If you see this sign facing you, what does it mean?

You are going the wrong way - turn around

You are entering a one-way street correctly

Oncoming traffic must yield to you

Your lane will end - merge left

Aggressive driving behaviors such as tailgating, weaving, and excessive speeding:

Raise crash risk and can lead to reckless charges

Save enough time to make up for the added risk

Are only illegal when they cause a crash

Are safe for skilled drivers in light traffic

If your headlights go out at night while driving, you should:

Pull over immediately and turn on hazard lights

Switch to parking lights and continue slowly

Stop right in your lane and wait for help

Keep driving slowly and follow the car ahead closely

Free California DMV Practice Permit Test - Practice Test 4 2026

25 questions80% to passExplanations includedFree

—Real test questions

80%Pass score

This Practice Test 4 is modeled on the Department of Motor Vehicles (DMV) written knowledge exam, whose length the agency does not publish; to pass you need 80% correct. These 25 questions rotate through traffic laws, road signs, and right-of-way - the core topics the DMV tests most heavily. Every question includes an explanation, so you learn the rule behind each answer - not just whether you got it right.

Question 1 of 25

At a roundabout, in which direction does traffic flow and who has priority?

Tip: Press 1-4 to select, Enter to submit, F to flag

Inside this test

What's on the California Practice Test 4

The DMV does not publish how many questions are on the real California knowledge test, and to pass you need 80% correct. Practice Test 4 is a 25-question set drawn from 47 questions, scored against a practice target of 80%.

Topics in this test's question pool

Road signs 15
Safe driving 11
Traffic laws 7
Right of way 5
Speed limits 2
Parking 2
Vehicle equipment 2
Emergencies 2
Alcohol & drugs 1

47 questions in the pool, 6 of them written specifically for California. Each attempt shows 25 in a new order.

Sample questions from this test, with answers

Want to test yourself first? Take the test above before reading these. Every answer below is checked against the source shown.

1. In California, a DUI can be punished as a felony (state prison) when it occurs within 10 years of how many prior DUI convictions?
- A. One prior
- B. Two priors
- C. Three or more priors (correct)
- D. DUI is never a felony in California
Why: Under Vehicle Code 23550, a DUI committed within 10 years of three or more prior DUI convictions (a fourth offense) can be punished by state prison. A DUI causing injury, or a DUI after a prior felony DUI, can also be charged as a felony. A third DUI within 10 years is normally a misdemeanor with heavier penalties.
Source: Vehicle Code 23550(a)
2. Unless a sign shows otherwise, what is the maximum speed limit on a two-lane undivided highway in California?
- A. 45 mph
- B. 50 mph
- C. 55 mph (correct)
- D. 65 mph
Why: Most California highways have a 65 mph maximum, but the limit is 55 mph on a two-lane undivided highway. The same 55 mph limit applies to vehicles towing trailers.
Source: official California driver handbook, p.67 (PDF p.73), Manage Your Speed
3. A yellow sign showing a bump or dip in the road warns you to:
- A. Move to the shoulder to avoid it
- B. Slow down for a rough spot ahead (correct)
- C. Stop and check the road ahead
- D. Keep speed - it only affects trucks
Why: Bump and dip signs warn of an abrupt change in the road surface. Slow down to maintain control and protect your vehicle's suspension.
Source: Federal MUTCD 11th ed. (Dec 2023) 2C.26
4. Worn or bald tires are dangerous primarily because they:
- A. Wear out the brakes faster than normal
- B. Reduce traction and raise the risk of skidding (correct)
- C. Only matter on snow and ice, not on wet pavement
- D. Cause the car to pull hard to one side
Why: Bald or worn tires have little tread to grip the road or channel away water. This dramatically increases stopping distance and the risk of hydroplaning and skidding, especially in wet conditions.
Source: official California driver handbook
5. A yellow pennant-shaped sign (a long triangle pointing sideways) posted on the left side of the road means:
- A. Passing lane ahead
- B. No passing zone begins (correct)
- C. Divided highway ahead
- D. Road narrows ahead
Why: The no-passing zone sign is the only pennant-shaped sign: a yellow, sideways triangle pointing to the right. It is posted on the left side of the road at the start of a no-passing zone, where a solid yellow line also appears on your side of the centerline.
Source: official California driver handbook
6. The fog becomes so thick that you can barely see beyond your hood. What is the safest choice?
- A. Pull off the road as far as you can and stop (correct)
- B. Stop in your lane and wait for it to clear
- C. Switch to high beams so you can see farther
- D. Follow the taillights ahead of you closely
Why: When visibility drops to near zero, get completely off the road and wait for the fog to lift. Stopping in a travel lane invites a rear-end crash.
Source: official California driver handbook

More California facts, the full requirements table and the printable PDF are on the California permit practice test page.

California DMV Test Info

Questions on real test: Not published by the DMV
Passing score: 80%
Correct needed: 80% correct
Minimum age: 15½ years old
Testing agency: Department of Motor Vehicles

Official CA DMV Website ↗

More California Tests

Study Tip

Don't just aim to pass this California Practice Test 4 once - keep taking it until you score 80% or higher two or three times in a row. Read the explanation after every question, even the ones you get right, to lock in the rule before your DMV exam.