CA Permit Practice Test 14

All 20 questions in test 14

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. 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 switching off the air conditioner to cut engine load. Speeding up adds heat faster than airflow removes it, and idling in park keeps the engine working with almost no cooling airflow. Opening a hot radiator cap is outright dangerous because pressurized coolant can erupt and scald. If the gauge climbs into the red, pull over safely, shut the engine off, and let it cool before checking anything under the hood.

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

2. 2. Which convictions make California DMV revoke a driving privilege outright, regardless of point totals?

   1. Two parking tickets in one year
   2. Any speeding ticket over 10 mph
   3. Failing to signal a lane change
   4. Hit and run, or reckless driving that resulted in injury
   Show answer

   Hit and run, or reckless driving that resulted in injury. DMV revokes the driving privilege when a driver is convicted of a hit and run, or of reckless driving that caused an injury. These are singled out because of their severity, not because of a point count. Parking tickets, a single speeding ticket, and a missed signal are not on that list; ordinary moving violations add to a point record that DMV reviews against totals such as 4 points in 12 months, 6 in 24, or 8 in 36. After any suspension or revocation ends, proof of financial responsibility such as an SR 22 is required.

   Study this in the handbook: Tickets, points and suspensions

3. 3. When entering a roundabout, who must you yield to?

   
   1. Only vehicles entering from your right
   2. Only large trucks already in the circle
   3. All traffic already in the roundabout
   4. Pedestrians only after you enter
   Show answer

   All traffic already in the roundabout. Before entering a roundabout, slow down and yield to traffic that is already circulating. Enter to the right only when there is a safe gap. The vehicles-from-your-right choice confuses roundabouts with some other intersection rules; traffic inside the circle has priority regardless of which entry you are using. Use the cue of the central island: watch the circulating lane, wait for a gap, then travel counterclockwise.

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

4. 4. A person is moving livestock along the road. Whose directions should you follow?

   1. The person in charge of the animals
   2. Only a driver behind you who honks
   3. Any spectator waving from a fence
   4. Your navigation app instead of the handler
   Show answer

   The person in charge of the animals. Follow the directions of the person responsible for the animals. That handler can help coordinate traffic with the animals’ movement and keep the crossing orderly. A horn from an impatient driver does not replace those directions. When livestock are near the road, pay attention to the handler as well as the animals so you do not move into their path while someone is trying to guide them.

5. 5. Who may stop at a red zone in California?

   1. Anyone stopping briefly to load passengers
   2. No one, except buses at a red zone marked for buses only
   3. Taxis picking up fares
   4. Delivery trucks for five minutes
   Show answer

   No one, except buses at a red zone marked for buses only. Red means no stopping, standing, or parking for anyone, because these zones protect fire access, sight lines, and traffic flow at the most sensitive curbs. The single exception is a bus serving a red zone explicitly marked for buses only, where the stop is part of scheduled transit service. Passenger loading, taxis, and quick deliveries all belong at white or yellow zones instead. Even a brief stop in a red zone risks a ticket and can block emergency equipment, so keep moving until you find a legal curb.

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

6. 6. What maximum speed can neighborhood electric and low-speed vehicles reach?

   1. 15 mph
   2. 25 mph
   3. 35 mph
   4. 45 mph
   Show answer

   25 mph. The 25 mph ceiling keeps NEVs and LSVs matched to the low-speed streets they are restricted to, since they lack the crash protection and power for faster roads. Watch for NEV USE ONLY and NEV ROUTE signs marking their corridors. Faster drivers must adjust speed and share patiently rather than pressuring these small vehicles beyond their limits. Fines and impounds punish drivers who force these small vehicles off their routes.

7. 7. What does a single solid white lane line mark?

   1. Opposing traffic lanes
   2. A bike lane edge
   3. A no-passing zone
   4. Same-direction lanes, including on one-way streets
   Show answer

   Same-direction lanes, including on one-way streets. White divides while yellow separates: white lines organize lanes flowing the same way, reserving yellow for opposing-traffic divisions. A single solid white line discourages crossing but permits it with care, unlike double white lines which ban it. On one-way streets the same white rules sort multiple lanes all heading together. Double white lines, by contrast, forbid crossing them for any reason.

