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California permit test: permits and licensing rules

Rules for drivers under 18 are tested often. Learn the hours, months and restrictions.

Key rules

Ages: instruction permit at 15½, provisional license at 16. Adults (18+) practice with a licensed driver 18 or older. (DMV handbook, Section 2)
Instruction permit (under 18): practice only with a California-licensed driver 25 or older, or a parent, guardian, spouse or driving instructor. (CVC §12814.6)
Hold the permit at least 6 months; complete driver education and training; complete 50 hours of supervised practice, 10 of them at night. (CVC §12814.6)

The full study guide for this topic, 34 practice questions and a printable cheat sheet are in the Exam Pack.

Sample questions

After you move, you must tell the DMV your new address within:

Answer: 10 days. Report an address change within 10 days. (CVC §14600)

During the first 12 months with a provisional license, you may not drive between:

Answer: 11 p.m. and 5 a.m.. In the first 12 months, do not drive from 11 p.m. to 5 a.m. You may drive then if a licensed driver rides with you. It must be your parent or guardian, a driver age 25 or older, or a driving instructor. A signed note also lets you drive then for a medical need, school, work, or to drive a close family member. (CVC §12814.6)

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.

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