A good CA permit test cheat sheet is a single page with the numbers from the California Driver's Handbook: alcohol limits, speed limits, distances, parking rules and fines. That is exactly what follows, checked against the handbook on dmv.ca.gov. It is a study tool, not something to bring into the test. The California DMV does not allow handbooks or cell phones during knowledge tests, so the goal is to know these numbers cold before you walk in.
The test itself
| Detail | Number |
|---|---|
| Passing score | 80% |
| Attempts per application | 3, then you reapply and pay again |
| Wait after a failed test (under 18) | 7 days, not counting the day you failed |
| Minimum age for a permit | 15 and a half, with driver education |
| Original Class C application fee | $46 |
| Last start time at a DMV office | Tests are not available after 4:30 p.m. |
The DMV states the 80% pass mark on its instruction permit page. Our California guide explains the 46-question teen and 36-question adult versions.
CA permit test cheat sheet: alcohol and drugs
Alcohol questions are where people lose easy points, because California's under-21 number is lower than most states use. From Section 9 of the handbook:
| Rule | Number |
|---|---|
| Illegal BAC, age 21 and older | 0.08% or higher |
| Illegal BAC, under 21 | 0.01% or higher |
| Illegal BAC, any age, on DUI probation | 0.01% or higher |
| Illegal BAC, commercial vehicle | 0.04% or higher |
| Illegal BAC, driving passengers for hire | 0.04% or higher |
| Refusing a chemical test | Suspension or revocation for 1 year |
| DUI conviction stays on your record | 10 years |
| Possible jail for DUI | Up to 6 months |
| Under 21 caught with alcohol in the car | Vehicle impound up to 30 days, possible 1-year suspension |
| Request a DMV hearing after a DUI arrest | Within 10 days |
Under 21 in California, 0.01% is the line. If a practice question offers 0.02 or 0.05 for drivers under 21, those are other states' numbers or other rules.
Speed limits
| Where | Limit |
|---|---|
| Most California highways | 65 mph |
| Two-lane undivided highway, or towing a trailer | 55 mph |
| Business or residential district | 25 mph unless posted |
| Within 500 feet of a school while children are outside or crossing | 25 mph (some zones 15 mph) |
| Blind intersection | 15 mph |
| Alley | 15 mph |
| Within 100 feet of a railroad crossing you cannot see 400 feet each way | 15 mph |
| You cannot see farther than 100 feet | No faster than 30 mph is safe |
| Ice | 5 mph or less |
| Passing a stopped bus or streetcar at a safety zone | 10 mph or less |
For bad weather, the handbook says to slow down 5 to 10 mph on wet roads and to cut your speed in half on packed snow.
Distances
| Rule | Number |
|---|---|
| Signal before a turn | About 100 feet |
| Signal before a freeway exit | 5 seconds, about 400 feet |
| Following distance | 3 seconds |
| Look ahead while driving | At least 10 seconds |
| Passing a bicyclist | At least 3 feet |
| Enter a bike lane before a right turn | Within 200 feet of the turn |
| Drive in a center left turn lane | No more than 200 feet |
| U-turn in a residential district | No vehicles approaching within 200 feet |
| Hill or curve before you pass | At least one-third of a mile ahead |
| No passing near intersections, bridges, tunnels, railroad crossings | Within 100 feet |
| Following a fire engine, police car or ambulance with lights or siren on | Not within 300 feet |
| Stop when a train is coming | At least 15 feet from the nearest track |
| Stopping distance at 55 mph | About 300 feet for a car, up to 400 feet for a large vehicle |
| Airbag | Sit at least 10 inches from the cover |
Parking and curb colors
| Rule | Number or meaning |
|---|---|
| Fire hydrant or fire station driveway | No parking within 15 feet |
| Crosswalk, marked or unmarked | No parking within 20 feet |
| Sidewalk ramp for disabled persons | No parking within 3 feet |
| Parallel parking | Within 18 inches of the curb |
| White curb | Stop only to load or unload passengers |
| Green curb | Limited-time parking |
| Yellow curb | Load or unload passengers or freight for the posted time |
| Red curb | No stopping, standing or parking |
| Blue curb | Disabled placard or plate only |
On hills: downhill, turn your front wheels into the curb. Uphill, turn them away from the curb and let the car roll back gently against it. With no curb, turn the wheels to the right.
Fines and penalties worth knowing
| Violation | Penalty in the handbook |
|---|---|
| Failing to stop for a school bus with flashing red lights | Up to $1,000 and a possible 1-year suspension |
| Traffic violations in a work zone | $1,000 or more |
| Assaulting a highway worker | Up to $2,000 and up to 1 year in jail |
| Letting an unlicensed driver use your vehicle | Vehicle impound for 30 days |
| Points that can lead to suspension | 4 in 12 months, 6 in 24 months, or 8 in 36 months |
Teen and family numbers
- Supervising driver for a permit holder under 18: at least 25 years old.
- Practice before the drive test: at least 50 hours, 10 of them at night, and hold the permit 6 months.
- Provisional license, first 12 months: no driving from 11 p.m. to 5 a.m., and no passengers under 20 unless a parent, guardian or licensed driver 25 or older rides along.
- Drivers under 18 may not use a cell phone while driving, even hands-free, except to call for emergency help. Adults may use a mounted phone with a single swipe or tap.
- Children under 8, or under 4 feet 9 inches tall, ride in a child restraint in the back seat. Children under 2 ride rear-facing unless they are at least 40 pounds or 3 feet 4 inches tall.
- It is illegal to leave a child 6 or younger alone in a vehicle without someone at least 12 years old watching.
How to use this as a California DMV written test study guide
- Read the matching handbook section first, then the table. The numbers make more sense with the rule around them.
- Copy each table by hand onto flash cards, number on the back.
- Quiz yourself on one table a day for a week. Shuffle the cards each time.
- Take full practice tests and write down every number you miss.
- The day before your test, read this page once and stop. Sleep does more than cramming.
FAQ
Is there a CA permit test cheat sheet I can print?
Yes. Print this page or copy the tables onto flash cards. Use it to study only: the DMV does not allow handbooks or phones during knowledge tests.
What is the best CA permit test study guide?
The California Driver's Handbook on dmv.ca.gov is the source for every question. Pair it with a one-page number sheet like this one and full practice tests.
What numbers are on the California DMV written test?
Expect alcohol limits (0.08 adult, 0.01 under 21), speed limits (65, 55, 25 and 15 mph), parking distances (15 feet from a hydrant, 18 inches from the curb) and passing distances.
Can I use a cheat sheet during the California permit test?
No. Study aids and phones are not allowed during the knowledge test. Know the numbers before you go.
How many questions can I miss on the California permit test?
You need 80%. On the 46-question teen test that is up to 8 misses, and on the 36-question adult test up to 6.
