CA DMV Practice Test

“Here’s the kicker,” I like to tell my students while we’re wedged into the Bakersfield branch’s plastic chairs: the practice test is your real test-drive. I’ve failed once (yep, even pros have bruises), coached hundreds, and—spoiler—noticed the same patterns every year. So, let’s dive in.

CA DMV Practice Test

Ever wondered why so many folks leave the window open on course-prep.com? Science. Their data shows you retain information 73 percent better when you mix the manual with interactive quizzes.

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California DMV Practice Test
Class: C
Total Items: 46 Questions
Passing Percentage:  83%
Time Limit: 60 Minutes

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1) When driving in the far left lane of a freeway with three or more lanes in your direction, what is the minimum speed you must maintain unless conditions require slower speed?

A) 55 mph

B) The posted speed limit

C) 65 mph

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2) What is the purpose of a roundabout?

A) To provide a place for U-turns

B) To reduce the number and severity of collisions

C) To increase traffic speed in intersections

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3) What is the rule about using high-beam headlights when approaching another vehicle?

A) Both A and B

B) Switch to low beams within 500 ft of an oncoming vehicle

C) Switch to low beams within 300 ft of a vehicle you’re following

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4) What is the rule about driving with a parking light out?

A) It’s only illegal at night

B) It’s legal as long as your headlights work

C) It’s illegal, and you can be ticketed

5 / 46

5) What is the “Basic Speed Law” in California?

A) Never drive slower than the posted speed limit

B) Never drive faster than the posted speed limit

C) Never drive faster than is safe for current conditions

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6) What does a sign with a truck pointing downwards on a triangle mean?

A) Trucks must use low gear on this hill

B) Truck inspection station ahead

C) No trucks allowed on this road

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7) What is the legal blood-alcohol concentration (BAC) limit for drivers under 21 in California?

A) 0.08 %

B) 0.01 %

C) 0.05 %

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8) What does a sign with a truck on a triangular hill mean?

A) Truck inspection station ahead

B) Truck route

C) Steep grade ahead

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9) What is the purpose of a “zipper merge” in traffic?

A) To efficiently combine two lanes of traffic into one

B) To separate fast and slow traffic

C) To allow emergency vehicles to pass

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10) What is the rule about using high-beam headlights in fog?

A) You should always use high beams in fog

B) You should alternate between high and low beams in fog

C) You should never use high beams in fog

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11) What is the rule about driving in a bike lane in California?

A) You can drive in a bike lane at any time

B) You can drive in a bike lane for up to 200 ft before making a right turn

C) You can never drive in a bike lane

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12) What does a solid double yellow line in the center of the road mean?

A) Passing is allowed when safe

B) No passing allowed from either direction

C) Passing is allowed only during daylight hours

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13) What is the rule about using hazard lights (flashers) while driving in California?

A) You should only use them when your vehicle is stopped or disabled

B) You should use them in heavy rain or fog

C) You should use them whenever you’re driving slowly

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14) What should you do if you encounter a flooded roadway?

A) Stop and wait for the water to recede

B) Drive through slowly if the water doesn’t look too deep

C) Turn around and find another route

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15) When two vehicles arrive at an uncontrolled intersection simultaneously, who has the right of way?

A) The vehicle on the right

B) The vehicle on the left

C) The larger vehicle

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16) When driving in the far left lane of a freeway with three or more lanes in your direction, what is the minimum speed you must maintain unless conditions require slower speed?

A) 55 mph

B) The posted speed limit

C) 65 mph

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17) What does a sign with the letters “PED XING” mean?

A) Pedestrian crossing ahead

B) Physical education class in session

C) No pedestrians allowed

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18) What does a white sign with “ROAD CLOSED” in black letters mean?

A) The road is closed to through traffic but open to residents

B) The road is closed only during certain hours

C) The road is completely closed to all traffic

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19) What should you do if you’re involved in a minor collision with no injuries?

