California Driver’s Handbook 2025 Study Guide

General Information and Key Officials

• The California DMV Driver’s Handbook (2025) provides the rules of the road for drivers of cars, motorcycles, commercial vehicles, and bicycles.

• Key Officials:     * Gavin Newsom: Governor, State of California.     * Toks Omishakin: Secretary, California State Transportation Agency.     * Steve Gordon: Director, California Department of Motor Vehicles.

• Online Services: Most DMV transactions, including license renewals and vehicle registration, can be completed at dmv.ca.gov. Drivers are encouraged to try online services first to save time.

• Legal Status: This handbook is a summary of laws and regulations found in the Vehicle Code (leginfo.legislature.ca.gov). The DMV, courts, and law enforcement follow the exact language of the code.

• Copyright: Licensed under Creative Commons Attribution-Non Commercial $4.0$ International License (CC BY-NC 4.0). Any use requires attribution to the California Department of Motor Vehicles.

SECTION 1 and 2. Getting and Maintaining a California Driver’s License

• License Classes: Most individuals require a noncommercial Class C license. Specific licenses are required for motorcycles and commercial vehicles.

• Instruction Permit: If you do not have a license from any state, you must apply for an instruction permit before taking the behind-the-wheel drive test.

• REAL ID: Information available at dmv.ca.gov/realid.

• Minor (Provisional) License Restrictions: If under $18$ years old, the following restrictions apply during the first $12$ months:     * No driving between $11\,p.m.$ and $5\,a.m.$.     * No passengers under $20$ years old unless accompanied by a parent, guardian, or a California-licensed driver at least $25$ years old.     * No driving for pay or operating commercial vehicles.

• Exceptions for Minors: To drive despite these restrictions, you must carry a signed note for:     * Medical need: Signed by a physician, stating the condition and recovery date.     * School activity: Signed by the school principal, dean, or designee.     * Employment: Signed by the employer confirming employment.     * Immediate family member: Signed by a parent/guardian stating the reason and end date.

• License Actions for Minors:     * One at-fault collision/violation: Found responsible.     * Two at-fault collisions/violations: Restricted driving for $30$ days (must be with a licensed adult $25+$).     * Three at-fault collisions/violations: License suspended for $6$ months; probation for $1$ year.     * Alcohol/Drug conviction (ages 15-20): One-year suspension or delayed eligibility.

SECTION 3. Health and Communication

• Vision: Required to judge distances, notice hazards in various lighting, and read signs.

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

• Health Reporting: Physicians must report patients at least $14$ years old to the DMV for conditions like lapse of consciousness.

• Signaling: Signal at least $100$ feet before a turn, and at least $5$ seconds before changing lanes on a freeway. Hand signals include:     * Left Turn: Arm straight out.     * Right Turn: Arm bent upward.     * Slow/Stop: Arm bent downward.

• Horns: Use to avoid collisions or alert traffic on narrow mountain roads where visibility is less than $200$ feet.

• Headlights: Must be used if you cannot see from $1,000$ feet away. Required from $30$ minutes after sunset until $30$ minutes before sunrise. Dim high beams to low beams within $500$ feet of oncoming traffic or $300$ feet of a vehicle you are following.

• Emergency Flashers/Hazards: If you see a hazard ahead or stop due to trouble, use flashers. If flashers fail, use turn signals. Pull completely off the road and avoid stopping over hills or around curves.

SECTION 4. Navigating the Roads and Lane Markings

• Yellow Lines:     * Single Solid: Marks the center of a two-way road.     * Double Solid: Do not pass. Stay to the right unless in an HOV lane with a left entrance, instructed by signs, or turning into a private road/driveway.     * Barrier: Two sets of double solid yellow lines spaced $2$ or more feet apart. Do not drive over except at designated openings.     * Broken: Passing is permitted if the broken line is on your side.

• White Lines:     * Single Solid: Marks lanes going in the same direction or one-way streets.     * Double Solid: Barrier between regular and preferential lanes (HOV). Never change lanes over these.     * Broken: Separates lanes moving in the same direction.     * Yield Line: A line of solid white triangles (sharks teeth) pointing toward approaching vehicles.

