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Practice · Class C knowledge test

California knowledge test practice

These are practice questions we wrote from the California Driver Handbook — not the actual DMV exam questions. The DMV publishes a passing score of 80%. Every question includes an answer key with the exact handbook sentence and section it is based on.

How long is the real test? A full adult Class C knowledge test ran 36 questions, according to a December 2006 DMV evaluation report — the DMV no longer publishes a current question count on its website, so treat 36 as dated context, not a current DMV figure.

This set has 48 questions. Every one is written from the current California Driver Handbook and independently verified against it, with the exact handbook sentence and section cited in its answer key. No rule is asked twice — we don't pad it or repeat questions.

48 questions

Try the questions

Pick an answer for each. With scoring on, submit to see your result; otherwise open the answer key below.

Q1. You are stopped at a red light and want to turn right. When does the handbook say you may make the turn?
Q2. You are at a red light, turning left from a one-way street onto a one-way street with no sign prohibiting the turn. What does the handbook require before you complete the turn?
Q3. A double solid yellow line runs down the middle of the road. What does it tell you?
Q4. You approach an intersection with no STOP or YIELD signs, and another vehicle clearly gets there before you. According to the handbook, what should you do?
Q5. At an intersection with no STOP or YIELD signs, you and another vehicle arrive at exactly the same time. What does the handbook tell you to do?
Q6. You reach an intersection with a stop sign on all four corners. After you stop, how does the handbook say to decide who goes?
Q7. You are turning left at an intersection and have yielded to any crossing pedestrians. What must you still do before completing the turn?
Q8. A pedestrian is crossing the road within an unmarked crosswalk at an intersection. Who has the right-of-way?
Q9. The vehicle ahead of you has stopped at a crosswalk. What does the handbook tell you to do?
Q10. A partially blind pedestrian is crossing the road using a white cane. Who has the right-of-way?
Q11. As you approach and enter a roundabout, what does the handbook tell you to do?
Q12. Which statement about a roundabout is correct according to the handbook?
Q13. Two vehicles meet on a steep, narrow road where neither can pass, so one must back up the grade to let the other by. Which vehicle has the right-of-way?
Q14. An emergency vehicle is approaching you using its siren and red lights. According to the handbook, what should you do?
Q15. You are already in an intersection when you see an emergency vehicle approaching with its siren on. What does the handbook tell you to do?
Q16. An emergency vehicle ahead of you has its siren and flashing lights on. How closely does the handbook allow you to follow it?
Q17. You are entering a roadway from a driveway or parking lot. What does the handbook tell you to do?
Q18. You are approaching an intersection on a green light, but traffic is backed up on the far side. What does the handbook tell you to do?
Q19. You reach a T-intersection that has no STOP or YIELD signs, traveling on the road that ends at the intersection. Who has the right-of-way?
Q20. You are following a bicyclist and the lane is too narrow to change lanes to get by. What does the law require of you as you pass the bicyclist?
Q21. A motorcycle is travelling ahead of you in your lane. What does the handbook tell you to do?
Q22. A traffic signal light turns green as you reach the intersection. What does the handbook tell you to do?
Q23. You are approaching a YIELD sign. What does the handbook tell you to do?
Q24. A traffic signal is showing a steady red light. What does it require you to do?
Q25. The signal for your turn lane shows a red arrow. What are you allowed to do?
Q26. You come to an intersection with a flashing red light. What does it mean?
Q27. The light ahead changes to a steady yellow as you approach. What is it telling you?
Q28. A steady yellow arrow appears for your turn. What does it indicate?
Q29. You approach a signal displaying a flashing yellow light. What does it warn you to do?
Q30. Your turn lane shows a flashing yellow arrow. What does it allow?
Q31. A green arrow lights up for your lane. What does it mean?
Q32. You arrive at an intersection where the traffic light is completely dark and not working. What should you do?
Q33. You see a red, eight-sided (octagonal) sign. What does it require?
Q34. A five-sided (pentagon) sign in fluorescent yellow-green is posted ahead. What does it tell you?
Q35. A yellow diamond-shaped sign is ahead. What is its purpose?
Q36. Under California's Basic Speed Law, you may never drive faster than which of the following?
Q37. Unless a different speed is posted, what is the maximum speed limit on a two-lane undivided highway in California?
Q38. While children are outside or crossing the street within 500 feet of a school, and no lower limit is posted, what is the speed limit?
