DMVZoneBlogCalifornia cities can now drop school zone limits to 20 mph, move over covers any car with hazards, plate-blocking products carry a $1,000 fine, and first-time DUI offenders can get an ignition interlock. The list.
Most of California's 2026 driving laws started January 1. The ones drivers notice most: cities can lower school zone limits from 25 to 20 mph (AB 382), move over now covers any stopped vehicle with hazard lights (AB 390), products that hide a license plate bring a $1,000 fine (AB 1085), and ignition interlocks expand to all DUI offenders (AB 366).
California passes hundreds of new laws each year. This list sticks to the ones that change what you do on the road or at the DMV.
| Bill | What changed |
|---|---|
| AB 382 | Local governments can lower school zone limits from 25 to 20 mph. After January 1, 2031, 20 mph applies wherever the right signs are posted. |
| AB 390 | Move over or slow down for any stopped vehicle with hazard lights or warning devices like cones or flares. |
| AB 1014 | Caltrans can lower a highway speed limit by 5 mph. Only warnings are given for the first 30 days after a change. |
| AB 289 | Caltrans can test speed cameras in work zones. Tickets go to the registered owner. |
| SB 720 | Cities and counties can run red-light camera programs that issue civil violations. |
SB 766, the CARS Act, starts October 1, 2026. Buyers get a three-day right to return a used car bought from a California dealer, dealers must show the full price up front, and they cannot charge for add-ons that do nothing for the buyer.
A lower school zone limit only applies once your city adopts it and posts signs. Read the sign, not what you remember from last year.
Under AB 382, what can cities lower school zone limits to?
Answer: B. Cities can lower school zone limits from 25 to 20 mph.
What is the fine for using a product that hides your license plate?
Answer: D. AB 1085 makes it an infraction with a $1,000 fine per violation.
After Caltrans lowers a speed limit, what do drivers get for the first 30 days?
Answer: B. AB 1014 requires warning citations during the first 30 days.
No action is needed for most drivers. SB 506 also lets you request a duplicate license after an address change.
Not yet. Each city decides until 2031, and the lower limit only applies where it is posted.
Every bill is on leginfo.legislature.ca.gov. Search by bill number, like AB 390.
Checked against these pages on November 12, 2026. Laws change, so open the source before you rely on a number.
Rules and fees change. Always confirm the details with the official California DMV or motor vehicle agency before you act. DMVZone practice questions are written to teach the rules and are not copies of the real test.
Most California tickets are 1 point, and DUI or hit-and-run is 2. Reach 4 points in 12 months, 6 in 24 or 8 in 36 and the DMV puts you on a year of probation with a six-month suspension.
A state pilot law, AB 645, lets six California cities use speed cameras. San Francisco started ticketing in August 2025. Fines run $50 to $500, mailed to the car's owner, with no points.
California courts let eligible drivers take traffic school for one 1-point ticket every 18 months. You pay the fine plus a court fee, finish an approved course, and the conviction stays confidential.