California DMV Permit Cheat Sheet

Cheat sheet California DMV Permit Cheat Sheet Practice Questions Study Guide Print / Save PDF

Signs + Signals 20% of exam Sign Shapes Signals Pavement Curb Colors Railroad

Right-of-Way 20% of exam Intersections Turns Roundabouts Merging Crosswalks

Speed + Lanes 20% of exam Speed Defaults Lane Use Passing HOV U-turns

Sharing + Safety 20% of exam Pedestrians Bicyclists Trucks Emergency Conditions

Alcohol + Licensing 20% of exam BAC Implied Consent Permit Provisional Fees

Quick Facts Exam CA permit Owner California DMV Format Multiple choice Pass 80% Fee $46 Class C Teen age 15 1/2 Permit hold 6 months Practice 50 hours Adult BAC 0.08%

Shape Ladder SI Octagon stop; triangle yield; diamond warns Octagon Triangle Diamond Pentagon

Stop vs Yield SI

Stop Full stop Octagon Proceed when safe

Yield Slow first Triangle Stop if needed Must stop vs may stop

Signal Picker SI Steady red → Stop Steady yellow → Stop if safe Flashing red → Stop sign Flashing yellow → Caution Dark signal → All-way stop Green arrow → Protected turn Red arrow → No turn Railroad lights → Stop and wait

Sign Shapes SI Octagon Stop Triangle Yield Diamond Warning Pentagon School Circle Railroad ahead Rectangle Regulatory/guide Orange Work zone Green Guide directions

Curb Colors SI Red none; white quick; blue disabled Red: no Yellow: load White: pickup Green: timed Blue: disabled

Yellow vs Flashing SI

Steady yellow Red coming Stop if safe Clear intersection

Flashing yellow Caution No required stop Watch hazards Ending green vs caution

Signals + Markings SI Red light Stop Yellow light Stop if safe Green arrow Protected movement Flashing red Stop sign Flashing yellow Proceed cautiously Dark signal All-way stop Double yellow No passing Broken yellow Pass if safe White diamond HOV lane

Curbs + Parking SI Red curb No stopping Yellow curb Loading only White curb Pickup/dropoff Green curb Time limited Blue curb Disabled parking Uphill curb Away from curb Downhill curb Toward curb Fire hydrant Keep clear

Right Red vs Left Red RO

Right red Stop first Yield all Unless posted

Left red One-way to one-way Stop first Unless posted Common vs limited

Right-of-Way Picker RO Same stop time → Driver on right Turning left → Yield oncoming Entering roundabout → Yield circulating Merging freeway → Find gap Pedestrian crossing → Yield Emergency siren → Pull right School bus reds → Stop Mountain conflict → Uphill priority

Intersections RO First arrival Goes first Same time Right goes first Left turn Yield oncoming Roundabout Yield circulating Freeway merge Match speed Rail gates Wait fully Crosswalk Yield pedestrians Mountain road Uphill priority

Speed Defaults SP 65 freeway; 55 two-lane; 25 towns 65 freeway 55 two-lane 25 district 15 blind

Solid vs Broken SP

Solid yellow No passing Opposing traffic Turns allowed

Broken yellow Passing possible Check clear Return right No pass vs pass

Speed Defaults SP Basic law Safe for conditions Freeway 65 mph Two-lane 55 mph Residential 25 mph Business district 25 mph School zone 25 mph Blind intersection 15 mph Alley 15 mph

Basic vs Posted SP

Basic law Conditions decide May be lower Safety first

Posted limit Legal maximum Normal conditions Still reduce Safe speed vs sign

Lanes + Turns SP Signal Before move Blind spot Head check Right on red Stop first Left on red One-way only Double white Do not cross Center turn Left turns only Bike lane Merge before turn U-turn Legal if safe

HOV vs Bike Lane SP

HOV Diamond lane Occupancy rules Posted access

Bike lane Cyclist space Merge for turn Check bikes Carpool vs cyclists

Sharing Road SH Pedestrians Yield in crosswalk Bicyclists 3 feet Motorcycles Smaller profile Large trucks Wide turns School bus Stop for reds Emergency vehicle Pull right Move over Slow or move Blind spots Stay visible

