California DMV Practice Test 2026

Practice Questions

12 free California DMV practice questions

Real California-specific questions sourced from the official California Driver Handbook. Read each one, pick your answer, then check the explanation.

1. Question 1 · General Rules

   What are California's minimum liability insurance requirements for a private passenger vehicle?

   • A$25,000 per person / $50,000 per accident / $15,000 property damage
   • B$15,000 per person / $30,000 per accident / $5,000 property damage✓ Correct
   • C$10,000 per person / $20,000 per accident / $5,000 property damage

   Why: California's minimum liability insurance requirements are $15,000 for injury or death to one person, $30,000 for injury or death to more than one person, and $5,000 for property damage (15/30/5).

   Source: California Driver Handbook, page 7 · Chapter 1: Getting Your California Driver License

2. Question 2 · Speed Limits

   What is the speed limit in a residential district in California when no speed limit is posted?

   • A25 mph✓ Correct
   • B15 mph
   • C35 mph

   Why: The prima facie (default) speed limit in a California residential district is 25 mph unless a different speed limit is posted. The rule applies to streets lined with homes and residences.

   Source: California Driver Handbook, page 47 · Chapter 4: Driving Safely

3. Question 3 · Traffic Signs & Signals

   What must you do before making a right turn at a red light in California?

   • ASlow to 10 mph and yield to pedestrians
   • BFlash your turn signal and proceed when cross traffic is clear
   • CCome to a complete stop and yield to pedestrians and cross traffic, then proceed when safe✓ Correct

   Why: At a red light, you must come to a complete stop at the limit line or crosswalk, yield to all pedestrians and vehicles with the right of way, and then turn when it is safe — unless a sign prohibits it.

   Source: California Driver Handbook, page 62 · Chapter 6: Laws and Rules of the Road

4. Question 4 · Highway Driving

   What is the minimum following distance recommended for most driving conditions in California?

   • A1 second for every 10 mph of speed
   • BA minimum of 3 seconds behind the vehicle ahead✓ Correct
   • C2 car lengths at any speed

   Why: Use the three-second rule to maintain a safe following distance. Pick a fixed point ahead and count three seconds after the vehicle in front passes it. If you reach the point before counting to three, you are following too closely.

   Source: California Driver Handbook, page 50 · Chapter 4: Driving Safely

5. Question 5 · Weather & Visibility

   At what distance must you dim your high-beam headlights when there is an oncoming vehicle?

   • AWithin 500 feet✓ Correct
   • BWithin 300 feet
   • CWithin 1,000 feet

   Why: You must dim your headlights from high beam to low beam when an oncoming vehicle is within 500 feet. You must also dim them when following another vehicle within 300 feet.

   Source: California Driver Handbook, page 52 · Chapter 4: Driving Safely

6. Question 6 · Right of Way

   At a four-way stop, two vehicles arrive at the same time. Which vehicle has the right of way?

   • AThe vehicle on the left
   • BThe larger vehicle
   • CThe vehicle on the right✓ Correct

   Why: When two vehicles arrive at a four-way stop at the same time, the vehicle on the right has the right of way. If they arrive at different times, the first to arrive goes first.

   Source: California Driver Handbook, page 60 · Chapter 6: Laws and Rules of the Road

7. Question 7 · Pedestrian Laws

   Must drivers yield to pedestrians in a marked crosswalk?

   • AOnly when a traffic light is present
   • BYes — drivers must always yield to pedestrians in any crosswalk, marked or unmarked✓ Correct
   • COnly if the pedestrian is already more than halfway across the road

   Why: Drivers must yield the right of way to pedestrians in any crosswalk — both marked (painted) and unmarked (at intersections where sidewalks extend to the road). You must remain stopped until the pedestrian has safely crossed.

   Source: California Driver Handbook, page 77 · Chapter 8: Sharing the Road

8. Question 8 · Accidents & Emergencies

   What is the first thing you should do after being involved in a traffic collision in California?

