Vehicle Equipment & Safe Operation — California
California DMV practice test: 617 free practice questions (38 official sample questions · Official driver handbook). The official format is not yet verified; check the official site before your test. Vehicle Equipment & Safe Operation: 27 questions.
Brakes, tires, lights, mirrors, seat belts, child seats and basic vehicle control.
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 | Vehicle Equipment & Safe Operation |
| License test | California Car learner's permit test (Class C) |
| Topic questions | 27 (4% of 617 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
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Questions (27)
1. In addition to setting your parking brake, what should you do when parking on a hill?
- Make sure the front vehicle wheels are parallel to the road.
- Make sure your vehicle is left in the “neutral” position.
- Make sure your vehicle is in the “park” position or in gear. ✓
Answer: C. Make sure your vehicle is in the “park” position or in gear.
When parking on a hill, set the parking brake and make sure your vehicle is in the park position, or in gear if it has a manual transmission. The handbook explains that a parked vehicle on a hill could roll because of equipment failure, so you take two precautions: set the parking brake and leave the vehicle in park, or in gear for a manual transmission. Leaving it in park or in gear backs up the brake if the brake itself fails. The handbook adds that on a sloping driveway you should also turn the wheels so the vehicle will not roll into the street.
2. Which of these statements is true about large trucks?
- They take longer to stop than passenger vehicles. ✓
- They all have air brakes that allow them to stop quickly.
- They are more maneuverable than passenger vehicles.
Answer: A. They take longer to stop than passenger vehicles.
Large trucks take longer to stop than passenger vehicles traveling at the same speed. The handbook says large vehicles and commercial trucks need more distance to stop than passenger cars going the same speed. At 55 mph a passenger vehicle can stop within 300 feet, while a large vehicle at that speed can need up to 400 feet. It also explains that the heavier the vehicle and the faster it moves, the longer a safe stop takes, so a loaded truck needs more room than an empty one. That is why you should leave extra space in front of a truck and not cut in front of it and slow down.
3. You have allowed the wheels of your vehicle to run off the edge of the pavement. What should you do first?
- Turn the front wheels slightly to the left to edge the car back onto the pavement.
- Hold the steering wheel firmly, release the gas pedal, and gently apply the brakes. ✓
- Apply the brakes and turn the front wheels sharply to the left.
Answer: B. Hold the steering wheel firmly, release the gas pedal, and gently apply the brakes.
Hold the steering wheel firmly, release the gas pedal, and gently apply the brakes. The handbook's steps for wheels drifting off the pavement start with gripping the wheel firmly, then taking your foot off the accelerator and braking gently, and only after that checking traffic and steering back on. The first thing to do is the grip-release-brake sequence, because you need to slow down and keep control before you try to steer back. The handbook also warns not to pull or turn the wheel with too much force, since that can send you into oncoming traffic.
4. Prior to entering a curve:
- Activate your turn signal.
- Reduce your speed. ✓
- Brake hard.
Answer: B. Reduce your speed.
5. If a vehicle is equipped with airbags:
- Seat belts should still be worn. ✓
- Seat belts do not need to be worn.
- Seat belts should be worn behind the back.
Answer: A. Seat belts should still be worn.
Even with airbags, seat belts should still be worn. The California handbook says you and your passengers must wear seat belts, and it treats air bags as an added safety feature, not a replacement. It notes air bags can help keep you safer than a seat belt alone, which means the belt is still expected. The handbook also explains that seat and shoulder belts help keep you in a better position to control the vehicle and may reduce serious injuries. So airbags do not remove the need to buckle up.
6. If you are driving and a tire suddenly goes flat, you should:
- Rapidly pump the brake pedal several times.
- Slow down gradually and not brake. ✓
- Press down on the brake pedal as hard as you can.
Answer: B. Slow down gradually and not brake.
If a tire suddenly goes flat, ease off the gas and slow down gradually without hitting the brakes. The handbook's emergency section covers a tire blowout: don't panic, keep both hands on the wheel, hold your speed if it's safe, and let the accelerator up gradually while you steady the steering. It warns that braking suddenly, or jerking your foot off the gas, can make you lose control of the car. Only after the vehicle feels stable should you keep slowing and pull off the road when it's safe. So a slow, gentle slowdown with no braking is the right response.
7. Which child would require a child passenger restraint system?
- A 9-year-old who is 4 feet 10 inches tall
- A 10-year-old who is 5 feet 3 inches tall
- A 7-year-old who is 4 feet 8 inches tall ✓
Answer: C. A 7-year-old who is 4 feet 8 inches tall
The 7-year-old who is 4 feet 8 inches tall needs a child passenger restraint system. The handbook sets the cutoff two ways: a child must ride in a federally-approved child passenger restraint system if they are under 8 years old, or if they are shorter than 4 feet 9 inches. This child meets both parts, so a restraint is required in a rear seat. Only children who are 8 or older, or who reach 4 feet 9 inches, may use a regular safety belt instead.
8. If you have a sudden tire blowout:
- Use the brakes lightly. ✓
- Pump the brakes.
- Apply the brakes firmly.
Answer: A. Use the brakes lightly.
9. If it feels like your tires have lost contact with the surface of the road, you should:
- Slow down by shifting into a lower gear.
- Ease your foot off the gas pedal. ✓
- Slow down by pumping the brakes quickly and firmly.
Answer: B. Ease your foot off the gas pedal.
Ease your foot off the gas pedal when the tires feel like they have lost contact with the road. The handbook describes a skid as one or more tires losing traction, so the vehicle may be hard to control. For a skid, it gives a clear order: slowly remove your foot from the accelerator, do not use the brakes, and steer in the direction of the skid. Easing off the gas fits that first step. Sudden braking or abruptly removing your foot can also cost you control, so the response should be smooth.
10. What is the purpose of rumble strips?
- They alert drivers to potential tire problems.
- They test a vehicle's shock absorbers.
- Through vibration and sound, they alert inattentive drivers to the fact that their vehicles have left the travel lane. ✓
Answer: C. Through vibration and sound, they alert inattentive drivers to the fact that their vehicles have left the travel lane.
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Last checked: 2026-10-17 · Not yet verified
Updated: · 38 official sample questions · Official driver handbook