DMV Practice Test California
Use this DMV practice test California hub to get ready for the state’s knowledge exam. Four full tests are ready to take now, each with its own quizzes and a mock exam, written from the matching California DMV handbook, with a printable PDF for every set.
- Agency
- California DMV
- Pass mark
- 80 percent
- Attempts
- 3 per application
- Permit age
- 15 and a half
- Application valid
- 12 months
Confirm current details on the DMV's own site before you book.
DMV Practice Test California: Free Questions and Answers
Pick the exam you are preparing for. Each California test page has its own four quizzes, including a full mock exam, written from the matching state handbook.
Driver's License Test
Just moved to California or renewing? Practice the full knowledge test.
Start practiceDriver's Permit Test
Teens and first-time drivers start here.
Start practiceMotorcycle Permit Test
Ready to ride? Practice for the motorcycle knowledge test.
Start practiceCDL Permit Test
Going commercial? Practice the CLP knowledge tests.
Start practiceHow the California DMV written test works
Driver licensing in California is handled by California Department of Motor Vehicles (DMV). The knowledge test is a multiple-choice exam based on the official California driver handbook. You take it after you submit an application, show identity documents and complete the other steps the agency requires, such as a vision screening.
Test length and the passing score are set by the state, and they can differ by applicant age and by test type. Rather than quote a number that may be out of date, we suggest you confirm both with California DMV when you book, and treat 80 percent as a strong practice target.
Every quiz on this page is scored on that 80 percent standard, so you get a clear signal of whether you are ready or need another review pass. When you miss a question, read the explanation, find the rule in the official handbook and retake the quiz the next day.
California permit and license requirements
The path is different for teens and adults, and teens have more steps.
If you are under 18
- Be at least 15 and a half.
- Complete driver education and get the certificate of completion.
- Pass the vision exam and the knowledge test.
- Hold your permit for at least six months.
- Log 50 hours of practice with a licensed adult who is 25 or older, at least 10 of them at night.
- Complete six hours of professional driver training before the driving test.
If you are 18 or older
- You do not need driver education.
- First-time drivers apply for an instruction permit, then take the driving test when ready.
- You still complete the application, vision exam, photo, thumbprint and knowledge test.
- Bring proof of identity and, if you have never held a California license, proof of residency.
Once you pass the driving test, the DMV issues a temporary license valid for 60 days while the card comes in the mail. A driver under 18 then has a provisional license. For the first 12 months it limits who can ride with you and when you can drive: no passengers under 20 unless a licensed driver 25 or older is along, and no driving between 11 p.m. and 5 a.m. without supervision. Full details are on the DMV’s instruction permit and driver’s license pages.
Numbers to memorize for the California DMV exam
California asks about numbers a lot. Put these on a card and read them each morning until they are automatic.
California quirks that show up on tests
- You may turn right on a red light after a full stop, unless a sign forbids it.
- A white diamond on the pavement marks a carpool lane. Do not cross double yellow lines to enter one.
- Drivers under 18 may not use a phone at all, even hands-free.
- The move over law asks you to change lanes or slow down for stopped emergency vehicles with flashing lights.
Curb colors you must know
- RedNo stopping, standing or parking
- WhiteLoad or unload passengers or mail only
- GreenParking for a limited time, as posted
- BlueDisabled placard or plates only
Three California questions to try in your head
These are the style of question you will see in the quizzes. Cover the answer, decide, then check.
A flashing red signal at an intersection means what?
Come to a full stop, yield to traffic and pedestrians, then go when it is safe.
How close may you park to a fire hydrant?
Firefighters need room to connect hoses. A parked car can cost minutes.
Who may supervise a permit holder under 18?
That includes a parent, guardian, spouse or other adult with a valid license.
A study plan that fits in a week
Read one part of the California Driver’s Handbook each evening for four days, then take the matching quiz the next morning. Save the mock exam for day six. On day seven, retake whichever quiz you scored lowest on and read the explanations for anything you miss. Two short sessions beat one long one, and the retake shows you whether the fix stuck.
Mix your practice. Take a signs quiz on the bus and a rules quiz at your desk. Every quiz here has a timer switch, so turn it on once you score comfortably above 80 percent and you will find out how you handle the clock.
What to expect at the DMV office
You can start your application online and finish at a DMV office, where staff check your documents, take your photo and thumbprint, run the vision screening and then send you to the testing area.
Bring your identity documents, your Social Security number, proof of residency if you have never held a California license, and a driver education certificate if you are under 18. The DMV keeps the full lists on its own site, so check those before you leave the house. Appointments help, but the required steps are the same either way.
Before you leave the house
- Confirm the fee amount on the DMV site.
- Print or save your application confirmation.
- Bring glasses or contacts if you need them to pass the vision screening.
- Eat something and arrive early. Rushing is the easiest way to miss easy questions.
How these California questions are written
Every question is written from the California Driver’s Handbook and checked against the rule it tests. Each has four options, only one correct, and an explanation that names the rule so you can find it in the handbook.
We spread correct answers across all four positions, so guessing the same letter will not carry you. Sign questions use our own illustrations. That matters: on the real test you will see the DMV’s signs, and learning the shape and color pattern transfers better than memorizing a single image.
Where people lose points
- Mixing up who yields at a tie at a four-way stop.
- Confusing flashing red with flashing yellow.
- Forgetting the extra limits on drivers under 18.
- Guessing on distances such as 15 feet from a hydrant or 100 feet for a signal.
Study guides and articles
Read a little more before you test.
How to get a learner's permit
The steps from application to permit for teens and adults.
ReadDrivers license requirements by state
Permit ages, holding periods, hours and limits for all 51.
ReadGraduated Driver Licensing Explained: The Three Stages
Why new drivers move through a permit and an intermediate license before a full license, and what to check for your state.
ReadHow to Pass the DMV Written Test on Your First Try
A simple plan to prepare for the knowledge test: read, practice, review your misses and take a mock exam.
ReadPractice tests for neighboring states
Moving or crossing a state line? Rules change, so use the right state’s questions.
California DMV test questions and answers
How many questions are on the California DMV written test?
Applicants under 18 answer 46 questions and adults answer 36, according to the test formats widely published for the exam. The DMV states that the passing score is 80 percent, which works out to 38 of 46 or 30 of 36. Confirm the current format with the DMV when you book.
What is the minimum age for a California permit?
You can apply at 15 and a half. Applicants under 18 must also have completed driver education and hold a certificate of completion.
How many times can I take the California knowledge test?
You get three attempts on one application. If you fail the same test three times, the application is no longer valid and you must reapply and pay the fee again.
How long is the application valid?
The DMV says the application and fee are valid for 12 months. If you need more time than that, you reapply and pay again.
How long must a teen hold a permit before the driving test?
At least six months. Before the driving test you also need 50 hours of supervised practice, 10 of them at night, and six hours of professional driver training.
What is different about driving with a California provisional license?
For the first 12 months you may not carry passengers under 20 unless a licensed driver 25 or older is with you, and you may not drive between 11 p.m. and 5 a.m. without supervision. Drivers under 18 may not use a phone at all while driving.
What should I bring to the DMV?
The DMV lists the exact documents on its site. In general you need proof of identity, your Social Security number, proof of residency if you have never held a California license, and a driver education certificate if you are under 18.
Which practice test should I take first?
Take the permit practice test if you are a first-time applicant. If you already hold a license from another state and are moving to California, start with the mock exam and the road signs quizzes, since those show the biggest differences.
Sources: California DMV instruction permits, driver’s licenses and the California Driver’s Handbook (PDF). Check the DMV’s own pages for current fees and office hours.