California Driver’s Handbook 2025 Study Guide

California Driver’s Handbook Administrative Information

• State Leadership: Gavin Newsom (Governor), Toks Omishakin (Secretary of the California State Transportation Agency), Steve Gordon (Director of the California Department of Motor Vehicles).

• Availability: The handbook is available in nine languages via the official DMV website: dmv.ca.gov.

• Registration and Licensing Modernization: Most transactions, including driver’s license renewals and vehicle registrations, can be completed online at dmv.ca.gov. Digital experiences are designed to be easier, faster, and more convenient.

• Legal Disclaimer: This handbook summarizes laws and regulations from the Vehicle Code (leginfo.legislature.ca.gov). DMV, law enforcement, and courts follow the exact statutory language.

• Copyright and Use: © 2025 Department of Motor Vehicles. Licensed under CC BY-NC 4.0. Non-commercial educational use is permitted with appropriate credit: “California Driver’s Handbook, California Department of Motor Vehicles, licensed under CC BY-NC 4.0.”

SECTION 1: The California Driver’s License

• Purpose: A California driver’s license conveys the privilege of driving on public roads. Obtaining one requires passing both knowledge and behind-the-wheel drive tests.

• License Classes: Most drivers require a noncommercial Class C license. Specific classes are required for motorcycles, commercial vehicles, and other specialized vehicle types (details available at dmv.ca.gov/dl).

• REAL ID: Detailed information regarding REAL ID applications is available at dmv.ca.gov/realid.

SECTION 2: Getting a Driver’s License

• Instruction Permit: Drivers without a current license from any state must obtain an instruction permit prior to taking the behind-the-wheel evaluation.

• Minors and Provisional Licenses: Licenses for those under age $18$ are designated as "provisional."

• Provisional Restrictions:

  • Drivers cannot drive between $11\,\text{p.m.}$ and $5\,\text{a.m.}$ for the first $12$ months.

  • Drivers cannot transport passengers under $20$ years old unless accompanied by a licensed parent, guardian, or an adult at least $25$ years old.

  • Drivers cannot drive for pay or operate vehicles requiring Class A, B, or C commercial licenses.

• Exceptions for Minors (Requires Signed Notes):

  • Medical Need: Note signed by a physician detailing the condition and recovery date.

  • Schooling/School Activity: Note signed by a school principal, dean, or designee.

  • Employment: Note signed by the employer confirming employment.

  • Immediate Family Need: Note signed by a parent/guardian stating the reason, family member, and ending date.

• Cancellation: A parent or guardian may cancel a teen's license by filing a "Request for Cancellation or Surrender of a Driver License or ID Card."

SECTION 3: An Introduction to Driving

• Health and Driving:

  • Vision: Drivers must judge distance, adjust to traffic speed, and read road signs.

  • Hearing: It is illegal to wear a headset or earplugs in both ears while driving.

  • Mandatory Medical Reporting: Physicians must report patients at least $14$ years old to the DMV for conditions affecting safe driving, such as lapses of consciousness.

• Signaling:

  • Methods: Use signal lights or hand-and-arm positions (Left Turn: arm straight out; Right Turn: arm up; Slow/Stop: arm down).

  • Timing: Signal at least $100\,\text{feet}$ before a turn. On freeways, signal at least $5$ seconds before changing lanes. Always signal even if no other vehicles are visible.

• Horn Usage: Use to avoid collisions or alert oncoming traffic on narrow mountain roads where visibility is less than $200\,\text{feet}$.

• Headlight Usage:

  • Required when visibility is less than $1,000\,\text{feet}$.

  • Required from $30$ minutes after sunset until $30$ minutes before sunrise.

  • Required in adverse weather (if windshield wipers are on due to rain, fog, or snow).

  • Required in tunnels and on mountain roads, or when signs indicate.

  • Dimming: Dim high-beams to low-beams within $500\,\text{feet}$ of an oncoming vehicle or $300\,\text{feet}$ of a vehicle you are following.

• Emergency Flashers: Used to warn of collisions or hazards. If stopped due to trouble, pull off the road and stay in the vehicle until help arrives. Use turn signals if flashers are unavailable.

