California DMV
Driving & Rules of the Road Resources
Review essential driving knowledge, road signs, vehicle controls, and official DMV video resources in one place.
Use this page to strengthen your understanding of California driving rules and prepare for common situations you may encounter on the road and during a DMV driving test. Explore official California DMV Rules of the Road videos, review important traffic signs, learn key vehicle components and safety controls, and become familiar with common DMV driving-test instructions.
California DMV Rules of the Road Videos
Watch official California DMV videos covering important traffic laws, safe driving practices, and everyday roadway situations.
California DMV Road Signs
Review common warning, regulatory, construction, and guide signs to better understand their meanings and how to respond while driving.
California DMV Driving Test — What to Expect
Before your driving test begins, the DMV examiner may review basic vehicle controls, hand signals, and common driving instructions with you. Knowing these items ahead of time can help you feel more prepared and understand what the examiner is asking you to do.
Vehicle Safety Check
Before driving, be prepared to identify or demonstrate the basic controls of your vehicle. The DMV safety check includes:
✅ Left and right turn signals
✅ Brake pedal
✅ Horn
✅ Emergency/parking brake
✅ Emergency flashers
✅ Headlights
✅ Windshield wipers
✅ Defroster
✅ Left-turn hand signal
✅ Right-turn hand signal
✅ Slow-or-stop hand signal
The examiner may also ask whether your vehicle is equipped with automated technology.
🚗 Before the Drive Begins
The DMV examiner will explain that you are being evaluated on your ability to drive safely and skillfully in different driving situations. The examiner will not try to trick you or ask you to do anything illegal.
You may hear instructions such as “At the corner, turn left,” “At the corner, turn right,” “Pull over and stop,” “Lane change left,” or “Lane change right.” The examiner will also give you an opportunity to ask questions before beginning.
⚠️ Automated Driving Features
Do not rely on your vehicle’s automated features during the driving test. The DMV states that convenience technology such as adaptive cruise control is prohibited during the test.
🛣️ During the Driving Test
If the examiner does not tell you to turn, continue following the road ahead. Make any necessary lane changes to follow the examiner’s directions, and perform all driving maneuvers only when it is safe to do so.
The examiner will observe how you handle everyday driving situations, including intersections, turns, stops, lane changes, traffic checks, speed, yielding, spacing, lane position, and vehicle control.
📋 Understanding the DMV Driving Test Score Sheet
During the test, the examiner uses a Driving Performance Evaluation Score Sheet to record your driving performance. The score sheet shows the specific areas the examiner evaluates and can help you understand what to practice before your test.
The DMV sample score sheet includes sections for the Pre-Drive Checklist, parking lot driving, intersections, turns, backing, lane changes, business/urban and residential/rural driving, freeway or highway driving, and critical driving errors.
To pass, the DMV sample states that you must have:
- No more than 3 errors on Items 9–14 of the Pre-Drive Checklist
- No Critical Driving Errors
- No more than 15 errors on the scored driving maneuvers
The score sheet evaluates important driving skills such as traffic checks, speed, signaling, lane use, stopping, yielding, spacing, steering control, and proper lane position.
Review the sample DMV Driving Performance Evaluation Score Sheet below so you can become familiar with what the examiner will be looking for during your test.
👀 Important Driving Habits
Practice consistently checking for traffic and cross traffic, looking both ways at intersections, checking blind spots before changing lanes or pulling away from the curb, maintaining a safe speed, staying centered in your lane, using your signals correctly, leaving adequate space between vehicles, and making smooth, controlled stops.
The DMV score sheet specifically evaluates habits such as looking both ways when approaching intersections, driving at an appropriate speed, maintaining an adequate space cushion, steering smoothly, using turn signals, and yielding when appropriate.
📘 Common Words You May Hear
Understanding common DMV instructions can make the test easier to follow. Important terms include back up straight, brake pedal, curb, drive straight, drive to the side of the road, drive into the traffic lane, lane, left, right, look, park, reverse, rearview mirror, side mirror, sidewalk, signal, stop, street, traffic, turn, vehicle, and wait.
