CA Permit Practice Test 22

All 20 questions in test 22

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 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 unprepared drivers. The handbook stresses carrying the correct number and type for your specific vehicle, because the wrong chains fit poorly and can damage the car or fail when needed. Sand helps with traction in a pinch but does not satisfy chain requirements, while wipers and a second spare solve different problems. Before a mountain trip, confirm the chains fit, practice installing them once in daylight, and check whether chain controls are in effect.

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

2. 2. What is the maximum fine listed for dumping or abandoning an animal on a California highway?

   1. Exactly $100 with no jail exposure
   2. Up to $250
   3. Up to $1,000
   4. Only payment for animal shelter costs
   Show answer

   Up to $1,000. The handbook says dumping or abandoning animals on a highway can bring a fine up to $1,000, six months in jail, or both. The shelter costs choice misses that California treats the conduct as a crime with stated penalties. The cue is any attempt to leave an animal beside or on a highway instead of transferring it safely to a person, shelter, or other lawful care.

   Study this in the handbook: School buses and railroad crossings

3. 3. On a two-lane road where passing is unsafe, when must a slow driver use a turnout area or lane?

   1. Only if a posted sign orders the driver to turn out
   2. Only after ten vehicles are following for one mile
   3. Whenever any single vehicle catches up
   4. When five or more vehicles are following
   Show answer

   When five or more vehicles are following. California requires a slow driver to use a turnout area or lane on a two-lane road when passing is unsafe and five or more vehicles are following. The one vehicle choice goes too far because the handbook sets a specific five vehicle threshold. The cue is a line of traffic building behind you on a road where drivers cannot pass, especially in hills or curves where a marked turnout appears.

   Study this in the handbook: Lane markings and special lanes

4. 4. How do you know the minimum number of people needed to use an HOV lane?

   1. It is printed on signs at the on-ramp or along the road
   2. It is always exactly two people statewide
   3. It depends only on whether the vehicle is a sedan
   4. It is shown by the number of diamond symbols on the pavement
   Show answer

   It is printed on signs at the on-ramp or along the road. HOV lane occupancy is controlled by posted signs, so check the on-ramp and roadside signs for the minimum number of people and the hours. The always-two choice is unreliable because some locations require a different number or have time limits. The cue is the HOV sign near the lane entrance; read it before entering rather than assuming the same rule applies everywhere.

   Study this in the handbook: Lane markings and special lanes

5. 5. What work-related exception lets a driver under 21 carry alcoholic beverages in closed containers?

   1. Driving a coworker home after a shift
   2. Working for any restaurant
   3. Delivering drinks as a favor to a friend
   4. Working for someone with an off-site liquor sales license
   Show answer

   Working for someone with an off-site liquor sales license. The employment exception concerns work for someone who holds an off-site liquor sales license, and the beverages must be in closed containers. A general restaurant job or an unpaid favor does not establish this exception. For a delivery assignment, check the employer’s license and keep the containers closed. The permission is tied to that specific work situation, not merely to being employed or having an adult customer.

   Study this in the handbook: Alcohol, drugs and DUI

6. 6. You are ready to leave your parking space. What should you do?

   1. Floor it into traffic
   2. Back out without looking
   3. Repeat the setup steps to pull away from the curb safely
   4. Turn off the engine first
   Show answer

   Repeat the setup steps to pull away from the curb safely. Pulling away mirrors parking in reverse: signal intent, check mirrors and blind spots over the shoulder, then ease into the first safe gap. Rushing the exit without checks is how parked cars sideswipe passing traffic. Patience for a real gap beats forcing a tight one every time. Signal intent first, then ease into the first genuinely safe traffic gap. Blind-spot glances over the shoulder catch what mirrors always miss.

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

7. 7. At a California T intersection with no STOP or YIELD signs, who has the right-of-way?

   
   1. The vehicle on the right in every case
   2. Whoever reaches the intersection first
   3. The driver turning from the dead-end street
   4. Vehicles, bicyclists, and pedestrians on the through road
   Show answer

   Vehicles, bicyclists, and pedestrians on the through road. At a T intersection without STOP or YIELD signs, the handbook gives the right-of-way to vehicles, bicyclists, and pedestrians on the through road, meaning the road that continues straight. A driver coming from the road that ends must wait for a safe gap. Arrival order and the vehicle-on-the-right rule apply at ordinary four-way uncontrolled intersections, not here. Look for the shape of the junction: if your road ends at the cross street, you yield to everything already moving along it.

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

8. 8. May you stop or pass another vehicle while circulating in a roundabout?

