California Car / Permit: Penalties & Licensing Practice Test

Question 1

While driving in California, you are required to carry proof of:

Accepted Answer

Vehicle insurance (financial responsibility) — You must have proof of financial responsibility, meaning insurance, whenever you drive, and you must show it to other drivers after a collision. Birth certificates, first-aid certificates, and smog receipts are not part of that requirement. Driving without proper coverage can lead to a suspended driving privilege if you are in a collision.

Answer

A recent smog check receipt

Answer

A first-aid certificate

Answer

Your birth certificate

Question 2

Your driving privilege may be suspended as a "negligent operator" if you receive:

Accepted Answer

4 points in 12 months — DMV may consider you a negligent driver and suspend your license if your record shows 4 points in 12 months, 6 points in 24 months, or 8 points in 36 months. One point in a year is not enough, and a single ticket alone does not trigger it. Courts can also suspend a driving privilege separately.

Answer

1 point in 12 months

Answer

10 points in 12 months

Answer

Any single traffic ticket

Question 3

During the first 12 months with a provisional license, a driver under 18 generally may not:

Accepted Answer

Drive from 11 p.m. to 5 a.m. or carry passengers under 20 (without a qualifying adult) — During the first 12 months, a provisional driver under 18 may not drive between 11 p.m. and 5 a.m., and may not carry passengers under 20 unless a parent, a guardian, or another licensed California driver aged 25 or older is with you. Freeway driving, rain, and automatic transmissions are not part of these restrictions.

Answer

Drive on the freeway at all

Answer

Drive in the rain

Answer

Drive a car with automatic transmission

Question 4

If DMV notifies you that it plans to suspend or revoke your driving privilege, how soon must you request an administrative hearing to preserve your right to one?

Accepted Answer

Within 10 days of being served (14 days if mailed) — When DMV proposes action against your driving privilege, ask for a hearing within 10 days of being served, or within 14 days of the mailing date if it came by mail. If you miss that window, you lose the right to a hearing. Waiting until your license expires, or until 60 days pass, is too late.

Answer

Within 60 days of the notice

Answer

Anytime before your license expires

Answer

There is no deadline to request a hearing

Question 5

You must report a collision to the DMV (using form SR-1) within 10 days whenever:

Accepted Answer

Someone is injured, or damage is more than $1,000 — You must report a collision to DMV within 10 days, using Report of Traffic Accident form SR 1, if anyone was injured or killed, even in a minor way, or if property damage was more than $1,000. Law enforcement will not file it for you, and you must report whether or not you caused the collision.

Answer

There is only a small paint scratch

Answer

Drivers choose not to exchange information

Answer

A police officer specifically tells you to

Question 6

A minor with a provisional license who has two at-fault collisions or traffic violation convictions in the first 12 months generally may not drive for 30 days unless:

Accepted Answer

A licensed adult at least 25 years old rides with them — During the first 12 months of a minor's license, any two at-fault collisions or traffic convictions, in any mix, mean you may not drive for 30 days unless a licensed adult aged 25 or older rides with you. An online course, a reinstatement fee, or a new parent signature does not lift the restriction.

Answer

They complete an online safety course

Answer

They pay a reinstatement fee

Answer

A parent signs a new application

Question 7

When you sign a traffic citation given to you by a law enforcement officer, you are:

Accepted Answer

Promising to appear in traffic court — When you sign a traffic citation, you sign as a promise to appear in traffic court. If you fail to appear, the failure goes on your driver's record and DMV may suspend your driving privilege until you do appear. Keep that promise, because ignoring the date creates a separate problem on top of the ticket.

Answer

Admitting guilt to the violation

Answer

Waiving your right to contest the ticket

Answer

Agreeing to pay the fine immediately

Question 8

If you hit a legally parked car and cannot find the owner, the law requires you to:

Accepted Answer

Leave a note with your name and contact information — If you hit a parked car and cannot find its owner, leave a note giving your name, phone number, and address, securely attached to the vehicle, and report the collision to law enforcement. Driving off is hit-and-run, which carries a severe punishment, even if the damage looks small and nobody saw you.

Answer

Drive away if the damage looks minor

Answer

Wait five minutes and then leave

Answer

Report it only if a witness saw you

Question 9

If you move, how soon must you notify the DMV of your new address?

Accepted Answer

Within 10 days — If you move, you must tell DMV your new address within ten days. You can submit it online or by mail. Waiting until you renew, or until 30 days or more pass, is too late. Changing your address does not automatically give you a new card, but you may request a replacement for a fee.

Answer

Within 30 days

Answer

Within 60 days

Answer

Only when you renew your license

Question 10

Before taking the driving test, a driver under 18 with an instruction permit must complete supervised driving practice of at least:

Accepted Answer

50 hours, including 10 hours at night — Before the driving test, a driver under 18 must log at least 50 hours of practice with a licensed California driver aged 25 or older, and 10 of those hours must be at night. Ten or 20 hours is far short of that, and 100 hours is more than the rule asks.

Answer

10 hours total

Answer

20 hours, all in daylight

Answer

100 hours, including 50 at night

California Car / Permit: Penalties & Licensing practice test

Study questions with answers

1. While driving in California, you are required to carry proof of:

2. Your driving privilege may be suspended as a "negligent operator" if you receive:

3. During the first 12 months with a provisional license, a driver under 18 generally may not:

4. If DMV notifies you that it plans to suspend or revoke your driving privilege, how soon must you request an administrative hearing to preserve your right to one?

5. You must report a collision to the DMV (using form SR-1) within 10 days whenever:

6. A minor with a provisional license who has two at-fault collisions or traffic violation convictions in the first 12 months generally may not drive for 30 days unless:

7. When you sign a traffic citation given to you by a law enforcement officer, you are:

8. If you hit a legally parked car and cannot find the owner, the law requires you to:

9. If you move, how soon must you notify the DMV of your new address?

10. Before taking the driving test, a driver under 18 with an instruction permit must complete supervised driving practice of at least:

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