California DMV Class C Knowledge Test
Practice Questions and Answers.
1. What does a steady red traffic light mean?
A. Slow down and proceed with caution.
B. Stop only if other vehicles are present.
C. Stop before the limit line, crosswalk, or intersection and remain stopped until the light turns
green, unless a turn is permitted by law.
D. Continue through the intersection if no vehicles are approaching.
Correct Answer: C. Stop before the limit line, crosswalk, or intersection and remain stopped
until the light turns green, unless a turn is permitted by law.
Rationale: A steady red light requires drivers to come to a complete stop. Right turns on red
(and left turns from a one-way street to another one-way street) are allowed only where
permitted and after yielding.
2. What is the legal purpose of wearing a seat belt?
A. It is optional for adult drivers.
B. It helps protect occupants by reducing the risk of serious injury or death in a crash.
C. It is required only on freeways.
D. It is required only for passengers.
Correct Answer: B. It helps protect occupants by reducing the risk of serious injury or death
in a crash.
Rationale: California law requires drivers and passengers to wear seat belts, and they
significantly improve safety during collisions.
3. When approaching a stop sign, you must:
A. Slow down and continue if no vehicles are visible.
B. Come to a complete stop before the limit line, crosswalk, or intersection.
C. Honk before entering the intersection.
D. Stop only when pedestrians are present.
,Correct Answer: B. Come to a complete stop before the limit line, crosswalk, or intersection.
Rationale: A complete stop is required at every stop sign before proceeding safely.
4. A solid yellow line on your side of the centerline means:
A. Passing is always permitted.
B. Passing is prohibited when it is unsafe or restricted by the line.
C. You may drive on the shoulder.
D. The road is one-way.
Correct Answer: B. Passing is prohibited when it is unsafe or restricted by the line.
Rationale: A solid yellow line generally indicates that passing is restricted or unsafe.
5. Before changing lanes, you should:
A. Signal, check mirrors, and check your blind spot.
B. Signal after changing lanes.
C. Accelerate immediately without checking traffic.
D. Honk continuously.
Correct Answer: A. Signal, check mirrors, and check your blind spot.
Rationale: Always signal and check mirrors and blind spots before moving into another lane.
6. What should you do when an emergency vehicle with flashing lights and a
siren approaches?
A. Speed up to stay ahead.
B. Pull to the right and stop until it has passed, unless otherwise directed.
C. Continue driving normally.
D. Stop in the middle of the road.
Correct Answer: B. Pull to the right and stop until it has passed, unless otherwise directed.
Rationale: California law requires drivers to yield the right-of-way to emergency vehicles using
lights and sirens.
,7. A flashing yellow traffic signal means:
A. Stop completely.
B. Proceed with caution and be prepared to stop if necessary.
C. The intersection is closed.
D. You have the right-of-way over everyone.
Correct Answer: B. Proceed with caution and be prepared to stop if necessary.
Rationale: A flashing yellow light warns drivers to slow down and proceed carefully.
8. When driving in fog, you should use:
A. High-beam headlights.
B. Low-beam headlights.
C. Parking lights only.
D. Hazard lights continuously while moving.
Correct Answer: B. Low-beam headlights.
Rationale: Low beams improve visibility in fog by reducing glare.
9. The speed limit should be adjusted when:
A. Weather, traffic, or road conditions make driving unsafe at the posted speed.
B. You are late for work.
C. There are no police nearby.
D. You are driving a new vehicle.
Correct Answer: A. Weather, traffic, or road conditions make driving unsafe at the posted
speed.
Rationale: Drivers must reduce speed when conditions require it, even if driving below the
posted speed limit.
10. What does a broken white lane line indicate?
A. Lane changes are permitted when safe.
B. Passing is prohibited.
, C. The road ends ahead.
D. Traffic flows in opposite directions.
Correct Answer: A. Lane changes are permitted when safe.
Rationale: Broken white lines separate lanes traveling in the same direction and may be crossed
when it is safe.
11. When approaching a pedestrian in a crosswalk, you must:
A. Speed up to pass before they cross.
B. Yield the right-of-way and allow the pedestrian to cross safely.
C. Honk until they move faster.
D. Drive around the pedestrian.
Correct Answer: B. Yield the right-of-way and allow the pedestrian to cross safely.
Rationale: Drivers must yield to pedestrians who are lawfully crossing the roadway.
12. A yellow diamond-shaped traffic sign generally means:
A. Regulatory instruction.
B. Warning of upcoming road conditions or hazards.
C. Parking information.
D. Hospital location.
Correct Answer: B. Warning of upcoming road conditions or hazards.
Rationale: Diamond-shaped signs warn drivers of changes or hazards ahead.
13. If another driver is following too closely, you should:
A. Brake suddenly.
B. Increase following distance ahead and, when safe, allow the tailgater to pass.
C. Drive faster than the speed limit.
D. Block the passing lane.
Correct Answer: B. Increase following distance ahead and, when safe, allow the tailgater to
pass.
