California driver test: 30 practice questions with answers

Every question on one page, each with four options, the answer and what the California Driver's Handbook says. Try to answer before you open the answer.

These questions are our own. Each is built on a rule stated in the California Driver's Handbook, which we read on 12 November 2026 on the official website of the California Department of Motor Vehicles (DMV). They cover speed limits, following distance, signalling, parking, headlights, alcohol, signals and right-of-way. They do not cover every topic of the real test. In particular, road signs are tested in every state and must be learned from the pictures in the handbook.

Take these as a scored test Official handbook Print

1. Unless otherwise posted, what is the maximum speed limit on most California highways?

   • 55 mph
   • 60 mph
   • 65 mph
   • 70 mph
   Show the answer

   65 mph. The handbook gives 65 mph as the maximum on most California highways unless otherwise posted.

2. What is the speed limit on a two-lane undivided highway in California, unless otherwise posted?

   • 45 mph
   • 55 mph
   • 65 mph
   • 50 mph
   Show the answer

   55 mph. The handbook says it is 55 mph on a two-lane undivided highway and for vehicles towing trailers.

3. What is the speed limit within 500 feet of a school while children are outside or crossing the street?

   • 15 mph
   • 20 mph
   • 25 mph
   • 35 mph
   Show the answer

   25 mph. The handbook gives 25 mph within 500 feet of a school while children are outside or crossing; some school zones may be posted as low as 15 mph.

4. What is the speed limit in an alley?

   • 10 mph
   • 15 mph
   • 20 mph
   • 25 mph
   Show the answer

   15 mph. The handbook states that the speed limit in an alley is 15 mph.

5. You are within 100 feet of a railroad crossing and cannot see the tracks for 400 feet in both directions. What is the speed limit?

   • 15 mph
   • 25 mph
   • 30 mph
   • 10 mph
   Show the answer

   15 mph. The handbook gives 15 mph in this situation. You may go faster if the crossing is controlled by gates, a warning signal or a flagger.

6. What does California's Basic Speed Law say?

   • You may always drive at the posted limit
   • You may never drive faster than is safe for current conditions
   • You must keep up with the fastest traffic
   • You may exceed the limit by 5 mph when passing
   Show the answer

   You may never drive faster than is safe for current conditions. The handbook: you may never drive faster than is safe for the current road conditions. This is the Basic Speed Law.

7. In heavy rain you cannot see more than 100 feet ahead. According to the handbook, it is not safe to drive faster than:

   • 30 mph
   • 40 mph
   • 45 mph
   • 55 mph
   Show the answer

   30 mph. The handbook says that if you cannot see farther than 100 feet, it is not safe to drive faster than 30 mph.

8. For a driver over 21, it is illegal to drive with a blood alcohol concentration (BAC) of:

   • 0.05% or higher
   • 0.08% or higher
   • 0.10% or higher
   • 0.12% or higher
   Show the answer

   0.08% or higher. The handbook: it is illegal to drive with a BAC of 0.08% or higher if you are over 21.

9. For a driver under 21, it is illegal to drive with a BAC of:

   • 0.01% or higher
   • 0.04% or higher
   • 0.05% or higher
   • 0.08% or higher
   Show the answer

   0.01% or higher. The handbook gives 0.01% or higher for drivers under 21, and for a driver of any age on DUI probation.

10. About how far before a turn should you start signalling?

    • 25 feet
    • 50 feet
    • 100 feet
    • 300 feet
    Show the answer

    100 feet. The handbook says to start signalling about 100 feet before the turn.

11. You may not park within how many feet of a fire hydrant?

    • 5 feet
    • 10 feet
    • 15 feet
    • 25 feet
    Show the answer

    15 feet. The handbook lists within 15 feet of a fire hydrant or a fire station driveway among the places where you must not park.

12. When you cannot change lanes to pass a bicyclist, how much space must you leave?

    • At least one foot
    • At least two feet
    • At least three feet
    • No fixed distance
    Show the answer

    At least three feet. The handbook: allow at least three feet between your vehicle and the bicyclist; if you cannot, do not pass until you can.

13. Before a turn, you may enter a bike lane no more than how far ahead?

    • 50 feet
    • 100 feet
    • 200 feet
    • 500 feet
    Show the answer

    200 feet. The handbook says to enter a bike lane no more than 200 feet before starting a turn.

14. How far may you drive in a center left turn lane?

    • 100 feet
    • 200 feet
    • 300 feet
    • As far as you need
    Show the answer

    200 feet. The handbook: you may only drive for 200 feet in the center left turn lane. It is not a regular traffic or passing lane.

15. On a two-lane road where passing is unsafe, you must use a turnout to let others pass when how many vehicles are following you?

    • Two or more
    • Three or more
    • Five or more
    • Ten or more
    Show the answer

    Five or more. The handbook says you must use a turnout area or lane when you are driving slowly and five or more vehicles are following you.

16. What does a red painted curb mean?

    • Stop only to pick up or drop off passengers
    • Park for a limited time
    • No stopping, standing or parking
    • Loading and unloading only
    Show the answer

    No stopping, standing or parking. In the handbook's list of colored curbs, red means no stopping. White is for picking up or dropping off passengers, green is limited-time parking and yellow is for loading and unloading.

