CA Permit Practice Test 10

All 20 questions in test 10

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. 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 on users. Reading the label before the first dose reveals those warnings while there is still time to arrange another ride. Officers judge the driving they observe, not the pharmacy bottle, so ignorance of side effects never defends an impairment stop. Drowsiness warnings apply equally to prescription, over-the-counter, and herbal products.

   Study this in the handbook: Alcohol, drugs and DUI

2. 2. 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. Thirty-six months is the three-year window in the handbook’s point list. Do not substitute the six-point total for 24 months or the four-point total for 12 months. Each listed total is paired with its own time period. This question asks about the longest of those three periods, for which the handbook gives eight points.

   Study this in the handbook: Tickets, points and suspensions

3. 3. At a STOP sign, where must you make a full stop?

   1. Past the crosswalk where cross traffic is visible
   2. Before the crosswalk or at the limit line
   3. Only after the front wheels enter the intersection
   4. Beside the sign post, regardless of pavement markings
   Show answer

   Before the crosswalk or at the limit line. A STOP sign requires a full stop before entering the crosswalk or at the limit line. Rolling forward past the crosswalk before stopping can place the vehicle where pedestrians may be crossing. If there is no limit line or crosswalk, stop before entering the intersection. The cue is the first legal stopping point: limit line first, then crosswalk, then the edge of the intersection.

   Study this in the handbook: Traffic lights and pedestrian signals

4. 4. How far from the steering wheel air bag cover should a California driver sit?

   1. At least 4 inches
   2. At least 10 inches, while keeping full control of the vehicle
   3. At least 24 inches, even if pedals are hard to reach
   4. As close as possible so the bag inflates quickly
   Show answer

   At least 10 inches, while keeping full control of the vehicle. An air bag inflates with great force, so the handbook says to ride at least 10 inches from the air bag cover, as long as you can still fully control the vehicle. Measure from the center of the steering wheel to your breastbone. If you cannot sit that far back safely, the handbook suggests asking the dealer or manufacturer for advice. Four inches is dangerously close, sitting as close as possible invites injury, and moving so far back that you cannot reach the pedals gives up control.

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

5. 5. An officer gives you a Notice of Priority Reexamination in California. How long do you have to contact DMV before your privilege is automatically suspended?

   1. Five working days
   2. 30 days
   3. Until your next renewal
   4. 24 hours
   Show answer

   Five working days. With a Notice of Priority Reexamination, you have five working days to contact DMV and start the reexamination process. If you do not, the driving privilege is automatically suspended. Thirty days and waiting for the next renewal are far too long, and 24 hours is shorter than the handbook allows. The notice arrives after contact with law enforcement, and the form with the top box checked should be read carefully. In a reexamination, DMV may require knowledge, vision, or driving tests.

6. 6. After a collision, what information must you show to the other driver and others involved?

   1. Only your license plate number and phone number.
   2. Driver's license and a written estimate of damage.
   3. Only proof that the vehicle passed smog inspection.
   4. Driver's license, registration, insurance information, and current address.
   Show answer

   Driver's license, registration, insurance information, and current address.. California requires drivers in a collision to show their driver's license, vehicle registration card, insurance information, and current address to the other driver, law enforcement, and anyone else involved. The license-plate option leaves out required documents and your current address. These exchanges help identify drivers, vehicles, and financial responsibility. The cue is any collision scene where you are involved: stop and be ready to provide the listed records before leaving.

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

7. 7. After becoming a California resident or getting a job in California, how long do you have to register an out-of-state vehicle?

   1. 30 days
   2. 5 days
   3. 20 days
   4. Until the out-of-state registration expires
   Show answer

   20 days. The handbook gives a 20 day deadline to register a vehicle after you become a California resident or get a job in the state. The five day choice applies to notifying DMV after selling a vehicle, so it is the wrong paperwork event. A concrete cue is the moment residency or California employment starts, since that date begins the registration clock for the out-of-state vehicle.

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

8. 8. Your car has front-wheel ABS and starts to skid. What should you do with the brake pedal?

