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CALIFORNIA DMV PERMIT TEST MASTERY
## 2026-2027 EDITION | 250+ PRACTICE
QUESTIONS WITH DETAILED EXPLANATIONS
# DOMAIN 1: TRAFFIC LAWS AND RULES OF THE ROAD
### Question 1
When approaching a school bus that has stopped on your side of a two-lane road
with red lights flashing, you must:
A) Slow down and proceed with caution
B) Stop until the red lights stop flashing
C) Stop, then proceed if no children are visible
D) Pass on the shoulder to avoid traffic
**Correct Answer: B**
**Rationale:** When a school bus stops with its red lights flashing on your side of
a two-lane road, you must come to a complete stop and remain stopped until the
red lights stop flashing and the bus begins moving . This law protects children who
may be crossing the road. On divided highways, only traffic traveling in the same
direction as the bus must stop.
**Incorrect Answers:**
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- **A. Slow down and proceed with caution** – Slowing down is insufficient; you
must stop completely.
- **C. Stop, then proceed if no children are visible** – You must wait until the
lights stop flashing, regardless of whether children are visible.
- **D. Pass on the shoulder to avoid traffic** – Passing on the shoulder is illegal
and dangerous, especially near a stopped school bus.
---
### Question 2
The DMV written test for adults consists of how many questions?
A) 25 questions
B) 36 questions
C) 46 questions
D) 50 questions
**Correct Answer: B**
**Rationale:** The California DMV knowledge test consists of 36 questions for
adults (18 and older) and 46 questions for minors (under 18) . Adults need 30
correct answers (80%) to pass, while minors need 38 correct answers (83%) to
pass.
**Incorrect Answers:**
- **A. 25 questions** – This is too few; the actual test has 36 questions for adults.
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- **C. 46 questions** – This is the number for minors under 18, not adults.
- **D. 50 questions** – This is not the standard number for the California DMV
knowledge test.
---
### Question 3
By law, when must you turn on your headlights?
A) 30 minutes after sunset until 30 minutes before sunrise
B) 30 minutes before sunset until 30 minutes after sunrise
C) One hour after sunset until one hour before sunrise
D) At sunset only
**Correct Answer: A**
**Rationale:** California law requires drivers to turn on headlights from 30
minutes after sunset until 30 minutes before sunrise . Headlights must also be used
when visibility is less than 1,000 feet, in rain, fog, or snow, and when using
windshield wipers in rainy conditions.
**Incorrect Answers:**
- **B. 30 minutes before sunset until 30 minutes after sunrise** – This is incorrect;
headlights are required after sunset and before sunrise, not before sunset and after
sunrise.
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- **C. One hour after sunset until one hour before sunrise** – This timing is
incorrect; the law specifies 30 minutes, not one hour.
- **D. At sunset only** – Headlights must be used throughout the night, not just at
sunset.
---
### Question 4
What does a driver's left arm and hand extended downward indicate?
A) Left turn
B) Right turn
C) Stop
D) Slow down
**Correct Answer: C**
**Rationale:** When a driver's left arm and hand are extended downward, it
signals the driver plans to stop . This is one of three standard hand signals used
when turn signals are not functioning: left arm straight out = left turn, left arm up =
right turn, left arm down = stop.
**Incorrect Answers:**
- **A. Left turn** – A left turn signal is indicated by extending the left arm and
hand straight out horizontally.
CALIFORNIA DMV PERMIT TEST MASTERY
## 2026-2027 EDITION | 250+ PRACTICE
QUESTIONS WITH DETAILED EXPLANATIONS
# DOMAIN 1: TRAFFIC LAWS AND RULES OF THE ROAD
### Question 1
When approaching a school bus that has stopped on your side of a two-lane road
with red lights flashing, you must:
A) Slow down and proceed with caution
B) Stop until the red lights stop flashing
C) Stop, then proceed if no children are visible
D) Pass on the shoulder to avoid traffic
**Correct Answer: B**
**Rationale:** When a school bus stops with its red lights flashing on your side of
a two-lane road, you must come to a complete stop and remain stopped until the
red lights stop flashing and the bus begins moving . This law protects children who
may be crossing the road. On divided highways, only traffic traveling in the same
direction as the bus must stop.
**Incorrect Answers:**
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- **A. Slow down and proceed with caution** – Slowing down is insufficient; you
must stop completely.
- **C. Stop, then proceed if no children are visible** – You must wait until the
lights stop flashing, regardless of whether children are visible.
- **D. Pass on the shoulder to avoid traffic** – Passing on the shoulder is illegal
and dangerous, especially near a stopped school bus.
---
### Question 2
The DMV written test for adults consists of how many questions?
A) 25 questions
B) 36 questions
C) 46 questions
D) 50 questions
**Correct Answer: B**
**Rationale:** The California DMV knowledge test consists of 36 questions for
adults (18 and older) and 46 questions for minors (under 18) . Adults need 30
correct answers (80%) to pass, while minors need 38 correct answers (83%) to
pass.
**Incorrect Answers:**
- **A. 25 questions** – This is too few; the actual test has 36 questions for adults.
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- **C. 46 questions** – This is the number for minors under 18, not adults.
- **D. 50 questions** – This is not the standard number for the California DMV
knowledge test.
---
### Question 3
By law, when must you turn on your headlights?
A) 30 minutes after sunset until 30 minutes before sunrise
B) 30 minutes before sunset until 30 minutes after sunrise
C) One hour after sunset until one hour before sunrise
D) At sunset only
**Correct Answer: A**
**Rationale:** California law requires drivers to turn on headlights from 30
minutes after sunset until 30 minutes before sunrise . Headlights must also be used
when visibility is less than 1,000 feet, in rain, fog, or snow, and when using
windshield wipers in rainy conditions.
**Incorrect Answers:**
- **B. 30 minutes before sunset until 30 minutes after sunrise** – This is incorrect;
headlights are required after sunset and before sunrise, not before sunset and after
sunrise.
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- **C. One hour after sunset until one hour before sunrise** – This timing is
incorrect; the law specifies 30 minutes, not one hour.
- **D. At sunset only** – Headlights must be used throughout the night, not just at
sunset.
---
### Question 4
What does a driver's left arm and hand extended downward indicate?
A) Left turn
B) Right turn
C) Stop
D) Slow down
**Correct Answer: C**
**Rationale:** When a driver's left arm and hand are extended downward, it
signals the driver plans to stop . This is one of three standard hand signals used
when turn signals are not functioning: left arm straight out = left turn, left arm up =
right turn, left arm down = stop.
**Incorrect Answers:**
- **A. Left turn** – A left turn signal is indicated by extending the left arm and
hand straight out horizontally.