   • AStop immediately, check for injuries, and move the vehicle if it is blocking traffic✓ Correct
   • BCall your insurance company before doing anything else
   • CDrive to the nearest police station to report the crash

   Why: After any collision you must stop immediately. Check if anyone is injured, and if the vehicle is safely drivable and blocking traffic, move it out of the way. Never leave the scene of a collision.

   Source: California Driver Handbook, page 89 · Chapter 9: In Case of an Emergency

9. Question 9 · Turns & Intersections

   What is the required position of a vehicle when making a right turn in California?

   • AMove into the center lane for visibility, then turn right
   • BSignal, then turn from any lane when traffic is clear
   • CMove as close as possible to the right edge of the road before and during the turn✓ Correct

   Why: Before making a right turn, move your vehicle as close as possible to the right edge of the road. Complete the turn into the right lane of the cross street. Begin signaling at least 100 feet before the turn.

   Source: California Driver Handbook, page 62 · Chapter 6: Laws and Rules of the Road

10. Question 10 · Lane Changes & Passing

    When is it legal to pass on the right in California?

    • AWhenever you can do so safely without leaving the paved roadway
    • BWhen the vehicle ahead is turning left and there is room, or on a road with two or more clearly marked lanes✓ Correct
    • COnly on one-way streets

    Why: Passing on the right is permitted only when the vehicle ahead is making or waiting to make a left turn and there is sufficient paved space to the right, or when driving on a road with two or more clearly marked lanes.

    Source: California Driver Handbook, page 64 · Chapter 6: Laws and Rules of the Road

11. Question 11 · Parking Rules

    When may you park in front of a private driveway in California?

    • AYou may never block a driveway — parking in front of any driveway is prohibited✓ Correct
    • BWhen you are only stopping briefly to drop off a passenger
    • COnly if the driveway belongs to your own property

    Why: You must not park in front of any private or public driveway. Blocking a driveway prevents the property owner from entering or exiting and is a citable parking violation.

    Source: California Driver Handbook, page 71 · Chapter 6: Laws and Rules of the Road

12. Question 12 · DUI Laws

    What is the only thing that reduces the effects of alcohol in your body?

    • ACoffee or food
    • BVigorous exercise
    • CTime✓ Correct

    Why: Only time reduces the blood alcohol content (BAC) in your body. Coffee, food, and exercise do not speed up the process of eliminating alcohol.

    Source: California Driver Handbook, page 115 · Alcohol and Drugs

How to get your California driver's license

The knowledge test is one step in California's licensing process. Here's how the path typically works for a new driver.

1. 1

   Check the age and eligibility requirements

   Eligibility in California: 15 years 6 months for an instruction permit, 16 for a provisional license. Have your proof of identity, residency, and any required parental consent ready.

2. 2

   Study the official handbook

   Read the Official California Driver Handbook (dmv.ca.gov) and practice with DMV Ace until you're consistently scoring above 83%.

3. 3

   Pass the knowledge test

   The California written test has 46 questions, and you need 39 correct (83%) to pass. Permit/licensing fee: $39.

4. 4

   Build supervised driving experience

   Hold your permit for the period California requires and log supervised driving hours with a licensed adult before you schedule the road test.

5. 5

   Pass the road test and get licensed

   After you pass the behind-the-wheel road test, California issues your driver's license — often an intermediate/provisional license first for younger drivers.

Steps are a general guide — always confirm the current process with your local California DMV office.

How DMV Ace prepares you for the California test

• 1,000+ California-specific questions

  Every question is sourced from the official California Driver Handbook — same wording style, same topic mix as the real test.

• Explanations on every answer

  Right or wrong, you see exactly why — with a handbook page citation so you can dig deeper.

• Hard Questions module

  A curated bank of the trickiest California questions — the ones most testers fail. Master these and you're ready.

• Smart progress tracking

  See exactly which topics you've mastered and which need work. A pass-readiness score tells you when you're truly ready for the California DMV.