CA Permit Practice Test 4

All 20 questions in test 4

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. 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
   Show answer

   6 points. An adult driver’s license may be suspended when the record reaches six points in 24 months. Match the number of points to the period being asked about. Four points belongs to the 12-month threshold, while eight points belongs to the 36-month threshold. Those are separate time windows in the handbook’s list. For a question about a two-year period, the relevant listed total is six points, not either neighboring threshold.

   Study this in the handbook: Tickets, points and suspensions

2. 2. 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
   Show answer

   Yes, people on skateboards are included. The handbook’s pedestrian and vulnerable-road-user description includes people traveling on skateboards and roller skates. It is not limited to people moving on foot. Do not decide how much care a crossing person deserves based only on whether they are walking. Seeing a skateboard should remind you that the person may reach the crossing quickly and still belongs to the group drivers need to watch for and protect.

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

3. 3. Which way does traffic move inside a roundabout?

   1. In both directions at once
   2. To the left, counterclockwise only
   3. In one direction around a central island
   4. In alternating directions by lane
   Show answer

   In one direction around a central island. One-way circulation is the roundabout's core safety feature: with everyone orbiting the same way, the crossing conflicts of a normal intersection disappear. That is why entry always heads right and why stopping or reversing inside the circle is so dangerous. Trucks may straddle lanes while circling, so give them the full width of the roundabout. Never change lanes inside the circle, and exit from the lane your destination requires.

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

4. 4. What distinguishes a separated bikeway from an ordinary bike lane?

   1. It is only a painted arrow for cars
   2. It is always shared with buses
   3. A physical separation from motor vehicle traffic
   4. It permits motor vehicles to use it for passing
   Show answer

   A physical separation from motor vehicle traffic. A separated bikeway has a physical separation from motor traffic and is reserved for bicyclists. The separation can take forms such as posts, barriers, or a change in level. A painted arrow alone does not describe that physical protection. When you see this arrangement beside the roadway, recognize it as dedicated bicycle space rather than an extra motor-vehicle lane available for passing or for buses.

   Study this in the handbook: Lane markings and special lanes

5. 5. How wide can a road be and still fit the handbook’s definition of an alley?

   1. At least 50 feet wide
   2. No wider than 25 feet
   3. Exactly two full traffic lanes
   4. Any width if it has streetlights
   Show answer

   No wider than 25 feet. The handbook defines an alley as a road no wider than 25 feet that provides access to rear or side entrances of buildings or properties. Both the width and the access purpose are part of that definition. Streetlights alone do not identify an alley, and the definition does not require exactly two traffic lanes. Look for the combination of a road within the stated width and access to those entrances.

   Study this in the handbook: School buses and railroad crossings

6. 6. An officer slowly weaves across freeway lanes with emergency lights on. What is the officer likely doing?

   1. Inviting drivers to pass on either side
   2. Creating a traffic break to slow or stop traffic
   3. Testing the speed of nearby drivers
   4. Opening the shoulder as a passing lane
   Show answer

   Creating a traffic break to slow or stop traffic. That controlled weaving with emergency lights is how an officer creates a traffic break. It can slow or stop traffic so hazards can be removed or unusual conditions managed. It is not an invitation to slip through a gap beside the patrol car. Recognize the pattern early so you can respond smoothly with surrounding traffic, rather than interpreting each lateral movement as an opening for a pass.

7. 7. What is the maximum speed on a two-lane undivided highway in California?

   1. 45 mph
   2. 50 mph
   3. 65 mph
   4. 55 mph
   Show answer

   55 mph. Two-lane undivided highways put opposing traffic just a painted line apart with no median to absorb mistakes, so California caps them at 55 mph. The same 55 mph limit covers vehicles towing trailers even on faster roads. Sixty-five belongs to multilane divided highways, while 45 and 50 understate the rule and would needlessly bunch traffic. On these roads, also watch for no-passing zones, slow heavy vehicles, and narrow shoulders that make the 55 mph ceiling a maximum for good conditions only.

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

8. 8. After parallel parking, how close must your vehicle be to the curb?

