CA Permit Practice Test 15

All 20 questions in test 15

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 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. It is not an all-day parking area, and freight loading is tied to yellow curb rules. Use the curb color as the cue: white means passenger activity, not leaving the vehicle for a long errand. Finish the boarding or unloading task promptly, then clear the space for the next driver.

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

2. 2. Under the handbook’s bicyclist responsibilities, riders below what age must wear a helmet?

   1. 16 years old
   2. 17 years old
   3. 21 years old
   4. 18 years old
   Show answer

   18 years old. The handbook lists wearing a helmet as a responsibility for bicyclists under 18 years old. This age applies to the bicycle helmet rule, so do not substitute an age from driver licensing or alcohol rules. Bicyclists also must obey traffic signs and signals, yield to pedestrians, and ride in the same direction as traffic. Those responsibilities accompany the helmet requirement; following them does not replace wearing the required helmet.

3. 3. A large truck signals right but first moves left. What is the safest interpretation?

   1. The truck driver is inviting you to pass on the right.
   2. The truck is probably preparing a wide right turn.
   3. The truck must be changing to the left lane.
   4. The signal should be ignored until the truck slows.
   Show answer

   The truck is probably preparing a wide right turn.. Long vehicles often need extra room because their rear wheels track inside the front wheels during a turn. A truck that signals right and swings left may still be turning right, so passing on the right can place you beside the truck as it closes the turn. The left-lane option treats the swing as the whole maneuver, which misses the signal. Use the combination of size, signal, and wide movement as your cue to stay back.

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

4. 4. What can happen to a driver under 21 for illegally carrying alcohol in a vehicle?

   1. A court may take away the license for one year
   2. The license must remain unaffected
   3. Only a warning is permitted
   4. The license automatically becomes unrestricted
   Show answer

   A court may take away the license for one year. For a driver under 21 who is caught illegally carrying alcohol, the court may impose a fine and a one-year license suspension. That is a licensing consequence separate from what happens to the vehicle. Do not assume that possession is harmless merely because the driver has not been drinking. The container and accompanying-adult rules still matter when a young driver transports alcohol in a car.

   Study this in the handbook: Alcohol, drugs and DUI

5. 5. If your vehicle starts hydroplaning, what is the safest response?

   1. Brake firmly to push the tires through the water
   2. Accelerate until the tires regain contact
   3. Turn sharply toward the shoulder
   4. Slow down gradually and avoid braking
   Show answer

   Slow down gradually and avoid braking. Hydroplaning means the tires are riding on water instead of gripping the road. Slow down gradually and avoid braking so the tires can regain contact without a sudden skid. The firm-braking choice is dangerous because sudden braking may make control worse. A cue is a light or floating feel in wet conditions, especially near standing water or tire sloshing sounds; ease off and keep steering smooth.

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

6. 6. Should you use cruise control in strong winds?

   1. Only while passing a large truck
   2. Yes, to prevent any speed changes
   3. Yes, whenever the road is straight
   4. No, keep direct control of the accelerator
   Show answer

   No, keep direct control of the accelerator. Turn cruise control off in strong winds so you can control the accelerator directly when a gust hits. A straight road does not remove the risk of a sudden sideways push. Holding an automatic speed can be less useful than being ready to respond smoothly to changing conditions. On an exposed stretch, keep your attention on the vehicle’s response and adjust your driving as the wind changes.

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

7. 7. How does a loaded truck's stopping distance compare to an empty truck's?

   1. They stop in the same distance
   2. Loaded trucks need much longer to stop than empty ones
   3. Empty trucks need longer because they bounce
   4. Weight has no effect on stopping
   Show answer

   Loaded trucks need much longer to stop than empty ones. Stopping distance grows with both weight and speed, so a fully loaded rig at highway speed needs dramatically more pavement than the same truck empty. Car drivers must respect this physics by never cutting in front of trucks and by giving them extra following room. Truck drivers compensate with larger gaps, lower downhill gears, and earlier, gentler braking. Never cut in front of a truck and brake, since it cannot stop in time.

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

8. 8. While waiting to turn left, how should you hold your wheels before it is safe to turn?

