California Car / Permit practice question · Traffic Laws
California law requires you to turn on your headlights whenever you:
Answer choices
- Use your windshield wipers because of weather— Correct answer
- Drive over 40 mph
- Change lanes on the freeway
- Park on the side of the road
Why this is the answer
When fog, rain, or snow makes you run the windshield wipers, your low beams must be on too. The wipers are the trigger, not your speed or where you drive. Headlights make you easier for others to see in poor weather, and this is separate from the rule about lights from dusk to dawn.
Source: California Driver Handbook — Headlights
Content reviewed against official driver handbooks · August 12, 2026
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