California DMV Written Test
What’s on it, the pass mark and the retake rules
The California DMV written test, officially called the knowledge test, is a multiple-choice exam on traffic laws and safe driving. Every question comes from the California Driver’s Handbook, and you need 80% to pass. First-time applicants take it at a DMV office and get three tries per application.
By California DMV Appointments Editorial TeamUpdated November 2026Source: California DMV (dmv.ca.gov)
The test at a glance
- 80%Passing score set by DMV
- 3Tries per application
- 7 daysWait for minors after a fail
- 0Testing aids allowed
80% Pass Mark Calculator
DMV sets the pass mark as a percentage. Enter the number of questions on your test to see your target.
Practice tests use different lengths, so set it to match the one you’re taking. This tool rounds up to reach at least 80%.
Check If I Must Take the Test ↓What Is the California DMV Written Test?
It’s the knowledge test DMV gives before an instruction permit or a first California license. It checks whether you understand traffic laws and safety. DMV phased out the old paper-and-pencil version years ago, and offices now give the test on touchscreen modules. Booking the visit itself is covered in our California DMV appointment guide.
Multiple choice
Each question has one correct answer. DMV says the other two choices are either clearly wrong or don’t fit the question.
From the handbook
All questions are taken from the California Driver’s Handbook. Nothing on the test comes from outside it.
No trick questions
DMV’s own advice is to read each question carefully and not overthink it.
Taken in person
New applicants test at a field office, and testing must start before 4:30 p.m.
What a question looks like
Expect a short question with three possible answers. This made-up example shows the format only. It isn’t a real DMV question.
For real practice, DMV publishes sample tests, and our California DMV practice test walks you through more.
- AAn answer that’s plainly unsafe
- BThe one answer the handbook supports
- CAn answer that doesn’t fit the question
Do You Have to Take the DMV Written Test?
It depends on why you’re at DMV. Pick the option that fits you, and the answer panel explains which test applies and where you take it, with links to the official DMV page for each case.
I am…
Choose your situation
Your answer shows here. It won’t move the rest of the page.
What Does the DMV Knowledge Test Cover?
DMV doesn’t publish a topic-by-topic breakdown, but it does say every question comes from the handbook. These are the handbook sections about the rules of driving, which is where most of your study time should go.
Navigating the Roads
Lane markings, turns, merging, passing and parking.
Laws and Rules of the Road
Traffic signals, signs, right-of-way, speed limits and pedestrians.
Safe Driving
Following distance, sharing the road, hazards and weather.
Alcohol and Drugs
Impaired driving and the legal limits that apply to drivers.
Financial Responsibility, Insurance and Collisions
Financial responsibility and what to do after a crash.
Driver Safety
Actions DMV can take against your driving privilege.
The full handbook, with translated PDFs and an ASL video, is covered in our California DMV handbook guide.
How Do You Pass the California Written Test the First Time?
DMV’s advice is short: study the handbook, read carefully, and stay calm. Here’s how to turn that into a plan, then put it to work on test day.
Give the handbook a few days
DMV says it holds a lot of important information, so don’t cram it the night before. Read a section a day and note any numbers, like distances and limits.
Practice, then find your gaps
Take sample tests and go back to the handbook for every miss. Use the calculator at the top of this page to check your practice score against 80%.
Read every word on test day
There’s one right answer and two that don’t work. A slow, careful read beats a quick guess.
Learn from any miss
The office employee can tell you which handbook page has the right answer to a question you missed.
What Happens If You Fail the DMV Written Test?
You can try again, but the number of tries and the time window are limited. The chart shows how the attempts play out on a calendar.
Passing score. DMV states the pass mark as a percentage for both the car and motorcycle permit tests.
Three tries per test. Fail the same test a third time and the application is no longer valid. You reapply and pay the fee again.
Days for minors. Applicants under 18 wait seven days to retest, not counting the day they failed.
Application window. The application and its $46 Class C fee stay valid for 12 months after you apply.
Tap the chart to open it full size.
Can You Take the California DMV Written Test Online?
Not if you’re applying for your first license. You may still see articles about an at-home webcam test, but DMV’s current Online Learning page lists original license applicants among those who don’t qualify for eLearning, and DMV’s permit steps send you to an office for the test.
✕First permit or license
Take the knowledge test at a DMV field office. You can still start the application online, which DMV says saves time once you get to the office.
✓Class C renewal with a test
Choose eLearning when you fill out the renewal application. You get a Virtual Test Center Access email with the course link, and you can pause and resume it for as long as the application is open, up to one year. You won’t get a temporary license until you finish the visit at an office.
Tap the poster to open it full size.
California DMV Written Test FAQs
What score do I need to pass the California DMV written test?
DMV sets the passing score at 80% for the knowledge test you take for an instruction permit.
How many times can I take the DMV knowledge test?
You get three attempts per test on one application. After a third failure, you have to reapply and pay the application fee again.
How long do I wait to retake the written test?
Applicants under 18 must wait seven days, not counting the day of the failure. DMV doesn’t list a waiting period for adults.
Can I take the California permit test online?
No. Original license applicants take the knowledge test at a DMV office. The online eLearning option is only for eligible Class C license renewals.
Where do the DMV test questions come from?
All of the questions come from the California Driver’s Handbook, so studying the handbook is the best preparation.
Can I use my phone or the handbook during the test?
No. DMV doesn’t allow any testing aids during knowledge tests, including the handbook and cell phones.
Do drivers over 70 have to take the written test to renew?
Most don’t, as of October 1, 2024. A test can still be required for recent crashes, a DUI suspension or more than one violation point.
Do I need to take the written test if I move to California?
Yes. Drivers with another state’s license must pass the required knowledge test to get a California license.