California DMV Practice Test 2026: Practice test 3

1. Question 1 of 25

   You see this sign while driving in the rain. What should you do?

   • APump your brakes often to dry them
   • BDrive on the shoulder
   • CSpeed up to get past quickly
   • DSlow down and avoid sudden braking or sharp turns
   Show answer

   Answer: D. Slow down and avoid sudden braking or sharp turns

   Wet roads can make your tires lose grip. Slow down, leave more space, and steer and brake gently.

2. Question 2 of 25

   Which of these is a warning sign that you are too sleepy to drive?

   • AChecking your mirrors often
   • BWanting to change the radio station
   • CFeeling hungry
   • DDrifting over lane lines or hitting rumble strips
   Show answer

   Answer: D. Drifting over lane lines or hitting rumble strips

   Drifting from your lane or hitting rumble strips means you are drowsy. Stop in a safe place and rest.

3. Question 3 of 25

   A school bus has stopped on this two-lane road with its red lights flashing and its stop arm out. Which cars must stop?

   • ABoth Car 1 and Car 2
   • BOnly Car 2, facing the bus
   • CNeither car, if no child is in the road
   • DOnly Car 1, behind the bus
   Show answer

   Answer: A. Both Car 1 and Car 2

   On a two-lane road, traffic from both directions must stop for a school bus with flashing red lights.

4. Question 4 of 25

   Someone is hurt in a crash. When should you move the injured person?

   • AAlways, to make them comfortable
   • BOnly if there is a danger such as fire
   • CRight away, to check for injuries
   • DOnly to drive them to the hospital yourself
   Show answer

   Answer: B. Only if there is a danger such as fire

   Moving an injured person can make injuries worse. Move them only if they face a life-threatening danger, and call for help.

5. Question 5 of 25

   How far should you sit from the air bag in the steering wheel?

   • AAt least 3 feet
   • BAs close as you can
   • CAt least 10 inches
   • DAt least 2 inches
   Show answer

   Answer: C. At least 10 inches

   Sit at least 10 inches from the air bag cover, as long as you can still control the vehicle safely.

6. Question 6 of 25

   What does this sign mean?

   • AA toll road
   • BA US highway route
   • CA route on the Interstate highway system
   • DA state park road
   Show answer

   Answer: C. A route on the Interstate highway system

   The red, white and blue shield marks an Interstate highway route.

7. Question 7 of 25

   What is the only thing that lowers your blood alcohol concentration?

   • ATime
   • BExercise
   • CA cold shower
   • DBlack coffee
   Show answer

   Answer: A. Time

   Your body removes alcohol slowly. Coffee, exercise and cold showers do not lower your BAC.

8. Question 8 of 25

   You stopped for a school bus with flashing red lights. When may you drive on?

   • AAfter waiting about 30 seconds
   • BWhen the bus driver honks
   • CAs soon as you see the children on the sidewalk
   • DOnly after the red lights stop flashing
   Show answer

   Answer: D. Only after the red lights stop flashing

   Stay stopped for as long as the red lights are flashing. Then watch for children before you move.

9. Question 9 of 25

   What does this sign mean?

   • AA YIELD sign is ahead; be ready to slow down or stop
   • BNo passing
   • CA railroad crossing is ahead
   • DMerge into the next lane now
   Show answer

   Answer: A. A YIELD sign is ahead; be ready to slow down or stop

   Slow down so you can yield to traffic at the YIELD sign ahead.

10. Question 10 of 25

    What does this sign mean?

    • APedestrians are not allowed on this road
    • BThe sidewalk ends ahead
    • CPedestrians must yield to cars here
    • DPeople may be crossing; slow down and yield to pedestrians
    Show answer

    Answer: D. People may be crossing; slow down and yield to pedestrians

    Watch for people crossing the road. Be ready to stop and yield to pedestrians in a crosswalk.

11. Question 11 of 25

    Only one kind of sign has this shape. What is the shape called?

    • ADiamond
    • BOctagon (8 sides)
    • CHexagon (6 sides)
    • DPentagon (5 sides)
    Show answer

    Answer: B. Octagon (8 sides)

    The eight-sided octagon is used only for STOP signs, so you can recognize it even from behind or when it is covered with snow.

12. Question 12 of 25

    What should you do when you see this sign?

    • APass the car in front before you reach the crosswalk
    • BHonk to warn the children
    • CSlow down, watch for children, and stop for anyone in the crosswalk
    • DSpeed up to get past the crosswalk quickly
    Show answer

    Answer: C. Slow down, watch for children, and stop for anyone in the crosswalk

    The arrow points to the school crosswalk. Stop for children in the crosswalk and follow any crossing guard. Never pass a vehicle stopped for pedestrians.

13. Question 13 of 25

    The gates at a railroad crossing are coming down. What should you do?

    • ASpeed up and go under the gates
    • BStop on the tracks until the gates rise
    • CStop and wait until the gates are up and the lights stop flashing
    • DDrive around the gates if you cannot see a train
    Show answer

    Answer: C. Stop and wait until the gates are up and the lights stop flashing

    Never drive around or under lowered or lowering gates. Wait until they are fully up.