SECTION 4: Navigating the Roads

• Lane Markings:

  • Single Solid Yellow: Center of a two-way road. Do not pass.

  • Double Solid Yellow: No passing. Exceptions: HOV entrance on left, construction direction, or turning left/U-turn into a driveway/private road.

  • Yellow Barrier: Two sets of solid double yellow lines spaced $2$ or more feet apart. Do not cross, turn, or U-turn over this barrier.

  • Broken Yellow: Passing is permitted if the broken line is on your side.

  • Single Solid White: Marks lanes going in the same direction.

  • Double Solid White: Barrier between regular and preferential (HOV) lanes. Never cross.

  • Broken White: Separates lanes on roads with multiple lanes in one direction.

  • Yield Line: A line of solid white triangles (sharks teeth) pointing toward approaching vehicles.

• Lane Selection:

  • Numbering: The left (fast) lane is the Number 1 Lane, followed by the Number 2 Lane to its right, and so on.

  • Typical Use: Left lane for passing/turning left; right lane for entering/exiting traffic.

• Types of Lanes:

  • HOV Lanes: Reserved for carpools, buses, and motorcycles (diamond symbol). Requires minimum occupants as posted.

  • Center Left Turn Lane: Located in the middle of two-way streets. Maximum driving distance is $200\,\text{feet}$. Use for left turns and U-turns.

  • Turnout Areas: On two-lane roads, you must use these to let traffic pass if $5$ or more vehicles are following you and passing is unsafe.

  • Bicycle Lanes: Marked by solid white lines. Illegal to drive in except for parking (if allowed), entering/leaving the road, or turning (within $200\,\text{feet}$ of intersection).

  • Bikeway Variations: Buffered (chevrons), Bike Routes (shared markings), Bicycle Boulevards, Separated Bikeways/Cycle Tracks, and Shared Roadway Markings (sharrows).

• Turning Procedures:

  • Right Turn: Signal $100\,\text{feet}$ prior. Stop behind the limit line. Do not turn wide. You may turn right on red after a full stop unless signs prohibit it. No right turn on a red arrow.

  • Left Turn: Signal $100\,\text{feet}$ prior. Keep wheels straight while waiting. You may turn left on red only when turning from a one-way street onto another one-way street.

  • U-Turns: Legal across double yellow lines, in residential districts (if clear for $200\,\text{feet}$), and at intersections on green lights. Illegal on one-way streets, in front of fire stations, or in business districts (except at specific openings).

• Intersection Right-of-Way:

  • No signs: Yield to the vehicle/pedestrian on the right if arriving simultaneously. Traffic on the through road of a T-intersection has the right-of-way.

  • Roundabouts: Travel counterclockwise. Yield to all traffic already inside. Signal when exiting.

• Parking:

  • Parallel: Park within $18\,\text{inches}$ of the curb. Space should be at least $3\,\text{feet}$ longer than the vehicle.

  • Hills: Downhill (wheels toward curb); Uphill (wheels away from curb); No curb (wheels toward shoulder).

  • Colored Curbs: White (loading passengers), Green (time limit), Yellow (loading freight/passengers), Red (no stopping), Blue (disabled access).

  • Illegal Parking: Within $15\,\text{feet}$ of fire hydrants/fire stations, within $20\,\text{feet}$ of crosswalks ($15\,\text{feet}$ if curb extension exists), and in crosshatched areas.

• Law Enforcement Stops:

  • Acknowledge with a right signal, stop in a well-lit area on the right. Hands in clear view. Window down.

  • Rights: Drivers must produce license, insurance, and registration. You may decline a search request, though officers may have legal authority to search regardless. Only federal officers can ask about immigration status in California.

  • Recording: Drivers/passengers have a First Amendment right to record interactions in public spaces provided they do not interfere with duties.

SECTION 5: Laws and Rules of the Road

• Traffic Lights:

  • Solid Red: Stop. Right on red permitted after stop if safe.

  • Red Arrow: Stop. No turn.

  • Flashing Red: Stop; proceed when safe (like a stop sign).

  • Yellow Light/Arrow: Caution; stop if safe. If in the intersection, complete the move cautiously.

  • Solid Green: Go, after yielding to vehicles/pedestrians already in the intersection.

