📘 California Teen Learner’s Permit Practice Test (2026)

1. When two vehicles arrive at an uncontrolled intersection at the same time, who has the right-of-way?
A. Vehicle on the left
B. Vehicle on the right
C. Vehicle going straight
D. Vehicle turning left

Answer: B
Explanation: At an uncontrolled intersection, the vehicle on the right goes first.

2. When turning left at an intersection, you must:
A. Turn without yielding
B. Yield to oncoming traffic and pedestrians
C. Turn immediately when the light turns green
D. Honk to alert oncoming cars

Answer: B
Explanation: Always yield to oncoming traffic and pedestrians before turning left.

3. At a T-intersection, who has the right-of-way?
A. Vehicle turning
B. Vehicle on the through road
C. Vehicle on the left
D. Vehicle backing up

Answer: B
Explanation: Vehicles on the through road have the right-of-way; vehicles entering must yield.

4. When approaching a stopped school bus with red flashing lights, you must:
A. Slow down and pass
B. Stop until the lights stop flashing
C. Pass if no children are visible
D. Honk to alert the driver

Answer: B
Explanation: California law requires all drivers to stop for school buses with flashing red lights.

5. When entering a roundabout, you must:
A. Yield to traffic in the circle
B. Enter without stopping
C. Stop and honk
D. Enter at any speed

Answer: A
Explanation: Always yield to traffic already in the roundabout.

🛑 Road Signs & Signals

6. A pentagon-shaped sign indicates:
A. Stop
B. Yield
C. School zone or school crossing
D. Railroad crossing

Answer: C
Explanation: Pentagon signs warn of school zones or school crossings.

7. A solid yellow line next to a broken yellow line means:
A. Passing allowed both ways
B. Passing allowed only next to the broken line
C. No passing allowed
D. Reduce speed immediately

Answer: B
Explanation: Passing is allowed only on the side with the broken line.

8. A red and white triangular sign indicates:
A. Stop
B. Yield
C. Do not enter
D. Railroad crossing

Answer: B
Explanation: Yield signs are red and white triangles. You must slow down and give right-of-way.

9. What should you do if a traffic light is not working?
A. Drive through carefully
B. Treat it as a four-way stop
C. Wait for police
D. Turn around

Answer: B
Explanation: Treat non-functioning traffic lights as four-way stops.

10. A circular yellow sign with a black “X” and “RR” means:
A. Railroad crossing ahead
B. No passing zone
C. School zone ahead
D. Stop

Answer: A
Explanation: Warns drivers of a railroad crossing ahead.

🚗 Speed Limits & Safe Driving

11. Default speed limit in residential areas unless posted:
A. 15 mph
B. 25 mph
C. 30 mph
D. 35 mph

Answer: B
Explanation: Residential areas in California default to 25 mph unless posted otherwise.

12. When approaching a curve:
A. Speed up to maintain lane
B. Slow down before entering
C. Brake suddenly in the curve
D. Maintain same speed

Answer: B
Explanation: Always slow down before curves for safe control.

13. Minimum distance to park from a fire hydrant:
A. 5 feet
B. 10 feet
C. 15 feet
D. 20 feet

Answer: C
Explanation: Must park at least 15 feet from a fire hydrant.

14. When is it safe to pass another vehicle on a two-lane road?
A. Line next to your lane is solid
B. Line next to your lane is broken
C. On curves and hills
D. Never

Answer: B
Explanation: Pass only when your lane has a broken line and visibility is clear.

15. What is a truck “No-Zone”?
A. Area to yield
B. Blind spot where truck cannot see you
C. Truck loading zone
D. Parking area for trucks

Answer: B
Explanation: Avoid lingering in a truck’s blind spots.

🚶‍♀️ Pedestrians & School Zones

16. Drivers must stop for pedestrians:
A. Only at crosswalks
B. At all intersections
C. Only elderly pedestrians
D. Only on red lights

Answer: B
Explanation: Stop whenever a pedestrian is crossing, even outside a crosswalk if necessary.