A) Move your vehicles to a safe area if possible, then exchange information

B) Leave the scene and report the accident later

C) Leave your vehicles where they are and wait for the police

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20) What is the minimum age to obtain a learner’s permit in California?

A) 14 years old

B) 16 years old

C) 15 years 6 months old

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21) What does a sign with a truck tipping over on a triangle mean?

A) Trucks are not allowed on this road

B) Watch for falling rocks

C) Steep grade may cause trucks to tip over

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22) What should you do if your brakes fail while driving?

A) Use the parking brake and steer to the right side of the road

B) Both A and B

C) Shift to a lower gear and pump the brake pedal rapidly

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23) What does a sign with “LIMITED SIGHT DISTANCE” mean?

A) You’re entering an area with poor visibility

B) You’re approaching a scenic viewpoint

C) You’re nearing a vision testing center

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24) What should you do if you miss your exit on a freeway?

A) Continue to the next exit

B) Back up on the shoulder

C) Make a U-turn through the median

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25) What does a white sign with the words “SLOWER TRAFFIC KEEP RIGHT” mean?

A) Vehicles moving slower than the normal speed of traffic should use the right lane

B) Only slow vehicles are allowed on this road

C) All traffic should move to the right lane

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26) What is the correct action when you see a solid double yellow line on your side of the road?

A) You may cross it only to turn into a driveway

B) You may cross it to pass slower vehicles when safe

C) You may not cross it under any circumstances

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27) What does a sign with a deer symbol mean?

A) Deer crossing ahead

B) Petting zoo nearby

C) Hunting area

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28) What is the purpose of a “runaway truck ramp”?

A) For trucks that have lost brake control on steep downgrades

B) For trucks to bypass traffic jams

C) For trucks to take a break

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29) What does a sign with “CROSS TRAFFIC DOES NOT STOP” mean?

A) You have the right of way

B) You have a stop sign, but crossing traffic doesn’t

C) Cross-traffic has a stop sign

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30) What should you do if you encounter a flooded roadway?

A) Wait for the water to recede

B) Turn around and find another route

C) Drive through slowly if the water doesn’t look too deep

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31) What does a sign with “NO TURN ON RED” mean?

A) You can’t turn left when the traffic light is red

B) You can’t turn right at this intersection

C) You can’t turn right when the traffic light is red

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32) What is the color of a sign indicating a construction or maintenance warning?

A) Orange

B) Red

C) Yellow

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33) When driving near a large truck, what is true?

A) You should tailgate the truck to improve fuel efficiency

B) The truck can stop more quickly than a car

C) The truck has more prominent blind spots than a car

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34) What should you do if your vehicle starts to hydroplane?

A) Accelerate to regain traction

B) Ease off the accelerator and steer straight

C) Brake hard and turn the steering wheel

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35) What does a yellow triangle sign with two arrows pointing up mean?

A) Divided highway ends

B) Two-way traffic ahead

C) Merging traffic ahead

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36) What is the purpose of a runaway truck ramp?

A) To allow trucks to pass slower vehicles

B) To stop trucks that have lost their brakes on a steep downgrade

C) To provide a rest area for truck drivers

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37) What does a sign with the letters “BUMP” mean?

A) There’s a dip in the road ahead

B) There’s a speed bump ahead

C) There’s a rough or raised area on the road

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38) What does a driver’s license with a “provisional” restriction mean?

A) The driver can only drive during certain hours

B) Both A and B for the first 12 months

C) The driver must always have a licensed driver over 25 in the car

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39) What is the purpose of a center left turn lane?

A) For passing slower vehicles

B) For emergency vehicles only

C) For making left turns from either direction

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40) What is the rule about using a cell phone while driving in California if you’re under 18?

A) You can use it with a hands-free device

B) You can use it only for emergencies

C) You cannot use it at all while driving

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41) What does a sign with the words “SPEED MONITORED BY AIRCRAFT” mean?

