General Driving Knowledge — California
California motorcycle permit practice test: 329 free practice questions (19 official sample questions · Official driver handbook). Official test format: Multiple choice, pass mark 80% (DMV does not publish the question count). General Driving Knowledge: 108 questions.
Questions that do not fit a single topic: lane use, turning, signalling and other rules of the road.
This topic page is still being reviewed against the official handbook. Until review is finished it is hidden from search engines.
| Topic / Metric | Value |
|---|---|
| Topic | General Driving Knowledge |
| License test | California Motorcycle permit test |
| Topic questions | 108 (33% of 329 total) |
| Review status | This topic page is still being reviewed against the official handbook. Until review is finished it is hidden from search engines. |
Official handbook
California Motorcycle Handbook (DL 665) ✓ Verified from official source
Advertisement
Questions (108)
1. Eye protection:
- Is not needed if your motorcycle is equipped with a windshield.
- Is only needed when riding in bad weather.
- Should give a clear view to either side. ✓
Answer: C. Should give a clear view to either side.
Eye protection should give a clear view to either side. The manual says eye or faceshield protection must give a clear view to either side. It lists this alongside being free of scratches, resistant to penetration, fastened securely, and allowing airflow. This is a condition the protection must meet, not something a windshield or good weather changes. The manual also says a windshield is not a substitute for a faceshield or goggles, so the clear side view remains part of effective eye protection.
2. A primary cause of single vehicle motorcycle collisions is:
- Motorcyclists’ tendency to drive too fast for weather conditions.
- Motorcyclists running wide in a curve or turn and colliding with the roadway or a fixed object. ✓
- Motorcyclists running off the road while trying to avoid a collision with another vehicle.
Answer: B. Motorcyclists running wide in a curve or turn and colliding with the roadway or a fixed object.
The primary cause is motorcyclists running wide in a curve or turn and colliding with the roadway or a fixed object. The manual names going wide through a curve or turn as the leading cause of crashes involving only the motorcycle. It explains that every curve is different, so riders must notice whether a curve stays constant, widens, tightens, or has multiple turns. It also tells riders to stay within their skill level and the posted speed limit. That focus on curve shape and lane position supports the answer about running wide in a curve or turn.
3. When riding with a group of motorcyclists, a staggered formation:
- Is recommended at all times.
- Should not be used when entering or exiting a highway. ✓
- Should be used when riding on curves.
Answer: B. Should not be used when entering or exiting a highway.
A staggered formation should not be used when entering or exiting a highway; the group should ride in single file for those moves. The manual treats staggered riding as a way to keep the group close while leaving each rider a space cushion, but it does not apply that formation to every situation. When riders merge onto a freeway or interstate, they should enter in single file and only form up after everyone is safely in traffic. When leaving, the manual again calls for single file so riders have more room and time to react near the end of the off-ramp. That is why the answer says staggered formation should not be used while entering or exiting a highway.
4. To operate a moped you must have at least a _______ license.
- Class M1
- Class M2 ✓
- Class C
Answer: B. Class M2
5. If you must carry a load it should be:
- Either over or in front of the rear axle. ✓
- Carried on the gas tank in front of the driver.
- Piled up against a sissy bar or frame on the back of the seat.
Answer: A. Either over or in front of the rear axle.
Carry the load either over the rear axle or in front of it, not behind it. The manual gives a clear placement rule for cargo: keep the load over the rear axle or ahead of it. It explains that loads mounted behind the rear axle can change how the motorcycle turns and brakes, and can also cause a wobble. The same section also says to secure loads low or use saddlebags, because a higher load raises the center of gravity. That supports choosing the position over or in front of the rear axle rather than hanging a load off the back.
6. When looking through a turn, you should:
- Turn just your head, not your shoulders. ✓
- Turn your head and shoulders to improve your view.
- Turn your shoulders, but not your head.
Answer: A. Turn just your head, not your shoulders.
You should turn just your head, not your shoulders, to look through the turn. The manual's LOOK step says to look through the turn to where you want to go. It specifically tells you to turn just your head, not your shoulders, and to keep your eyes level with the horizon. Keeping your shoulders still while your head turns lets you keep your view aimed through the turn without adding a shoulder movement.
7. Taking a turn too fast can cause a rider to:
- Accidentally end up in another lane of traffic. ✓
- Get through the turn faster.
- Keep control of their motorcycle.
Answer: A. Accidentally end up in another lane of traffic.
Taking a turn too fast can cause you to accidentally end up in another lane of traffic. The manual says riders often try to take turns too fast. When they cannot hold the turn, they cross into another lane of traffic or run off the road. It also says riders may overreact and brake too hard, which can cause a skid and loss of control. That is why the listed result about ending up in another lane fits: too much speed makes it hard to keep the motorcycle in your own lane through the curve.
8. If you must transport a load, it should be:
- Carried over the rear axle. ✓
- Carried on the gas tank in front of you.
- Piled up against a sissy bar or frame on the back of the seat.
Answer: A. Carried over the rear axle.
A load should be carried over the rear axle. The manual tells riders to set the load above the rear axle or slightly ahead of it. It warns that cargo mounted behind the rear axle can change how the motorcycle turns and brakes, and it can cause a wobble. The manual also says to keep loads low or use saddlebags, since a higher load raises the motorcycle’s center of gravity. Placing the load over the rear axle fits these guidelines better than putting it on the tank or piling it high at the back.
9. Footrests:
- May be shared by the driver and passenger
- Are required for the driver and passenger ✓
- Are not required
Answer: B. Are required for the driver and passenger
10. To help others see your motorcycle, you should:
- Use your headlight. ✓
- Weave in your lane.
- Maintain eye contact with other road users.
Answer: A. Use your headlight.
Turn on your headlight to help others see your motorcycle. The manual says a good way to help others see your motorcycle is to have the headlight on at all times. It also recommends bright colors, brightly colored helmets, and reflective material on clothing and the sides of the helmet. Those items help drivers ahead, behind, and coming from the side spot you. Using your headlight is the choice that matches the manual's direct visibility advice for helping others see you.
Advertisement
Source
Last checked: 2026-10-17 · Not yet verified
Updated: · 19 official sample questions · Official driver handbook