Q39. At a blind intersection - one with no stop signs at any corner and a view that is blocked - what is the speed limit?
Q40. What is the speed limit when you are driving in an alley?
Q41. You are within 100 feet of a railroad crossing, you cannot see the tracks for 400 feet in both directions, and the crossing has no gates, warning signal, or flagman. What is the speed limit?
Q42. Unless a different speed is posted, what is the speed limit in a business or residential district?
Q43. When a bus, streetcar, or trolley is stopped at a safety zone or traffic light, what is the maximum speed at which you may pass it?
Q44. NEVs and low-speed vehicles (LSVs) are restricted from roads where the posted speed limit is greater than what?
Q45. If you cannot see farther than 100 feet ahead, the handbook says it is not safe to drive faster than what?
Q46. According to the handbook, on ice you should reduce your speed to no more than what?
Q47. As you enter a highway from an on-ramp, at what speed should you be when you merge into traffic?
Q48. Unless a different speed is posted, what is the maximum speed limit on most California highways?
Answer key & explanations
  1. Q1. A. After you make a complete stop, unless a No Turn on Red sign is posted — You may turn right on a red light after coming to a complete stop, as long as there is no No Turn on Red sign. The distractors borrow other rules - the left-turn-on-red one-way condition, the wait-for-green rule, and the roll-through behavior of a YIELD sign - none of which is the right-turn-on-red rule.
  2. Q2. A. Yield to any vehicle, bicyclist, or pedestrian who has a green light — A left turn against a red light is legal only from a one-way street onto a one-way street with no prohibiting sign (the stem's conditions); even then you must yield to anyone who has a green light before completing it. The distractors borrow the first-to-arrive rule, the ordinary left-turn yield standard, and the wait-for-green rule - none is the requirement for this turn.
  3. Q3. A. Do not pass across the lines — Double solid yellow lines mean do not pass across them. The other options are the meanings of different markings — the broken-yellow passing rule, the single-solid-white same-direction marking, and the double-solid-white carpool-lane divider — none of which is the double-solid-yellow rule.
  4. Q4. A. Yield to the vehicle that arrived first — At an uncontrolled intersection the handbook settles priority by order of arrival, so you give the right-of-way to whoever got there first. The distractors are the yield-to-the-right rule, the through-road rule, and the left-turn rule (yield to oncoming traffic close enough to be dangerous) - none of which decides arrival order.
  5. Q5. C. Give the right-of-way to the vehicle on your right — When two road users reach an uncontrolled intersection together, the tie is given to whoever is on the right, so you yield to the vehicle, bicyclist, or pedestrian to your right. The distractors are the arrival-order rule, the through-road rule, and the entering-traffic rule (yield to traffic already in the lanes) - none of which decides a tie between two vehicles arriving together.
  6. Q6. B. The first to arrive goes; if two arrive together, the one on the right goes — At an all-way stop every driver must stop, then the ordinary intersection order applies: first to arrive proceeds, and a tie is given to the driver on the right. The distractors are the through-road rule, the arrival rule stripped of its tie-breaker, and the dangerous assumption the handbook warns against - that other drivers will give you the right-of-way.
  7. Q7. A. Yield to any approaching vehicle close enough to be dangerous — A left-turning driver has no right-of-way: after letting pedestrians cross, you must still yield to oncoming traffic that is close enough to be a hazard before completing the turn. The distractors are real rules for other situations - yield-to-the-right, arrival order, and the yield response - none of which lets you turn across close oncoming traffic.
  8. Q8. C. The pedestrian in the crosswalk — Pedestrians have the right-of-way in a crosswalk, marked or unmarked, so the pedestrian goes and you wait. The distractors name the party that would have priority under real vehicle-vs-vehicle intersection rules - arrival order, yield-to-the-right, and the through road - none of which overrides a pedestrian in a crosswalk.
  9. Q9. B. Do not pass the vehicle stopped at the crosswalk — A vehicle stopped at a crosswalk may be hiding a pedestrian you cannot see, so you stay behind it rather than passing. The distractors are the emergency-vehicle response, the yield response, and a mistaken right-of-way claim - none of which lets you pass a vehicle stopped at a crosswalk.
  10. Q10. D. The pedestrian, at all times — A pedestrian using a white cane or a guide dog is given the right-of-way at all times, without condition. The distractors name the party that would have priority under real vehicle-vs-vehicle intersection rules - arrival order, yield-to-the-right, and the through road - none of which overrides a blind pedestrian's right-of-way.
