California Learner's Permit

The rules of the road plus California's own licensing rules, permit conditions and penalties.

Start Free: 91 Questions Take a Practice Test Learn the Material

Questions in This Course: 373
The Mock Test: 36 questions, 30 correct to pass, scored as one total — 9 signs and signals; 27 rules of the road.

About This Test

This course is for anyone taking the California knowledge test for a first driver license — most often a teenager applying for a learner's permit, but equally an adult who has never been licensed and a driver moving to California from another state or another country. The test is the written part of getting licensed. It is not the road test, and passing it does not by itself let you drive alone.

California sets its own minimum age, its own list of documents and its own fees, and changes them from time to time. Check those against California DMV before you go, because they may have changed since this course was written.

California Department of Motor Vehicles sets the knowledge-test process; this site does not give the official test. Check the test route below before you book. For office visits, check California DMV office locations and appointment requirements before you travel.

Start an in-office California knowledge test before 4:30 p.m.; DMV does not offer these tests after that time. An applicant over 17 and a half but under 18 can get an instruction permit without driver education and training certificates, but must wait until age 18 for the driving test. California DMV Learner Permit Instructions.

If anything on this site disagrees with what California DMV publishes, California DMV is right and we want to know.

Official Links

California DMV — driver licensing — Ages, documents, fees and how to apply
California DMV — office locations — Where to sit the test, and appointments
California Department of Motor Vehicles

Permit Tests in Other States

ALAlabama Permit Test AKAlaska Permit Test AZArizona Permit Test ARArkansas Permit Test COColorado Permit Test CTConnecticut Permit Test DEDelaware Permit Test DCDistrict of Columbia Permit Test FLFlorida Permit Test GAGeorgia Permit Test HIHawaii Permit Test IDIdaho Permit Test ILIllinois Permit Test INIndiana Permit Test IAIowa Permit Test KSKansas Permit Test KYKentucky Permit Test LALouisiana Permit Test MEMaine Permit Test MDMaryland Permit Test MAMassachusetts Permit Test MIMichigan Permit Test MNMinnesota Permit Test MSMississippi Permit Test MOMissouri Permit Test MTMontana Permit Test NENebraska Permit Test NVNevada Permit Test NHNew Hampshire Permit Test NJNew Jersey Permit Test NMNew Mexico Permit Test NYNew York Permit Test NCNorth Carolina Permit Test NDNorth Dakota Permit Test OHOhio Permit Test OKOklahoma Permit Test OROregon Permit Test PAPennsylvania Permit Test RIRhode Island Permit Test SCSouth Carolina Permit Test SDSouth Dakota Permit Test TNTennessee Permit Test TXTexas Permit Test UTUtah Permit Test VTVermont Permit Test VAVirginia Permit Test WAWashington Permit Test WVWest Virginia Permit Test WIWisconsin Permit Test WYWyoming Permit Test

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Questions

Common Questions

Is there an official test, and how is the mock test scored?

California's knowledge test: 36 questions, 30 to pass. California publishes this format. 36 questions, 30 correct to pass, scored as one total — 9 signs and signals; 27 rules of the road.

How are the questions checked?

Every question is checked before it goes live, and again each time the site is updated.

Where do I take the Learner's Permit test in California?

Is this course free?

Part of every course is free: a slice of every topic and one short practice test a day. Full access is $10 a month for one course, or $20 a month for every course on the site.