17. What does a white painted curb mean?

    • Stop only long enough to pick up or drop off passengers
    • No stopping at any time
    • Parking for disabled persons only
    • Park for a limited time
    Show the answer

    Stop only long enough to pick up or drop off passengers. The handbook: white means stop only long enough to pick up or drop off passengers.

18. At a solid red light, when may you turn right?

    • Never
    • After stopping and yielding, unless a NO TURN ON RED sign is posted
    • Without stopping if the way is clear
    • Only when a green arrow appears
    Show the answer

    After stopping and yielding, unless a NO TURN ON RED sign is posted. The handbook: you can turn right at a red light if there is no NO TURN ON RED sign, after you stop at the limit line and yield to pedestrians. You may not turn at a red arrow.

19. What does a flashing yellow traffic light mean?

    • Stop, then go when safe
    • Proceed with caution; you do not need to stop
    • The signal is broken; treat it as a stop sign
    • Yield only to buses
    Show the answer

    Proceed with caution; you do not need to stop. The handbook describes a flashing yellow light as a warning to proceed with caution: slow down and be alert; you do not need to stop.

20. As you approach a roundabout, who must you yield to?

    • Nobody; entering traffic has priority
    • Traffic already in the roundabout
    • Only large trucks
    • Only traffic on your right
    Show the answer

    Traffic already in the roundabout. The handbook: slow down as you approach and yield to all traffic already in the roundabout.

21. Two vehicles meet on a steep, narrow mountain road where neither can pass. Who has the right-of-way?

    • The vehicle facing downhill
    • The vehicle facing uphill
    • The larger vehicle
    • Whoever arrived first
    Show the answer

    The vehicle facing uphill. The handbook: the vehicle facing uphill has the right-of-way; the one facing downhill has more control when backing and should back up.

22. A pedestrian using a guide dog or a white cane is crossing. Who has the right-of-way?

    • The driver, if the light is green
    • The pedestrian, at all times
    • Whoever reaches the crosswalk first
    • The pedestrian only in a marked crosswalk
    Show the answer

    The pedestrian, at all times. The handbook: pedestrians using guide dogs or white canes have the right-of-way at all times.

23. When a bus, streetcar or trolley is stopped at a safety zone, you may pass at no more than:

    • 5 mph
    • 10 mph
    • 15 mph
    • 20 mph
    Show the answer

    10 mph. The handbook gives a limit of 10 mph for passing in this situation.

24. Which rule does the handbook give for a safe following distance?

    • The one-second rule
    • The three-second rule
    • One car length for every 20 mph
    • Stay close enough to read the plate
    Show the answer

    The three-second rule. The handbook tells drivers to use the three-second rule to keep a safe following distance.

25. You cannot see a truck's side mirrors. What does that tell you?

    • The truck is about to turn
    • The truck driver cannot see you
    • It is safe to pass on the right
    • The truck has no blind spots
    Show the answer

    The truck driver cannot see you. The handbook: if you cannot see the truck's side mirrors, the truck driver cannot see you. You are in a blind spot, or No Zone.

26. What does the handbook say about using a handheld cell phone while driving?

    • It is allowed on freeways
    • It is unsafe and illegal
    • It is allowed below 25 mph
    • It is allowed for calls but not for texts
    Show the answer

    It is unsafe and illegal. The handbook: driving while using a handheld cell phone is unsafe and illegal; adult drivers should use a phone only in hands-free mode when necessary.

27. When it is raining, which lights should you use?

    • Parking lights only
    • High-beam headlights
    • Low-beam headlights
    • Hazard lights only
    Show the answer

    Low-beam headlights. The handbook: when it is raining, use your low-beam headlights; do not drive using only your parking lights.

28. How many attempts at the knowledge test are allowed before you must reapply?

    • One
    • Two
    • Three
    • Unlimited
    Show the answer

    Three. The handbook says you are allowed three attempts to pass before you must reapply.

29. How many hours of supervised practice must a driver under 18 complete before the driving test?

    • 20 hours, 5 at night
    • 30 hours, 6 at night
    • 50 hours, 10 at night
    • 100 hours, 20 at night
    Show the answer

    50 hours, 10 at night. The handbook: at least 50 hours with a California-licensed driver who is at least 25 years old; ten hours must be at night.

30. You are parking headed downhill beside a curb. Which way should the front wheels point?

    • Straight ahead
    • Into the curb or toward the side of the road
    • Away from the curb
    • It does not matter if the parking brake is set
    Show the answer

    Into the curb or toward the side of the road. The handbook: headed downhill, turn your front wheels into the curb or toward the side of the road, and set the parking brake.

What next

If you missed more than three, read the matching sections of the handbook and come back tomorrow. When these are easy, take the scored practice test, which mixes the questions and the order of the options.

Independent practice site. DMV Practice is not a government website and is not connected with any Department of Motor Vehicles or licensing agency. The questions are our own, written from each state's public driver handbook as we read it on 12 November 2026. They are not the official test questions. Laws change: the current handbook of your own state is the authority.