   Study this in the handbook: Lane markings and special lanes

8. 8. How should you control the car while backing up?

   1. Back as fast as possible
   2. Back at a smooth, safe speed and adjust steering as needed
   3. Back with your eyes closed
   4. Back without ever stopping
   Show answer

   Back at a smooth, safe speed and adjust steering as needed. Backing offers the worst visibility and the least precise steering of any maneuver, so slow smooth rolling with constant correction is the only safe technique. Jerky speed or fixed steering lets the rear wander toward cars, poles, and pedestrians you cannot see well. Practice until the car tracks straight, stop the moment anything approaches behind, and pull forward to restart rather than forcing it.

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

9. 9. Where can icy spots hide on cold, wet days?

   1. In shade from trees or buildings, which freezes first and dries last
   2. On sunlit open stretches where water pools after rain
   3. On dry pavement that sunlight has warmed through the day
   4. Only on dirt roads
   Show answer

   In shade from trees or buildings, which freezes first and dries last. Sunlight is the road's natural de-icer, so pavement denied direct sun stays frozen long after open stretches dry out. A shaded curve can hide black ice between two dry sunny straights, which is exactly where drivers get surprised. Treat every shadow across the road on a cold wet day as a potential ice patch and slow before reaching it. Bridge decks and shaded curves deserve extra caution on every cold morning commute.

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

10. 10. Traffic is moving faster than the posted speed limit. What should you remember?

    1. The posted limit does not apply during rush hour.
    2. You must match the fastest traffic to avoid blocking lanes.
    3. You may be cited for driving faster or slower than the speed limit.
    4. You may exceed the limit when staying in the right lane.
    Show answer

    You may be cited for driving faster or slower than the speed limit.. California warns that driving faster or slower than the speed limit can lead to a citation, even when traffic pressure makes another speed tempting. The match-fastest-traffic option is wrong because surrounding drivers do not erase the posted limit or the Basic Speed Law. Conditions may require slowing, but speeding remains risky and illegal. The cue is the speedometer compared with the posted sign: keep a lawful, reasonable speed and move to the right when a driver close behind you wants to go faster.

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

11. 11. What lane space should you give a motorcycle when possible?

    1. Only the left half of the lane.
    2. The full lane.
    3. Enough room to share the lane side by side.
    4. A shoulder path if traffic is slow.
    Show answer

    The full lane.. California advises drivers to give motorcycles the full lane whenever possible. Motorcycles are smaller and can be harder to see, but they are still entitled to the lane space needed for safety. The side-by-side choice is wrong because the handbook separately warns never to pass a motorcycle in the same lane. Use the cue of a motorcycle ahead or beside you: leave a normal lane cushion instead of trying to squeeze past.

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

12. 12. Your license was suspended after an uninsured collision. How can you get it back early?

    1. Nothing can restore it early
    2. Only a governor's pardon works
    3. Move to another state instead
    4. File an SR 22/SR 1P certificate and maintain it for three years
    Show answer

    File an SR 22/SR 1P certificate and maintain it for three years. Uninsured at-fault drivers lose the privilege for up to four years, but proof of future financial responsibility can cut the wait. The SR 22 or SR 1P certificate filed by an insurer guarantees coverage, and maintaining it unbroken for three years proves the lesson stuck. Dropping coverage restarts the suspension. Dropping the required coverage at any point restarts the full suspension.

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

13. 13. A steady yellow arrow lights for your left turn. What is it telling you?

    1. The turn is now protected from all traffic
    2. You must stop immediately wherever you are
    3. Your protected turning time is ending and the signal will change soon
    4. The arrow is malfunctioning and should be ignored
    Show answer

    Your protected turning time is ending and the signal will change soon. A steady yellow arrow is the turn lane's warning phase, matching what a solid yellow ball means for through traffic. If you can stop safely, do so; if you are too close or already committed in the intersection, clear it by cautiously completing the turn. The next display may be a green or red ball or a red arrow, so watch the signal rather than assuming the turn stays protected.

    Study this in the handbook: Traffic lights and pedestrian signals

14. 14. Before changing lanes, what check must you make after signaling and checking mirrors?

