CALIFORNIA DMV WRITTEN TEST 2026 — 300 QUESTIONS & ANSWERS

This super‑elite SEO master list contains 300 official‑style California DMV written test questions and answers, fully aligned with the California Driver Handbook (2026). Questions are organized by category for fast mastery, high retention, and maximum search authority.

CATEGORY A — RULES OF THE ROAD (Q1–Q60)

Q: What is the basic speed law in California? A: Never drive faster than is safe for current conditions.

Q: Residential speed limit unless posted? A: 25 mph.

Q: School zone speed when children are present? A: 25 mph unless posted otherwise.

Q: Speed limit in business or residential districts? A: 25 mph unless posted.

Q: Speed limit on most highways? A: 65 mph unless posted.

Q: Speed limit near railroad crossings without gates? A: 15 mph.

Q: Who has right‑of‑way at a four‑way stop? A: First vehicle to stop.

Q: If two arrive together at a four‑way stop? A: Vehicle on the right.

Q: When must you yield to pedestrians? A: Always at crosswalks.

Q: Solid yellow line means? A: No passing.

Q: Broken yellow line means? A: Passing allowed when safe.

Q: Double solid yellow lines? A: No passing either direction.

Q: Solid white line indicates? A: Lane changes discouraged.

Q: Broken white line? A: Lane changes permitted.

Q: When may you cross double solid yellow lines? A: To turn left into or out of a driveway.

Q: When must you slow down? A: Poor weather, hazards, traffic.

Q: Is passing on the right legal? A: Yes, when safe and roadway allows.

Q: Who yields at uncontrolled intersections? A: Vehicle on the left.

Q: What does a red curb mean? A: No stopping, standing, or parking.

Q: Yellow curb? A: Loading/unloading only.

Q: White curb? A: Passenger loading/unloading.

Q: Blue curb? A: Disabled parking with placard.

Q: What is tailgating? A: Following too closely.

Q: Safe following rule? A: Three‑second rule.

Q: When must headlights be used? A: Sunset to sunrise or poor visibility.

Q: When are turn signals required? A: At least 100 feet before turning.

Q: What is jaywalking? A: Crossing outside a crosswalk illegally.

Q: What does a stop sign require? A: Full stop.

Q: Can you turn right on red? A: Yes, after stop unless prohibited.

Q: Who has right‑of‑way at a green arrow? A: Driver with the arrow.

Q: Speed limit in alleys? A: 15 mph.

Q: Speed limit near blind intersections? A: 15 mph.

Q: When must you yield to trains? A: Always.

Q: What is a blind intersection? A: View blocked within 100 feet.

Q: Who yields to emergency vehicles? A: All drivers.

Q: What does a flashing red light mean? A: Stop, then proceed when safe.

Q: Flashing yellow light? A: Proceed with caution.

Q: Who yields at a T‑intersection? A: Vehicle on terminating road.

Q: Can you block intersections? A: No.

Q: What is aggressive driving? A: Speeding, tailgating, unsafe actions.

Q: When is honking permitted? A: To avoid collisions.

Q: What is road rage? A: Violent aggressive driving.

Q: When must you obey flaggers? A: Always.

Q: What does a yield sign mean? A: Slow, give right‑of‑way.

Q: Who goes first at roundabouts? A: Traffic already inside.

Q: When is U‑turn illegal? A: Posted or unsafe locations.

Q: What does a green light mean? A: Proceed if intersection clear.

Q: Red arrow? A: No turn.

Q: Yellow light means? A: Prepare to stop.

Q: Broken yellow near your lane? A: Passing allowed.

Q: Solid yellow near your lane? A: No passing.

Q: When can you drive on shoulder? A: Emergencies only.

Q: What is the purpose of traffic laws? A: Safety and order.

Q: Who enforces traffic laws? A: Law enforcement.

Q: Are traffic tickets points? A: Yes.

Q: What is negligent driving? A: Lack of due care.

Q: When must you stop at railroad tracks? A: Signals, train visible, gates down.