• Lane Selection: Numbered from left to right (Lane 1 is the far-left/fast lane). Use the left lane for passing/turning left and the right lane for entering/exiting traffic.

• Center Left Turn Lane: Located in the middle of a two-way street. Drivers may only travel for $200$ feet in this lane.

• Turnout Areas: Must be used on two-lane roads if $5$ or more vehicles are following and passing is unsafe.

• Bicycle Lanes: Solid white lines. It is illegal to drive in them unless parking, entering/leaving the road, or turning (within $200$ feet of the intersection).

SECTION 4. Turns and U-Turns

• Right Turns: Signal $100$ feet before. Stop behind the limit line. You may turn right at a red light after a full stop unless "No Turn on Red" is posted. Do not turn right on a red arrow.

• Left Turns: Signal $100$ feet before. Stop behind the limit line. Wheels should point straight until starting the turn. You may turn left on red only when moving from a one-way street to another one-way street.

• U-Turns: Allowed across double yellow lines, in residential districts (if clear for $200$ feet), and at intersections with green lights (unless prohibited). Prohibited in business districts (except at intersections), in front of fire stations, on one-way streets, or where visibility is less than $200$ feet.

• Merging/Exiting: Highway traffic has the right-of-way. Enter at or near the speed of traffic. Signal for $5$ seconds (approx. $400$ feet) before exiting. Leave a $3$-second gap between you and the vehicle ahead.

SECTION 4. Parking and Law Enforcement Stops

• Parallel Parking: Space should be at least $3$ feet longer than the vehicle. Bumper should be within $18$ inches of the curb.

• Hill Parking:     * Downhill: Turn wheels toward the curb (right).     * Uphill (with curb): Turn wheels away from the curb (left).     * No Curb (Uphill or Downhill): Turn wheels to the right (away from center).

• Colored Curbs:     * White: Passenger pickup/drop-off.     * Green: Limited time parking.     * Yellow: Loading freight/passengers.     * Red: No stopping/parking.     * Blue: Disabled parking with placard/plate.

• Illegal Parking: Within $15$ feet of a fire hydrant/fire station driveway; within $20$ feet of unmarked/marked crosswalks ($15$ feet if curb extension is present); within $3$ feet of a disabled ramp.

• Law Enforcement Stops: Turn on the right turn signal, pull to the right shoulder, roll down the window, and place hands in clear view. Officers must state the reason for the stop before questioning (with limited exceptions). Drivers must provide license, insurance, and registration.

• Rights During Stops: You may decline requests for searches (though officers may have legal authority anyway). California officers cannot ask about immigration status. Individuals have a First Amendment right to record interactions in public if it does not interfere with duties.

SECTION 5. Traffic Control and Right-of-Way

• Signals:     * Flashing Red: Stop, then proceed when safe.     * Flashing Yellow: Proceed with caution; no stop required.     * Green Arrow: Protected turn.     * Broken Signal: Treat as an all-way stop.

• Signs:     * Red Circle with Red Line: Indicates what is prohibited.     * Diamond-Shaped: Warning of specific road conditions.     * White Rectangular: Regulatory rules.     * 5-sided: Near a school.

• Right-of-Way Rules: The vehicle arriving first at an intersection goes first. If arriving simultaneously, yield to the vehicle on your right. Pedestrians always have the right-of-way in marked or unmarked crosswalks. At steep narrow mountain roads, the vehicle facing uphill has the right-of-way.

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

SECTION 5. Sharing the Road with Others

• Large Trucks: Have large blind spots called "No Zones." If you cannot see their side mirrors, they cannot see you. Trucks require up to $400$ feet to stop at $55\,mph$, compared to $300$ feet for passenger cars.

• Buses/Trolleys: Do not drive through safety zones. When passing a bus/trolley at a safety zone, speed limit is $10\,mph$.

• Emergency Vehicles: Yield to siren and red lights. Pull to the right and stop. Do not follow within $300$ feet.

