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California Road Signs: All 41 Tested Signs
Updated July 9, 2026
Road signs are one of the biggest slices of the California DMV knowledge test — by our count they make up roughly a quarter of the questions you will face. The good news: the exact same 41 official MUTCD signs show up every time, so once you know these, you have locked in a huge chunk of the test.
Below is every sign, grouped by category, with the real federal artwork. Tap any sign for its plain-language meaning, exactly what to do when you see it, and a quick on-the-test note.
📱 Study smarter: PermitPal in your browser turns your state's handbook into short lessons, sign games, and real-format mock exams. Free to start — $29.99 once for everything, or $6.99 a week in the app. Also on the App Store and Google Play.
Regulatory signs (17)
Regulatory signs tell you the law of the road — what you must do, must not do, and are or are not allowed to do. Most are white rectangles with black legend, and red always signals a prohibition or a required stop. Disobeying a regulatory sign is a moving violation, so these are the signs the DMV test loves to ask about.
Stop
R1-1
Yield
R1-2
Speed Limit
R2-1
No Right Turn
R3-1
No Left Turn
R3-2
No U-Turn
R3-4
Keep Right
R4-7
Do Not Enter
R5-1
Wrong Way
R5-1a
One Way
R6-1R
Disabled Parking Only
R7-8
Railroad Crossing (Crossbuck)
R15-1
Right Lane Must Turn Right
R3-7R
Slower Traffic Keep Right
R4-3
No Trucks
R5-2
No Parking Any Time
R7-1
No Turn on Red
R10-11
Warning signs (21)
Warning signs give you advance notice of a hazard or a change in the road ahead so you can slow down and prepare. Most are yellow diamonds with black symbols. They do not carry a legal command like regulatory signs — they tell you what to expect so you can adjust your speed and position before you reach it.
Curve Ahead
W1-2R
Crossroad Ahead
W2-1
Stop Ahead
W3-1
Signal Ahead
W3-3
Merge
W4-1R
Two-Way Traffic
W6-3
Slippery When Wet
W8-5
Railroad Crossing Ahead
W10-1
Bicycle Crossing
W11-1
Pedestrian Crossing
W11-2
Dead End
W14-1
No Outlet
W14-2
School Crossing
S1-1
Sharp Change of Direction
W1-6
Lane Ends Ahead
W4-2
Narrow Bridge
W5-2
Divided Highway Begins
W6-1
Divided Highway Ends
W6-2
Steep Downgrade
W7-1
Low Clearance
W12-2
Speed Hump
W17-1
Construction Zone signs (2)
Construction and maintenance signs warn you that crews, equipment, or lane changes are ahead in a temporary work zone. They are the same diamond shape as warning signs but colored orange — the color reserved only for road work. Work-zone speed limits are strictly enforced and fines are frequently doubled, so slow down the moment you see orange.
See all construction zone signs →
Guide & Service signs (1)
Guide and service signs give you directions, distances, and the location of services rather than a command. They are read by color: green points to destinations and exits, blue marks motorist services like hospitals and rest areas, and brown marks parks and recreation. They inform you — they do not require a specific driving maneuver.
See all guide & service signs →
Turn signs into a passing score
Reading about signs is a start — drilling them is what makes them stick. PermitPal’s Sign Sprint and Match games turn all 41 signs into 60-second rounds, and the mock exams mix signs in with the rest of the test exactly like the real thing.
Ready to practice? Try a free practice test, tackle the hardest questions, or see why PermitPal is the best permit test app.