    
    1. Look over your shoulder toward the lane you plan to enter
    2. Tap the brakes until nearby drivers slow
    3. Lean across the car and turn your whole body
    4. Speed up first so the blind spot clears itself
    Show answer

    Look over your shoulder toward the lane you plan to enter. Before a lane change, California expects a shoulder check in the direction you intend to move. Mirrors alone can miss vehicles in blind spots, especially motorcycles and bicyclists. Turning your whole body or steering wheel while checking can pull the vehicle out of its lane. The cue is the final glance through the side window: turn only your head, confirm the lane is open, then move smoothly.

    Study this in the handbook: Lane markings and special lanes

15. 15. What does a yellow winding-road sign tell you?

    
    1. A single sharp turn is immediately followed by a stop sign
    2. A road crew is directing alternating one-way traffic
    3. A high-wind area begins and trailers are prohibited
    4. Several curves are ahead and speed should be controlled early
    Show answer

    Several curves are ahead and speed should be controlled early. A winding-road sign warns that more than one curve is ahead, so choose a speed you can hold through the sequence instead of reacting curve by curve. The high-wind choice is tempting because of the word winding, but the sign describes road alignment, not weather. The cue is the snaking arrow; look farther ahead for each bend and leave extra space before entering the first one.

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

16. 16. After moving, how soon must you notify DMV of your new California address?

    1. Within five days
    2. Within ten days
    3. Within 20 days
    4. When your license next expires
    Show answer

    Within ten days. A California driver who moves must notify DMV of the new address within ten days. Waiting until renewal is too late because DMV needs a current mailing address on record for notices and licensing matters. The five-day choice may sound familiar from vehicle sale reporting, but address changes use ten days. A cue is any move, even within California: submit the change online or by mail promptly.

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

17. 17. You want to turn left and an oncoming vehicle has its right signal on. What should you do before starting your left turn?

    1. Wait until the vehicle starts turning
    2. Assume the signal means it will turn before reaching you
    3. Turn immediately because you signaled too
    4. Assume it must yield to your left turn
    Show answer

    Wait until the vehicle starts turning. An oncoming driver’s right signal may be on by mistake or may indicate a turn beyond your position. Wait for the vehicle to begin turning before relying on that movement to start your left turn. A blinking signal alone does not remove the conflict with approaching traffic. Watch the vehicle’s actual path and speed, and allow room for it to continue straight if the indication is misleading.

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

18. 18. Who is exempt from the open-container passenger rule?

    1. Passengers in any private car
    2. The driver when parked
    3. Passengers in a bus, taxi, camper, or motorhome
    4. Passengers on a motorcycle
    Show answer

    Passengers in a bus, taxi, camper, or motorhome. The exemption recognizes vehicles built for living and hired transport, where passengers ride far from the controls and the driver remains fully bound by every DUI and open-container rule. Ordinary cars, pickups, and SUVs never qualify no matter how the passengers behave. Drivers of exempt vehicles face the same zero-tolerance treatment as every other driver. The driver of an exempt vehicle remains fully bound by all DUI laws.

    Study this in the handbook: Alcohol, drugs and DUI

19. 19. A vehicle’s horn must be loud enough to be heard from at least what distance under the handbook’s vehicle requirements?

    1. 200 feet
    2. 100 feet
    3. 300 feet
    4. 500 feet
    Show answer

    200 feet. The handbook’s vehicle requirements call for a horn that can be heard from at least 200 feet. It must also be designed for the vehicle and be in proper working condition. This is a requirement for the vehicle used in the drive test. Keep the horn’s audible distance separate from distances used for headlights, bicycle lights, or turn signals. The listed minimum for the horn is 200 feet.

    Study this in the handbook: Knowledge test, drive test and vehicle check

20. 20. A vehicle with just one visible light approaches at night. How should you position your vehicle?

    1. In the middle of both lanes
    2. Near the centerline to inspect it
    3. Across the centerline to give the light room
    4. As far to the right as possible
    Show answer

    As far to the right as possible. An approaching single light could belong to a bicycle, a motorcycle, or a car with a missing headlight. Move as far right as possible rather than assuming that only a narrow vehicle is coming. The unseen side of a wider vehicle may be closer than you expect. Stay within a safe path while allowing room, and do not drift toward the center just to identify the light.

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