The full test, in the real format

Thirty-six questions, six mistakes allowed, 83% to pass — the form a first-time adult applicant sits at the DMV. Answer all of them and you get the score that would count.

36: questions
6: mistakes
83%: to pass

Full-length simulator

Work through all 36. The score at the bottom tells you whether it would have been a pass.

1.For a first-time refusal to take a chemical test after DUI arrest, your license will be suspended for:
No suspension One month One year

Why

The handbook states that refusing means DMV will suspend or revoke your driving privilege (Section 9); the Vehicle Code sets a first refusal at one year. Refusing does not prevent a conviction on other evidence.
2.A veteran can have which word added to their California license?
HERO SERVICE VETERAN

Why

Veterans can have VETERAN added to the license by providing proof of service. (Handbook, Section 1.)
3.A flashing yellow traffic signal light means:
Proceed with caution; you do not need to stop The light is about to turn red Stop before entering the intersection

Why

A flashing yellow light is a warning: slow down, stay alert and continue. It is the solid yellow, not the flashing one, that warns the light is about to turn red. (Section 7, Traffic Signals.)
4.During a front-wheel (understeer) skid, you should:
Accelerate quickly Turn the wheel sharply Ease off the gas and lightly tap brakes if needed

Why

In understeer the front tires have lost grip, so more steering does nothing. Ease off the gas to let them bite again before asking them to turn.
5.If you’re in an accident with no insurance and the accident is not your fault, what are you limited to recovering?
Full replacement value of your vehicle regardless of fault Only economic damages, such as medical bills and property damage Pain and suffering compensation

Why

Economic losses only — medical bills and property damage. Non-economic damages are barred for uninsured drivers.
6.Which form certifies completion of driver education?
DL 5 DL 387 or OL 237 DL 120

Why

The driver education and driver training certificates — DL 387 and OL 237 — are what prove the requirement was met.
7.If your legal name differs from what’s on your birth certificate, you must:
Ignore the difference Show legal proof of your name change Use your nickname

Why

You must produce the legal document that connects the two names — a marriage certificate or court order. (Handbook, Section 2.)
8.When approaching a sharp corner or blind turn, the safest action is to:
Accelerate through the turn for better control Slow down so you can stop if something unexpected is around the bend Sound your horn and proceed at full speed

Why

Slow down before the corner, not in it, so you can stop within the distance you can actually see around the bend.
9.Passing on the right is allowed when:
The vehicle ahead is going below the speed limit You are in a hurry and the shoulder is paved The open highway has two or more lanes in your direction, or the driver ahead is turning left

Why

Those are the cases; the shoulder is never one of them. (Section 6, How to Pass.)
10.Leaving a child or an animal in a parked car in the sun is dangerous because:
The temperature inside rises rapidly, even with a window slightly open The seats can reach a temperature that burns The air conditioning stops working

Why

Too much heat exposure leads to dehydration, heat stroke and death, and leaving a window ajar does not prevent it. (Section 8, Unattended Children and Pets.)
11.Keeping insurance and registration current is:
Optional Part of being a responsible driver Only needed for new cars

Why

Both are legal conditions of driving, and a lapse in insurance can suspend the vehicle's registration automatically. (Handbook, Section 10.)
12.If you are at fault in an accident and cause $40,000 damage to someone's car, but only carry the minimum property damage coverage, how much could you be personally responsible for?
$25,000 $40,000 $15,000

Why

Minimum property damage cover is $15,000, so the remaining $25,000 comes out of your own pocket. This is why the minimum is rarely enough.
13.If you are under 21 and possess alcohol in a car (without a parent/guardian), what is a possible penalty?
License suspension for one year No penalty A warning only

Why

The court may fine you and suspend your license for one year — or delay your first license by a year if you do not have one yet. (Handbook, Section 9.)
14.To pass the written DMV exam, you should:
Guess quickly Leave hard questions blank Read each question carefully and eliminate wrong answers

Why

Read each question carefully and eliminate the clearly wrong options before choosing between what remains.
15.Before buying car insurance in California, you should check that the agent or broker is:
Licensed by the California Department of Insurance Registered with the DMV A member of the Low Cost Automobile Insurance Program

Why

The handbook points to insurance.ca.gov to verify the license status of the agent, broker or provider. (Section 10, Insurance Requirements.)
16.A child of six may be left in a vehicle under the supervision of a person aged at least:
18 16 12

Why

Twelve is the age the law sets for the supervising person. (Section 8, Unattended Children and Pets.)
17.Local authorities may reserve parking spaces on public streets for:
Electric vehicle charging Vehicles with more than four occupants Residents of the street only

Why

The handbook notes that local authorities can reserve on-street spaces for electric vehicle charging. (Section 6, Electric Vehicles.)
18.If you combine a low BAC with impairing drugs, can you still be charged with DUI?
Only for illegal drugs Yes, if you are impaired No, unless BAC is 0.08% or above