   1. Pump the brakes rapidly
   2. Press the brake harder and hold it
   3. Lift off the brake to unlock the wheels, then steer where you want to go
   4. Shift into neutral and close your eyes
   Show answer

   Lift off the brake to unlock the wheels, then steer where you want to go. With front-wheel ABS in a skid, a locked pedal keeps the front tires sliding instead of rolling, and sliding tires cannot steer. Releasing the pedal lets the wheels roll again so steering works, at which point you aim where you want to travel and straighten as the car settles. Check the owner's manual to learn whether your car has ABS and how its warning light behaves.

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

9. 9. What is a pedestrian push button for?

   1. Press it to activate the WALK signal
   2. Ignore it; signals change automatically
   3. Hold it down for one minute
   4. Press it only at night
   Show answer

   Press it to activate the WALK signal. Push buttons tell the signal controller a pedestrian is waiting, which is the only way some actuated crossings grant a WALK phase. Press once, then wait on the sidewalk for the walking-person display. Ignoring the button at an actuated signal can leave you standing through multiple cycles that never serve pedestrians. At vehicle-actuated signals the button is the only way to request a walk phase.

   Study this in the handbook: Traffic lights and pedestrian signals

10. 10. A row of solid white triangles stretches across your lane, pointing toward you. What is it?

    1. A finish line for a race route
    2. A yield line showing where to yield or stop, with triangles pointing at you
    3. A stop line that requires a full stop always
    4. A crosswalk for school children
    Show answer

    A yield line showing where to yield or stop, with triangles pointing at you. Yield lines, sometimes called shark's teeth, appear before roundabouts, crosswalks, and merge points to show exactly where to slow and give way. The triangles aim at approaching drivers as a visual arrow of responsibility. Unlike a limit line at a stop sign, a yield line does not always demand a full stop, only that you yield the right-of-way before proceeding.

    Study this in the handbook: Lane markings and special lanes

11. 11. How must you treat horses and horse-drawn vehicles on the road?

    1. Share the road with them; scaring horses or livestock is illegal
    2. Pass them as fast as possible
    3. Honk to warn the rider
    4. Force them onto the shoulder
    Show answer

    Share the road with them; scaring horses or livestock is illegal. Horses are prey animals that spook at sudden noise and speed, so the handbook pairs road-sharing permission with a cruelty rule: deliberately frightening them is against the law. Slow down, give a wide berth, and follow any directions from the person handling the animals. Riders share the same lane rights as any slow-moving road user, including horse-drawn buggies. Follow any directions from the person handling the animals, and pass only when waved through.

12. 12. On a freeway in heavy traffic, what can happen if you drive much slower than normal traffic flow?

    1. You are protected from citation if hazard lights are on
    2. You gain legal priority over faster vehicles
    3. You must move to the far-left lane
    4. You may be cited for blocking reasonable traffic movement
    Show answer

    You may be cited for blocking reasonable traffic movement. Driving too slowly can be unlawful when it blocks normal and reasonable traffic flow. Heavy traffic and weather may require slower speeds, but a driver should not create a moving obstruction. The far-left-lane choice reverses the handbook guidance because slower drivers should move right when another driver wants to go faster. Watch your mirrors: if traffic stacks up behind you and conditions allow, use the right lane.

    Study this in the handbook: Trucks, emergency vehicles, bicycles and work zones

13. 13. What should a yellow merging-traffic sign make you do?

    
    1. Stop in your lane until all ramp traffic has entered
    2. Move onto the shoulder to leave the lane open
    3. Hold your lane and adjust speed so entering traffic can blend safely
    4. Cross a double solid white line to avoid the merge area
    Show answer

    Hold your lane and adjust speed so entering traffic can blend safely. A merging-traffic sign warns that another traffic stream will join yours, so keep scanning, leave room, and change speed smoothly if needed. Stopping in your lane is dangerous unless traffic control or an emergency requires it, because following drivers may not expect a full stop. The cue is the side line joining the main line, which should make you check mirrors and nearby gaps before the merge point.

14. 14. When may you pass another vehicle on a broken yellow line?

