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CALIFORNIA DMV PERMIT TEST –OFFICIAL HANDBOOK-ALIGNED
QUESTIONS EXAM 2026 QUESTIONS LATEST VERSION QUESTIONS
AND ANSWERS
CALIFORNIA DMV PERMIT TEST –OFFICIAL HANDBOOK-ALIGNED
QUESTIONS
SECTION 1: TRAFFIC SIGNALS & ROAD SIGNS (Questions 1-60)
1. What should you do when approaching a solid red traffic signal?
A) Slow down and proceed with caution.
B) Stop and wait for the light to turn green; you may turn right after a complete stop unless a
"No Turn on Red" sign is posted.
C) Treat it as a yield sign.
D) Stop and then proceed regardless of traffic.
Correct Answer: B
Rationale: A solid red signal requires a complete stop. You may turn right after stopping
unless a "No Turn on Red" sign is posted. You may also turn left from a one-way street onto
another one-way street after stopping, unless prohibited .
2. A flashing red traffic signal should be treated the same as:
A) A green light.
B) A yellow light.
C) A stop sign.
D) A yield sign.
Correct Answer: C
Rationale: A flashing red signal means STOP. You must come to a complete stop, yield to
traffic and pedestrians, and proceed only when it is safe .
3. What does a flashing yellow traffic signal indicate?
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A) Stop and wait for the light to change.
B) Proceed with caution; slow down and be alert.
C) The light is about to turn red.
D) You have the right-of-way.
Correct Answer: B
Rationale: A flashing yellow signal means PROCEED WITH CAUTION. You should slow
down, be alert, and be prepared to stop if necessary. You do not need to stop, but you must
exercise caution .
4. A red arrow traffic signal means:
A) Stop and wait for the green arrow or green signal.
B) Yield to oncoming traffic and then proceed.
C) You may turn after stopping.
D) You have the right-of-way.
Correct Answer: A
Rationale: A red arrow means STOP. You cannot turn in the direction of the arrow. Wait for
a green arrow or green signal before proceeding .
5. What should you do at a traffic light that is not working?
A) Treat it as a green light and proceed.
B) Treat it as a 4-way stop; stop and proceed cautiously.
C) Treat it as a yield sign.
D) Turn around and find another route.
Correct Answer: B
Rationale: A non-functioning traffic light must be treated as a 4-way stop. You must stop
and proceed cautiously, yielding to traffic that arrived first .
6. A yellow traffic signal means:
A) Speed up to make it through the intersection.
B) The light is about to turn red; stop if you can do so safely.
C) Yield to pedestrians.
D) You must stop regardless of your distance.
Correct Answer: B
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Rationale: A solid yellow signal means CAUTION—the light is about to turn red. You
should stop if you can do so safely. If you are already in the intersection, continue through .
7. A yellow arrow signal means:
A) The protected turn is ending; stop safely if you are not already in the intersection.
B) You have the right-of-way to turn.
C) You must turn immediately.
D) The light will remain yellow for a long time.
Correct Answer: A
Rationale: A yellow arrow indicates that the protected turning time is ending. If you cannot
stop safely, cautiously complete your turn. Otherwise, stop and wait for the next green
arrow .
8. A green arrow signal at an intersection means:
A) You may turn in the direction of the arrow only after yielding to pedestrians.
B) You may proceed in the direction of the arrow; oncoming traffic is stopped by a red light.
C) You must stop and wait for the green light.
D) You may turn right only.
Correct Answer: B
Rationale: A green arrow provides a protected turn. Oncoming traffic is stopped by a red
light, allowing you to turn safely in the direction indicated by the arrow .
9. What is the shape and color of a STOP sign?
A) Red octagon (8-sided).
B) Red circle.
C) Yellow triangle.
D) White rectangle.
Correct Answer: A
Rationale: A STOP sign is red with white letters and is octagonal (8-sided). You must come
to a full stop before the crosswalk or limit line and check traffic in all directions before
proceeding .
10. What does a red YIELD sign require you to do?
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A) Stop completely regardless of traffic.
B) Slow down and be ready to stop for any vehicle, bicyclist, or pedestrian.
C) Speed up to merge with traffic.
D) Proceed without stopping.
Correct Answer: B
Rationale: A YIELD sign requires you to slow down and be ready to stop for any vehicle,
bicyclist, or pedestrian. You must yield the right-of-way to traffic on the road you are
entering .
11. Which shape indicates a school zone sign?
A) Round.
B) Diamond.
C) Pentagon (5-sided).
D) Octagon.
Correct Answer: C
Rationale: School zone signs are typically 5-sided (pentagon-shaped). They warn drivers to
drive slowly and stop for children in crosswalks .
12. Diamond-shaped signs typically indicate:
A) School zones.
B) Warnings about specific road conditions and dangers ahead.
C) Railroad crossings.
D) Speed limits.
Correct Answer: B
Rationale: Diamond-shaped signs are warning signs that alert drivers to specific road
conditions and dangers ahead, such as curves, intersections, or road hazards .
13. A yellow and black circular or X-shaped sign indicates:
A) A railroad crossing; look, listen, slow down, and prepare to stop.
B) A school zone.
C) A hospital zone.
D) A construction zone.
