California DMV Permit Practice Test 5: 50 Questions
Practice Test 5 has 50 multiple-choice questions on California driving rules, including backing procedure, flashing yellow arrow, left turn Right-of-Way and freeway lane rules. Each answer is explained as soon as you pick it, and every question is listed with its answer in the study guide below.
More California Practice Tests
What Practice Test 5 Covers
The questions in this test ask about:
- Backing Procedure
- Flashing Yellow Arrow
- Left Turn Right-of-Way
- Freeway Lane Rules
- Child Restraint Requirements
- Emergency Vehicle Laws
- BAC Limits
- Implied Consent & DUI Chemical Test Refusal
- Work Zone Fine Rules
- Hill Parking Wheel Direction
Try 5 Questions from This Test
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When backing up, you should:
Show answer
A. Look over your right shoulder through the rear window
Always look over your right shoulder and go slowly when backing.
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A flashing yellow arrow for a left turn means:
Show answer
B. Turn left with caution and yield to oncoming traffic
Flashing yellow arrows allow a permissive left turn after yielding to oncoming traffic and pedestrians.
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You are turning left at a green light with oncoming traffic. What should you do?
Show answer
A. Yield to oncoming vehicles and pedestrians
Oncoming traffic and pedestrians have the right-of-way when you make a left turn on green.
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When approaching a stopped emergency vehicle with flashing lights, you must:
Show answer
B. Move over and/or slow down
California’s Move Over law: move over or slow down for stopped emergency/Caltrans vehicles.
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Refusing a chemical test when lawfully arrested for DUI will result in:
Show answer
A. License suspension
Refusing a lawful chemical test triggers license suspension (implied consent).
Complete Study Guide: All 50 Questions with Answers
Every question in Practice Test 5, with the correct answer and an explanation for each.
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Q1. When backing up, you should:
Correct answer: Look over your right shoulder through the rear window
Why: Always look over your right shoulder and go slowly when backing.
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Q2. A flashing yellow arrow for a left turn means:
Correct answer: Turn left with caution and yield to oncoming traffic
Why: Flashing yellow arrows allow a permissive left turn after yielding to oncoming traffic and pedestrians.
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Q3. Blue curb means:
Correct answer: Disabled parking only with placard/plates
Why: Blue curb spaces are reserved for disabled placard/plate holders.
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Q4. You are turning left at a green light with oncoming traffic. What should you do?
Correct answer: Yield to oncoming vehicles and pedestrians
Why: Oncoming traffic and pedestrians have the right-of-way when you make a left turn on green.
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Q5. Use the right lane on multi-lane freeways for:
Correct answer: Slower traffic or exiting
Why: Right lane is for slower traffic and exiting; pass on the left where legal.
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Q6. A child under 8 years old must be secured:
Correct answer: In a car seat or booster in the back seat
Why: Children under 8 must be in an appropriate car seat/booster in the rear seat unless exceptions apply.
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Q7. White curb means:
Correct answer: Stop only long enough to pick up or drop off passengers
Why: White curb allows brief passenger loading/unloading only.
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Q8. Double solid yellow lines indicate:
Correct answer: No passing either direction
Why: Double solid yellows mean no passing in either direction.
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Q9. When entering a freeway, you should:
Correct answer: Match the speed of traffic before merging
Why: Use the ramp to accelerate and match traffic speed for a smooth merge.
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Q10. When approaching a stopped emergency vehicle with flashing lights, you must:
Correct answer: Move over and/or slow down
Why: California’s Move Over law: move over or slow down for stopped emergency/Caltrans vehicles.
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Q11. Bicycles in the roadway are:
Correct answer: Vehicles with the same rights and responsibilities as cars
Why: Bicycles are vehicles and share the same rights and duties as other vehicles in the roadway.
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Q12. Dim your high beams when you are within how many feet of an oncoming vehicle?
Correct answer: 500 feet
Why: Dim high beams within 500 feet of oncoming traffic.
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Q13. Red curb means:
Correct answer: No stopping, standing, or parking
Why: Red curbs indicate no stopping, standing, or parking.
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Q14. In alleys, the speed limit is generally:
Correct answer: 15 mph
Why: Alley speed limit is 15 mph unless otherwise posted.
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Q15. If your view is blocked at a blind intersection, the speed limit is usually:
Correct answer: 15 mph
Why: At blind intersections, the limit is often 15 mph unless posted otherwise.
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Q16. A pentagon-shaped sign indicates:
Correct answer: School zone or school crossing
Why: Pentagon signs mark school zones/crossings.
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Q17. When parking uphill with no curb, turn your front wheels:
Correct answer: Toward the road shoulder
Why: Without a curb, turn wheels toward the shoulder so the vehicle rolls away from traffic if it moves.
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Q18. When passing a bicyclist, you must leave at least:
Correct answer: 3 feet of clearance
Why: California’s 3-foot rule requires at least three feet of space when passing cyclists.
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Q19. Use high-beam headlights at night:
Correct answer: On open highways when there is no oncoming traffic
Why: Use high beams on open, unlit roads; dim for oncoming/leading traffic.
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Q20. What is the minimum safe following distance in ideal conditions?
Correct answer: Three seconds
Why: Use the three-second rule in good conditions; increase distance in poor conditions.
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Q21. At an unmarked crosswalk, you must:
Correct answer: Yield to pedestrians
Why: Pedestrians have right-of-way at marked and unmarked crosswalks.
