California permit test: insurance, collisions and penalties

Every driver must carry insurance, stop after a crash, and keep a clean record. Points add up quickly.

Key rules

• Minimum liability insurance (since 2025): $30,000 for one person, $60,000 for two or more, $15,000 property damage. Show proof on paper or on your phone. (CVC §16056, §16028)
• Crash without insurance: suspension up to 4 years, no matter who was at fault. Parents are financially responsible for drivers under 18. Low-cost insurance exists for eligible drivers. (DMV handbook, Section 10)
• After a collision: stop, help the injured and call 911, move out of traffic if no one is hurt, and share license, registration, insurance and address. (CVC §20001, §20003; DMV handbook)

The full study guide for this topic, 29 practice questions and a printable cheat sheet are in the Exam Pack.

Sample questions

You must report a collision to the DMV within 10 days if someone was injured or killed, or if property damage was more than:

After a collision in which someone is injured, a written report must be made to the CHP or city police within:

Other topics

• Speed limits: California has one rule above all others: never drive faster than is safe for the conditions.
• Signals and signs: Lights and signs tell you who goes and who waits.
• Road signs: About one in five questions in our bank is a road sign.
• Right of way: The law says who must yield, never who may force their way.
• Lane markings and lane types: Paint tells you which way traffic moves and what you may do in each lane.
• Lanes, passing and turns: Lane lines tell you where you may move.
• Freeways: Match the speed of traffic, keep right unless passing, and never stop in the lanes.
• Parking: Where and how you park is tested with exact distances.
• Sharing the road: Bicyclists, pedestrians, motorcycles, trucks and buses all have rights on the road.
• Buses, light rail and streetcars: Trains and buses are big, heavy and slow to stop.
• Work zones: Orange signs mean workers and equipment are close to traffic.
• Railroad crossings: Trains cannot stop quickly.
• Defensive driving: Leave yourself space and time.
• Weather and slippery roads: Rain, ice, fog and wind call for lower speeds than the posted limit.
• Night driving and emergencies: See and be seen at night, and know the first steps when something goes wrong.
• Alcohol and drugs: Impairment starts with judgment, before you feel drunk.
• Phones and distraction: Eyes on the road, hands on the wheel.
• Seat belts and children: Everyone buckles up, and children ride in the back in the right seat for their age and size.
• Vehicle control and equipment: Know your car's controls and keep it legal: clear windows, working lights, secure loads.
• Police stops and road rage: Stay calm, stay visible and keep your hands where they can be seen.
• Insurance, collisions and penalties: Every driver must carry insurance, stop after a crash, and keep a clean record.
• Permits and licensing rules: Rules for drivers under 18 are tested often.

Check yourself in 3 minutes

10 free questions with instant explanations. No sign-up.