California BAC limits: all five of them
Most people know the 0.08% figure. The handbook lists five thresholds, and the one that applies to you may be eight times stricter than the one you remember.
| It is illegal to drive with a BAC of | If you are |
|---|---|
| 0.08% or higher | over 21 |
| 0.01% or higher | under 21 |
| 0.01% or higher | on DUI probation, at any age |
| 0.04% or higher | driving a vehicle that requires a commercial license |
| 0.04% or higher | driving a passenger for hire |
Under 21 means effectively zero
0.01% is below what a single drink produces. In practice California's zero tolerance law means exactly what it says: nothing at all before driving.
And below the limit is not automatically legal
The handbook is explicit that you can be arrested for driving impaired even when your BAC is under the threshold that applies to you. The number is a ceiling, not a permission.
Test yourself on this
Alcohol and drugs is one of the nine handbook topics, and one of the most heavily tested.
Questions on alcohol and drugsSource: California Driver's Handbook (DL 600, rev. 6/2025), Section 9 — Alcohol and Drugs. Written and checked by Fernando Aguilera. Aprobify is not affiliated with the California DMV.