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Q22. A center two-way left-turn lane may be used for:
Correct answer: Preparing for a left turn or permitted U-turn
Why: Center left-turn lanes are for left turns or U-turns where permitted—not for passing or parking.
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Q23. A flashing red light at an intersection means:
Correct answer: Stop, then proceed when safe
Why: Flashing red is the same as a stop sign: stop fully, then go when safe.
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Q24. If your brakes fail, you should first:
Correct answer: Pump the brake pedal
Why: Pumping the brakes can restore hydraulic pressure temporarily.
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Q25. You approach an uncontrolled intersection at the same time as another car on your right. What must you do?
Correct answer: Yield to the car on your right
Why: At uncontrolled intersections, yield to vehicles on your right.
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Q26. Orange signs on the roadway indicate:
Correct answer: Construction or maintenance area
Why: Orange indicates construction/maintenance zones; slow and follow directions.
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Q27. Green curb means:
Correct answer: Limited time parking
Why: Green curb indicates time-limited parking; check signs for duration.
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Q28. For drivers 21 and over, it is illegal to drive with a BAC of:
Correct answer: 0.08% or higher
Why: California law sets 0.08% BAC as the per se limit for adults 21+.
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Q29. When turning right across a bicycle lane, you should:
Correct answer: Merge into the bike lane within 200 feet before turning
Why: Merge into the bike lane within 200 feet, then turn right when safe.
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Q30. When an emergency vehicle approaches with lights and siren, you must:
Correct answer: Pull to the right edge and stop
Why: Yield by pulling to the right and stopping until it passes.
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Q31. Unless otherwise posted, what is the maximum speed limit on most California highways?
Correct answer: 65 mph
Why: Unless a sign says otherwise, the maximum on most California highways is 65 mph. It is 55 mph on two-lane undivided highways and when towing.
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Q32. Before changing lanes, you must:
Correct answer: Check mirrors, signal, and look over your shoulder
Why: Always mirror-check, signal, and check blind spots before changing lanes.
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Q33. When a school bus flashes red lights, you must:
Correct answer: Stop in both directions until the lights stop
Why: Flashing red bus lights require a full stop until the lights stop flashing (with limited divided-highway exceptions).
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Q34. Roads are most slippery:
Correct answer: During the first few minutes of rain
Why: Oil rises during the first minutes of rainfall, making roads extra slick.
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Q35. You must turn on headlights when visibility is less than:
Correct answer: 1,000 feet
Why: Headlights are required when visibility is poor (about 1,000 feet) or from sunset to sunrise.
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Q36. Which of these helps you avoid hydroplaning?
Correct answer: Slow down and steer around standing water
Why: To avoid hydroplaning, drive slowly, steer around standing water if you can, and slow down if you hear your tires sloshing.
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Q37. At a four-way stop, two vehicles arrive at the same time. Who goes first?
Correct answer: The driver on your right
Why: At a four-way stop, yield to the driver on your right if you arrive together.
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Q38. Fines for traffic violations in work zones are generally:
Correct answer: Higher than usual
Why: Work zone fines are typically increased to protect workers.
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Q39. Yellow curb means:
Correct answer: Commercial loading zone—stop to load/unload
Why: Yellow curb is for loading/unloading; driver must stay with the vehicle where required.
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Q40. If you miss a freeway exit, you should:
Correct answer: Continue to the next exit
Why: Never reverse or U-turn on freeways; take the next exit.
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Q41. When parking downhill with a curb, turn your front wheels:
Correct answer: Toward the curb
Why: Downhill with a curb: wheels toward the curb; uphill with a curb: away from the curb.
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Q42. At a railroad crossing with no warning devices, you should:
Correct answer: Slow, look, and listen for trains
Why: Always slow, look, and listen; stop if a train is near or you cannot see clearly.
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Q43. An eight-sided red sign always means:
Correct answer: Stop
Why: The octagon shape is reserved for stop signs.
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Q44. On a two-lane undivided highway, what is the maximum speed limit in California unless posted otherwise?
Correct answer: 55 mph
Why: The maximum speed on two-lane undivided highways is typically 55 mph unless posted otherwise.
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Q45. When entering traffic from a parked position, you should:
Correct answer: Signal, check mirrors, and look over your shoulder
Why: Signal and check blind spots before pulling into traffic.
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Q46. If your vehicle stalls on the tracks and a train is not visible, you should:
Correct answer: Get out, call the number posted at the crossing, then call 911
Why: Exit the vehicle. Call the number on the crossing post or control box, give the crossing number and say a vehicle is on the tracks. Then call 911.
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Q47. Solid white lines between lanes usually mean:
Correct answer: Discourage lane changes
Why: Solid white lines discourage lane changes—cross only when necessary and safe.
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Q48. Refusing a chemical test when lawfully arrested for DUI will result in:
Correct answer: License suspension
Why: Refusing a lawful chemical test triggers license suspension (implied consent).
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Q49. For drivers under 21, the illegal BAC is:
Correct answer: 0.01% or higher
Why: Zero-tolerance law: 0.01% BAC or higher is illegal for under-21 drivers.
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Q50. If your accelerator sticks, your first action should be:
Correct answer: Shift to neutral and apply brakes
Why: Shift to neutral to disengage power, then brake and pull over.