DMV HANDBOOK 2025 CA QUESTIONS
& ANSWERS (RATED A+)
What does a California driver's license allow you to do? - ANSWERDrive on public
roads.
What tests are required to get a driver's license in California? - ANSWERA knowledge
test and a behind-the-wheel drive test.
What is the most common type of driver's license needed by people? - ANSWERA
noncommercial Class C driver's license.
Where can you find information on vehicles covered by a Class C license? -
ANSWERdmv.ca.gov/dl
What is the purpose of the California Driver's Handbook? - ANSWERIt provides
information needed to pass the knowledge and behind-the-wheel drive tests.
Selecting a Driving School - ANSWERMore information can be found at
dmv.ca.gov/driver-ed.
Steps after Obtaining Instruction Permit - ANSWERPractice driving with a California-
licensed driver and pass a behind-the-wheel drive test.
Minimum Age for Practicing Driver - ANSWERAt least 18 years old (25 for minors).
Minimum Age for Driver's License - ANSWERAt least 16 years old if you are under 18.
Minimum Duration of Instruction Permit - ANSWERAt least 6 months before scheduling
your behind-the-wheel drive test if you are under 18.
Programs Required for Minors - ANSWERYou must prove you completed driver
education and driver training.
Practice Driving Hours for Minors - ANSWERAt least 50 hours.
Night Driving Hours for Minors - ANSWER10 hours must be at night.
Minimum Age for Practicing Driver for 50 Hours - ANSWERAt least 25 years old.
,Application Steps for Driver's License - ANSWERA complete list can be found at
dmv.ca.gov/dlservices.
What must your driver's license or ID card be compliant with starting in May 2025? -
ANSWERREAL ID
Importance of feedback from observers - ANSWERTo improve driving skills and safety.
Benefit of family member reporting a driver - ANSWERIt can help prevent accidents.
Purpose of DMV conducting re-examinations - ANSWERTo ensure that all drivers are
competent and safe.
Importance of knowing about re-examination process - ANSWERTo be prepared if you
or a loved one needs a re-examination.
Unique needs and concerns of senior drivers - ANSWERDriving requires certain
physical, visual, and mental abilities that may change with age.
Warning signs of an unsafe driver - ANSWERGetting lost in familiar places, dents and
scrapes on vehicles/property, frequent close calls or collisions.
What are three situations where you will need a REAL ID compliant card? -
ANSWERBoarding domestic flights, entering military bases, and entering most federal
facilities.
Where can you find more information about applying for a REAL ID? -
ANSWERdmv.ca.gov/realid
Does California offer driver's licenses to undocumented residents? - ANSWERYes
Where can you find more information about driver's licenses for undocumented
residents? - ANSWERdmv.ca.gov/dl
Where can you find information about becoming an organ and tissue donor? -
ANSWERdonateLIFEcalifornia.org
Where can veterans find information about requirements and benefits for a veteran
designation on their license? - ANSWERdmv.ca.gov/veterans
What is the purpose of a California ID card? - ANSWERIdentification purposes
Can an ID card be used to drive? - ANSWERNo
,Who are ID cards issued to? - ANSWEREligible persons of any age
What documents are required to get an ID card? - ANSWERIdentity document,
residency documents, and social security number.
Where can you complete an ID card application and find information on acceptable
documents? - ANSWERdmv.ca.gov/id-cards
Does the DMV offer reduced-fee, no-fee, or senior ID cards? - ANSWERYes
Instruction Permit - ANSWERA permit required before taking the behind-the-wheel drive
test if you don't have a driver's license from California or another state.
Documents for Instruction Permit - ANSWERProof of identity, two proofs of residency,
legal full name document (if needed), and social security number.
REAL ID Requirements - ANSWERInformation can be found at dmv.ca.gov/realid.
Voter Registration Information - ANSWERInformation can be found at sos.ca.gov.
Steps to Apply for Class C Instruction Permit - ANSWERComplete an application,
provide documents, pay a fee, pass knowledge test(s), and pass a vision test.
Application Steps for Instruction Permit - ANSWERA complete list can be found at
dmv.ca.gov/instructionpermit.
Minimum Age for Instruction Permit - ANSWERAt least 15½ years old if you are under
18.
