PermitPrep California Free practice test

California permit test: vehicle control and equipment

Know your car's controls and keep it legal: clear windows, working lights, secure loads.

Key rules

Steering: push/pull with hands at 9 and 3 or 8 and 4; hand-over-hand for slow turns, parking and skids; one hand only when backing and looking back. (DMV handbook, Controlling the Vehicle)
Horn: only to warn others or avoid a crash, and before blind curves on narrow mountain roads. Parking lights alone are never enough when driving. (CVC §27001, §24800)
Signal at least 100 feet before turning, 5 seconds before a freeway lane change. Tap the brake 3 or 4 times or use flashers to warn of a hazard. (CVC §22108; DMV handbook)

The full study guide for this topic, 11 practice questions and a printable cheat sheet are in the Exam Pack.

Sample questions

Stickers may be placed on the windshield only in small areas such as:

Answer: A 7-inch square in the lower corner farthest from the driver. Allowed spots include a 7-inch square in the passenger-side lower corner and a 5-inch square in the driver-side lower corner. (CVC §26708)

An electronic toll tag (such as FasTrak) may be mounted on the windshield:

Answer: In a 5-inch square at the top center. Toll devices are allowed in a 5-inch square at the center of the top of the windshield. (CVC §26708(b)(11))

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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