Conditions + Safety SH Headlights Low visibility Fog Low beams Wet roads Slow down Hydroplane Ease off Skid Steer direction Following More space Collision Stop, exchange Seat belts Everyone buckles

BAC Steps AL Adult eight; underage one 0.08 adult 0.04 CDL 0.01 under 21 0.01 probation

Adult vs Underage BAC AL

Adult 21 or older 0.08% limit Still impaired earlier

Under 21 Zero tolerance 0.01% limit One-year revocation Legal adult vs zero tolerance

Permit Picker AL Age 15 1/2 → Apply permit Teen applicant → Driver ed Never licensed → Hold permit Before road test → 6 months Need practice → 50 hours Under 21 BAC → 0.01% limit Adult BAC → 0.08% limit Commercial BAC → 0.04% limit

Alcohol + Drugs AL Age 21+ 0.08% BAC Under 21 0.01% BAC DUI probation 0.01% BAC Commercial 0.04% BAC For hire 0.04% BAC Implied consent Chemical test Medication May impair Only safe Zero drinks

Permit + License AL Teen permit 15 1/2 Driver ed Teen requirement Application $46 Class C Hold period 6 months Practice 50 hours Vision Required screening Knowledge No test aids Handbook Question source

Common Traps

Rolling stop Stop means full ≠ Slow is yield

Basic speed Posted is maximum ≠ Conditions can lower

Left on red One-way only ≠ Not any street

Double white Do not cross ≠ Not passing lane

Underage BAC 0.01% limit ≠ Not 0.08%

Bike pass Give 3 feet ≠ Do not squeeze

Dark signal Treat as stop ≠ Not free green

Last Minute 1 . Official pass: 80% 2 . Class C fee: $46 3 . Octagon = stop 4 . Triangle = yield 5 . Diamond = warning 6 . Basic law controls speed 7 . Freeway default: 65 8 . Two-lane default: 55 9 . Residential default: 25 10 . Under 21 BAC: 0.01 11 . Adult BAC: 0.08 12 . Permit hold: 6 months

California DMV Driver License Knowledge Test Practice Questions 100 questions Study Guide 10 topics Cheat Sheet 81 facts Flashcards 50 cards

Third-party resources · We may earn a commission from purchases.

California Driver’s License Exam Prep: Everything You Need to Pass Exam → Practice Questions Based on the Latest DMV Manual, Road Signs, Traffic Laws, & Detailed Explanations of What to Expect! By Test Prep, Easy Route $18.99 · Buy on Amazon Driver education on Aceable Driver education on DriversEd.com

Same family resources Explore More DMV Driver License Knowledge Test Continue into nearby exams from the same family. Each card keeps practice questions, study guides, flashcards, videos, and articles in one place.

Georgia DMV Driver License Knowledge Test Practice Questions 176 questions Study Guide 30 topics

Maryland DMV Driver License Knowledge Test Practice Questions 135 questions Study Guide 35 topics

Michigan DMV Driver License Knowledge Test Practice Questions 130 questions Study Guide 21 topics

Puerto Rico DMV Driver License Knowledge Test Practice Questions 130 questions Study Guide 21 topics

Florida DMV Driver License Knowledge Test Cheat Sheet 98 facts Practice Questions 125 questions Study Guide 19 topics Flashcards 50 cards

Indiana DMV Driver License Knowledge Test Practice Questions 125 questions Study Guide 36 topics

Independent exam preparation notice OpenExamPrep is an independent education provider, not affiliated with or endorsed by the exam sponsors named on this site. Exam and certification names identify what our resources help you study for; they do not imply sponsorship, approval, or review of our materials. Unless a resource expressly identifies authorized public material, our practice questions are independently developed simulations, not actual, recalled, or sponsor-provided exam items. We aim to reflect publicly available exam outlines and topic information in our study resources. Coverage, format, and difficulty may differ from the actual exam, and we cannot guarantee that every detail is accurate or current. Confirm exam requirements, fees, and policies with the official exam sponsor. Updated 2026-06-04 . Official exam sources checked 2026 DMV pages checked . This is a study aid only and is not for use during the exam. California Driver Handbook Prepare for Knowledge Tests California Licensing Fees California Learner Permits California Alcohol and Drugs