Practice Questions and Answers.
1. What does a steady red traffic light mean?
A. Slow down and proceed with caution.
B. Stop only if other vehicles are present.
C. Stop before the limit line, crosswalk, or intersection and remain stopped until the light turns
green, unless a turn is permitted by law.
D. Continue through the intersection if no vehicles are approaching.
Correct Answer: C. Stop before the limit line, crosswalk, or intersection and remain stopped
until the light turns green, unless a turn is permitted by law.
Rationale: A steady red light requires drivers to come to a complete stop. Right turns on red
(and left turns from a one-way street to another one-way street) are allowed only where
permitted and after yielding.
2. What is the legal purpose of wearing a seat belt?
A. It is optional for adult drivers.
B. It helps protect occupants by reducing the risk of serious injury or death in a crash.
C. It is required only on freeways.
D. It is required only for passengers.
Correct Answer: B. It helps protect occupants by reducing the risk of serious injury or death
in a crash.
Rationale: California law requires drivers and passengers to wear seat belts, and they
significantly improve safety during collisions.
3. When approaching a stop sign, you must:
A. Slow down and continue if no vehicles are visible.
B. Come to a complete stop before the limit line, crosswalk, or intersection.
C. Honk before entering the intersection.
D. Stop only when pedestrians are present.
,Correct Answer: B. Come to a complete stop before the limit line, crosswalk, or intersection.
Rationale: A complete stop is required at every stop sign before proceeding safely.
4. A solid yellow line on your side of the centerline means:
A. Passing is always permitted.
B. Passing is prohibited when it is unsafe or restricted by the line.
C. You may drive on the shoulder.
D. The road is one-way.
Correct Answer: B. Passing is prohibited when it is unsafe or restricted by the line.
Rationale: A solid yellow line generally indicates that passing is restricted or unsafe.
5. Before changing lanes, you should:
A. Signal, check mirrors, and check your blind spot.
B. Signal after changing lanes.
C. Accelerate immediately without checking traffic.
D. Honk continuously.
Correct Answer: A. Signal, check mirrors, and check your blind spot.
Rationale: Always signal and check mirrors and blind spots before moving into another lane.
6. What should you do when an emergency vehicle with flashing lights and a
siren approaches?
A. Speed up to stay ahead.
B. Pull to the right and stop until it has passed, unless otherwise directed.
C. Continue driving normally.
D. Stop in the middle of the road.
Correct Answer: B. Pull to the right and stop until it has passed, unless otherwise directed.
Rationale: California law requires drivers to yield the right-of-way to emergency vehicles using
lights and sirens.
,7. A flashing yellow traffic signal means:
A. Stop completely.
B. Proceed with caution and be prepared to stop if necessary.
C. The intersection is closed.
D. You have the right-of-way over everyone.
Correct Answer: B. Proceed with caution and be prepared to stop if necessary.
Rationale: A flashing yellow light warns drivers to slow down and proceed carefully.
8. When driving in fog, you should use:
A. High-beam headlights.
B. Low-beam headlights.
C. Parking lights only.
D. Hazard lights continuously while moving.
Correct Answer: B. Low-beam headlights.
Rationale: Low beams improve visibility in fog by reducing glare.
9. The speed limit should be adjusted when:
A. Weather, traffic, or road conditions make driving unsafe at the posted speed.
B. You are late for work.
C. There are no police nearby.
D. You are driving a new vehicle.
Correct Answer: A. Weather, traffic, or road conditions make driving unsafe at the posted
speed.
Rationale: Drivers must reduce speed when conditions require it, even if driving below the
posted speed limit.
10. What does a broken white lane line indicate?
A. Lane changes are permitted when safe.
B. Passing is prohibited.
, C. The road ends ahead.
D. Traffic flows in opposite directions.
Correct Answer: A. Lane changes are permitted when safe.
Rationale: Broken white lines separate lanes traveling in the same direction and may be crossed
when it is safe.
11. When approaching a pedestrian in a crosswalk, you must:
A. Speed up to pass before they cross.
B. Yield the right-of-way and allow the pedestrian to cross safely.
C. Honk until they move faster.
D. Drive around the pedestrian.
Correct Answer: B. Yield the right-of-way and allow the pedestrian to cross safely.
Rationale: Drivers must yield to pedestrians who are lawfully crossing the roadway.
12. A yellow diamond-shaped traffic sign generally means:
A. Regulatory instruction.
B. Warning of upcoming road conditions or hazards.
C. Parking information.
D. Hospital location.
Correct Answer: B. Warning of upcoming road conditions or hazards.
Rationale: Diamond-shaped signs warn drivers of changes or hazards ahead.
13. If another driver is following too closely, you should:
A. Brake suddenly.
B. Increase following distance ahead and, when safe, allow the tailgater to pass.
C. Drive faster than the speed limit.
D. Block the passing lane.
Correct Answer: B. Increase following distance ahead and, when safe, allow the tailgater to
pass.
