What are the speed limits on the California permit test?

Most California highways, unless posted: 65 mph (Speed Limits); Two-lane undivided highways, and any vehicle towing a trailer: 55 mph (Speed Limits); Business and residential districts, unless posted: 25 mph (Business or Residential Districts); Within 500 feet of a school while children are outside or crossing: 25 mph (Around Children); Blind intersections (no stop sign on any corner): 15 mph (Blind Intersections); Alleys: 15 mph (Alleys); Within 100 feet of a railroad crossing when you can't see 400 feet down the tracks both ways: 15 mph (Near Railroad or Light Rail Tracks)

What is the legal BAC limit in California?

Illegal BAC at 21 and over: 0.08% (Blood Alcohol Concentration Limits); Illegal BAC under 21, or at any age while on DUI probation: 0.01% (Blood Alcohol Concentration Limits); Illegal BAC when driving a vehicle that needs a commercial license: 0.04% (Blood Alcohol Concentration Limits)

What are the fines and penalties for common violations in California?

Passing a stopped school bus with flashing red lights (plus 1-year suspension): Up to $1,000 (Around Children — School Buses); First DUI conviction base fine (plus mandatory assessments and license suspension): $390–$1,000 (Alcohol and Drugs in California); Abandoning an animal on a highway (punishable by up to 6 months jail or fine): Up to $1,000 (Rules of the Road); Base fine for first / subsequent handheld cell phone violations while driving: $20 / $50 (Distracted Driving); Evading a toll on a bridge or high-occupancy toll lane without paying: Up to $250 (Toll Roads and High-Occupancy Toll Lanes)

Can I download or print the California cheat sheet as a PDF?

Yes. Use the Print / Save as PDF button on this page to generate a clean, one-page printable reference sheet of every speed limit, distance, parking regulation, and penalty on the California examination.

Permit tests by state/California/Cheat sheet

California DMV knowledge test · cheat sheet

California DMV cheat sheet: every number on the permit test

46 questions for applicants under 18 (36 for adults 18+); 83% to pass; three attempts per application.

Start 20 free questions

Every line checked against the California Driver's Handbook · Checked September 24, 2026

Handbook numbers: 27
Sections: 5
Rules people miss: 4
Pass mark: 83%

Odometer

Every number on the California permit test

27 numbers from the California Driver's Handbook, each with the section it comes from.

Speed limits

65 mph: Most California highways, unless postedSpeed Limits
55 mph: Two-lane undivided highways, and any vehicle towing a trailerSpeed Limits
25 mph: Business and residential districts, unless postedBusiness or Residential Districts
25 mph: Within 500 feet of a school while children are outside or crossingAround Children
15 mph: Blind intersections (no stop sign on any corner)Blind Intersections
15 mph: AlleysAlleys
15 mph: Within 100 feet of a railroad crossing when you can't see 400 feet down the tracks both waysNear Railroad or Light Rail Tracks

Distances

100 feet: Start signaling before a turnSignaling
5 seconds: Signal before changing lanes on a freewaySignaling
3 seconds: Following distance behind the vehicle aheadFollowing distance (three-second rule)
500 / 300 feet: Dim high beams for oncoming traffic / for a vehicle you are followingUsing Your Headlights
15 feet: Stop at least this far from the nearest rail when a train is comingRailroad crossings
200 feet: U-turn in a residential district only if no vehicle is approaching within this distanceU-turns

Parking and curbs

15 feet: No parking within this distance of a fire hydrant or fire station drivewayIllegal Parking
20 feet: No parking within this distance of a marked or unmarked crosswalk (15 feet with a curb extension)Illegal Parking
Red curb: No stopping, standing or parkingParking at Colored Curbs
White curb: Stop only long enough to pick up or drop off passengersParking at Colored Curbs
Yellow curb: Load and unload passengers or freight, for no longer than postedParking at Colored Curbs
Green / blue curb: Limited-time parking / disabled placard or plate onlyParking at Colored Curbs

Alcohol

0.08%: Illegal BAC at 21 and overBlood Alcohol Concentration Limits
0.01%: Illegal BAC under 21, or at any age while on DUI probationBlood Alcohol Concentration Limits
0.04%: Illegal BAC when driving a vehicle that needs a commercial licenseBlood Alcohol Concentration Limits

Fines and penalties

Up to $1,000: Passing a stopped school bus with flashing red lights (plus 1-year suspension)Around Children — School Buses
$390–$1,000: First DUI conviction base fine (plus mandatory assessments and license suspension)Alcohol and Drugs in California
Up to $1,000: Abandoning an animal on a highway (punishable by up to 6 months jail or fine)Rules of the Road
$20 / $50: Base fine for first / subsequent handheld cell phone violations while drivingDistracted Driving
Up to $250: Evading a toll on a bridge or high-occupancy toll lane without payingToll Roads and High-Occupancy Toll Lanes

Warning lights

California rules people get wrong

The handbook rules behind the most missed questions. Read these twice before test day.

School bus with flashing red lights. stop from either direction and stay stopped until the children are across and the lights stop — unless the bus is on the other side of a divided or multilane highway. Failing to stop can cost up to $1,000 and a one-year suspension.
Move over and slow down for stopped emergency vehicles, tow trucks and road work vehicles with flashing lights.
Minors may not use a cell phone to answer calls or send or respond to texts while driving, even hands-free.
Fail the knowledge test and a minor must wait seven days to retake it.

Glovebox copy

The California cheat sheet as one poster

Save it to your phone or print it on one Letter page.

California permit test cheat sheet: speed limits, distances, parking rules and the other numbers on the test, from the official handbook

Every number above on one 1200 × 1800 image
Handbook section next to each number, so you can check it
Free to save and print for your own study

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QuizCram (quizcram.com) · Checked against the California Driver's Handbook · Practice at quizcram.com/california-dmv-practice-test

Can you apply the California numbers?

The real test asks them as situations. 20 free California questions, each answer explained and cited to the handbook.