Dear Students and New Drivers,

In addition to reading and understanding the CA DMV Driver’s Handbook and completing our 30-hour Online Course, we have created this guide to help make passing the CA DMV written test a little easier.

Below are some critical numbers to remember:

1
As a result of a ticket or an accident, you will receive 1 point on your driving record. When you get a point, the DMV will send a warning letter to you and your parents.

2
If you accumulate two points on your record, you will have a “restricted” license. This means you will need to drive with a parent for one month. Your insurance rate will likely increase.

3
Three points on your record result in a six-month suspension and an additional six months of probation.

Additionally, maintaining three seconds of distance between you and any vehicle in front of you will help prevent most accidents. The Hills Driving School recommends 4 seconds or more, depending on the situation.

4
Seconds refers to an exercise in determining a safe distance from other vehicles. Use this when deciding whether to turn left in front of an oncoming car, when turning onto a street with a car approaching, or when pulling in front of a car while making a lane change.

5
Signal for at least five seconds when making a lane change. You also have five days to report the sale of your vehicle. If you're being followed by five cars who have had to slow down behind you, pull to the right onto a shoulder or into a slower lane.
The speed limit in parking lots is 5 MPH.

10
Both parties should report an accident to the DMV within 10 days if there was more than $750 in total damage or if someone was injured.
Allow at least 10 seconds for passing time to avoid getting hit by oncoming traffic.
Slow down your car 5-10 miles per hour (compared to the posted speed limit) when driving in the rain.
Remember: the safest speed is not always the posted speed limit!

15
Unless otherwise indicated by a sign:

• 15 MPH at blind intersections where you cannot see 100 feet in either direction as you approach.

• 15 MPH at blind railroad crossings where you cannot see 400 feet in either direction as you approach the tracks.

• 15 MPH in alleys.

18
Park your car no more than 18 inches from the curb. This will also be tested during the road test.

25
The speed limit in business, residential, or school districts is 25 MPH unless otherwise posted.
Remember: this is the maximum speed limit. Always drive at the speed that is safest for the given conditions.

30
During the first 30 minutes of a rainstorm, roads are extremely slick and dangerous. The water mixes with dirt and grease on the road, creating unsafe conditions.
Turn on your low-beam headlights 30 minutes after sunset and 30 minutes before sunrise.
Have your headlights on whenever visibility is poor due to weather or other factors.

55
Speed limit for trucks and cars towing vehicles.
They must travel in only the right two lanes on highways when they have 3 axles.

65
The speed limit on highways is 65 MPH unless otherwise indicated by a sign (for example, some stretches of Highway 5 to Las Vegas have a 75 MPH limit).

100
Always signal at least 100 feet in advance of a turn. This is approximately half a block in a residential area.

200
Merge into a bike lane no more than 200 feet from a right turn.

300
When driving behind another car, you should turn your high beams to low beams when you are within 300 feet of the car ahead. High beams can be distracting in mirrors and can impair other drivers' vision.

500
Turn your high beams down to low beams when you are within 500 feet of an oncoming car.

$1000
This is the current fine on the test for the following offenses:

• Dumping an animal on the side of the road

• Passing a school bus with its red lights flashing (from both directions)

• Failing to pull over to the right for an emergency vehicle

We hope this guide helps make the written test a little easier for our students.

Best of luck and success!

Kamran Ford
Founder, The Hills Driving School LLC.