California Driver's Licence Practice Tests

Class C is California's ordinary licence for passenger cars and light trucks. Getting one starts with the DMV written knowledge test, which is what these questions cover. Applicants under 18 answer 46 questions and need 38 correct; applicants 18 and older answer 36 and need 30. The DMV publishes the pass mark as 80%, and those question counts work out slightly above that, so aim well clear of eight in ten. Every question is drawn from the California Driver's Handbook, which the DMV publishes free, and questions are pulled at random rather than in a fixed order. The test is available in 35 or more languages. One $46 application fee covers the instruction permit, up to three attempts at the written test and your eventual driving test. Applicants under 18 must wait seven days between attempts; fail three times and you file a fresh application and pay again. Note that DMV offices stop administering knowledge tests at 4:30 p.m., so book early in the day. The exam concentrates on right-of-way, speed limits and the basic speed law, signs, signals and pavement markings, alcohol and drug limits — 0.08% for adults and 0.01% under 21 — seat belts and child restraints, and parking rules. Under-18 applicants then hold the permit at least six months, complete six hours of professional training and log 50 hours of supervised practice, 10 of them at night, before the behind-the-wheel test.