   
   1. Alternating left and right
   2. Turned left toward the oncoming lane
   3. Turned right toward the curb
   4. Pointed straight ahead
   Show answer

   Pointed straight ahead. When waiting to turn left, keep the wheels pointed straight ahead until it is safe to begin turning. Turning them left early is dangerous because a rear impact could push your vehicle into oncoming traffic. The cue is your waiting position in the intersection or turn lane. Hold the steering wheel steady, check pedestrians and approaching vehicles, then turn only when the gap is safe.

9. 9. You are on a one-way street with a clear view and no nearby traffic. What is the rule for making a U-turn?

   1. It is permitted if you can see 200 feet in each direction
   2. It is permitted when no vehicle is approaching within 200 feet
   3. A U-turn is prohibited on a one-way street
   4. It is permitted from the far-left lane
   Show answer

   A U-turn is prohibited on a one-way street. Never make a U-turn on a one-way street. A clear view and an empty roadway do not remove this location from the handbook’s prohibited list. The far-left lane is the starting position for an otherwise permitted U-turn, not an exception for a one-way street. Likewise, the visibility and approaching-traffic conditions described for other locations do not authorize a U-turn here. Apply the location restriction before considering those other conditions.

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

10. 10. During the first 12 months of a California provisional license, who may supervise the holder when carrying passengers under 20, apart from authorized exceptions?

    1. A licensed parent or guardian, a licensed driver at least 25, or a licensed or certified driving instructor
    2. Any licensed driver who is at least 18
    3. Any passenger who is 20 or older, licensed or not
    4. An older sibling who holds an instruction permit
    Show answer

    A licensed parent or guardian, a licensed driver at least 25, or a licensed or certified driving instructor. During the first 12 months of a provisional license, the holder may not transport passengers under 20 unless accompanied and supervised by a licensed parent or guardian, a licensed driver who is 25 or older, or a licensed or certified driving instructor. A licensed 18 year old does not meet the age requirement, an unlicensed passenger cannot supervise however old they are, and a permit holder is not a licensed driver. Separate exceptions exist for documented needs such as medical, school, or work necessity, each backed by a signed statement.

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

11. 11. Traffic lanes in California are often called by number. Which lane is the Number 1 Lane?

    1. The far right lane, next to the shoulder
    2. The left, or fast, lane
    3. The center lane of a three-lane road
    4. Whichever lane is marked for carpools
    Show answer

    The left, or fast, lane. California numbers lanes from the left. The left, or fast, lane is the Number 1 Lane, the next lane to its right is the Number 2 Lane, then the Number 3 Lane, and so on. Knowing this helps when a sign, a traffic report, or an officer refers to a lane by number. The far right lane gets the highest number, not the lowest. A center lane is only Number 2 on a three-lane road, and carpool lanes are identified by diamonds and signs, not by this numbering rule.

    Study this in the handbook: Lane markings and special lanes

12. 12. With a California instruction permit, who must practice driving with you before your license test?

    1. Any licensed driver who has held a license for 6 months.
    2. A parent or guardian only.
    3. A California-licensed driver who is at least 18, or 25 for minors.
    4. A licensed passenger of any age if the route avoids freeways.
    Show answer

    A California-licensed driver who is at least 18, or 25 for minors.. To get a license after an instruction permit, the handbook says to practice with a California-licensed driver at least 18 years old, with the supervising age rising to 25 for minors. The parent-only choice is too narrow; a qualified licensed adult can supervise, and for minors that adult must meet the higher age requirement. The cue is the permit holder's age. Adults use the 18-year threshold, while minors need the 25-year supervising driver.

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

13. 13. Unless otherwise posted, what is the usual maximum speed on most California highways?

    1. 55 mph.
    2. 65 mph.
    3. 60 mph.
    4. 75 mph.
    Show answer

    65 mph.. The handbook states that, unless signs say otherwise, the ideal maximum speed limit on most California highways is 65 mph. The 55 mph option applies to two-lane undivided highways and vehicles towing trailers, so it is a different category. This rule also sits under the Basic Speed Law, meaning conditions may still require a lower speed. The cue is a normal posted or unposted California highway without towing or two-lane-undivided limits.

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

14. 14. Traffic has backed up just beyond a railroad crossing. When should you enter the tracks?

    1. When the gate is up, regardless of the queue
    2. When the vehicle ahead begins moving a few feet
    3. Only when there is room to cross completely
    4. When you can fit only the front wheels beyond the rails
    Show answer

    Only when there is room to cross completely. Wait before the tracks until the space beyond them is long enough for your whole vehicle. A moving queue may stop again before you clear the rails, so a few feet of progress ahead is not enough. Raised gates do not solve a blocked exit. Judge the available room on the far side before starting and leave the crossing clear instead of storing part of your vehicle on it.