Why

Yes. Alcohol and drugs together impair you more than either alone, and the charge rests on impairment, not on the number. (Handbook, Section 9.)
19.If your parent/guardian feels you are not ready to drive, they:
May request the DMV to cancel your license Have no authority once you have a license Can only suspend your permit, not license

Why

The parent or guardian who signed for you can withdraw that consent, and DMV will cancel the license.
20.A provisional license is issued to drivers under what age?
Under 18 years old Under 21 years old Under 25 years old

Why

Anyone licensed under 18 holds a provisional license, marked as such, with extra restrictions attached. (Handbook, Section 2.)
21.Which vehicle may NOT be operated with a Class C license?
A pickup truck A motorcycle with two wheels A minivan

Why

A two-wheeled motorcycle requires a Class M license. (dmv.ca.gov/dl — Section 1 of the handbook refers you there for the vehicles a Class C covers.)
22.You may not make a U-turn when you cannot see clearly for:
100 feet in each direction 500 feet ahead 200 feet in each direction

Why

The 200-foot rule of visibility applies in both directions. (Section 6, U-turn.)
23.The examiner asks you to give arm signals. You must show:
Only the signal for stopping Left turn, right turn, and slowing or stopping Only left and right turns

Why

The three hand-and-arm signals are part of the pre-drive demonstration. (Section 3.)
24.What should you do when you hear sirens and see flashing lights from an emergency vehicle behind you?
Accelerate to get out of the way Stop immediately in your lane Pull over to the right and stop

Why

Pull to the right and stop, clear of the traffic lane, until it has passed. (Handbook, Section 7.)
25.A Drug Recognition Expert (DRE) officer may be called when:
Drug DUI is suspected A parking ticket is issued Car registration is expired

Why

A DRE is called when impairment is suspected but alcohol does not explain it. Drug impairment is prosecuted the same as alcohol impairment.
26.A yield line at an intersection is:
A line of triangles showing where to yield to traffic or pedestrians The same as a limit line at a stop sign A double solid white line

Why

The yield line marks where you give way; the limit line is the wide white line where you stop. (Section 6, Yield Line.)
27.After changing your address with the DMV you:
Must surrender your old license immediately Receive a new license by mail within ten days Do not automatically get a new license, though you may request a replacement for a fee

Why

The address change does not produce a new card by itself. (Section 4, Change Your Address.)
28.A pregnant driver should wear the lap belt:
Only the shoulder strap, leaving the lap belt off Above the abdomen, across the waist As low as possible under the abdomen, with the shoulder strap to the side of the bulge

Why

Low under the abdomen for the lap belt, and the shoulder strap between the breasts and to the side of the bulge. (Section 8, Seat Belts.)
29.When another vehicle suddenly brakes or swerves, you should:
Honk and expect them to move out of the way Drive closer to observe what is happening Have an escape plan and maintain space around your vehicle

Why

Keep an escape route. Space on at least one side means a sudden problem ahead has somewhere to go other than into you.
30.If you drive without insurance and get pulled over, what might you receive?
A ticket and a fine Free insurance A warning only

Why

Driving uninsured brings a citation and a fine, and repeat or collision-related offenses escalate to registration and license suspension.
31.How far in advance must you signal before making a turn?
At least 100 feet At least 50 feet At least 200 feet

Why

Signal at least 100 feet before you turn, before every lane change, and at least five seconds before changing lanes on a freeway — even when you do not see other vehicles around you. (Handbook, Section 5.)
32.In high winds you should not use:
Cruise control Your low-beam headlights The defroster

Why

Cruise control takes the accelerator out of your hands, and a gust is exactly when you want maximum control of it. (Section 8, High Winds.)
33.If you fail the driving test, you may:
Never take it again Retake it after a waiting period (usually a week or two) Drive without a license

Why

You can retake it after the waiting period. For minors that is 14 days from the failure. (Handbook, Section 3.)
34.What is the legal BAC limit for most drivers 21 and older in California?
0.01% 0.08% 0.04%

Why

0.08% for drivers 21 and over. Note you can still be convicted below it if you are impaired. (Handbook, Section 9 — BAC Limits.)
35.When driving on a curvy or hilly road, you should:
Adjust your speed before curves and use engine braking on downhills Ignore warning signs for curves Speed up on curves to maintain control

Why

Slow down before you enter a curve, not while in it, and use a lower gear on long downhills so the engine holds your speed instead of the brakes overheating.
36.The DMV will revoke your driving privilege if you are convicted of:
Parking in a disabled space without a placard A single speeding violation over 15 mph Hit-and-run, or reckless driving that resulted in injury

Why

Those two convictions trigger revocation. To get a license back at the end of a suspension or revocation you must show proof of financial responsibility, such as an SR 22 or SR 1P. (Section 7, Suspension or Revocation.)

One thing the simulator cannot copy

At the DMV you get three attempts before you have to reapply, and no testing aids — not the handbook, not your phone. Here you can take as long as you like and read the reason after every answer. That is the point: this is where you learn it, not where you prove it.

Shorter practice test

The full test, in the real format

One thing the simulator cannot copy

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