How many questions is the California DMV test?
There is no single answer, because there is no single test. The DMV runs three different forms of the Class C knowledge test, and which one you sit depends on your age and on whether you already hold a license.
| Who sits it | Questions | Can miss | To pass |
|---|---|---|---|
| Adult, first license | 36 | 6 | 83% |
| Renewal | 18 | 3 | 83% |
| Under 18 (provisional) | 46 | 8 | 83% |
The renewal form is the one nobody mentions
Renewal applicants answer only the first 18 questions of the same 36-question form, and are allowed 3 mistakes instead of 6. Almost every practice site quotes the 36-question figure as if it applied to everyone, which is why renewals often arrive expecting a longer test than they get.
All three land on the same standard
30 of 36, 15 of 18, 38 of 46 — roughly 83% in every case. The test gets longer, not harder, as the stakes go up.
Practise in the real format
The simulator runs the 36-question adult form with the same pass mark.
Take the simulatorSource: Evaluation of the Class C Driver License Written Knowledge Tests, California Department of Motor Vehicles, published on dmv.ca.gov. Its figures date from 2006 and the DMV has not published a more recent breakdown, so confirm on the day if it matters to you. Written and checked by Fernando Aguilera. Aprobify is not affiliated with the California DMV.