Test Format

46

Total questions

83%

Passing score

38/46

Min. correct

Multiple choice (36-question version for under-18)

Eligibility & Fees

Permit age	15.5
License age	16 (provisional) / 18 (full)
Permit fee	$41
License fee	$41 (covers permit + license + first photo)
Permit holding period	6 months minimum
Supervised hours	50 hours total (10 at night)

⚠ Memorize this — California-specific

Hands-free phone law (CVC §23123.5): drivers under 18 cannot use any phone, hands-free or not.

💡 Pro tip

Teens (under 18) take a 36-question version needing 30 correct; adults take 46 questions and need 38 correct.

Top 5 Questions to Know

1. 1. When approaching a school bus that is stopped on the opposite side of a divided highway with flashing red lights in California, you must:

   Answer: You are not required to stop if there is a median separating the highway.

   Under California Vehicle Code §22454(b), drivers traveling in the opposite direction on a divided highway — where a median or physical barrier separates lanes — are not required to stop for a school b...

2. 2. Under California law, when is it legal for an adult driver (18+) to hold and use a cell phone while behind the wheel?

   Answer: Only when the phone is mounted and operated with a single tap or swipe.

   California Vehicle Code §23123.5 requires hands-free operation for all adult drivers. The phone must be mounted (dashboard, windshield, or center console) and may only be activated with a single tap o...

3. 3. What is the legal blood alcohol concentration (BAC) limit for drivers under 21 in California?

   Answer: 0.01%

   California enforces a zero-tolerance policy for drivers under 21: any BAC of 0.01% or higher results in a one-year license suspension. For drivers 21 and older, the standard limit is 0.08%. For commer...

4. 4. Under California's Basic Speed Law, the maximum legal speed is:

   Answer: Whatever speed is safe and reasonable for current conditions — never more than the posted limit.

   California's Basic Speed Law (CVC §22350) states that no one may drive faster than is safe for current conditions — weather, traffic, visibility — regardless of the posted limit. 55 mph in heavy fog m...

5. 5. What does this sign indicate?

   Answer: Come to a complete stop

   A stop sign means you must come to a complete stop and proceed only when it is safe.

Top Reasons Drivers Fail the Road Test

• ✗ Rolling stops at stop signs
• ✗ Failing to check blind spots before lane changes
• ✗ Exceeding speed limit (even by 1–2 mph)
• ✗ Not signaling early enough before turns
• ✗ Improper lane changes