   
   1. Within 6 inches of the curb
   2. Within 3 feet of the curb
   3. Within 18 inches of the curb
   4. No set distance if the wheels are straight
   Show answer

   Within 18 inches of the curb. After parallel parking, the vehicle should be parallel and within 18 inches of the curb. Three feet appears in the straight-line backing practice, but it is not the final parallel parking curb distance. The cue is the last alignment step: straighten the car, pull forward or back if needed, and check that the vehicle sits close enough to the curb before turning it off and setting the parking brake.

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

9. 9. When may an animal be transported in the back of a pickup or other truck?

   1. Whenever the trip stays below 35 mph.
   2. Only when the animal is properly secured.
   3. If the tailgate is closed and traffic is light.
   4. Only on rural roads outside business districts.
   Show answer

   Only when the animal is properly secured.. California says not to transport animals in the back of a pickup or other truck unless the animal is properly secured. The closed-tailgate option is incomplete because the handbook focuses on preventing the animal from falling, jumping, or being thrown from the vehicle. Speed and road type do not replace secure restraint. The cue is an animal riding in an open truck bed: before moving, confirm it is secured against escape or ejection.

   Study this in the handbook: School buses and railroad crossings

10. 10. Before backing up, what visual check does the handbook require?

    1. Check mirrors and look over your shoulder for traffic and pedestrians
    2. Use only the backup camera if the image is clear
    3. Look only through the left side window
    4. Trust a passenger outside the vehicle to guide you
    Show answer

    Check mirrors and look over your shoulder for traffic and pedestrians. Before backing, check mirrors and look over your shoulder so you can see vehicles and pedestrians that mirrors or cameras may miss. The backup-camera-only choice is inadequate because technology assists but does not replace an actual visual check. The cue is any reverse movement from a curb, driveway, or parking space; pause first, look behind and to the sides, then back at a smooth safe speed.

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

11. 11. How should you drive through sharp curves to prevent skidding?

    1. Slow down approaching and through them; avoid fast turns and quick stops
    2. Speed up to get through faster
    3. Brake hard in the middle of the curve
    4. Steer with one hand for better feel
    Show answer

    Slow down approaching and through them; avoid fast turns and quick stops. Curves demand less speed because turning grip and braking grip draw from the same limited tire traction, especially on wet or gravel-strewn pavement. Slowing before the curve and holding steady through it preserves a traction reserve for surprises. Hard mid-curve braking or jerky steering spends that reserve instantly and starts the skid the handbook is teaching you to prevent. Downshift before the curve as well so engine braking shares the slowing work.

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

12. 12. A California driver is carrying passengers for hire. At what BAC is it illegal for this driver to drive?

    1. 0.08% or higher, the same as other adults
    2. 0.10% or higher
    3. 0.04% or higher
    4. Any BAC above 0.00%
    Show answer

    0.04% or higher. California sets a lower BAC limit for drivers with extra responsibility. It is illegal to drive with a BAC of 0.04% or higher when driving a passenger for hire, and the same 0.04% limit applies to anyone driving a vehicle that requires a commercial license. The 0.08% limit applies to ordinary drivers 21 and older, 0.10% is not a California limit, and the 0.01% limit applies to drivers under 21 or on DUI probation rather than to every driver carrying paying passengers.

    Study this in the handbook: Alcohol, drugs and DUI

13. 13. May you double park while waiting for someone?

    1. Never; double parking is on the illegal parking list
    2. Yes, for up to 5 minutes with flashers on
    3. Yes, if no other space is available
    4. Yes, on residential streets only
    Show answer

    Never; double parking is on the illegal parking list. A double-parked car blocks a full travel lane, forcing moving traffic into oncoming lanes and delaying fire trucks and ambulances that cannot squeeze past. That is why double parking appears on the handbook's Illegal Parking list with no exception for quick errands or waiting passengers. Hazard flashers, a shortage of open spaces, and the street being residential create no exemption, and officers can cite or tow the blocking vehicle.

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

14. 14. This red-slash sign with a left-turn arrow tells you:

    
    1. Left turns are protected only on green
    2. Left turns are not allowed here
    3. Only buses may turn left here
    4. You must make a U-turn instead
    Show answer

    Left turns are not allowed here. The sign prohibits the movement shown inside the red circle. Because the image shows a left-turn arrow crossed by a red slash, you may not turn left at that location. The protected-green option confuses a prohibition sign with a traffic signal rule. A cue is the slash, not the arrow alone: the arrow names the movement, while the red circle and slash say that movement is forbidden.

