DMV Test

How old do you need to be to apply for a learner's permit in California?

15½ years old (15 years, 6 months)

What must you complete before getting a permit if you're under 18?

A driver education course

How many questions are on the CA DMV written test if you're under 18?

46 multiple-choice questions

How many questions must you answer correctly to pass the under-18 written test?

38 out of 46 (about 83%)

How many questions are on the written test for applicants 18 and older, and how many correct are needed?

36 questions; 30 correct needed to pass

Who must be in the car with a permit holder whenever they drive?

A licensed driver who is at least 25 years old, seated in the front passenger seat

At what age can you apply for a provisional license, and what's required first?

16 years old, after holding the permit for at least 6 months

How many hours of supervised practice driving are required before a provisional license, and how many must be at night?

50 hours total, including at least 10 hours at night

How many attempts do you get to pass the written test before you must reapply and pay the fee again?

3 attempts

If you're under 18 and fail the written test, how long must you wait before retaking it?

7 days

What must the written test cover, according to the DMV?

Information in the California Driver Handbook — road signs, traffic laws, and safe driving practices

Besides the written test, what else must you pass to get a permit?

A vision screening

What percentage of the written test focuses on road signs?

Roughly 25% of the questions

During the first 12 months of a provisional license, when can you NOT drive unsupervised?

Between 11 p.m. and 5 a.m.

During the first 12 months of a provisional license, who can you NOT drive with unsupervised?

Passengers under age 20, with limited exceptions

Who can accompany a provisional license holder to legally allow driving during curfew hours or with young passengers?

A licensed parent/guardian, a licensed driver 25 or older, or a licensed driving instructor

Name two recognized exceptions that let a provisional license holder drive during restricted hours or with young passengers.

Medical necessity and school/school-authorized activities (work is another recognized exception)

When do the provisional license restrictions end?

After 12 months, or when the driver turns 18 — whichever comes first

Can a provisional license holder be employed in a job that requires driving?

No

What shape is a stop sign, and what color?

Octagon (8-sided), red with white letters

What shape is a yield sign, and what color?

Downward-pointing triangle, red and white

What shape and color indicate a railroad crossing sign?

Round (circular), yellow, with an 'X' and the letters 'RR'

What color are most warning signs, and what shape?

Yellow, diamond-shaped

What color and shape are most regulatory signs (speed limits, turn rules)?

White rectangle with black letters, or red for prohibitions

What color are guide/informational signs, like freeway exits and mile markers?

Green with white letters

What color are construction and maintenance signs?

Orange

What color are signs giving information about services — gas, food, lodging, hospitals?

Blue

What shape is a school zone/school crossing sign, and what color?

Pentagon (5-sided), yellow or fluorescent yellow-green

What does a pentagon-shaped sign always indicate?

A school zone or school crossing

What color and shape is a 'no passing zone' pennant sign, and where is it mounted?

Yellow pennant (elongated triangle), mounted on the left side of the road

What does a diamond-shaped orange sign mean?

Construction or maintenance work ahead

What does a solid red circle with a diagonal line through a symbol mean?

That action or maneuver is prohibited — for example, no U-turn or no left turn

What does a sign with a curved arrow and the word 'Merge' mean?

Traffic from another road is joining your road ahead

What does a yellow diamond sign with a truck on an incline mean?

Steep hill ahead

What does a sign showing two arrows, one up and one down, in the same lane mean?

Two-way traffic ahead — you're leaving a divided road

What does a sign with an arrow curving into a loop mean, often seen near freeways?

A cloverleaf interchange or loop ramp ahead

What does a sign showing a deer mean?

Deer or other animals may cross the road ahead

What does a sign with a picture of a person walking mean?

Pedestrian crossing ahead

What does a sign showing a bicycle mean?

Bicycle crossing or shared route ahead

What does a 'Divided Highway' sign with an arrow indicate?

The road ahead splits into a divided highway with a median

Does a sharper curve on a warning sign call for a bigger speed reduction than a gentle curve symbol?

Yes — the sign's curve angle mirrors how sharp the actual curve is

What does a 'Do Not Enter' sign look like?

A red circle with a white horizontal bar, posted where entering is prohibited

What does a solid white circle with a black arrow pointing straight mean?

You must travel only in the direction shown — a mandatory movement sign

What does a sign showing a truck going downhill with a percentage, like 6%, mean?

A steep downgrade ahead — the percentage shows how many feet the road drops per 100 feet traveled

What does a 'Lane Ends' sign with a merging arrow indicate?

The lane you're in is ending and you need to merge into the adjacent lane

What does a diamond sign with two arrows forming a 'T' shape mean?

A T-intersection ahead

What does a crossbuck sign — an 'X' reading 'RAILROAD CROSSING' — mark?

A railroad crossing; at multi-track crossings it's paired with a sign showing the number of tracks

What does a sign reading 'Right Lane Must Turn Right' mean?

Vehicles in that lane are required to turn right — you can't go straight from it

What does a white sign with a black bicycle and the word 'Route' mean?

You're on a designated bike route — informational, not a lane restriction

What does an orange diamond sign with a worker symbol mean?

Road workers are present ahead — slow down, since fines often double in these zones

What does a 'Signal Ahead' sign warn you of?

A traffic signal is coming up, often somewhere it may be hard to see in time

What does a sign showing a side road joining at an angle, not perpendicular, mean?

A side road enters ahead at that angle — watch for merging traffic

What does a black-and-white striped 'object marker' sign indicate?