  11. Q11. A. Yield to all traffic already in the roundabout — Entering traffic yields at a roundabout: you wait for a gap and give way to the vehicles already circulating. The distractors are the arrival-order rule, the yield-to-the-right rule, and the dangerous assumption that circulating traffic will make room for you.
  12. Q12. C. Traffic travels in one direction around a central island — In a roundabout all traffic flows one way around the central island. There is no through road and no arrival-order or yield-to-the-right contest, because drivers entering simply yield to whoever is already circulating.
  13. Q13. B. The vehicle facing uphill — On a steep, narrow road where neither vehicle can pass, the one facing uphill has the right-of-way; the downhill vehicle backs up the grade - it has more control reversing - to let the uphill vehicle by. The distractors are the arrival-order, yield-to-the-right, and through-road rules from ordinary intersections.
  14. Q14. A. Drive to the right edge of the road and stop until it has passed — An emergency vehicle using a siren and red lights has the right-of-way, so you pull to the right edge of the road and stop until it passes. The distractors are ordinary intersection right-of-way rules - yield-to-the-right, arrival order, and the through-road rule - none of which is the response to an approaching emergency vehicle.
  15. Q15. A. Continue through the intersection, then drive to the right and stop — If you are already in an intersection when an emergency vehicle appears, you clear the intersection first, then pull to the right and stop - you do not stop inside the intersection. The distractors are the general pull-over rule applied too soon, yield-to-the-right, and arrival order.
  16. Q16. A. No closer than 300 feet — It is against the law to follow within 300 feet of an emergency vehicle when its siren or flashing lights are on. The distractors are other real handbook distances - the 100-foot visibility figure, the 500-foot school-zone figure, and the 400-foot railroad sight-distance figure - none of which is the following distance behind an emergency vehicle.
  17. Q17. A. Proceed with caution and yield to the traffic already in the lanes — When you enter a roadway you must yield to the traffic already occupying the lanes - you do not have priority over it. The distractors are yield-to-the-right, arrival order, and the narrower left-turn standard (only vehicles close enough to be dangerous), none of which is the rule for entering traffic.
  18. Q18. A. Do not enter the intersection unless you can get completely across — It is against the law to block an intersection: if there is not enough room to get all the way across, you wait rather than entering. The distractors are arrival order, the through-road rule, and the entering-traffic yield rule - none of which is the anti-gridlock rule for a backed-up intersection.
  19. Q19. A. Traffic on the through road has the right-of-way — At a T-intersection without STOP or YIELD signs, traffic on the through road - the road that continues straight - has the right-of-way, so a driver on the ending road must yield. The distractors are the same-time yield-to-the-right rule, the first-to-arrive rule, and the left-turn yield standard - none is the T-intersection rule.
  20. Q20. A. Leave at least three feet of space — When you cannot change lanes, the law requires you to leave at least three feet between your vehicle and the bicyclist. The other options are real sharing rules for other road users that do not set the bicycle passing distance.
  21. Q21. A. Give it the full lane, whenever possible — A motorcycle is entitled to the full lane whenever possible; you do not share it side by side. The other options are real sharing rules for other road users that do not set how much lane to give a motorcycle.
  22. Q22. A. Go, but still stop for any vehicle, bicyclist, or pedestrian in the intersection — A green light means GO, but you must still stop for any vehicle, bicyclist, or pedestrian already in the intersection. The distractors are the YIELD-sign behavior and two uncontrolled-intersection rules - yield to whoever arrived first and yield to the vehicle on your right - none of which is the green-light rule.
  23. Q23. A. Slow down and be ready to stop, letting others pass first — At a YIELD sign you slow down and be ready to stop, letting any vehicle, bicyclist, or pedestrian pass before you proceed. The distractors borrow the green-light GO rule, the first-to-arrive rule, and the green-light rule to stop for anyone already in the intersection - none is the YIELD-sign rule.
  24. Q24. A. Come to a complete stop — A Solid Red Light means STOP - come to a complete stop. The distractors are the meanings of other signs or signals - each belongs to a different one, not this one.
  25. Q25. A. Stop, and do not make the turn — A Red Arrow means "Stop, and do not make the turn". The distractors are the meanings of other signs or signals - each belongs to a different one, not this one.