  • Flashing Yellow Arrow: Unprotected turn; yield to oncoming traffic.

• Speed Limits:

  • Basic Speed Law: Never drive faster than is safe for current conditions.

  • Highways: Maximum $65\,\text{mph}$ (unless posted otherwise); $55\,\text{mph}$ on two-lane undivided highways and for towing.

  • School Zones: $25\,\text{mph}$ (can be as low as $15\,\text{mph}$); must stop for school buses with flashing red lights until children are across.

  • Blind Intersections/Alleys/Railroad Crossings: $15\,\text{mph}$.

  • Business/Residential Districts: $25\,\text{mph}$ unless otherwise posted.

• Railroad Crossings: Stop at least $15\,\text{feet}$ from the nearest track when warning devices indicate a train is coming. Never stop on tracks.

• Miscellaneous Rules:

  • Animal Abandonment: Fine up to $1,000$, $6$ months jail, or both.

  • Littering: Do not throw flaming substances from vehicle.

  • Cargo: Must not extend $6\,\text{inches}$ beyond the right fender or anywhere beyond the left. Loads extending $4\,\text{feet}$ past the rear bumper require a $12\text{-inch}$ red/orange square flag (and two red lights at night).

  • Evading Law Enforcement: Misdemeanor (up to $1$ year jail). Pursuit causing serious injury (up to $7$ years state prison). Manslaughter during evasion ($4\text{ to }10$ years state prison).

  • Points: High point counts result in probation/suspension. Hits-and-runs or reckless driving with injury lead to revocation.

SECTION 6: Safe Driving

• Scanning: Look at least $10$ seconds ahead.

• Following Distance: Use the three-second rule. Increase distance for tailgaters, motorcyclists on metal/gravel surfaces, or adverse weather.

• Blind Spots: Check by looking over the shoulder; do not rely solely on mirrors.

• Darkness: Use high-beams on open country/dark streets; dim for others. Low-beams required in rain.

• Skid Recovery: Remove foot from accelerator, do not use brakes, and steer in the direction of the skid.

• Hydroplaning: Occurs when tires lose contact with road due to water. Slow down gradually; do not brake suddenly.

• Snow/Mud: Use forward-backward rocking motion in low gear to free the vehicle.

• Seat Belts: Mandatory for all. Children under $2$ years (<40\,\text{lbs}, <3\text{' }4\text{"}) must be in rear-facing seats. Children under $8$ years (<4\text{' }9\text{"}) must be in a rear-seat restraint system.

• Air Bags: Sit at least $10\,\text{inches}$ from the steering wheel.

• Unattended Children: Illegal to leave a child $6$ years or younger alone (unless supervised by person at least $12$ years old).

• Distractions: Texting and handheld cell phone use are illegal for all. Minors cannot use cell phones in any mode (except for emergencies).

SECTION 7: Alcohol and Drugs

• Zero Tolerance: Illegal to drive under the influence of any substance (legal, illegal, prescription, or OTC) that impairs ability.

• BAC Limits:

  • 21 and older: $0.08\%$ or higher.

  • Under 21 / On DUI Probation: $0.01\%$ or higher.

  • Commercial Drivers / Passengers for Hire: $0.04\%$ or higher.

• DUI Penalties: Suspension/revocation, DUI program completion, SR 22 filing, and potential Ignition Interlock Device (IID). DUI convictions stay on record for $10$ years.

• Containers: Alcohol and cannabis must be sealed/unopened; if open, they must be in the trunk (does not apply to buses/taxis/campers).

SECTION 8: Financial Responsibility and Collisions

• Insurance Minimums:

  • $15,000$ for property damage.

  • $30,000$ for single death/injury.

  • $60,000$ for multi-person death/injury.

• Collision Reporting:

  • Report to DMV within $10$ days if damage is over $1,000$ or there is any injury/death.

  • Must file Form SR 1.

  • Failure to report leads to license suspension.

  • Report to law enforcement within $24$ hours if injury/death occurs.

SECTION 9: Seniors and Driving

• Warning Signs: Getting lost in familiar places, frequent close calls, or new car damage.

• Safe Adjustments: Limit night driving, avoid freeways, choose well-lit routes, and use additional mirrors.