PermitPal
California Permit Practice Test 2
20 new questions · no repeats from Test 1 · Updated July 12, 2026
A fresh 20 — no overlap with Test 1 — weighted toward the rules-of-the-road and safety questions people miss most. The real California exam is 36 questions at 83% to pass — that 83% bar ties California with 1 other state at #4 strictest of the 50 states.
Answer each question to see the explanation. Your score is tallied against the real passing bar at the end.
1. Which hand signal means a right turn?
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Correct answer: Left arm bent upward at the elbow
The right-turn hand signal is the left arm bent upward at a 90° angle.
2. Yellow diamond-shaped signs are used to:
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Correct answer: Warn you about road conditions ahead
Diamond-shaped yellow signs warn of hazards ahead — curves, crossings, merges, and signals. Orange diamonds mark work zones.
3. Unless a higher limit is posted, what is the maximum speed allowed on most California highways and freeways?
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Correct answer: 65 mph
65 mph is the default maximum on most California highways and freeways; some stretches are posted up to 70 mph where conditions allow.
4. On a multi-lane one-way street, where should you position yourself before a left turn?
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Correct answer: In the lane closest to the center or left edge of the roadway
Left turns begin from the lane nearest the center line (on a two-way street) or the left-most lane (on a one-way street) and end in the lane nearest the left of the road you enter.
5. A driver operating a commercial vehicle is subject to a lower BAC limit of:
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Correct answer: 0.04%
Commercial drivers are held to a stricter BAC limit of 0.04% because of the greater risk posed by large vehicles.
6. If a front tire blows out while driving, you should:
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Correct answer: Grip the wheel firmly and ease off the gas pedal gradually
A firm grip keeps the car under control as it pulls toward the blown tire, and easing off the gas lets the car slow gradually instead of lurching.
7. During the first 12 months of a provisional license, when may you drive alone?
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Correct answer: Between 5 a.m. and 11 p.m.
For the first year, provisional licensees may not drive between 11 p.m. and 5 a.m., and may not carry passengers under 20, unless accompanied by a licensed driver 25 or older (limited exceptions apply).
8. A yellow curb is reserved for:
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Correct answer: Loading and unloading of commercial vehicles or freight
Yellow curbs are loading zones set aside for commercial vehicles to load or unload passengers or freight, generally within posted time limits.
9. An adult driver who accumulates 4 points on their record within a 12-month period may be labeled by the DMV as:
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Correct answer: A negligent operator, which can lead to suspension or probation
Reaching 4 points in 12 months is one of the thresholds the DMV uses to flag a negligent operator for possible suspension.
10. Two cars stop at a four-way stop at the exact same moment, directly across from each other. One driver wants to go straight and the other wants to turn left across the first car's path. Who should yield?
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Correct answer: The driver turning left yields to the driver going straight
When vehicles reach a stop at the same time, a driver turning left must yield to an oncoming vehicle that is going straight or turning right.
11. Hydroplaning — when your tires ride on top of water instead of the road — becomes a serious risk:
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Correct answer: At speeds above roughly 50 mph in heavy rain
Above about 50 mph in heavy rain, tires can lose contact with the pavement and ride on a film of water, cutting off steering and braking control.
12. You just parked along a street with bike traffic. Before opening your door, you should:
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Correct answer: Check your mirror and look back for an approaching bicyclist
A car door opened into a bike lane can cause a serious crash. Always look back before opening a door on the traffic side — many drivers use their far hand to open the door, which naturally turns them to look.
13. A driver ahead points their left arm downward out the window. They intend to:
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Correct answer: Slow down or stop
The downward-pointing arm is the hand signal for slowing or stopping.
14. You see a sign posting 70 mph on a stretch of freeway. What does this tell you?
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Correct answer: The state has determined this specific highway can safely support a higher limit than the default 65 mph
A posted 70 mph limit applies only where signed for that higher limit; the statewide default outside those stretches is still 65 mph.
15. You are turning left from a two-way street onto a multi-lane road. You must end your turn:
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Correct answer: In the lane closest to the center line that carries traffic in your direction
A turn must be completed in the lane nearest to the direction you started from — left turns end in the lane closest to the center of the road you are entering.
16. California’s implied consent law means that by driving on public roads, you have already agreed to:
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Correct answer: Take a chemical test if lawfully arrested for suspected DUI
Simply by holding a license and driving, you consent in advance to a chemical (breath, blood, or urine) test if a peace officer lawfully arrests you on suspicion of DUI.
17. After a tire blowout, why should you avoid slamming on the brakes?
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Correct answer: Hard braking can throw the car into a skid or make it harder to control
A blown tire already unbalances the car; sudden hard braking can send it into a skid before you regain control.
18. You move to a new home in California. How long do you have to update your address with the DMV?
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Correct answer: 10 days
You must notify the DMV of a new address within 10 days of moving.
19. A red curb means:
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Correct answer: No stopping, standing, or parking at any time
Red curbs prohibit stopping, standing, or parking entirely — not even a brief stop to let someone out.
20. Besides 4 points in 12 months, which other point totals can also trigger negligent-operator action against an adult driver?
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Correct answer: 6 points in 24 months, or 8 points in 36 months
The DMV reviews a driving record for three separate windows: 4 points/12 months, 6 points/24 months, and 8 points/36 months.
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