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Driver Handbook
Enter your Zip Code below to get a Free Quote. We suggest getting quotes from both companies to ensure you get the best rate. There is no obligation to purchase.- California Driver Handbook
- Commercial Driver Handbook
Page OverviewTop California Driver Handbook
The California Department of Motor Vehicles publishes all its driver manuals online for residents to download free, in many different languages.
If you've got Adobe's free Reader software, then you can download the California Driver Handbook. If you prefer, the manual is also available in HTML format, which does not require you to download anything.
Catering to the state's diverse culture, the California Driver Handbook is available in nine languages:
Get your handbook by mail by calling your local DMV office or call (800) 777-0133 between 8 a.m. and 5 p.m.
What's in the Driver Handbook?
The California Driver Handbook covers topics such as:
- Who must have a license.
- Information for military personnel.
- Identification required for a first license.
- Replacing a lost or stolen license.
- Minor's permit requirements.
- The exam process.
- Limited-term license.
- Laws of the road.
But the California Driver Handbook is much more than just the basics―you can find information on other pertinent driving issues as well:
- