CA DMV Knowledge Test 2026

If you are under 18 years old, the hours in which you cannot drive are between...

11pm-5am

True or false: If are under 18, you cannot drive anyone under the age of 20 without a CA licensed driver over the age of 25

True!

Left turn signal

Hand and arm straight out

Right turn hand signal

Hand and arm upward

Slow/stop hand signal

Hand and arm pointing downward

How many feet before your turn should you signal?

100ft

How many second should signal before changing lanes on the freeway?

5 seconds

When should you use your car horn?

- To avoid collisions

- Alert oncoming traffic on narrow mountain roads where you cannot see at least 200 feet ahead

Within how many feet of a car coming toward you should you dim your high beams to low beams?

500ft

Within how many feet of a car you are following should you dim your high beams to low beams?

300ft

True or false: It is illegal to drive using only parking lights

True!

How long before sunset should you turn on headlights?

30 minutes before sunset

How long before sunrise should you turn off headlights?

30 minutes before sunrise

When should you use emergency flashers?`

- If you see a collision or hazard ahead

- If you need to stop because of vehicle trouble

*If vehicle doesn't have flashers, use turn signals

What does a single solid yellow line indicate?

It marks the center of a road with two-way traffic

Can you pass a vehicle in front of you if there is only one lane of traffic going in your direction and a solid yellow line on your side of the road?

No, you cannot pass

Can you pass double solid yellow lines?

Generally, no

When is it okay to pass over double solid yellow lines?

- When entering a carpool lane

- Instructed by construction or signs

- Entering or exiting a driveway on a private road or to a U-turn

When is the ONLY time you can cross solid double yellow lines faced tow feet or more across

At designated entrances, otherwise, do not cross for ANY reason

Can you pass a broken yellow line?

Yes

What does a single solid white line indicate?

It marks traffic going in one direction, including on one way streets

What do double solid white lines indicate?

They indicate a lane barrier between a regular use and preferential use lane (like carpool); they may also appear in per near freeway on and off ramps

Can you change lanes over double solid white lines?

No, you cannot

What do broken white lines do?

They separate traffic lanes on roads with two or more lanes in the same direction

What are end of lane markings?

Large broken lines that a freeway exit or the end of a lane

What are yield lines?

A line of solid white triangles pointing towards approaching vehicles that shows the where to yield or stop

What lane is the fast lane?

Lane 1 (the leftmost in lane in relation to the direction yoga re driving)

What lane should you use to pass or turn left?

The left lane (Number 1 Lane).

What lane should you use to enter or exit traffic when you enter the road forma curb or shoulder?

The right lane

True or false: You need to slow down when making a lane change

False!

What is the passing lane?

The far left lane

Who can use carpool lanes?

Cars with 2+ people and motorcycles (unless indicated otherwise)

What designates a center left turn lane?

It will be marked on both sides by two pained lines, the inner line is broken and the outer line is solid

What do you use the centers left turn lane for?

To make a left turn or U-turn

How long can you drive in the center left turn lane?

200 feet

When are you allowed to enter a bike lane?

- Parking (where permitted)

- Entering or leaving the road

- Turning (within 200 feet of an intersection)

How to make a right turn

- Drive close to the right edge of the road

- Enter the turn lane or bike lane within 200 feet of the turn

- Start signaling 100 feet before the turn

Can you make a right turn against a red light?

Yes, unless there is a NO TURN ON RED sign

Can you make a right turn against a red arrow?

No

How to make a left turn

Drive close to the center divider, enter a designated left turn lane within 200 feet (if there is one), signal 100 feet before the turn, and complete the turn in the left lane

Can you make a left turn against a red light?

Yes, if you are turning from a one-way street onto a one-way street

How many feet should you signal before exiting a freeway?

About 400 feet (5 secs)

To merge, enter, to exit traffic, you need a space that is...

- Half a block on city streets (~150ft)

- A full block on the highway (~300ft)

Do not pass...

- Approaching a hill or curve

- Within 100 feet of an intersection, bridge, tunnel, railroad crossing, or other hazardous area

- At crossroads and driveways

- Unless you have enough space to return to your lane

Pass right when...

- An open highway has two or more lanes going in your direction

- The driver ahead of you is turning (NOT signaling) left

You are on a one-way street

Parking on a sloping driveway

Turn the wheels, leave the vehicle in park, set the parking brake

Parking headed downhill

Turn front wheels into the curb

Parking head uphill

Turn front wheels away from the curb

No curb

Turn wheels to the right

Yellow light/arrow

-cautions that the light is about to change

-if you have NOT entered an intersection, stop

-if you have entered an intersection, go through it

Flashing yellow arrow

You can turn, but it is not protected

Red YIELD Sign

Slow down and be ready to stop to let any vehicle, bicyclist, or pedestrian pass before proceeding

What does it mean if road reflectors are shining red in your headlights

You're going the wrong way

What vehicle has the right of way on a mountain road?

The vehicle facing uphill has the right of way, and the vehicle going downhill should back up until the uphill vehicle can pass

How much following dis at ace should you allow for motorcyclists?

3 seconds

Within how many feet are you it allowed to drive by an emergency vehicle with its lights on?

