Permit Practice Test California
This permit practice test California page has three 20-question quizzes and a 50-question mock exam, built from the state handbook and aimed at the rules a first-time applicant is asked. Answer, read the explanation, and download the set when you are done.
Permit Practice Test California: 4 Free Quizzes
Choose a quiz below. You need 80 percent to see PASS on the results screen. The full mock exam has 50 questions. Turn on the timer when you feel ready for the pressure.
What the California permit test covers
The California knowledge test for a permit draws on the official driver handbook and is administered by California Department of Motor Vehicles (DMV). We group the topics into four quizzes, so you can study one area at a time.
Quiz 1: California permit rules
Age, holding period, supervised hours and the limits on new drivers, using California's own figures.
Quiz 2: Signs, signals and markings
Sign shapes and colors, with original sign illustrations.
Quiz 3: Right-of-way and safe driving
Intersections, pedestrians, merging and hazards.
Full mock exam
50 mixed questions on weather, distractions, sharing the road and more.
Permit and provisional rules at a glance
Two different licenses, two different sets of limits. Test writers love to mix them.
| Topic | Instruction permit | Provisional license (first 12 months) |
|---|---|---|
| Driving alone | Not allowed. A qualified adult must ride with you. | Allowed, within the limits below. |
| Passengers | The supervising adult sits beside you. | None under 20 unless a licensed driver 25 or older is along. |
| Night driving | Only with your supervisor. | Not between 11 p.m. and 5 a.m. without supervision. |
| Phone (under 18) | No wireless phone use, even hands-free. | No wireless phone use, even hands-free. |
| Practice hours | 50 hours logged, 10 at night, before the driving test. | Complete. |
Learner's permit rules the test loves to ask
Quiz 1 is all of these. Learn the numbers first, then the exceptions.
- Age. You may apply at 15 and a half if you are enrolled in or have finished driver education.
- Holding time. Under 18, you hold the permit at least six months before the driving test.
- Practice. 50 hours total, 10 at night, logged with a supervisor.
- Supervisor. A parent, guardian, spouse or other licensed driver who is 25 or older, seated close enough to help.
- Phones. Under 18, no wireless phone use at all while driving, even hands-free.
- Tests. Three tries on one application, then you reapply.
These come straight from the DMV’s instruction permit page. A trap worth knowing: the passenger and curfew limits apply to the provisional license you get after the permit, but tests often mix them in with permit questions to see whether you can tell them apart. The permit itself requires a qualified adult in the car.
Sample permit questions with answers
Try each one before you read the answer, then take the real quiz above.
How many hours of supervised practice must a driver under 18 log?
The supervising adult certifies the hours before you take the driving test.
May a 16-year-old permit holder use a hands-free phone?
Drivers under 18 may not use a wireless phone at all while driving.
How many times can you take the knowledge test on one application?
After a third failure the application is no longer valid, and you reapply.
From application to permit in five steps
- Start your application online or at a DMV office. The application and fee are valid for 12 months.
- Gather your documents: proof of identity, your Social Security number, and driver education paperwork if you are under 18.
- Pay the fee, pass the vision exam, and have your photo and thumbprint taken.
- Take the knowledge test. You have three attempts on the same application.
- Receive your permit and start logging supervised practice hours.
If you have not yet filed, the DMV explains each step on its permit page. Prices change, so confirm the amount on the licensing fees page before you go.
How to use these quizzes well
Take Quiz 1 cold, before you have studied. The result shows you where you start. Then read the handbook sections for anything you missed and retake it. When Quiz 1 comes back above 80 percent twice in a row, move on.
Use the review list on the results screen. It shows only the questions you got wrong, with the correct answer beside your choice. Read those aloud. It sounds silly and it works.
Finish with the mock exam. It mixes topics the way the real test does, so you cannot lean on knowing which subject is coming next.
If you are short on time, a good rhythm is one quiz a day for four days, then a rest day, then a second pass through the questions you missed. Most people see the biggest jump between the first and second attempt at Quiz 1, because that is when the explanations start to connect. Keep the timer off until your scores settle, since rushing early only teaches bad habits.
Test-day checklist
- Bring identification and any required paperwork.
- Arrive well before closing. Knowledge tests are not started in the last 30 minutes.
- Read every option before choosing, even when the first one looks right.
- Skip nothing. There is no penalty for a guess.
- If you miss, note the topics and retake after a night of study.
A seven-day study schedule
Adjust it to your week. The point is short, regular sessions.
| Day | Do this | Time |
|---|---|---|
| Day 1 | Take Quiz 1 cold. Read the explanations for every miss. | 25 min |
| Day 2 | Read the handbook sections on permits and restrictions. Retake Quiz 1. | 30 min |
| Day 3 | Study signs, signals and markings. Take Quiz 2. | 30 min |
| Day 4 | Study right-of-way, speed and parking. Take Quiz 3. | 30 min |
| Day 5 | Rest, then retake whichever quiz scored lowest. | 20 min |
| Day 6 | Full mock exam with the timer on. | 30 min |
| Day 7 | Review misses, glance at the number card, then book your test. | 15 min |
Mistakes new applicants make
Most missed permit questions come from a short list of habits. Knowing them ahead of time is worth a few points.
Answering from experience. If you have ridden with parents for years you may know how people drive, which is not always what the law says. When a question asks what you must do, the handbook answer wins.
Skimming the options. Two answers often look right. One is usually more complete, or names an exception. Read all four before choosing.
Mixing permit and license rules. Restrictions on passengers and night driving belong to the provisional license. The permit rule is that a qualified adult rides with you.
Permit test or license test?
California uses the same knowledge test content for a permit and a license, which is why many applicants take it once, at the permit stage. If you already hold a permit, your next hurdle is the driving test, not another knowledge test. Try the drivers license practice test California to review the road rules you will be tested on in the car.
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.
ReadHow Many Supervised Driving Hours Do Teens Need? A State Comparison
From 20 hours to 70, here is how the required practice time varies across all 50 states and DC.
ReadWhat to Bring to the DMV for a Permit Test: A Checklist
A practical checklist of documents and preparation for your permit visit, plus what to check before you leave.
ReadWhat Happens If You Fail the DMV Written Test?
Retake rules vary by state, but the plan is the same: find your gaps, study them and try again.
ReadMore California practice tests
Keep going once the permit quizzes feel comfortable.
Return to the DMV practice test California hub for the full test format and requirements, or read the official California Driver’s Handbook to check any answer against its source.
California permit test FAQ
Is this the same as the real California permit test?
No. It is a practice set written from the California Driver's Handbook. It covers the same topics and uses the same multiple-choice style, but the questions are our own.
How many questions are in each quiz?
Quizzes 1 to 3 have 20 questions each, and Quiz 4 is a 50-question full mock exam that mixes all topics. Every question has four answer choices.
What score counts as a pass here?
80 percent, which is 16 of 20 on a quiz and 40 of 50 on the mock exam. That mirrors the passing score the California DMV lists for its knowledge test.
Can I use a phone to take the quizzes?
Yes. The quiz layout adapts to small screens, works with a keyboard, and the PDF download opens on iPhone and Android.
Does the permit let me drive alone?
No. An instruction permit requires a qualified adult in the car. For drivers under 18 that is a parent, guardian, spouse or other licensed driver who is 25 or older.
What should I do if I keep missing the same topic?
Open the review list on the results screen, find the section in the handbook, and retake the quiz the next day. Repetition spaced over a few days holds up better than cramming the same evening.