California driver’s permit
California Permit Practice Test 2025
Practice for the California DMV knowledge test for a Class C (car) instruction permit: traffic signals and signs, lanes and turns, right-of-way, speed limits, parking, sharing the road, safe driving, and alcohol and drug laws.
179 practice questions, all written in our own words from California Driver's Handbook (DL 600 English, rev. 6/2025, California Department of Motor Vehicles). Every answer shows the handbook page it comes from. Free, no sign-up.
- 179 questions
- 30 per attempt
- Car (Class C) permit
Start the California permit practice test
30 questions. No sign-up needed.
Choose how you want to practice:
Keyboard: press 1-4 or A-D to answer.
About the California knowledge test
| Topic | What the handbook says | Source |
|---|---|---|
| Knowledge test | Multiple choice questions. You have three attempts to pass before you must apply again. | California Driver's Handbook, page 5 |
| Retaking the test (under 18) | Wait seven days after a failed knowledge test, not counting the day you failed. | California Driver's Handbook, page 5 |
| Study aids | Not allowed during the knowledge test, including the handbook or a cell phone. | California Driver's Handbook, page 5 |
| Instruction permit steps | Fill out the application, bring your documents, pay the fee, pass the knowledge test(s) and pass a vision test. | California Driver's Handbook, page 2 |
| Permit under 18 | Be at least 15½, complete driver education and have a parent or guardian sign the application. | California Driver's Handbook, page 3 |
| License under 18 | Be at least 16, hold the permit for at least 6 months, finish driver education and training, and practice 50 hours (10 at night). | California Driver's Handbook, page 3 |
The handbook does not give the number of questions or the passing score, so our practice test shows your score without a pass mark. Check the current test details with the California Department of Motor Vehicles (DMV).
Our practice test: 30 questions per attempt, drawn at random from 179.
Topics covered
- Safe driving 39 questions
- Traffic lanes and turns 32 questions
- Right-of-way and sharing the road 32 questions
- Signals and signs 19 questions
- Getting a permit and license 17 questions
- Speed limits and laws 11 questions
- Alcohol and drugs 11 questions
- Insurance and collisions 9 questions
- Parking 9 questions
Sample questions
A few questions from the set. Try to answer before opening each explanation.
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Sample question 1
An adult's license may be suspended if their driver's record shows at least how many points in 12 months?
- A2 points
- B3 points
- C4 points
- D6 points
Show answer
Answer: C. DMV may suspend an adult's license when the record reaches four points within one year, six within two years, or eight within three years.
Source: California Driver's Handbook, DL 600 English, rev. 6/2025, page 54 (Section 7, Points on Your Driver's Record).
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Sample question 2
After a DUI arrest, an officer may take your license and give you a temporary license. How long is the temporary license good for?
- A5 days
- B10 days
- C30 days
- D90 days
Show answer
Answer: C. The officer can take your license on the spot after a DUI arrest and hand you a short-term paper license, because the law requires DMV to suspend your driving privilege.
Source: California Driver's Handbook, DL 600 English, rev. 6/2025, page 74 (Section 9, DUI Arrests).
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Sample question 3
When you apply for an original driver's license, how many tries do you get to pass the knowledge test before you must reapply?
- AThree
- BTwo
- CFour
- DFive
Show answer
Answer: A. If you do not pass the knowledge test within three tries, you have to start a new application.
Source: California Driver's Handbook, DL 600 English, rev. 6/2025, page 5 (Section 3, Knowledge Test).
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Sample question 4
You cannot change lanes to pass a bicyclist who is in your lane. How much space must you leave when you pass?
- AAt least 2 feet
- BAt least 3 feet
- CAt least 4 feet
- DAt least 5 feet
Show answer
Answer: B. When moving into another lane is not possible, keep at least three feet between your vehicle and the rider. If you cannot give that much room, wait to pass until you can.
Source: California Driver's Handbook, DL 600 English, rev. 6/2025, page 48 (Section 7, Passing a Bicyclist).
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Sample question 5
When you sell a vehicle in California, you must notify DMV within:
- A5 days
- B10 days
- C20 days
- D30 days
Show answer
Answer: A. The seller has a short deadline to tell DMV about the sale by filing a transfer and release of liability notice. The buyer has a little longer to transfer ownership.
Source: California Driver's Handbook, DL 600 English, rev. 6/2025, page 79 (Section 11, Buying or Selling a Vehicle).
How to prepare
- Read the California Driver's Handbook section by section, especially the rules of the road and safe driving sections.
- Use practice mode first: it shows the explanation and the handbook page after each answer.
- For every missed question, reread the whole handbook page we cite.
- Switch to exam mode when you get nearly every question right without help.
More tips in our guide How to Study for the CDL Knowledge Tests: the study method works for the permit test too.
Frequently asked questions
Are these the questions on the real California test?
No. Real test questions are not public. We write our own questions from the California handbook, so they cover the same material without being copies of test questions.
Is this practice test for my state?
It is written only from the California handbook. Traffic laws differ from state to state, so use the practice test for the state where you apply.
How do you check the answers?
Each question is written from one handbook page, and a script checks that the words backing its answer are really on that page. Then an independent AI review answers it from that page alone. See our editorial policy. Found a mistake? Tell us.
Ready for the California permit test?
30 questions from the California handbook. Free, no sign-up.
Sources
- California Driver's Handbook, DL 600 English, rev. 6/2025, California Department of Motor Vehicles (retrieved 2026-10-14; handbook page on the issuer’s website): cited by our questions.
- State motor vehicle services, USAGov: Links to the motor vehicle agency (DMV) of every state, where you take the test.
California Driver's Handbook, California Department of Motor Vehicles, licensed under CC BY-NC 4.0. License: CC BY-NC 4.0. We do not reproduce the handbook: our questions, answers and explanations are our own wording of the rules it describes, and each answer names the handbook page so you can read it there.