14. Question 14 of 25

    What does this sign mean?

    • ATraffic joining from the side gets its own lane, so it does not need to merge
    • BTwo-way traffic ahead
    • CThe road narrows ahead
    • DYou must merge left now
    Show answer

    Answer: A. Traffic joining from the side gets its own lane, so it does not need to merge

    The entering traffic gets a new lane. Still watch for drivers who change lanes.

15. Question 15 of 25

    Which headlights should you use in fog?

    • ALow beams
    • BHigh beams
    • CNo lights, to reduce glare
    • DParking lights only
    Show answer

    Answer: A. Low beams

    High beams reflect off fog and cause glare. Low beams help you see and help others see you.

16. Question 16 of 25

    Reading or sending a text takes your eyes off the road for about 5 seconds. At 55 mph, how far do you travel in that time?

    • AAbout 10 feet
    • BAbout one car length
    • CAbout one mile
    • DAbout the length of a football field
    Show answer

    Answer: D. About the length of a football field

    At 55 mph, 5 seconds of looking at a phone is like driving the length of a football field with your eyes closed.

17. Question 17 of 25

    Your car starts to hydroplane. What should you do?

    • ATurn sharply toward the shoulder
    • BBrake hard right away
    • CSpeed up to get through the water
    • DEase off the gas and keep the wheel straight without braking hard
    Show answer

    Answer: D. Ease off the gas and keep the wheel straight without braking hard

    Slowly take your foot off the gas and hold the wheel steady until the tires grip again. Do not use the brakes hard.

18. Question 18 of 25

    Your car has anti-lock brakes (ABS). How should you brake in an emergency?

    • APull the parking brake
    • BPress the brake pedal firmly and keep pressing
    • CTap the brake lightly
    • DPump the brake pedal quickly
    Show answer

    Answer: B. Press the brake pedal firmly and keep pressing

    With ABS, press hard and hold steady pressure. The system pumps the brakes for you and lets you steer.

19. Question 19 of 25

    You see this orange and red triangle on the back of a farm tractor. What does it mean?

    • AThe vehicle moves much slower than normal traffic, so slow down early
    • BThe vehicle is about to turn
    • CThe vehicle is an emergency vehicle
    • DThe vehicle is carrying hazardous materials
    Show answer

    Answer: A. The vehicle moves much slower than normal traffic, so slow down early

    The slow-moving vehicle emblem is used on farm equipment, construction equipment and animal-drawn vehicles.

20. Question 20 of 25

    Compared with a sober driver, about how much more likely is a driver with a BAC of 0.08% to crash?

    • AAbout 20 times
    • BAbout the same
    • CAbout 4 times
    • DAbout 1.5 times
    Show answer

    Answer: C. About 4 times

    Drivers at a BAC of 0.08% are about four times more likely to crash than drivers with no alcohol.

21. Question 21 of 25

    When may you pass another vehicle on the right?

    • AWhen the vehicle ahead is turning left and there is room to pass safely
    • BWhen you can use the shoulder
    • CWhenever the vehicle ahead is slow
    • DOnly on a two-lane road
    Show answer

    Answer: A. When the vehicle ahead is turning left and there is room to pass safely

    You may pass on the right only when it is safe, such as when the car ahead is turning left or on a road with two or more lanes your way. Never use the shoulder.

22. Question 22 of 25

    Where should you stop at this sign if there is a crosswalk but no stop line?

    • AAfter the crosswalk, at the edge of the cross street
    • BInside the intersection, where you can see best
    • CBefore the crosswalk
    • DIn the middle of the crosswalk
    Show answer

    Answer: C. Before the crosswalk

    Stop at the stop line. If there is no line, stop before the crosswalk. If there is no crosswalk, stop before you enter the intersection.

23. Question 23 of 25

    What does a flashing red traffic light mean?

    • AThe light is about to turn green
    • BStop only if other cars are coming
    • CStop completely, then go when it is safe
    • DSlow down and go with care without stopping
    Show answer

    Answer: C. Stop completely, then go when it is safe

    A flashing red light means the same as a stop sign: come to a full stop, then go when the way is clear.

24. Question 24 of 25

    Which road users are especially hard to see at night?

    • ATrucks with clearance lights
    • BPolice cars with lights flashing
    • CBuses with interior lights on
    • DPedestrians, bicyclists and motorcyclists
    Show answer

    Answer: D. Pedestrians, bicyclists and motorcyclists

    People walking, cycling or riding motorcycles are much harder to see in the dark. Slow down and look carefully.

25. Question 25 of 25

    Besides police cars, which stopped vehicle with flashing lights should you also slow down and move over for?

    • AA tow truck helping a driver on the shoulder
    • BA car parked in a driveway
    • CA delivery van parked at the curb
    • DA bus at a bus stop with no lights flashing
    Show answer

    Answer: A. A tow truck helping a driver on the shoulder

    In many states, Move Over rules also cover tow trucks and highway work vehicles with flashing lights. Giving them space protects the people working beside the road.

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The real test: 80%