   1. No, keep circulating without stopping or passing
   2. Yes, stop beside your desired exit to wait for a gap
   3. Yes, pass any vehicle that is moving slowly
   4. Yes, stop on the central island’s edge to check directions
   Show answer

   No, keep circulating without stopping or passing. The roundabout instructions call for continued counterclockwise movement without stopping or passing. Stopping to plan an exit can surprise traffic following the circular path, while passing adds a conflict inside the junction. Choose your destination before entry and watch the signs as you circulate. If traffic or an immediate hazard requires a response, act safely, but do not use the circulating lane as a place to pause for directions.

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

9. 9. If another vehicle merges too closely in front of you, what should you do?

   1. Flash high beams until the driver speeds up
   2. Tap the bumper to warn the other driver
   3. Move onto the shoulder and pass immediately
   4. Ease off the accelerator to create space
   Show answer

   Ease off the accelerator to create space. When a vehicle cuts into your following space, California recommends taking your foot off the accelerator to rebuild the gap ahead. Flashing high beams or passing on the shoulder adds conflict and does not create a safe cushion. The cue is a car merging so close that your three second distance disappears; respond by smoothly reducing speed rather than braking sharply or challenging the other driver.

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

10. 10. You are towing on a highway with four lanes in your direction and no lanes marked for slower vehicles. Which lanes may you use?

    1. Any of the four lanes
    2. The two lanes nearest the right edge
    3. Only the far-left lane
    4. Only the two lanes nearest the divider
    Show answer

    The two lanes nearest the right edge. On a road with four or more lanes in your direction and no marked slower-vehicle lane, the towing rule permits the two lanes closest to the right edge. It does not open all lanes to a towing vehicle. Count lanes in your direction, not both directions combined, and identify the rightmost pair. This specific multilane rule differs from assuming the left lanes are available simply because traffic is moving slowly.

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

11. 11. Within the first 12 months of a California minor's license, the teen has two at fault collisions. What can DMV do?

    1. Nothing until a third incident
    2. Bar the teen from driving for 30 days unless a licensed adult at least 25 rides along
    3. Revoke the license permanently
    4. Require only a letter of apology
    Show answer

    Bar the teen from driving for 30 days unless a licensed adult at least 25 rides along. California escalates action against a minor's license by the number of at fault collisions or traffic convictions. Two of them, or one of each, mean the teen cannot drive for 30 days unless a licensed adult at least 25 years old is in the vehicle. DMV does not wait for a third incident; the third step is a six month suspension with a year of probation. Permanent revocation is not the listed consequence, and an apology letter is not part of the process.

    Study this in the handbook: Tickets, points and suspensions

12. 12. You are approaching a hill or curve on a two lane road and cannot see whether other traffic is coming. What does the California handbook say about passing?

    1. Do not pass, because you cannot see whether traffic is approaching
    2. Pass quickly so you are back in your lane before the crest or curve
    3. Pass if you sound your horn before pulling out
    4. Pass if the vehicle ahead is going below the speed limit
    Show answer

    Do not pass, because you cannot see whether traffic is approaching. California says not to pass if you are approaching a hill or curve and cannot see whether other traffic is approaching, and it calls this very dangerous on one and two lane roads. To pass safely, the hill or curve should be at least one third of a mile ahead. Speeding up, sounding the horn, or a slow vehicle ahead does not change what you cannot see. Passing is also barred within 100 feet of an intersection, bridge, tunnel, railroad crossing, or other hazardous area.

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

13. 13. What is the safest response to a slippery-when-wet sign?

    
    1. Slow down and make steering and braking inputs gently
    2. Use high beams so pavement glare shows standing water
    3. Brake sharply at the sign to test traction
    4. Move close behind the vehicle ahead to follow its tire tracks
    Show answer

    Slow down and make steering and braking inputs gently. A slippery-when-wet sign warns that traction can drop when the pavement is wet, so reduce speed before the hazard and avoid sudden moves. Braking sharply at the sign is the trap because hard braking can start the skid the sign is warning about. The cue is the skidding car symbol; when you see it, add space and keep both steering and pedal pressure smooth.

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

14. 14. What does California law say about throwing a lit cigarette from a vehicle?

    1. It is allowed if the road has no dry brush nearby.
    2. It is allowed from a stopped vehicle only.
    3. It is illegal to throw a flaming or glowing substance from the vehicle.
    4. It is illegal only inside city limits.
    Show answer

    It is illegal to throw a flaming or glowing substance from the vehicle.. California prohibits throwing a cigarette, cigar, or any other flaming or glowing material from a vehicle. That rule is not limited to dry rural areas, so the brush-related option narrows the law incorrectly. Treat anything lit as a fire hazard before it leaves the vehicle. A practical cue is simple: if the object is burning, glowing, or could ignite debris after landing, keep it inside until you can dispose of it safely.

