california dmv knowledge test (2025)

It is illegal for a person 21 years of age or older to drive with a blood alcohol concentration (BAC) that is or higher.

0.08%-- Eight hundredths of one percent

You are driving on a freeway posted for 65mph. Traffic is heavy and moving at 35mph. The best speed for your vehicle is most likely

35 mph

You must notify law enforcement and file a Report of Traffic Accident Occuring in California (SR 1) with DMV when

You have a collision and there is an injury or death

You must notify DMV within 5 days if you

Sell or transfer your vehicle

A pedestrian starts to cross the street after the "Don't Walk" signal begins to flash. The pedestrian is in the middle of the street when your signal light changes to green. you should:

Wait until the pedestrian crosses the street before proceeding

You exit a freeway on a ramp that curves downhill. You should:

Slow to a safe speed before the curve

A vehicle suddenly "cuts" in front of you creating a hazard. Which of these actions should you take first?

Take your foot off the gas

You are approaching a green traffic light, but traffic is blocking the intersection. What is the best thing to do?

Don't enter the intersection until you can get completely across

A safety zone is a specially marked area for passengers to get on or off buses or trolleys. You may not drive through a safety zone:

At any time or for any reason

A red arrow pointing to the light on a traffic light means you may:

Not turn in that direction until the light turns green.

Smoking inside a vehicle when a person younger than 18 years of age is present is:

Illegal at all times

A pedestrian who is blind or visually impaired uses traffic sounds before deciding to cross the street. If you see a pedestrian with a guide dog or white cane waiting to cross at a corner, you should:

Pull up to the crosswalk so the person can hear your engine

An orange and red sign of this shape on a vehicle always means:

Slow moving vehicle

Three of the most important times to check traffic behind you are before:

Backing, changing lanes, or slowing down quickly

Which of these statements is true about drinking alcohol and driving?

Alcohol affects judgment, which is needed for driving safely

You must yield the right-or-way to an emergency vehicle by

Driving as near to the right edge of the road as possible

and stopping

Flash your brake lights or turn on your emergency flashers if you:

Need to warn other drivers of a collision ahead

A curb painted blue means parking is:

For disabled persons with a special placard or plate

You should signal continuously while turning because it

Lets other drivers know what your intentions are

If your cell phone rings while you are driving and you do not have a hands free device, you should:

Let the call go to voice mail

When a school bus with its red lights flashing is stopped ahead on your side of the road, you must:

Stop until the lights stop flashing

You can drive off the road to pass another vehicle:

Under no circumstances

It is illegal to leave children age six or younger unattended in a vehicle on a hot day:

Even if they are secured in a child passenger restraint system

Which statement is true about motorcyclists and motorist:

Motorcyclists have the same rights/responsibilities as other motorists

This white sign (do not pass) means don't pass:

Other vehicles for any reason

After passing a vehicle, it is safe to return to your driving lane when:

You see the headlights of the passed vehicle in your rear view mirror

On a freeway, you should look farther ahead than you would on a city street:

In order to see potential hazards early

You must look for bicycle rides in the same lanes used by motor vehicles because they:

Are entitled to share the road with you

Drivers of large trucks often travel with a lot of space in front of their vehicle. This extra space is needed for:

The truck driver to use for stopping the vehicle

To help avoid skidding on slippery surfaces you should:

Slow down before entering curves and intersections

You may make a left turn on a red light only from a:

One-way street onto a one-way street

On freezing, wet days, which of the following roadways is most likely to hide spots of ice?

Roadways on bridges and overpasses

You are driving and there are oncoming vehicles on your left and a row of parked vehicles on your right. You should steer:

A middle course between the oncoming and parked vehicles

Yellow lines separate:

Traffic moving in opposite directions on a two-way road

Slowing down just to look at collisions or anything else out of the ordinary:

Causes traffic congestion

When should you yield your legal right-of-way?

When it helps prevent collisions

Tailgating other drivers (driving too close to their rear bumper):

Can frustrate other drivers and make them angry

You must yield to a pedestrian using a white cane or guide dog:

At all times

A flashing red traffic light at an intersection means:

Stop before entering

A solid yellow line next to a broken yellow line means that vehicles:

Next to the broken line may pass

Backing your vehicle is

Always dangerous to do

This yellow sign (slippery road sign) means:

The road ahead may be slippery

To turn left from a one-way street with multiple lanes onto a two-way street, start the turn in:

The far left lane

You want to park uphill on a two-way road and there is no curb. Which way do you turn your front wheel?

Right-towards the side of the road

When parking next to a curb, you should use your turn signals:

When pulling next to or away from the curb

A flashing yellow traffic signal at an intesection means

Slow down and be alert at the upcoming intersection

You must stop at the intersection ahead just before the intersection you have to cross railroad tracks. You should stop before you cross the railroad tracks when

You don't have room to completely cross the tracks

Which of the following is true about roadways on bridges and overpasses in cold wet weather?