Correct Answer: A
CALIFORNIA DMV PERMIT TEST –OFFICIAL HANDBOOK-ALIGNED
QUESTIONS EXAM 2026 QUESTIONS LATEST VERSION QUESTIONS
AND ANSWERS
CALIFORNIA DMV PERMIT TEST –OFFICIAL HANDBOOK-ALIGNED
QUESTIONS
SECTION 1: TRAFFIC SIGNALS & ROAD SIGNS (Questions 1-60)
1. What should you do when approaching a solid red traffic signal?
A) Slow down and proceed with caution.
B) Stop and wait for the light to turn green; you may turn right after a complete stop unless a
"No Turn on Red" sign is posted.
C) Treat it as a yield sign.
D) Stop and then proceed regardless of traffic.
Correct Answer: B
Rationale: A solid red signal requires a complete stop. You may turn right after stopping
unless a "No Turn on Red" sign is posted. You may also turn left from a one-way street onto
another one-way street after stopping, unless prohibited .
2. A flashing red traffic signal should be treated the same as:
A) A green light.
B) A yellow light.
C) A stop sign.
D) A yield sign.
Correct Answer: C
Rationale: A flashing red signal means STOP. You must come to a complete stop, yield to
traffic and pedestrians, and proceed only when it is safe .
3. What does a flashing yellow traffic signal indicate?
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A) Stop and wait for the light to change.
B) Proceed with caution; slow down and be alert.
C) The light is about to turn red.
D) You have the right-of-way.
Correct Answer: B
Rationale: A flashing yellow signal means PROCEED WITH CAUTION. You should slow
down, be alert, and be prepared to stop if necessary. You do not need to stop, but you must
exercise caution .
4. A red arrow traffic signal means:
A) Stop and wait for the green arrow or green signal.
B) Yield to oncoming traffic and then proceed.
C) You may turn after stopping.
D) You have the right-of-way.
Correct Answer: A
Rationale: A red arrow means STOP. You cannot turn in the direction of the arrow. Wait for
a green arrow or green signal before proceeding .
5. What should you do at a traffic light that is not working?
A) Treat it as a green light and proceed.
B) Treat it as a 4-way stop; stop and proceed cautiously.
C) Treat it as a yield sign.
D) Turn around and find another route.
Correct Answer: B
Rationale: A non-functioning traffic light must be treated as a 4-way stop. You must stop
and proceed cautiously, yielding to traffic that arrived first .
6. A yellow traffic signal means:
A) Speed up to make it through the intersection.
B) The light is about to turn red; stop if you can do so safely.
C) Yield to pedestrians.
D) You must stop regardless of your distance.
Correct Answer: B
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Rationale: A solid yellow signal means CAUTION—the light is about to turn red. You
should stop if you can do so safely. If you are already in the intersection, continue through .
7. A yellow arrow signal means:
A) The protected turn is ending; stop safely if you are not already in the intersection.
B) You have the right-of-way to turn.
C) You must turn immediately.
D) The light will remain yellow for a long time.
Correct Answer: A
Rationale: A yellow arrow indicates that the protected turning time is ending. If you cannot
stop safely, cautiously complete your turn. Otherwise, stop and wait for the next green
arrow .
8. A green arrow signal at an intersection means:
A) You may turn in the direction of the arrow only after yielding to pedestrians.
B) You may proceed in the direction of the arrow; oncoming traffic is stopped by a red light.
C) You must stop and wait for the green light.
D) You may turn right only.
Correct Answer: B
Rationale: A green arrow provides a protected turn. Oncoming traffic is stopped by a red
light, allowing you to turn safely in the direction indicated by the arrow .
9. What is the shape and color of a STOP sign?
A) Red octagon (8-sided).
B) Red circle.
C) Yellow triangle.
D) White rectangle.
Correct Answer: A
Rationale: A STOP sign is red with white letters and is octagonal (8-sided). You must come
to a full stop before the crosswalk or limit line and check traffic in all directions before
proceeding .
10. What does a red YIELD sign require you to do?
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A) Stop completely regardless of traffic.
B) Slow down and be ready to stop for any vehicle, bicyclist, or pedestrian.
C) Speed up to merge with traffic.
D) Proceed without stopping.
Correct Answer: B
Rationale: A YIELD sign requires you to slow down and be ready to stop for any vehicle,
bicyclist, or pedestrian. You must yield the right-of-way to traffic on the road you are
entering .
11. Which shape indicates a school zone sign?
A) Round.
B) Diamond.
C) Pentagon (5-sided).
D) Octagon.
Correct Answer: C
Rationale: School zone signs are typically 5-sided (pentagon-shaped). They warn drivers to
drive slowly and stop for children in crosswalks .
12. Diamond-shaped signs typically indicate:
A) School zones.
B) Warnings about specific road conditions and dangers ahead.
C) Railroad crossings.
D) Speed limits.
Correct Answer: B
Rationale: Diamond-shaped signs are warning signs that alert drivers to specific road
conditions and dangers ahead, such as curves, intersections, or road hazards .
13. A yellow and black circular or X-shaped sign indicates:
A) A railroad crossing; look, listen, slow down, and prepare to stop.
B) A school zone.
C) A hospital zone.
D) A construction zone.
Correct Answer: A
