By the ChowChow Labs editorial team · Updated November 6, 2026 · How we check our content
This is a general guide written by ChowChow Labs, which isn’t affiliated with the California DMV. The DMV sets the test format, passing score, fees and documents, and can change them. Always confirm the latest details on the DMV’s learner’s permit page before you go.
What the knowledge test is
To get a California instruction permit (learner’s permit) for a car, you pass the DMV’s written knowledge test. It’s a multiple-choice test on traffic signs, the rules of the road and safe driving. Everything on it comes from the California Driver Handbook, so reading the handbook is the most important step.
The number of questions and the passing score depend on your age and which test you’re taking. The DMV lists the current numbers on its website, so check there rather than relying on figures you’ve heard elsewhere.
What it covers
- Signs and signals: sign shapes and colors, traffic lights and arrows, and what to do when signals are dark.
- Right of way: all-way stops, pedestrians, roundabouts and railroad crossings.
- Lanes and turns: center lines, the shared center turn lane, lane changes and passing.
- Parking: curb colors and parking on hills.
- Sharing the road: bicyclists, motorcycles, large trucks, school buses and emergency vehicles.
- Safe driving: the Basic Speed Law, following distance, weather, night driving, alcohol, drugs and phones.
Our lessons follow these same topics, and every mock exam mixes them together.
What to bring
Expect to need proof of identity, your Social Security number (where required), proof of California residency, the application fee and, if you’re under 18, a parent or guardian’s signature. You’ll usually take a vision test and have your photo and thumbprint taken too. The DMV’s permit page lists the exact documents and current fees.
If you’re under 18
Teens have extra steps, such as driver education and a period of supervised practice before the drive test. While practicing, a licensed California driver who is at least 25 must supervise you. See our permits lesson and the DMV’s teen driver pages for the full rules.
On test day
- Phones, notes and any other help aren’t allowed during the test.
- Read every answer before you choose one; wrong answers are often close to right.
- If you don’t pass, the DMV explains when you can try again.
Next: 7-day study plan. One topic a day, each linked to free practice.