A physical obstruction near the roadway, like the end of a median or a fixed obstacle

What does a round 'Keep Right' sign with an arrow mean?

You must keep to the right of a median, island, or obstruction — a mandatory movement sign

What does a 'No U-Turn' sign look like?

A U-shaped arrow with a red circle and slash through it

What must you do at a steady red light?

Stop completely before the limit line or crosswalk and stay stopped until the light turns green; you may turn right on red after stopping, unless prohibited

What does a flashing red light mean?

Treat it like a stop sign — come to a complete stop, then proceed when safe

What does a flashing yellow light mean?

Slow down and proceed with caution — no need to stop unless necessary for safety

What must you do at a steady yellow light?

Prepare to stop; only proceed through if you're too close to the intersection to stop safely

What does a steady green arrow allow?

You may make the movement shown, like a left turn, with the right-of-way — oncoming traffic is held by a red light

What does a steady red arrow mean?

You must stop and cannot make that turn until it changes, even if the road looks clear

What should you do if a traffic signal is completely dark or not working at an intersection?

Treat it as a four-way stop — come to a complete stop and follow right-of-way rules

Can you turn right on red in California?

Yes, after coming to a complete stop, unless a sign specifically prohibits it

Can you turn left on red from a one-way street onto another one-way street?

Yes, after a complete stop, if both streets are one-way and no sign prohibits it

What does a steady yellow arrow mean?

The protected turn signal is ending — finish your turn only if you can do so safely, otherwise stop

What should you do if a police officer directing traffic conflicts with a traffic signal?

Follow the officer's directions — they override the signal

At a four-way stop, if two vehicles arrive at the same time, who goes first?

The driver on the right

At a four-way stop, if vehicles arrive at different times, who goes first?

The vehicle that arrived first

Who has the right-of-way at an uncontrolled intersection with no signs or signals?

The driver who arrived first; if simultaneous, the driver on the right

Who has the right-of-way when one vehicle is turning left and another is going straight?

The vehicle going straight — the turning vehicle must yield

Who must yield when entering a road from a driveway or alley?

The driver leaving the driveway or alley must yield to traffic and pedestrians already on the road

Who has the right-of-way when merging onto a freeway?

Traffic already on the freeway — merging traffic must yield and adjust speed to merge safely

Do pedestrians in a crosswalk always have the right-of-way, even if it's unmarked?

Yes, but pedestrians also must not step into traffic so suddenly a driver can't stop

Who has the right-of-way at a roundabout?

Traffic already circulating in the roundabout — entering drivers must yield

When must you yield to a blind pedestrian?

Always — a pedestrian using a white cane or guide dog always has the right-of-way

Who has the right-of-way when you're exiting a parking lot onto a street?

Vehicles and pedestrians already on the street

When two vehicles reach a narrow bridge, dip, or one-lane road from opposite directions, who goes first?

Whichever vehicle enters first; the other driver should yield

Do funeral processions have the right-of-way?

Yes — do not drive between the vehicles of an organized funeral procession

What has the right-of-way over all other traffic, including at red lights, once other traffic has safely yielded?

Emergency vehicles using a siren and flashing lights

On a narrow mountain road with no room to pass, who should yield — the vehicle going uphill or downhill?

The downhill vehicle should yield, backing up if necessary, since the uphill vehicle has the right-of-way

What is the 'Basic Speed Law' in California?

You must never drive faster than is safe for current conditions, regardless of the posted speed limit

What is the maximum speed limit on most California highways for passenger vehicles?

65 mph, though it can be up to 70 mph where specifically posted

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

55 mph

What is the maximum speed limit for a vehicle towing a trailer, unless posted otherwise?

55 mph

What is the prima facie speed limit in business and residential districts, unless otherwise posted?

25 mph

What is the speed limit near a school when children are present, within 500–1,000 feet, unless posted otherwise?

25 mph — it can be posted as low as 15 mph in some school zones

What is the speed limit in an alley?

15 mph

What is the speed limit at a blind intersection?

15 mph

What makes an intersection 'blind' for speed-limit purposes?

You can't see for 100 feet in either direction because your view is blocked within the last 100 feet you approach it

If you're driving 45 mph in a 55 mph zone during dense fog and cause a wreck, can you still be cited?

Yes — you can be cited for driving too fast for conditions even if you're under the posted limit

What four things should influence your speed, regardless of the posted limit?

Traffic and road conditions, weather and visibility, the road surface, and pedestrians or bicyclists nearby

True or false: posted speed limits assume ideal driving conditions.

True — they're the maximum for ideal conditions, not a target speed in all conditions

What is the minimum following distance recommended in ideal conditions?

At least 3 seconds behind the vehicle ahead

How much following distance should you use in bad weather, when being tailgated, or behind a motorcycle?

4 seconds or more

How do you measure the 3-second following distance?

Pick a fixed point, like a sign, and count seconds from when the vehicle ahead passes it until you reach it

What should you do if someone is tailgating you?

Increase your following distance from the car ahead, and if possible, let the tailgater pass

Why do larger vehicles like trucks and buses need a bigger space cushion around them?

They take longer to stop and have larger blind spots

What's the safest space-cushion strategy when driving?

Keep space on all sides of your vehicle — front, back, and sides — so you always have an escape route

Should you follow a motorcycle at the standard 3-second distance, or more?

More — motorcycles can stop more quickly than cars, so extra distance is needed

When should you increase your following distance beyond the usual 3 seconds, besides bad weather?

When carrying a heavy load, towing a trailer, or on slippery roads