💡 Helpful Reminder
Know where your vehicle’s basic controls are located before arriving for your DMV driving test. Practice identifying the windshield wipers, headlights, emergency flashers, defroster, horn, parking brake, turn signals, mirrors, and brake pedal so you can respond confidently when asked.
Also review the DMV Driving Performance Evaluation Score Sheet before your appointment. Understanding how the test is scored can help you focus your practice on the driving habits and maneuvers the examiner will be evaluating.
California DMV Safe Driver Checklist
The California DMV’s Safe Driver Checklist is designed to help drivers build safe, consistent habits behind the wheel. After practicing, use this checklist to review the skills and behaviors that can help you drive smoothly, recognize hazards, and make safer decisions on the road.
✅ Locate Your Vehicle Controls
Before driving, make sure you can locate and explain how to operate your vehicle’s four-way flashers, emergency or parking brake, headlights, heater/defroster, horn, and windshield wipers.
✅ Before Starting the Vehicle
Adjust your mirrors for proper visibility and fasten your safety belt before starting the vehicle.
✅ Starting the Vehicle
Make sure the vehicle is in Park or Neutral, keep your foot on the brake pedal, and start the vehicle smoothly.
✅ Moving Forward
Use your turn signal before entering traffic, look over your shoulder to check for vehicles or other hazards, and keep both hands positioned on opposite sides of the steering wheel.
✅ Stopping Safely
Stop when required and remain behind crosswalks or limit lines. Use the proper foot on the brake pedal and come to a smooth, controlled stop.
✅ Making Turns
Signal and reduce your speed before turning. Begin and finish the turn in the correct lane, yield the right-of-way when required, accept your legal right-of-way when it is safe, and remain alert for potential hazards.
✅ Backing Up
Before backing, check the area around your vehicle for obstacles. Look back over your right shoulder while reversing, while also checking your mirrors and making quick side glances as needed.
✅ Changing Lanes
Signal before changing lanes, check your mirrors, look over your shoulder to check your blind spot, and move into the new lane only when it is safe.
✅ Parking on Hills
Signal before parking, position your wheels correctly depending on whether the vehicle is facing uphill or downhill, and set the parking brake. Before returning to traffic, signal and check your blind spot over your shoulder.
✅ Parallel Parking
Signal before beginning the maneuver, check your blind spot, look over your shoulder while backing, and yield to other vehicles when necessary.
✅ Entering & Exiting the Freeway
Check the flow of traffic, signal, and time your entry so you can merge safely. Look over your shoulder to check your blind spot while accelerating into an available gap. When exiting, signal early and reduce your speed on the exit ramp to meet the posted limit and current road conditions.
✅ Defensive Driving Techniques
Safe driving requires continuous awareness. Check your mirrors frequently and before braking, look for cross traffic before entering intersections, observe traffic signals and signs, and keep your eyes moving between the sides and center of the roadway.
Maintain a space cushion around your vehicle and follow other vehicles at a safe distance so you have enough time and room to react if conditions suddenly change.
🚘 Practice Safe Driving Habits Every Time You Drive
These skills are not only useful when preparing for a DMV driving test. Practicing them consistently can help you become a safer, more attentive, and more confident driver in everyday traffic.
What to Bring to Your DMV Behind-the-Wheel Test
What You Need to Bring
✅ Your Original California Instruction Permit
Bring your valid California learner’s permit to the DMV.
✅ DMV Driving Test Appointment Information
Have your appointment confirmation or appointment details available.
✅ Required Documents for Drivers Under 18
If you are under 18, make sure your permit and required driver-training documentation are properly completed and signed.
✅ Glasses or Contact Lenses, If Required
If your permit requires corrective lenses, you must wear them during your driving test.
What Allied Driving School Provides
✅ DMV-Ready Training Vehicle
✅ Valid Vehicle Registration
✅ Current Proof of Vehicle Insurance
✅ Licensed Driving Instructor
Your instructor will accompany you to the DMV and meet the DMV requirement for a licensed driver.
✅ Pre-Test Driving Practice & Vehicle Familiarization
✅ Transportation to and from the DMV
Your instructor will take you to your scheduled DMV office for your driving test and provide transportation back home afterward.