    Study this in the handbook: School buses and railroad crossings

15. 15. A white SPEED LIMIT sign with black lettering is what type of sign?

    
    1. A regulatory sign you must obey
    2. A guide sign for destinations
    3. A warning sign for changing road conditions
    4. A temporary construction advisory
    Show answer

    A regulatory sign you must obey. White rectangular signs communicate rules drivers must obey, and a speed limit sign is one of those regulatory signs. It is not merely a warning about a possible condition ahead. The guide-sign choice is also wrong because guide signs point to routes, places, or services instead of setting legal duties. A cue is the white rectangle with black text: read it as a rule, then adjust speed before passing the sign.

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

16. 16. You will turn shortly after crossing an intersection. When should you signal that turn?

    1. Before the intersection in a way that suggests turning there
    2. When almost through the intersection
    3. Only after beginning the later turn
    4. Never, because the turns are close together
    Show answer

    When almost through the intersection. Signal as you are almost through the intersection when the intended turn comes shortly afterward. This helps distinguish the later turn from a turn at the intersection you are crossing. Signaling too early can lead another driver to misunderstand where you plan to go. Keep your movement clear by timing the indication to the actual turn instead of leaving others to guess which nearby entrance or street you mean.

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

17. 17. Mud or snow is coating your glass and lights. What should you do?

    1. Keep driving and ignore it
    2. Speed up to shake it off
    3. Stop from time to time to wipe the windshield, headlights, and taillights
    4. Open all windows instead
    Show answer

    Stop from time to time to wipe the windshield, headlights, and taillights. Mud and snow films cut headlight throw and blind the driver to hazards while making the car invisible from behind and ahead. Periodic stops to clear glass and lenses restore both seeing and being seen. Carry a scraper, washer fluid, and rags in winter, and never outdrive the visibility your dirty lights leave you. Washer fluid, scrapers, and rags belong in every winter emergency kit.

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

18. 18. A child is under 2 years old, under 40 pounds, and under 3 feet 4 inches tall. How must the child ride?

    1. In a rear-facing child passenger restraint system
    2. In a booster seat in the front seat
    3. With only a lap belt in any rear seat
    4. In a forward-facing seat if an adult is beside them
    Show answer

    In a rear-facing child passenger restraint system. For a child under 2 who is also under 40 pounds and under 3 feet 4 inches tall, California requires a rear-facing child passenger restraint system. A booster or regular belt is for older or larger children, so those choices ignore the age, weight, and height combination. The cue is all three measurements together. If the child fits those limits, use rear facing and keep the restraint out of an airbag-equipped front seat.

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

19. 19. You are on a narrow mountain road where you cannot see at least 200 feet ahead. What does the handbook say you may do with your horn?

    1. Sound it to alert oncoming traffic you cannot yet see
    2. Save it strictly for emergencies once a collision is unavoidable
    3. Sound it only after an oncoming vehicle appears
    4. Leave it alone, because horns are prohibited on mountain roads
    Show answer

    Sound it to alert oncoming traffic you cannot yet see. Mountain curves hide oncoming traffic until the last moment, so California lists this as one of the situations where a horn genuinely helps: a short sound warns a driver you cannot see that someone is coming around the bend. Waiting until the other vehicle appears defeats the purpose, since by then you both need braking distance you may not have. Horns are not banned on these roads either. Keep it brief and stay right of the center line, because the horn warns other people but does nothing to widen the lane or slow your own vehicle.

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

20. 20. What does a diamond-shaped sign on a truck tell you?

    1. The truck is over the weight limit
    2. The truck is making a wide turn
    3. The truck carries perishable food
    4. The truck's load may be dangerous, such as gas or explosives
    Show answer

    The truck's load may be dangerous, such as gas or explosives. Diamond placards on commercial trucks are hazardous-load warnings, alerting everyone nearby that the cargo may be flammable, explosive, or otherwise dangerous. Weight, turning, and refrigeration each have their own signs and contexts, but the diamond shape specifically flags hazmat. Give these trucks extra following distance, never cut in front of one, and note that they must stop before railroad crossings. In a collision involving a placarded truck, stay back and let emergency crews handle materials you cannot identify.

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