• Slow-Moving Vehicles: Defined by orange and red triangles; travel at $25\,mph$ or less.

• Bicycles: Maintain $3$ feet of distance when passing. Do not merge into bike lanes more than $200$ feet before a turn.

• School Buses: Stop for flashing red lights from either direction on an undivided road. Failure to stop results in a fine up to $1,000$ and a $1$-year suspension. You do not need to stop if the bus is on the other side of a divided highway with $2+$ lanes in each direction.

SECTION 5. Speed Limits and Miscellaneous Rules

• Standard Speed Limits:     * Business/Residential: $25\,mph$.     * School Zones: $25\,mph$ (can be as low as $15\,mph$ near children).     * Blind Intersections/Alleys/Railroad Crossings: $15\,mph$.     * Two-lane Undivided Highways: $55\,mph$.     * Highways: $65\,mph$ (unless posted otherwise).

• Cargo Rules: Cargo extending more than $4$ feet from the rear must have a $12$-inch red/orange square flag ($2$ red lights at night). Max extension is $6$ inches past right fenders and $0$ inches past left fenders.

• Miscellaneous Prohibitions: No smoking with a minor in the car. Abandoning animals carries a $1,000$ fine and $6$ months jail.

• Evading Law Enforcement: Misdemeanor punishable by up to $1$ year in county jail. Serious injury during pursuit can result in $7$ years in state prison. Manslaughter during pursuit results in $4$ to $10$ years in state prison.

SECTION 6. Safe Driving and Road Conditions

• Scanning: Scan the road at least $10$ seconds ahead.

• Following Distance: Use the $3$-second rule to avoid tailgating.

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

• Braking Systems: If in a locked wheel skid with ABS, apply firm pressure. Without ABS, pump the brakes.

• Condition Speed Reductions:     * Wet Road: Reduce speed by $5$ to $10\,mph$.     * Packed Snow: Reduce speed by half.     * Ice: Reduce to no more than $5\,mph$.

• Hydroplaning: Occurs when tires lose contact with the road on water. Slow down gradually; do not use brakes.

• Child Restraints:     * Under 2 years old, < 40 lbs, < 3'4": Rear-facing seat (never in front with airbags).     * Under 8 years old or < 4'9": Child restraint system in rear seat.     * 8+ years old or 4'9"+: Safety belt.

SECTION 7. Alcohol and Drugs

• DUI Laws: Apply to alcohol, illegal drugs, prescriptions, and over-the-counter meds. Traces of alcohol enter the bloodstream as Blood Alcohol Concentration (BAC).

• Legal BAC Limits:     * 21 or older: $0.08\%$.     * Under 21: $0.01\%$.     * DUI Probation: $0.01\%$.     * Commercial/Passenger for hire: $0.04\%$.

• Penalties: DUI convictions stay on records for $10$ years. Refusal to take a chemical test results in a DMV suspension/revocation for $1$ year.

• Alcohol in Vehicles: Containers must be sealed/unopened. If open, must be in the trunk. Minor possessing alcohol can have their vehicle impounded for $30$ days and license suspended for $1$ year.

SECTION 8. Financial Responsibility and Collisions

• Minimum Insurance Requirements:     * $30,000$ for single injury/death.     * $60,000$ for multi-person injury/death.     * $15,000$ for property damage.

• Collision Reporting: You must report an accident to the DMV within $10$ days if:     * Property damage exceeds $1,000$.     * Anyone was injured or killed (even minor injuries).

• SR 1 Form: Must be filed whether or not you caused the collision. Reports to law enforcement must be made within $24$ hours if there are injuries/deaths.

• Consequences: Driving without insurance can lead to a license suspension for up to $4$ years.

SECTION 9. Seniors and Driving

• Warning Signs: Getting lost in familiar places, dents on the mailbox/garage, or frequent close calls.

• Safety Tips: Limit driving to daylight/essential places, avoid difficult intersections, and install an additional right-side mirror.

• Administrative Hearings: If DMV takes action against a license, a hearing must be requested within $10$ days of service or $14$ days of mailing.