Driver Education Program - ANSWERA program that must be completed if you are
under 18 and applying for an instruction permit.
Application Approval for Minors - ANSWERA parent or guardian must sign to approve
the application and accept financial responsibility.
Using Instruction Permit - ANSWERYou must start behind-the-wheel driver training with
an instructor who will validate the permit.
Driver Education and Training Locations - ANSWEROffered at DMV-licensed driving
schools and some high schools.
Instructor's ID Card - ANSWERMust be carried by instructors.
Provisional - ANSWERThe word that will be on your driver's license if you are under 18.
, Driving restrictions for provisional drivers - ANSWERNo driving between 11 p.m. and 5
a.m., and no passengers under 20 years old without a supervising driver.
Additional restriction for provisional license - ANSWERCannot drive for pay or operate
vehicles that require a commercial Class A, B, or C license.
First exception to the restrictions - ANSWERA medical need.
Medical need exception documentation - ANSWERA note signed by your physician.
Contents of physician's note for medical need - ANSWERYour medical condition and
date you are expected to recover.
Second exception to the restrictions - ANSWERDriving for schooling or a school activity.
Documentation for schooling exception - ANSWERA note signed by your school
principal, dean, or designee.
Third exception to the restrictions - ANSWERDriving for work reasons.
Documentation for work exception - ANSWERA note signed by your employer.
Employer's note confirmation - ANSWERYour employment.
Fourth exception to the restrictions - ANSWERDriving an immediate family member.
Documentation for family member exception - ANSWERA note signed by your parent or
legal guardian.
Contents of parent or guardian's note - ANSWERThe reason you need to drive, the
family member, and date when the need will end.
Who can cancel a teen's license - ANSWERA parent or guardian.
Form to cancel a teen's license - ANSWERA Request for Cancellation or Surrender of a
Driver License or ID Card form.
Document needed if identity document and application name do not match -
ANSWERLegal full name document.
Refundability of application fee - ANSWERNo.
Tests required for an instruction permit - ANSWERKnowledge test(s) and vision test.
Tests required for a driver's license - ANSWERKnowledge test(s) and behind-the-wheel
drive test.
& ANSWERS (RATED A+)
What does a California driver's license allow you to do? - ANSWERDrive on public
roads.
What tests are required to get a driver's license in California? - ANSWERA knowledge
test and a behind-the-wheel drive test.
What is the most common type of driver's license needed by people? - ANSWERA
noncommercial Class C driver's license.
Where can you find information on vehicles covered by a Class C license? -
ANSWERdmv.ca.gov/dl
What is the purpose of the California Driver's Handbook? - ANSWERIt provides
information needed to pass the knowledge and behind-the-wheel drive tests.
Selecting a Driving School - ANSWERMore information can be found at
dmv.ca.gov/driver-ed.
Steps after Obtaining Instruction Permit - ANSWERPractice driving with a California-
licensed driver and pass a behind-the-wheel drive test.
Minimum Age for Practicing Driver - ANSWERAt least 18 years old (25 for minors).
Minimum Age for Driver's License - ANSWERAt least 16 years old if you are under 18.
Minimum Duration of Instruction Permit - ANSWERAt least 6 months before scheduling
your behind-the-wheel drive test if you are under 18.
Programs Required for Minors - ANSWERYou must prove you completed driver
education and driver training.
Practice Driving Hours for Minors - ANSWERAt least 50 hours.
Night Driving Hours for Minors - ANSWER10 hours must be at night.
Minimum Age for Practicing Driver for 50 Hours - ANSWERAt least 25 years old.
,Application Steps for Driver's License - ANSWERA complete list can be found at
dmv.ca.gov/dlservices.
What must your driver's license or ID card be compliant with starting in May 2025? -
ANSWERREAL ID
Importance of feedback from observers - ANSWERTo improve driving skills and safety.
Benefit of family member reporting a driver - ANSWERIt can help prevent accidents.
Purpose of DMV conducting re-examinations - ANSWERTo ensure that all drivers are
competent and safe.
Importance of knowing about re-examination process - ANSWERTo be prepared if you
or a loved one needs a re-examination.
Unique needs and concerns of senior drivers - ANSWERDriving requires certain
physical, visual, and mental abilities that may change with age.