    Study this in the handbook: School buses and railroad crossings

15. 15. You see a collision or hazard ahead on a California road. How does the handbook say to warn drivers behind you?

    1. Turn on the emergency flashers or lightly tap the brake pedal three or four times
    2. Sound the horn repeatedly
    3. Swerve slightly to draw attention
    4. Turn on the high beams
    Show answer

    Turn on the emergency flashers or lightly tap the brake pedal three or four times. When you can see a collision or hazard ahead, the handbook lists three ways to warn drivers behind you: turn on your emergency flashers, lightly tap your brake pedal three or four times, or use a hand signal when slowing and stopping. Each of these is aimed at the traffic behind you. Sounding the horn, swerving, and switching on high beams are not on the list. If you must stop because of vehicle trouble, turn on the flashers, and if the vehicle has none, use your turn signals instead.

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

16. 16. After a collision in which someone is hurt, a driver leaves without stopping. What is that called and how seriously is it treated?

    1. A minor infraction if the damage looks small
    2. A reportable incident with no criminal exposure
    3. A civil insurance matter only
    4. A hit-and-run, which carries severe punishment on conviction
    Show answer

    A hit-and-run, which carries severe punishment on conviction. Failing to stop or leaving the scene of an accident is called a hit-and-run, and the handbook says the punishment is severe if you are convicted. It is not a minor infraction, a simple report, or only an insurance question, and small looking damage does not change that. Stopping is the first duty in any collision because someone could be injured and need your help. Call 911 right away if anyone is hurt, and show your license, registration, insurance information, and current address to the others involved.

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

17. 17. How is a California center left turn lane marked?

    1. By a single solid white line on each side
    2. By two painted lines on each side, the inner line broken and the outer line solid
    3. By a broken white line on each side
    4. By double solid yellow lines on each side
    Show answer

    By two painted lines on each side, the inner line broken and the outer line solid. A center left turn lane sits in the middle of a two-way street and is marked on both sides by two painted lines: the inner line is broken and the outer line is solid. The broken inner line lets vehicles from either direction enter to prepare for a left turn or U-turn, while the solid outer line separates it from the through lanes. Two sets of solid double yellow lines spaced two or more feet apart mean a barrier, not a turn lane.

    Study this in the handbook: Lane markings and special lanes

18. 18. If the Freeway Service Patrol cannot start your car, where will it be towed?

    1. To your home, free of charge
    2. To a CHP-approved location, free of charge
    3. To any shop you name
    4. Nowhere; FSP never tows
    Show answer

    To a CHP-approved location, free of charge. When roadside repair fails, FSP's free tow moves the car only as far as the nearest CHP-approved drop, where CHP then contacts your auto club or a tow company for the rest of the journey. Home delivery and shop-of-choice tows remain private business. The program's mission is clearing the freeway fast, not replacing commercial towing. Your auto club or a private tow company handles the rest of the journey from there.

    Study this in the handbook: School buses and railroad crossings

19. 19. How close may you park to a fire station driveway in California?

    1. Within 5 feet is allowed
    2. Within 10 feet is allowed
    3. You must stay at least 15 feet away
    4. Within 25 feet is allowed
    Show answer

    You must stay at least 15 feet away. Fire crews need a clear swing path to roll engines out of the station driveway at any hour, so California keeps parked cars 15 feet back on either side. The same 15-foot rule protects fire hydrants, and both exist because seconds lost to a blocked exit can cost lives. Five or ten feet still traps a turning fire engine, while 25 feet overstates the rule and wastes legal parking. When in doubt near any emergency access point, leave more room than the minimum and never block the driveway itself.

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

20. 20. A DUI driver causes serious injury or death. What additional type of legal action may follow?

    1. Only a parking citation
    2. Automatic cancellation of all insurance claims
    3. A civil lawsuit
    4. A lawsuit against DMV instead of the driver
    Show answer

    A civil lawsuit. Causing serious injury or death while driving under the influence can expose the driver to civil lawsuits. Those claims are separate from the criminal and licensing consequences of DUI. It is wrong to assume that the only possible action is a traffic citation or that DMV takes the driver’s place in a lawsuit. The handbook specifically warns that harm to other people can bring this additional legal consequence.

    Study this in the handbook: Alcohol, drugs and DUI