15. 15. How is a standard bike lane marked?

    1. A single solid white line that becomes a dash-line near intersections
    2. Double solid yellow lines down the middle
    3. A row of white triangles across the lane
    4. Orange cones placed by cyclists
    Show answer

    A single solid white line that becomes a dash-line near intersections. The solid white stripe reserves the lane for bicycles along the block, then breaks into dashes near the intersection where cars may merge across to turn right. Drivers must look back, signal, and enter the bike lane within 200 feet of the turn rather than cutting across at the corner. Double yellow lines separate opposing traffic, and triangle rows are yield lines, not bike markings.

    Study this in the handbook: Lane markings and special lanes

16. 16. Your brake pedal sinks to the floor. What should you try first?

    1. Turn off the ignition before steering
    2. Quickly pump the brakes with gentle pressure
    3. Shift into park while moving
    4. Pull the parking brake with full force
    Show answer

    Quickly pump the brakes with gentle pressure. If the brake pedal sinks to the floor, the handbook says to quickly pump the brakes by gently applying and releasing pressure on the pedal. If pumping does not work, downshift into a lower or neutral gear to slow down, and then try using the emergency brake to stop. Turning off the ignition and shifting into park while moving are not listed steps, and the emergency brake comes after pumping and downshifting, not first. A cue is the pedal dropping farther than normal: keep steering and pump smoothly.

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

17. 17. A California minor racks up three at fault collisions or traffic convictions in the first year of licensing. What follows?

    1. A 30 day restriction to driving with an adult
    2. A warning letter
    3. Loss of the license until age 21
    4. A six month suspension followed by one year of probation
    Show answer

    A six month suspension followed by one year of probation. Three at fault collisions, three convictions, or any combination of three leads DMV to suspend the minor's driving privilege for six months and then place the driver on probation for one year. More collisions or convictions during probation bring another suspension. The 30 day adult supervised restriction is the step for two incidents, not three. A warning letter understates the penalty, and the handbook does not hold the license until 21. Turning 18 does not end the suspension or the probation.

    Study this in the handbook: Tickets, points and suspensions

18. 18. A vehicle is stopped at a crosswalk in the lane next to you. What should you do?

    1. Pass only if you can stay under 10 mph
    2. Honk once, then continue if the driver does not move
    3. Stop or slow enough to yield because a pedestrian may be hidden
    4. Change lanes away from the vehicle and keep normal speed
    Show answer

    Stop or slow enough to yield because a pedestrian may be hidden. California warns not to pass a vehicle stopped at a crosswalk because that vehicle may be blocking your view of a pedestrian. The 10 mph choice borrows a rule for stopped buses or streetcars at safety zones, not crosswalks. The cue is a stopped vehicle at the crosswalk line; treat it as evidence that someone may be crossing and wait until the whole crosswalk is visible.

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

19. 19. At what age must a California driver renew in person and pass a vision test?

    1. 65 or older
    2. 62 or older
    3. 80 or older
    4. 70 or older at the time the license expires
    Show answer

    70 or older at the time the license expires. Drivers who are 70 or older when the license expires must renew in person and pass a vision test, and other exams may be required. Sixty five is a common guess but not California's number. Sixty two is not an age the handbook ties to renewal. Eighty is not the threshold. DMV mails a renewal notice about 90 days before the license expires, and eligible drivers may choose eLearning if a knowledge test is required.

20. 20. Besides the curfew and passenger limits, what else is a California provisional driver under 18 barred from doing?

    1. Driving on any freeway
    2. Driving outside their home county
    3. Driving more than 50 miles from home
    4. Driving for pay or driving vehicles that need a commercial Class A, B, or C license
    Show answer

    Driving for pay or driving vehicles that need a commercial Class A, B, or C license. A provisional license holder under 18 may not drive for pay and may not operate vehicles that require a commercial Class A, B, or C license. The California provisional rules place no freeway ban on minors, so that choice invents a restriction. There is also no county line or 50 mile radius in the provisional rules. The other two restrictions are the 11 p.m. to 5 a.m. limit during the first 12 months and the ban on passengers under 20 without a qualifying adult.

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