Road Scholar: How to Pass Your Written DMV Exam

In California, there is a limit to the number of times you may renew your driver's license by mail, regardless of your driving record. Eventually, you will have to take and pass the written test to renew your license. A good starting point is to go to the website at www.dmv.ca.gov and look at the driver handbook (in pdf) and at the sample questions which are reproduced below. Alternatively, you can stop by your local DMV field office and pick up a copy. All of the questions which appear on the test come from the driver handbook, so it's no secret to say that you need to know information on road signs and markings, curb colors and their meanings, speed limits, right-of-way laws, turns, following distance, how to handle a collision and reporting requirements, DUI, seatbelts and child passenger safety and so on.

For the correct answers contact the author

California Driver Handbook

SAMPLE TEST

1. When you drive through a construction zone, you should:

a. Slow down to watch the workers

b. Decrease your following distance

c. Pass the construction zone carefully and not “rubberneck”

2. To make a right turn at the corner, you:

a. May not enter the bicycle lane

b. Should only merge into the bicycle lane if you stop before turning

c. Must merge into the bicycle lane before turning

3. If a traffic signal light is not working, you must:

a. Stop, then proceed when safe

b. Stop before entering the intersection and let all other traffic go first

c. Slow down or stop, only if necessary

4. A pedestrian is crossing your lane but there is no crosswalk. You should:

a. Make sure the pedestrian sees you, but continue driving

b. Carefully drive around the pedestrian

c. Stop and let the pedestrian cross the street

5. Always use your seat belt:

a. Unless the vehicle was built before 1978

b. Unless you are in a limousine

c. When the vehicle is equipped with seat belts

6. The extra space in front of a large truck is needed for:

a. Other drivers when merging onto a freeway

b. The truck driver to stop the vehicle

c. Other drivers when they want to slow down

7. Roads are slippery after it first starts to rain. When the road is slippery you should:

a. Avoid making fast turns and fast stops

b. Test your tires’ traction while going uphill

c. Decrease the distance you look ahead of your vehicle

8. Accidents can happen more often when:

a. All vehicles are traveling about the same speed

b. One lane of traffic is traveling faster than the other lanes

c. One vehicle is traveling faster or slower than the flow of traffic

For the correct answers contact the author