Warning signs of an unsafe driver - ANSWERGetting lost in familiar places, dents and
scrapes on vehicles/property, frequent close calls or collisions.
What are three situations where you will need a REAL ID compliant card? -
ANSWERBoarding domestic flights, entering military bases, and entering most federal
facilities.
Where can you find more information about applying for a REAL ID? -
ANSWERdmv.ca.gov/realid
Does California offer driver's licenses to undocumented residents? - ANSWERYes
Where can you find more information about driver's licenses for undocumented
residents? - ANSWERdmv.ca.gov/dl
Where can you find information about becoming an organ and tissue donor? -
ANSWERdonateLIFEcalifornia.org
Where can veterans find information about requirements and benefits for a veteran
designation on their license? - ANSWERdmv.ca.gov/veterans
What is the purpose of a California ID card? - ANSWERIdentification purposes
Can an ID card be used to drive? - ANSWERNo
,Who are ID cards issued to? - ANSWEREligible persons of any age
What documents are required to get an ID card? - ANSWERIdentity document,
residency documents, and social security number.
Where can you complete an ID card application and find information on acceptable
documents? - ANSWERdmv.ca.gov/id-cards
Does the DMV offer reduced-fee, no-fee, or senior ID cards? - ANSWERYes
Instruction Permit - ANSWERA permit required before taking the behind-the-wheel drive
test if you don't have a driver's license from California or another state.
Documents for Instruction Permit - ANSWERProof of identity, two proofs of residency,
legal full name document (if needed), and social security number.
REAL ID Requirements - ANSWERInformation can be found at dmv.ca.gov/realid.
Voter Registration Information - ANSWERInformation can be found at sos.ca.gov.
Steps to Apply for Class C Instruction Permit - ANSWERComplete an application,
provide documents, pay a fee, pass knowledge test(s), and pass a vision test.
Application Steps for Instruction Permit - ANSWERA complete list can be found at
dmv.ca.gov/instructionpermit.
Minimum Age for Instruction Permit - ANSWERAt least 15½ years old if you are under
18.
Driver Education Program - ANSWERA program that must be completed if you are
under 18 and applying for an instruction permit.
Application Approval for Minors - ANSWERA parent or guardian must sign to approve
the application and accept financial responsibility.
Using Instruction Permit - ANSWERYou must start behind-the-wheel driver training with
an instructor who will validate the permit.
Driver Education and Training Locations - ANSWEROffered at DMV-licensed driving
schools and some high schools.
Instructor's ID Card - ANSWERMust be carried by instructors.
Provisional - ANSWERThe word that will be on your driver's license if you are under 18.
, Driving restrictions for provisional drivers - ANSWERNo driving between 11 p.m. and 5
a.m., and no passengers under 20 years old without a supervising driver.
Additional restriction for provisional license - ANSWERCannot drive for pay or operate
vehicles that require a commercial Class A, B, or C license.
First exception to the restrictions - ANSWERA medical need.
Medical need exception documentation - ANSWERA note signed by your physician.
Contents of physician's note for medical need - ANSWERYour medical condition and
date you are expected to recover.
Second exception to the restrictions - ANSWERDriving for schooling or a school activity.
Documentation for schooling exception - ANSWERA note signed by your school
principal, dean, or designee.
Third exception to the restrictions - ANSWERDriving for work reasons.
Documentation for work exception - ANSWERA note signed by your employer.
Employer's note confirmation - ANSWERYour employment.
Fourth exception to the restrictions - ANSWERDriving an immediate family member.
Documentation for family member exception - ANSWERA note signed by your parent or
legal guardian.
Contents of parent or guardian's note - ANSWERThe reason you need to drive, the
family member, and date when the need will end.
Who can cancel a teen's license - ANSWERA parent or guardian.
Form to cancel a teen's license - ANSWERA Request for Cancellation or Surrender of a
Driver License or ID Card form.
Document needed if identity document and application name do not match -
ANSWERLegal full name document.
Refundability of application fee - ANSWERNo.
Tests required for an instruction permit - ANSWERKnowledge test(s) and vision test.
Tests required for a driver's license - ANSWERKnowledge test(s) and behind-the-wheel
drive test.