17. Speed limit in school zones during school hours:
A. 15 mph
B. 20 mph
C. 25 mph
D. 30 mph

Answer: B
Explanation: School zones are usually 20 mph during school hours.

18. When approaching a school crossing guard, you must:
A. Slow down and follow instructions
B. Pass quickly
C. Honk and continue
D. Ignore if no children visible

Answer: A
Explanation: Follow crossing guard instructions at all times.

🍷 Alcohol, Drugs & Distracted Driving

19. BAC limit for drivers under 21:
A. 0.08%
B. 0.05%
C. 0.01%
D. 0%

Answer: D
Explanation: California has a zero-tolerance law for drivers under 21.

20. What is prohibited for teen drivers while driving?
A. Handheld phone use
B. Texting
C. Both A & B
D. Listening to music

Answer: C
Explanation: Teen drivers may not use phones in any way while driving.

🚗 Intersections & Turns

21. At a green arrow:
A. Turn in the direction of the arrow without stopping
B. Go straight
C. Turn only after stopping
D. Ignore the arrow

Answer: A
Explanation: Green arrow allows protected turns in the arrow’s direction.

22. Right turn on red is allowed:
A. Without stopping
B. Only after stopping and yielding
C. Only if no one is watching
D. Anywhere

Answer: B
Explanation: Must stop and yield before turning on red unless otherwise posted.

23. When making a left turn from a two-way street onto a one-way street, you must:
A. Turn into any lane
B. Turn into the leftmost lane
C. Turn into the right lane
D. Stop in the intersection

Answer: B
Explanation: Always turn into the leftmost lane of the one-way street.

24. What does a flashing yellow light mean?
A. Stop
B. Proceed with caution
C. Yield only
D. Red light ahead

Answer: B
Explanation: Flashing yellow lights warn drivers to slow down and proceed carefully.

25. What should you do when approaching a stopped emergency vehicle with lights flashing?
A. Maintain speed
B. Pull over and stop if safe
C. Speed up
D. Ignore

Answer: B
Explanation: California law requires drivers to move over or slow down for emergency vehicles.

26. Safe following distance under ideal conditions:
A. 1 second
B. 2 seconds
C. 3 seconds
D. 5 seconds

Answer: C
Explanation: Maintain at least 3 seconds following distance in normal conditions.

27. When entering a highway, you should:
A. Stop before merging
B. Accelerate to match traffic speed
C. Merge immediately without checking traffic
D. Drive slowly

Answer: B
Explanation: Use the acceleration lane to match traffic speed safely.

28. If you miss your exit on a highway:
A. Back up
B. Stop immediately
C. Go to the next exit
D. Make a U-turn

Answer: C
Explanation: Always proceed to the next exit safely.

29. Double solid yellow lines mean:
A. Passing allowed both ways
B. Passing allowed on broken side only
C. No passing for either direction
D. Reduce speed

Answer: C
Explanation: Double solid lines prohibit passing in both directions.

30. A flashing red light means:
A. Stop completely and proceed when safe
B. Slow down
C. Yield only
D. Go

Answer: A
Explanation: Treat flashing red lights like a stop sign.

31. When parking uphill with a curb:
A. Turn wheels left
B. Turn wheels right
C. Keep wheels straight
D. Turn wheels randomly

Answer: A
Explanation: Turn wheels away from the curb to prevent rolling backward.

32. When parking downhill with a curb:
A. Turn wheels left
B. Turn wheels right
C. Keep wheels straight
D. Reverse into curb

Answer: B
Explanation: Turn wheels toward the curb when parking downhill.

33. When approaching a pedestrian in a crosswalk:
A. Stop
B. Slow down and proceed
C. Honk
D. Ignore

Answer: A
Explanation: Always stop for pedestrians in the crosswalk.

34. When a traffic signal changes from green to yellow:
A. Speed up
B. Stop if safe
C. Continue regardless
D. Honk

Answer: B
Explanation: Yellow means prepare to stop safely.