300 feet

What is the speed near a school zone?

25th, sometimes 15mph

Speed limit for an alley and blind intersection

- 15mph

Speed limit near a railroad

15mph within 100 feet of a crossing

How far back should you be from railroad tracks if a train is approaching?

15ft

Speed limit in a business district

25 mph

How far does cargo need to stick out of the back of the car in order for you to require a red/orange flag?

4 feet

Punishment for using a motor vehicle to flee or attempt to evade law enforcement performing their duties

Imprisonment in county jail for one year or less

A person convicted off causing serious bodily injury during a law enforcement pursuit is subject to...

Imprisonment in a state prison for up to seven years, or a county jail for one year or less

Punishment if an unlicensed person is caught driving your vehicle

The vehicle may be impounded for 30 days

Punishment for speed contests that causes injury or reckless driving

Imprisonment, fine, or both

How many seconds ahead of your vehicle should your eyes be scanning?

10 seconds`

Create more space in front of your while when

- Being tailgated

- Flowing motorcyclists on metal surfaces and gravel

WHat should you do when being followed by a tailgater?

Maintain your course and speed. Then, when it is safe to do so, merge to change into another lane and allow them to pass

How do you check blind spots?

Look over left/right shoulders out of your side windows, moving only your head instead of your whole body

When should you use high beams?

When driving at night on open country roads or dark city streets; do not use them in areas where they are illegal and dim them for oncoming vehicles

What lights should you use in rain?

Low-beams headlights

What are slippery surface skids?

Skids resulting from ice or packed snow

In the event you start to skid, do the following

- Slowly remove your foot from the accelerator

- Do not use the breaks

- Turn the steering wheel in the direction of the skid

- Try to get a wheel on dry pavement

What is a locked wheel skid?

A skid caused usually by breaking to hard when going to fast

How do you get out of a locked wheel skid?

Enable the four-wheel or rear-wheel (more commons in light trucks) antilock breaking system (ABS)

How should you adjust your speed for a wet road?

Reduce speed by 5 to 10 mph

How should you adjust your speed for packed snow?

Reduce speed by half

How should you adjust your speed for ice?

Reduce speed to no more than 5mph

The road can be more slippery than usual when...

- Shade from trees or buildings hide icy spots on cold, wet days; these areas freeze first and dry out last

- bridges and overpasses tend to freeze before the rest of the road; they can have icy spots

- When it starts to rain, the pavement can be slippery

Why is are roads especially slippery during the first rain following a hot/dry period?

Oil and dust on the roads surface has not been washed away

What is hydroplaning?

When the vehicle rides on water because the tires lose all contact with the road

True or false: Use brakes when hydroplaning

False! Do not use breaks, and slow down gradually

True or false: High winds are more of a hazard to large vehicles

True! When driving in high winds, be sure to reduce speed, maintain a firm hand position on the wheel, be alert and don't use cruise control

Should you use high-beam or low-beam headlights in fog or heavy smoke?

Use low-beams, as high-beams will reflect and cause heavy glare

* Also never drive using only parking or fog lights

Minimum age you CANNOT leave child unattended in a vehicle

Six years or younger

Ideal maximum speed limit on most CA highways

- 65mp

- 55mph on a two-lane undivided highway and for vehicles towing trailers

What should you do in the case you wind up choosing between hazards?

If one danger is greater than the other, give more space to the most dangerous situations

What should you do if you drift off the pavement?

- Grip the wheel firmly

- remove your foot from the accelerator

- Brake gently

- Check the traffic behind

- Carefully steer back onto the pavement

When is it acceptable to use a phone while driving?

When phone is in hands free mode, or you can use the single swipe/touch feature, otherwise do not send or read texts/emails while driving

True or false: the law sees a difference between illegal drugs and prescribed drugs

False! They can all affect your ability to drive safely and react (like cough syrup)

Can you drive with alcohol or cannabis?

Yes, but the container must be sealed or unopened; if it is, it must be kept in the trunk or other place where pass gets do not sit

IT IS ILLEGAL TO KEEP AN OPEN CONTAINER OF ALCOHOL IN YOUR GLOVE BOX

It is illegal to drive if you have a BAC of...

-0.08% or higher if over 21

- 0.01% or higher if under 21

What will happen if you are in a collision and do not have proper insurance coverage?

Your driving privelage will be suspended for up to four years

Within how many hours must you alert law enforcement if you are involved in a collision where someone is injured or killed?

24hrs

What should you do if your vehicle hits another car or other property, but the owner is not around?

Leave a note your name, phone number, and address, and report the collision to law enforcement

What should you do if you injure or kill an animal?

Call the nearest human society or law enforcement; do not try to move an injured animal

If you are in a collision, you must report it to DMV within 10 days if...

- The collision caused more than $1,000 in damage to property.

- Anyone was injured or killed. This applies even if the injuries were minor.

*Each driver must file a Report of Traffic Accident Occurring in California (SR 1) with DMV

If you are involved in a collision resulting in $1,000 in damage, or where anyone is injured or dies, it is your responsibility to...

Report the collision to DMV. DMV will add it to your driver's record. It does not matter who caused the collision.