They tend to freeze before the rest of the road does

Driving under the influence of any medication which impairs your driving is permitted:

Under no circumstances

To see vehicles in your blind spots, you should check:

Over your shoulders

You are driving on the freeway behind a large truck. You should drive:

Farther behind the truck than for a passenger vehicle

Should you always drive slower than other traffic

No, you can block traffic when you drive too slowly

You are involved in a minor collision at an intersection. There are no injuries and very little vehicle damage. You should:

Move your vehicle out of the traffic lane, if possible

If you are riding in a vehicle equipped with a lap belt and also a separate shoulder belt, you are:

Required to use both lap and shoulder belts

Drivers are required to obey instructions from:

Flaggers(signal persons) at construction sites

If there is no crosswalk and you see a pedestrian crossing your lane, you should:

Stop and let the pedestrian finish crossing

A freeway on-ramp is marked with this white sign. Which of the following vehicles may use this lane? (carpools 3 or more only)

A convertible with an adult and two children

You are on the freeway and traffic is merging into your lane. You should:

Make room for the merging traffic, if possible

You may drive in a bike lane:

No more than 200 feet before making a right turn

You are driving on a city street and see an emergency vehicle with flashing lights behind you. What should you do?

Drive to the right edge of the road and stop

Blocking an intersection during "rush hour" traffic is not permitted:

Under any circumstances, even if your light is green

You reach an intersection with stop signs on all four corners at the same time as the driver on your left. Who has the right-of-way?

You have the right of way

What is the benefit of a space cushion around your vehicle?

If another driver makes a mistake, you have time to react

California's "Basic Speed Law" says you must:

Never drive faster than is safe for current conditions

While all of the following are dangerous to do while driving, which is also illegal?

Listening to music through a set of dual headphones

The speed limit in an alley is:

15mph

If there is a deep puddle in the road ahead, you should:

Avoid the puddle if possible

Which of these statements is true about driving and taking medications?

Most cold medications can make you drowsy

Your wheels should be pointed straight ahead, unless you are:

Parked on a hill or sloping driveway

Which of the following is true about large trucks?

Trucks often appear to travel slower because of their large size

You are required to wear your safety belt in a moving vehicle:

And a failure to do so will result in a traffic ticket

This white sign (railroad crossing) means:

Look, listen, and prepare to stop at the crossing, if necessary

This red and white sign means you should:

Give the right-of-way to traffic on the road you wish to enter or cross

This white sign means:

Stay in the right lane if you are driving slower than other traffic

At intersections, crosswalks, and railroad crossings, you should always:

Look to the sides of your vehicle to see what is coming

You want to make a right turn at the corner. A pedestrian with a guide dog is at the corner ready to cross the street in front of you. Before making your right turn, you should:

Wait until the person crosses the street

You should not start across an intersection if you know you will block the intersection when the light turns red:

Under any circumstances

Which of the following will help you to avoid getting hit from behind:

Merge into another lane

If you plan to pass another vehicle, you should:

Not assume the other driver will make space for you to return to your lane

This yellow sign (arrow pointing up with curve on right side) means:

Merging traffic ahead

What is the difference between traffic lights with red arrows and those with solid red lights?

You cannot turn on a red arrow, even if you stop first

Which of the following increases your chances of having a collision?

Continually changing lanes to pass other vehicles

You must file a report of traffic accident occurring in California (SR 1) with the DMV within 10 days if you:

Are in a collision that causes $750 in damage

At dawn or dust, or in rain or snow, it can be hard to see and be seen. A good way to let other drivers know you are there is to turn:

On your headlights

Large trucks turning right onto a street with two lanes in each direction:

Often have to use part of the left lane to complete the turn

You want to turn left ahead. In the middle of the road there is a lane marked as shown. You must:

Merge completely into this lane before you make your left turn

If you drive slower than the flow of traffic you will most likely:

Interfere with traffic and receive a ticket

When changing lanes on a freeway, you should:

Signal for at least 5 seconds

You are driving on a one-way street. You may turn left onto another one way street:

If traffic on the street is moving to the left

When making a right turn from a highway with two lanes in our directions, you may turn from:

The lane nearest the curb or edge of the roadway

You should use your horn when:

It may help prevent a collision

Animals may be transported in the back of a pickup truck only if:

They are properly secured

Which of these statements about drugs and driving is true:

Even over the counter drugs can impair your driving

For which of the following traffic lights must you always stop your vehicle:

Solid red lights, flashing red lights and blacked out traffic signals

Which of these vehicles must stop before crossing railroad tracks:

Tank trucks marked with hazardous materials placards

Pedestrians crossing at corners have the right of way:

Whether or not a crosswalk is marked

A police officer is signaling you to continue driving through a red traffic light. What should you do?

Do as the officer tells you

You should allow more space in front of your vehicle when following large trucks because:

You need extra room to see around the truck

You may cross double yellow lines to pass another vehicle if the:

Yellow line next to your side of the road is broken