  26. Q26. A. Stop, then go when it is safe — A Flashing Red Light means "Stop, then go when it is safe". The distractors are the meanings of other signs or signals - each belongs to a different one, not this one.
  27. Q27. A. Caution - the light is about to turn red — A Solid Yellow Light means "Caution - the light is about to turn red". The distractors are the meanings of other signs or signals - each belongs to a different one, not this one.
  28. Q28. A. The protected turn is ending — A Yellow Arrow means "The protected turn is ending". The distractors are the meanings of other signs or signals - each belongs to a different one, not this one.
  29. Q29. A. Slow down and proceed with caution — A Flashing Yellow Light means "Slow down and proceed with caution". The distractors are the meanings of other signs or signals - each belongs to a different one, not this one.
  30. Q30. A. You may turn, but the turn is unprotected — A Flashing Yellow Arrow means "You may turn, but the turn is unprotected". The distractors are the meanings of other signs or signals - each belongs to a different one, not this one.
  31. Q31. A. Go in the direction the arrow points — A Green Arrow means "Go in the direction the arrow points". The distractors are the meanings of other signs or signals - each belongs to a different one, not this one.
  32. Q32. A. Treat it as an all-way stop — A Traffic Light Not Working means "Treat it as an all-way stop". The distractors are the meanings of other signs or signals - each belongs to a different one, not this one.
  33. Q33. A. Make a full stop at the limit line or crosswalk — A STOP Sign means "Make a full stop at the limit line or crosswalk". The distractors are the meanings of other signs or signals - each belongs to a different one, not this one.
  34. Q34. A. Near a school - slow down and stop for children crossing — A 5-sided Sign means "Near a school - slow down and stop for children crossing". The distractors are the meanings of other signs or signals - each belongs to a different one, not this one.
  35. Q35. A. It warns of road conditions or dangers ahead — A Diamond-shaped Sign means "It warns of road conditions or dangers ahead". The distractors are the meanings of other signs or signals - each belongs to a different one, not this one.
  36. Q36. C. A speed that is safe for the current road conditions — The Basic Speed Law ties your legal speed to conditions, not only to the sign. Even at or below the posted limit, you must slow to whatever is safe for the traffic, road surface, weather, and visibility at that moment.
  37. Q37. B. 55 mph — The handbook sets a lower default ceiling on a two-lane undivided highway - and for vehicles towing trailers - than the 65 mph that applies on most California highways.
  38. Q38. A. 25 mph — A school zone lowers the speed limit to 25 mph while children are outside or crossing near the school.
  39. Q39. D. 15 mph — Where no signs control the intersection and cross-traffic cannot be seen, the law holds your speed low enough that you can stop for whatever enters your path.
  40. Q40. B. 15 mph — The speed limit in an alley is 15 mph, kept low for the people and vehicles entering and leaving the buildings along it.
  41. Q41. C. 15 mph — When the tracks are uncontrolled and you cannot see far enough along them, the law limits your speed so you can stop before the crossing. A crossing controlled by gates, a signal, or a flagman removes that cap.
  42. Q42. A. 25 mph — Built-up areas with driveways, cross-streets, and pedestrians carry a low default limit unless a sign sets a different one.
  43. Q43. D. 10 mph — Passengers may be stepping to or from the safety zone, so you crawl past a stopped bus, streetcar, or trolley rather than passing at normal speed.
  44. Q44. B. 35 mph — Because these vehicles reach a maximum of about 25 mph, they are kept off faster roads where they could not safely keep pace with traffic.
  45. Q45. A. 30 mph — When visibility drops that far, your safe speed drops with it - you need to be able to stop within the distance you can actually see.
  46. Q46. C. 5 mph — Ice offers almost no traction, so the handbook calls for a near-crawl - reduce your speed to no more than 5 mph.
  47. Q47. A. At or near the speed of the other traffic — Matching the flow lets you blend into a gap without forcing drivers behind you to brake. The distractors are three real merge mistakes the handbook warns against: driving the posted limit regardless of the flow, stopping on the ramp, and creeping in far below the flow - all of which either block traffic or force others to brake.
  48. Q48. A. 65 mph — On most California highways the maximum speed limit is 65 mph unless a sign posts a different figure. The distractors are lower limits for other situations - 55 mph on a two-lane undivided highway, the 35 mph NEV/LSV road restriction, and the 25 mph school-zone limit.
Sources. California DMV — Instruction and learner's permits (states the passing score of 80%) · California Driver's Handbook · California DMV — Evaluation of the Class C written knowledge tests (December 2006)
Last verified July 24, 2026.