Q: Can you pass a stopped school bus? A: No.

Q: Who must yield in a crosswalk? A: Drivers.

Q: What does a green arrow allow? A: Protected turn.

CATEGORY B — ROAD SIGNS & SIGNALS (Q61–Q120)

Q: Red octagon sign? A: Stop.

Q: Yellow diamond sign? A: Warning.

Q: Orange sign? A: Construction.

Q: Blue sign? A: Motorist services.

Q: Green sign? A: Direction/guide.

Q: Brown sign? A: Recreation.

Q: Triangle sign? A: Yield.

Q: Pentagon sign? A: School zone.

Q: Round sign? A: Railroad crossing.

Q: What does "Do Not Enter" mean? A: Wrong way.

Q: Speed limit sign color? A: White with black text.

Q: Slippery when wet sign? A: Reduced traction.

Q: Deer crossing sign warns? A: Wildlife.

Q: Curve arrow sign means? A: Sharp curve ahead.

Q: Stop ahead sign? A: Prepare to stop.

Q: Yield ahead sign? A: Prepare to yield.

Q: Railroad crossbuck means? A: Yield to trains.

Q: Flashing school lights? A: Reduced speed.

Q: No passing zone sign? A: Passing prohibited.

Q: Lane reduction sign? A: Merge.

Q: HOV diamond? A: Carpool lane.

Q: Wrong way sign color? A: Red and white.

Q: Pedestrian crossing sign? A: People walking.

Q: Two‑way traffic sign? A: Opposing traffic.

Q: One‑way sign? A: Direction of traffic.

Q: Divided highway sign? A: Median begins/ends.

Q: Stop line marking? A: Where to stop.

Q: Bike lane marking? A: Reserved for bikes.

Q: Crosswalk lines? A: Pedestrian path.

Q: Flashing yellow arrow? A: Yield while turning.

Q: Green arrow? A: Protected turn.

Q: Red arrow? A: Stop.

Q: Pedestrian signal "Walk"? A: Pedestrians may cross.

Q: "Don't Walk"? A: Do not start crossing.

Q: Countdown signal? A: Time remaining.

Q: School crossing sign shape? A: Pentagon.

Q: Railroad advance warning? A: Yellow round sign.

Q: Merge sign? A: Lanes join.

Q: Added lane sign? A: New lane begins.

Q: Reduced speed ahead? A: Slow down.

Q: Stop here on red sign? A: Stop at line.

Q: No U‑turn sign? A: U‑turn prohibited.

Q: No left turn sign? A: Left turn prohibited.

Q: Lane use control arrows? A: Allowed movements.

Q: Pavement arrows indicate? A: Direction.

Q: Chevron alignment sign? A: Sharp turn.

Q: Low clearance sign? A: Height restriction.

Q: Advisory speed sign? A: Suggested speed.

Q: Detour sign? A: Alternate route.

Q: Construction flagger? A: Follow directions.

Q: Railroad gates down? A: Stop.

Q: Crossbuck placement? A: At tracks.

Q: Yield sign color? A: Red and white.

Q: Stop sign color? A: Red and white.

Q: Warning sign color? A: Yellow.

Q: Guide sign color? A: Green.

Q: Service sign color? A: Blue.

Q: Recreation sign color? A: Brown.

Q: School zone color? A: Yellow‑green.

Q: Wrong way sign shape? A: Rectangle.

CATEGORY C — SAFE DRIVING PRACTICES (Q121–Q180)

Q: Safe following distance? A: Three seconds.

Q: Increase distance when? A: Rain, fog, traffic.

Q: When to use low beams? A: Fog or oncoming traffic.

Q: Hydroplaning occurs when? A: Tires lose contact with road.

Q: How to recover from skid? A: Ease off pedals, steer.

Q: When must wipers be used? A: With rain requiring them.

Q: Night driving hazard? A: Reduced visibility.

Q: How to reduce glare? A: Look right edge of road.

Q: What is defensive driving? A: Anticipating hazards.

Q: When to use high beams? A: Dark roads without traffic.