    
    1. Only within 100 feet of a railroad crossing
    2. Whenever the vehicle ahead is below the posted limit
    3. Only when the broken line is next to your lane and passing is safe
    4. Across any yellow line if you signal first
    Show answer

    Only when the broken line is next to your lane and passing is safe. A broken yellow line allows passing only when that broken line is beside your lane and the maneuver can be made safely. Signaling first does not permit crossing any yellow marking, and passing within 100 feet of a railroad crossing is prohibited. The cue is both the line pattern and the traffic view ahead. Confirm adequate space, oncoming traffic, hills, curves, and a safe return path before moving out.

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

15. 15. An ambulance behind you is using a siren and red lights. What should you do?

    
    1. Drive to the right edge of the road and stop
    2. Stop immediately in your lane
    3. Speed up until you reach the next exit
    4. Move left to clear the shoulder
    Show answer

    Drive to the right edge of the road and stop. Emergency vehicles using a siren and red lights have the right-of-way, so you should move to the right edge and stop until they pass. Stopping in the travel lane can block the ambulance, and moving left may place you in its path. The cue is the combination of siren and red lights. Signal if needed, steer right when safe, and stay stopped until the emergency vehicle has cleared your position.

    Study this in the handbook: Trucks, emergency vehicles, bicycles and work zones

16. 16. What are two sets of solid double yellow lines spaced two or more feet apart?

    1. A passing lane for faster traffic
    2. A barrier you must not drive over except at designated openings
    3. A center left turn lane for 200 feet
    4. A shoulder marking for disabled vehicles
    Show answer

    A barrier you must not drive over except at designated openings. Two sets of solid double yellow lines spaced at least two feet apart are treated as a barrier. They are not a center left turn lane, which has a broken inner line and a solid outer line on both sides. The cue is two separate double-yellow pairs with space between them. Do not drive on or across that area, and do not make a left turn or U-turn across it except at a marked opening.

    Study this in the handbook: Lane markings and special lanes

17. 17. How must you park on a sloping driveway?

    1. Leave the wheels straight and the car in neutral
    2. Point the wheels toward the street for a quick exit
    3. Leave the engine running with flashers on
    4. Turn the wheels to block street roll, leave it in park, set the brake
    Show answer

    Turn the wheels to block street roll, leave it in park, set the brake. A sloped driveway can roll an unsecured car straight into traffic if the brakes alone fail, so the handbook demands three independent layers of protection: wheels aimed to prevent street entry, the transmission in park or in gear for a manual, and the parking brake firmly set. Straight wheels in neutral offer no backup at all. Build the same wheels-plus-park-plus-brake habit for every hill park, with or without a curb.

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

18. 18. What does a red painted curb mean?

    1. Limited-time parking during posted hours
    2. Passenger loading for three minutes
    3. Disabled parking with a placard
    4. No stopping, standing, or parking
    Show answer

    No stopping, standing, or parking. A red curb is the strictest colored curb rule: no stopping, standing, or parking. Passenger loading belongs to a white curb, and disabled parking is marked by blue. The exception is a bus stopping in a red zone marked only for buses. Your cue is the red paint itself. Treat it like a prohibition zone and do not pause there for errands, pickups, or waiting.

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

19. 19. After driving through floodwater, what should you check?

    1. Whether the tires gained extra traction
    2. Whether the horn can be heard from 200 feet
    3. Whether the brakes work correctly
    4. Whether the parking brake will hold at highway speed
    Show answer

    Whether the brakes work correctly. After crossing a flooded road, test your brakes to confirm they work correctly because water can reduce braking performance. The horn-distance choice is a drive-test equipment requirement, not the post-flood safety check. The cue is any water deep enough to reach the wheels; once clear of it, slow down in a safe place and verify braking response before returning to normal speed.

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

20. 20. What penalty faces reckless driving or a speed contest that injures someone?

    1. A warning letter only
    2. Imprisonment, a fine, or both
    3. Community service only
    4. A 30-day license restriction
    Show answer

    Imprisonment, a fine, or both. Street racing and reckless driving stop being traffic tickets the moment someone gets hurt: the law treats the injured victim as proof the driver accepted deadly risk. Jail time, criminal fines, or both follow conviction, on top of license actions and civil liability. Even without injury, speed contests draw impounds, heavy fines, and license suspension in California. A second offense or a hit-and-run after racing multiplies every penalty further.

    Study this in the handbook: Tickets, points and suspensions