Printable CA Permit Practice Test

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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.

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

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.

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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