35. The “Move Over” law requires:
A. Slow down and move over for emergency vehicles
B. Ignore parked police cars
C. Only move over on highways
D. Stop in your lane

Answer: A
Explanation: Move over or slow down to protect emergency responders and road workers.

36. How far in advance should you signal before turning in a city?
A. 25 feet
B. 50 feet
C. 75 feet
D. 100 feet

Answer: B
Explanation: Signal 50 feet before a turn in a city.

37. When entering a roadway from an alley, private road, or driveway, you must:
A. Yield to pedestrians and traffic
B. Stop only for cars
C. Enter immediately
D. Honk and enter

Answer: A
Explanation: Yield to both pedestrians and vehicles.

38. Maximum speed on rural highways unless posted:
A. 55 mph
B. 65 mph
C. 70 mph
D. 75 mph

Answer: B
Explanation: Maximum speed limit is 65 mph on rural highways unless posted.

39. If your car is hydroplaning:
A. Brake hard
B. Ease off accelerator and steer straight
C. Turn sharply
D. Accelerate

Answer: B
Explanation: Ease off accelerator and steer gently to regain traction.

40. Minimum tire tread depth:
A. 1/32 inch
B. 2/32 inch
C. 3/32 inch
D. 4/32 inch

Answer: B
Explanation: Minimum legal tread depth is 2/32 inch.

41. When changing lanes on a highway:
A. Signal at least 100 feet before lane change
B. Signal only if cars are near
C. Turn wheel sharply
D. Signal after changing lanes

Answer: A
Explanation: Signal at least 100 feet in advance.

42. When are headlights required in California?
A. Only at night
B. At night and during rain, fog, or low visibility
C. During the day
D. Only on highways

Answer: B
Explanation: Headlights must be on at night or during low visibility.

43. When a traffic signal is flashing yellow, you must:
A. Stop completely
B. Slow down and proceed with caution
C. Yield only
D. Go

Answer: B
Explanation: Flashing yellow warns to proceed carefully.

44. When backing out of a driveway, you should:
A. Only use mirrors
B. Turn and look over your shoulder
C. Rely on backup camera only
D. Honk and back up

Answer: B
Explanation: Always look over your shoulder to check blind spots.

45. When approaching a curve or hill where you cannot see oncoming traffic, you should:
A. Pass quickly
B. Slow down and stay in your lane
C. Sound horn and speed up
D. Stop

Answer: B
Explanation: Always slow down when visibility is limited.

46. When driving in fog, you should:
A. Use high beams
B. Use low beams and slow down
C. Use hazard lights only
D. Drive as usual

Answer: B
Explanation: Low beams reduce glare in fog and increase visibility.

47. When merging onto a freeway:
A. Stop and wait for gap
B. Accelerate to match speed of traffic
C. Enter slowly without looking
D. Signal after merging

Answer: B
Explanation: Use the acceleration lane to match traffic speed safely.

48. Minimum safe following distance in rain:
A. 2 seconds
B. 3 seconds
C. 4 seconds or more
D. 5 seconds or more

Answer: C
Explanation: Increase following distance in adverse conditions.

49. When passing a bicycle, you must leave at least:
A. 2 feet
B. 3 feet
C. 4 feet
D. 5 feet

Answer: B
Explanation: California law requires at least 3 feet of clearance.

50. What is the purpose of the “Move Over” law?
A. Protect emergency responders and workers
B. Reduce traffic congestion
C. Warn drivers of speed traps
D. None of the above

Answer: A
Explanation: Move over or slow down to protect emergency responders and road workers.

✅ California Teen Permit Practice Test Complete — 50 Questions

Covers road rules, signs, intersections, school zones, alcohol/drug laws, distracted driving, and safety.

Includes answers and detailed explanations.
1. When two vehicles arrive at an uncontrolled intersection at the same time, who has the right-of-way?
A. Vehicle on the left
B. Vehicle on the right
C. Vehicle going straight
D. Vehicle turning left