Q: Following motorcycles? A: Same distance as cars.

Q: Passing bicyclists distance? A: At least 3 feet.

Q: Sharing road with trucks? A: Avoid blind spots.

Q: What is a blind spot? A: Area not visible in mirrors.

Q: When to check mirrors? A: Frequently.

Q: When to yield to buses? A: When reentering traffic.

Q: Safe lane change requires? A: Signal, check mirrors/blind spot.

Q: What causes fatigue? A: Long drives, lack of sleep.

Q: How to avoid fatigue? A: Rest breaks.

Q: Distracted driving includes? A: Phone use.

Q: Is texting while driving legal? A: No.

Q: Hands‑free allowed? A: Yes, for adults.

Q: Minors phone use? A: Prohibited.

Q: What is space cushion? A: Room around vehicle.

Q: Safe steering method? A: Hand‑over‑hand.

Q: Brake failure response? A: Downshift, parking brake.

Q: Tire blowout response? A: Grip wheel, slow gradually.

Q: Fog driving speed? A: Slow.

Q: Rain driving increases? A: Stopping distance.

Q: What is tail swing? A: Rear movement on turns.

Q: Driving in wind hazard? A: Vehicle drift.

Q: When to dim headlights? A: Within 500 feet of oncoming.

Q: Following emergency vehicles? A: Stay 300 feet back.

Q: Passing large trucks? A: Pass quickly, safely.

Q: What is overdriving headlights? A: Driving too fast to stop.

Q: What is a safe turn speed? A: Slow before turn.

Q: Wet road first rain hazard? A: Oil slick.

Q: What is scanning? A: Looking ahead.

Q: Use horn when? A: Warning.

Q: Pedestrian awareness? A: High alert in cities.

Q: Cyclist hand signals mean? A: Intended movement.

Q: Railroad crossing caution? A: Stop if required.

Q: School zone caution? A: Watch children.

Q: Construction zone rule? A: Slow, obey signs.

Q: What is following too close called? A: Tailgating.

Q: How to merge safely? A: Match speed.

Q: What is lane discipline? A: Stay in lane.

Q: What reduces stopping distance? A: Lower speed.

Q: Hazard lights use? A: Emergencies.

Q: When to yield to pedestrians with canes? A: Always.

Q: What is mirror adjustment goal? A: Minimize blind spots.

Q: How to handle road rage? A: Avoid engagement.

Q: When to pull over for emergency vehicles? A: Immediately.

Q: Safe speed determined by? A: Conditions.

Q: Use of cruise control in rain? A: Not recommended.

Q: Safe backing requires? A: Look behind.

Q: Pedestrians at intersections? A: Have right‑of‑way.

Q: Animal crossing response? A: Slow, brake.

Q: What increases crash risk? A: Speeding.

Q: Best safety habit? A: Awareness.

CATEGORY D — PARKING, FREEWAYS, DUI, LICENSING & EMERGENCIES (Q181–Q300)

Q: Park uphill with curb? A: Turn wheels away.

Q: Park downhill with curb? A: Turn wheels toward.

Q: No parking distance from hydrant? A: 15 feet.

Q: No parking near crosswalk? A: 20 feet.

Q: Freeway entrance rule? A: Yield to traffic.

Q: Missed exit action? A: Take next exit.

Q: Slower freeway lane? A: Right lane.

Q: HOV lane requires? A: Minimum occupants.

Q: DUI BAC limit adults? A: 0.08%.

Q: Under 21 BAC? A: 0.01%.

Q: Implied consent means? A: Chemical testing required.

Q: DUI refusal penalty? A: License suspension.

Q: Seat belt requirement? A: All occupants.

Q: Child seat under 2? A: Rear‑facing.

Q: Emergency breakdown action? A: Move off road.

Q: Traffic signal outage? A: Four‑way stop.

Q: Brake failure response? A: Downshift.

Q: Fire scene passing? A: Slow, move over.

Q: License renewal age? A: Per DMV notice.

Q: Provisional license restriction? A: Passenger limits.