A) Airplanes must fly at low altitudes in this area

B) Police aircraft may be timing your speed

C) Drones are watching for speeders

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42) What does a sign that says “SPEED ZONE AHEAD” mean?

A) You must increase your speed immediately

B) You’re entering an area with a different speed limit

C) You’re entering a zone where speeding is strictly enforced

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43) What should you do if you’re involved in a collision where someone is injured?

A) Call 911 and wait for emergency services

B) Administer first aid immediately

C) Move the injured person to safety

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44) What does a red arrow traffic signal mean?

A) Do not turn in the direction of the arrow

B) Stop, then turn if the way is clear

C) Yield to oncoming traffic before turning

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45) What is the rule about parking near a fire hydrant in California?

A) You must park at least 10 ft away

B) You can park next to it if you remain in the vehicle

C) You must park at least 15 ft away

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46) What is the correct action when encountering a “WRONG WAY” sign?

A) Turn around or back up immediately

B) Slow down and proceed with caution

C) Pull over to the right and stop

Your score is

0%

«« Restart Test

And honestly, repetition, repetition—did I mention repetition?—beats cramming the night before the CA DMV written test.

• Quick bursts: 15-minute sets, three times a day.
• Shuffle mode: never the same order twice.
• Review wrong answers immediately; don’t save them “for later.”

Anyway, that’s how I finally nailed the freeway-sign question I kept butchering.

What’s New for 2025? (A Lot, Actually)

Seniors 70+ rejoice. Since October 1, 2024, most seasoned drivers renewing their licenses no longer need to take a written exam, as long as their record is clean.

eLearning = no-fail option. If you do need a knowledge check while renewing, you can breeze through a 20-minute online course—pass-only, self-paced, any device.

Street-takeover crackdown. New 2025 laws increase penalties for sideshows and even allow police to impound cars on the spot. Passing your test means knowing those fines.

My First Brush With the DMV (Story Time)

Picture 19-year-old me, fresh permit in hand, convinced I’d ace everything because I could name every Fast & Furious movie. Third question in: “How far must you stop behind a school bus with flashing red lights?” I blanked—chose 50 feet. The examiner raised an eyebrow. Result? A classic fail.

That sting pushed me to design a drill where I write down each miss in a scrappy notebook, then explain it back to myself. Try it; the act of teaching you cements the rule.

Building Your 2025 Study Plan

1. Read the 2025 handbook once—just once—cover to cover.
2. Alternate practice sources: DMV sample tests, plus a paid simulator if you can swing it.
3. Mix formats
   • Flash cards for sign shapes.
   • YouTube walk-throughs (search “California permit breakdown”).
4. Breaks. Hydrate. Stretch. Repeat the loop tomorrow.

Consistency is key—seriously, consistency is key.

Common Trip-Ups I Still See

• Speed-limit math in school zones. Students panic between 15 mph and 25 mph signs.
• Right-on-red rules at intersections with posted “No Turn on Red” (yes, Glendale loves those).
• EV lane changes—new signage on I-10 confuses everybody.
• Mis-reading feet vs. seconds following-distance questions.

I’ve found that saying numbers out loud—“one-one-thousand… two-one-thousand”—helps lock them in.

Tiny Tangent: Is the Online Test Coming Back?

Currently, first-time applicants must take the test in-office; the DMV paused the at-home pilot in January 2025. The rumor mill suggests it might return after the new proctor software is rolled out, but there is no official confirmation yet. So, back to brick-and-mortar we go.

Final Thoughts

Passing the California DMV practice test 2025 isn’t about genius IQ—it’s about habits and up-to-date info. Read, quiz yourself, laugh at your mistakes, and repeat.

I’ll leave you with the same send-off I give every class: Drive smart, test smarter, and if you blank on a sign question… breathe, picture the manual’s page color, and trust your prep. Your license is closer than you think—see you on the road!