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California practice test: 44 questions from CVC
Every California question cites the CVC section or federal standard it tests. Pick a test and start.
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- Exam Simulator46 questions, pass with 38, scored the way DMV scores it
- Practice Test 120 questions, a broad first pass across signs, right of way, rules and safety
- Road Signs Full202 questions, every sign, signal and pavement marking question
- Laws and Limits44 questions drawn from the CVC
All 14 CA testsFree, no signup
Every California test
14 tests, all free, all scored the CA way.
The essentials
Signs, signals and right of way
The rules that get you fined
The exam simulator
What the CA bank holds
286 questions, 44 of them written for California.
The California bank runs to 286 questions. 44 are written for California specifically from the California Vehicle Code, 60 make up the shared national core of right of way, rules of the road and safety that every state tests, and 182 are sign recognition cards with official MUTCD sign artwork (public domain, via Wikimedia Commons). 14 of the 286 are rated hard, 8 of those from California's own set.
Questions in the bank286Each with a cited explanation.
Written for California4415% of the bank, from the California Vehicle Code.
Shared national core60Right of way, rules and safety every state tests.
Sign recognition182Official MUTCD sign artwork (public domain, via Wikimedia Commons).
Rated hard148 of them from California's own set.
Tests available14Short drills through the full format.
Grounded in California's own code
The 44 questions written for California.
These 44 split into 14 on rules of the road, 13 on right of way, 12 on safety and impairment and 5 on road signs, and each one names the rule it tests, so you learn the CVC section rather than just the answer. The rest of the bank is the shared national core and the sign artwork every state uses. Here is what California asks from its own code, and where each question comes from.
- You reach an intersection with no traffic signals or stop signs, and another car reaches it from your right at roughly the same moment. Who should go first? CVC 21800
- You stop at a stop sign, but the cross street has no stop sign. A car on that street is close enough that you would cross its path. What should you do? CVC 21802
- You are in the right lane at a red light and no sign forbids turning right on red. What must you do before making the turn? CVC 21453
- As you approach a small roundabout, you see a yield sign posted at your entry point and a car already circulating inside the roundabout to your left. What should you do? CVC 21803
- You are stopped at a green light waiting to turn left, and a line of oncoming cars is still passing through the intersection. What should you do? CVC 21801
- A pedestrian steps into a crosswalk at an intersection that has no traffic signal, while you are approaching in your car. What are you required to do? CVC 21950
- A pedestrian is already partway across a crosswalk when the signal changes and your light turns green. What should you do before proceeding? CVC 21950
- You are pulling out of a parking lot driveway onto a public street where cars and pedestrians are already present. What does the law require? CVC 21804
- You hear a siren and see flashing red lights in your mirror from an ambulance approaching quickly from behind. What should you do? CVC 21806
- You are driving on a multi lane highway and see a police car stopped on the shoulder ahead with its emergency lights flashing. What does California's move over rule expect you to do? CVC 21809
- You are driving on a two lane road with no median and approach a school bus stopped ahead with its red lights flashing and stop arm extended. What must you do? CVC 22454
- Your lane is closing ahead for construction and traffic in the lane beside you is already moving steadily. Who has the right of way, and how should you merge? CVC 22107
- You are driving on a street that dead ends into a through road at a T intersection, and there are no signs or signals at the intersection. Who yields? CVC 21800
- California's basic speed law limits how fast a driver may legally travel under any conditions in what way? CVC 22350
- Unless another limit is posted, what speed limit applies when passing a school marked with a SCHOOL warning sign while children are going to or leaving school? CVC 22352
- What standard does California law use to decide whether a driver is following the car ahead too closely? CVC 21703
- On a road marked with painted lane lines, what is a driver required to do while driving straight ahead? CVC 21658
- When it is legal to pass a slower vehicle going the same direction on a two lane road, from which side should the pass normally be made and under what condition? CVC 21750
- How many feet before a turn must a driver activate the turn signal? CVC 22108
- Besides signaling, what else must a driver confirm before turning or changing lanes? CVC 22107
- When parking parallel to a curb, how far may the wheels of the vehicle be from the curb? CVC 22502
- Unless a sign states a different distance, how close to a fire hydrant is parking prohibited? California Vehicle Code, parking restrictions near fire hydrants, rated hard
- During what hours must a driver keep headlights on, even if streetlights are already lit? CVC 24400
- How does California law allow a driver to legally talk on a phone while driving? CVC 23123
- For a first time applicant under 18, how is the California DMV knowledge test structured? California DMV knowledge test requirements
- Unless a different limit is posted, what is the maximum legal speed for crossing a blind intersection or driving in an alley? CVC 22352, rated hard
- In a residential district away from any intersection, when may a driver make a U turn? California Vehicle Code, U turn provisions, rated hard
- A driver under 21 in California is stopped and found to have a blood alcohol concentration of 0.02 percent. What does the state's zero tolerance rule mean for that driver? CVC 23136
- What blood alcohol concentration makes it illegal for a driver who is 21 or older to operate a vehicle in California? CVC 23152
- California's seat belt law covers which occupants of a passenger vehicle? CVC 27315
- Under California law, when can a child generally move from a car seat or booster seat to using only the vehicle's seat belt? CVC 27360
- During the first 12 months after a 16 year old in California gets a provisional license, which restriction generally applies? CVC 12814.6
- How does California law treat a motorcycle riding between two lanes of slow moving or stopped traffic? CVC 21658.1
- When a driver passes a bicyclist traveling in the same direction on a California road, what does the law require? CVC 21760, rated hard
- What is the safest headlight practice when driving through thick fog at night? California DMV guidance on driving in reduced visibility, rated hard
- A driver is lawfully arrested for driving under the influence and refuses to take a breath or blood test. What is the consequence of the refusal itself? CVC 23612, rated hard
- Your doctor prescribes a medication whose label warns it may cause drowsiness. How does that affect your driving? CVC 23152
- Where may an open container of alcohol legally be carried in a private car? California Vehicle Code, open container provisions, rated hard
- Who is required to wear a helmet when riding a motorcycle in California? CVC 27803
- A green rectangular sign displaying a highway number and the distance to the next city is best described as what kind of sign? California MUTCD, sign shapes and colors
- On a two way street, what does a solid double yellow line running down the center of the road mean for drivers on both sides? CVC 21460
- A white diamond symbol painted directly on a freeway lane surface tells drivers that the lane is reserved for what? California MUTCD, pavement marking standards
- What must a driver do when facing a steady red traffic signal light? CVC 21453
- A left turn signal head shows a flashing yellow arrow. What is the driver permitted to do? California Vehicle Code, traffic signal provisions, rated hard
How DMV scores it
38 of 46 correct, 8 misses allowed.
The California Department of Motor Vehicles knowledge test is 46 questions and you pass at 38, which is 38 of 46, so 8 wrong answers is the margin before it ends. Applicants who are 18 or older sit a shorter 36 question paper and pass at 30. The exam simulator draws that exact count and pass mark and scores it the way DMV does.