. A bag of sand but no chains
    2. Snow chains of the correct number and type for your vehicle
    3. Spare windshield wipers only
    4. A second spare tire
    Show answer

    Snow chains of the correct number and type for your vehicle. Chains give tires the extra bite that snow and ice take away, and California chain-control areas can require them with no exceptions for unp Full explanation in Test 22

    Study this in the handbook: Speed limits and the Basic Speed Law

23. 23. How should a pregnant occupant position the lap portion of the seat belt?

    1. Across the middle of the abdomen
    2. Above the abdomen, just below the ribs
    3. As low as possible under the abdomen
    4. Loosely across the abdomen to leave extra room
    Show answer

    As low as possible under the abdomen. If you are pregnant, wear the lap belt as low as possible under your abdomen. Full explanation in Test 23

    Study this in the handbook: Seat belts, child seats and cell phones

24. 24. When may you make a U-turn in a residential district?

    1. Whenever your turn signal has flashed for 100 feet
    2. If no vehicle is approaching within 200 feet
    3. Only at a traffic light showing a green arrow
    4. Only when the street has two lanes in each direction
    Show answer

    If no vehicle is approaching within 200 feet. A residential U-turn is allowed only when no vehicles are approaching within 200 feet and no other listed ban applies. Full explanation in Test 24

    Study this in the handbook: Turns, U-turns, merging and passing

25. 25. At night, red road reflectors shining in your headlights usually warn that you are:

    1. Approaching a carpool lane entrance
    2. Driving the wrong way
    3. Near a railroad crossing
    4. Entering a construction detour
    Show answer

    Driving the wrong way. Red reflectors shining back at night are California's warning that you have entered a roadway against traffic. Full explanation in Test 25

    Study this in the handbook: Road sign shapes, colors and meanings

26. 26. What does a green arrow mean at a traffic signal?

    1. Go in the direction of the arrow for a protected turn.
    2. Proceed straight only after yielding to all traffic.
    3. Turn only after stopping at the limit line.
    4. The protected turn has ended and the light will change.
    Show answer

    Go in the direction of the arrow for a protected turn.. A green arrow means go in the direction the arrow points, and California describes that movement as a protected turn because oncoming vehicl Full explanation in Test 1

    Study this in the handbook: Traffic lights and pedestrian signals

27. 27. When may a child graduate to a regular safety belt?

    1. They must use a rear-facing seat
    2. They must sit in the front seat
    3. They may use a properly secured safety belt meeting federal standards
    4. They need no restraint at all
    Show answer

    They may use a properly secured safety belt meeting federal standards. Eight years or 4-foot-9 marks the graduation from child restraints to adult belts, provided the belt fits properly across the hips and shoul Full explanation in Test 2

    Study this in the handbook: Seat belts, child seats and cell phones

28. 28. Which headset or earplug use is illegal while driving in California?

    1. Wearing a headset or earplugs in both ears.
    2. Using a single hands-free earpiece.
    3. Listening through the vehicle's built-in speakers.
    4. Wearing hearing aids prescribed by a doctor.
    Show answer

    Wearing a headset or earplugs in both ears.. California says hearing helps drivers notice horns, sirens, motorcycles, and screeching tires, and it bars wearing a headset or earplugs in Full explanation in Test 3

    Study this in the handbook: Turn signals, horn and headlights

29. 29. Is someone traveling on a skateboard treated as a pedestrian or vulnerable road user?

    1. Yes, people on skateboards are included
    2. No, only people walking are included
    3. Only if the skateboard has lights
    4. Only when the rider is under 18
    Show answer

    Yes, people on skateboards are included. The handbook’s pedestrian and vulnerable-road-user description includes people traveling on skateboards and roller skates. Full explanation in Test 4

    Study this in the handbook: Right of way: who goes first

30. 30. What is the speed limit in California business or residential districts, unless otherwise posted?

    1. 25 mph
    2. 15 mph
    3. 35 mph
    4. 30 mph
    Show answer

    25 mph. Streets lined with shops, homes, driveways, and parked cars hide pedestrians, cyclists, and pulling-out vehicles behind every obstacle, so C Full explanation in Test 5

    Study this in the handbook: School buses and railroad crossings

31. 31. An average passenger vehicle at 55 mph can stop within about 300 feet. How far can a large truck take at the same speed?

    1. About 150 feet
    2. The same 300 feet
    3. About 200 feet
    4. Up to 400 feet
    Show answer

    Up to 400 feet. California's handbook compares the two directly: at 55 mph an average passenger vehicle can stop within 300 feet, while a large vehicle can Full explanation in Test 6

    Study this in the handbook: Right of way: who goes first

32. 32. A California driver under 21 is caught with alcohol in the vehicle. How long can law enforcement impound the vehicle?

    1. Up to 30 days
    2. Up to 7 days
    3. Up to 6 months
    4. It cannot be impounded
    Show answer

    Up to 30 days. When a driver under 21 is caught with alcohol in the vehicle, law enforcement can impound the vehicle for up to 30 days. Full explanation in Test 7

    Study this in the handbook: Alcohol, drugs and DUI

33. 33. DMV mails you notice of a proposed action against your California driving privilege. How long do you have to request a hearing?

    1. 30 days from the date of the notice
    2. 10 days after being served, or 14 days from the date the notice is mailed
    3. Until your license expires
    4. 48 hours
    Show answer

    10 days after being served, or 14 days from the date the notice is mailed. An administrative hearing must be requested within 10 days of being served, or within 14 days of the date the notice was mailed. Full explanation in Test 8

    Study this in the handbook: Tickets, points and suspensions

34. 34. What is a bike route, and how is it marked?

    1. A freeway lane closed to bicycles
    2. A sidewalk shared with pedestrians
    3. A signed preferred route for bikes on streets shared with cars
    4. A racing course closed to traffic
    Show answer

    A signed preferred route for bikes on streets shared with cars. Bike routes steer cyclists onto calmer streets using route signs and shared-lane markings, but cars still use the same lanes, so drivers mus Full explanation in Test 9

    Study this in the handbook: Lane markings and special lanes

35. 35. For an adult driver, what point total within 36 months can lead to license suspension?

    1. 8 points
    2. 4 points
    3. 6 points
    4. 10 points
    Show answer

    8 points. An adult driver’s record showing eight points in 36 months may lead to license suspension. Full explanation in Test 10

    Study this in the handbook: Tickets, points and suspensions

36. 36. How long must a California minor hold an instruction permit before scheduling the behind-the-wheel drive test?

    1. At least 30 days
    2. At least 1 year
    3. At least 3 months
    4. At least 6 months, or until turning 18
    Show answer

    At least 6 months, or until turning 18. An applicant under 18 must have an instruction permit from California or another state for at least 6 months, or turn 18, before scheduling Full explanation in Test 11

    Study this in the handbook: Instruction permit and provisional license rules