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California DMV Diagnostic Test – Are You Ready?

Average pass rate for driving tests in California: 55%.
Average pass rate for this test: 64%.
Easy
2-3 min
Score distribution:
90-100=>18%
80-89=>29%
70-79=>9%
60-69=>13%
<60%=>31%
Avg. first-try score: 83%

You’re stoked to hit the road and soak up all the cool things California has to offer. It doesn’t matter which way you’re heading. NorCal. SoCal. It’s all good! However, without a California driver’s license, you’ll be off to a gnarly start to your plans. Like, you don’t just need to worry about gridlock on the 405, the bro on his phone, or getting tossed around by Santa Ana. You’re going to need to know how to safely navigate your ride and understand your responsibilities as a driver. For real! If you’re going to get legit, you better start planning to learn the rules of the road. The good news is there is a resource with a proven track record that’s all about it.

Our free California DMV Diagnostic Driving practice test strategically prepares you to take your California driver’s license knowledge test. You’ll need to answer 80% of the 46 questions correctly to receive a passing score. What makes this practice test so rad? The practice test includes 8 of the most commonly missed questions, just like the ones on the official test. This approach helps you budget your time wisely because you’re not wasting time on questions you probably already know. You’ll find yourself cruising your way to passing your official knowledge test on the first attempt.

Tricky exam topics covered here:
Fog & Low Visibility
Safe Following Distance
California DMV Diagnostic Test – Are You Ready?
CA DMV driver's license
Based on the official CA Driver HandbookHandbook‑based (2025) + exam‑taker feedback
53 CA students practicing now
639completed today

Accuracy & authorship

Steven Litvintchouk, M.S., Chief Educational Researcher at Driving-Tests.org

Reviewed for legal and handbook accuracy:

Steven Litvintchouk

M.S., Chief Educational Researcher (ACES member)

Last verified for accuracy on

Andrei Zakhareuski, Co-founder & CEO at Driving-Tests.org

Test design and learning experience oversight:

Andrei Zakhareuski

Co-founder & CEO, Driving-Tests.org

How to use this practice test

  1. Start here. One of 4 free California tests. ~2-3 min. Read explanations as you go.
  2. Cover more ground. All tests have different questions - no repeats.
  3. Finish strong. Try the Exam Simulator for a full-length run.

Why this works

  • Exam-like questions from the current handbook + real test-taker patterns. Explanations cite the manual.
  • AI Assistant explains tricky items in plain language.
  • Performance Insights show your weak topics and what to study next.
  • Challenge Bank™ saves your mistakes for targeted practice.

Actual DMV permit test: What to expect?

The California permit test has 46 questions. You must get 38 correct (83%) to pass.
  • Where: Any California DMV office (find locations)
  • Bring: ID + SSN + residency proof + permit/license fee (see checklist)
  • If you fail: Under 18: Wait 7 days before retaking (not including the day you failed). 18+: Retake after next business day.
  • Commonly missed: road sign recognition (warning, regulatory, and guide signs), legal blood alcohol limits.
  • Ready to schedule? Book your CA DMV appointment

About the California learner permit

While you might think a study guide could provide you with the same success, note that a study guide mainly assists you in memorizing the correct answer for a short time. The practice test is based on the most recent California Driver’s Handbook (California DMV Driver's Handbook 2025: Interactive Manual w/Audio) and is up to date as of December 2025. You’ll get a real assessment of how prepared you are to take the official test by receiving immediate feedback on any questions you answer incorrectly. Even better, you will be provided with a detailed explanation of the correct answer. This study method helps you retain the information longer and apply it to the questions that need it.

Don’t get put outta pocket by lesser resources! You can find all types of practice tests for other U.S. states and Washington D.C. at https://driving-tests.org/academy/drivers-license.

We know what it takes to pass. And we’ve got the proof.

Driver’s Ed is - nobody wants to set foot inside the DMV. That’s why millions of learners trust us for simple, visual, effective prep.

An official & trusted partner in driver education

We are an officially recognized FMCSA Entry-Level Driver Training provider and a proud partner to over 2,500 libraries. We work with safety organizations like GHSA and the National Safety Council to help create safer roads for everyone.

A smarter way to study

Challenge Bank™

Our trademarked system automatically saves questions you miss, creating personalized tests that target your weak spots until you’ve mastered the material.

AI-powered feedback

Get smarter as you study. Our new AI-powered feedback provides detailed, question-level insights to help you understand the why behind each answer.

Interactive handbook

Go beyond the boring black-and-white manual. Our interactive handbook lets you read, listen with an MP3 audio version, or even chat with it to find the information you need, faster.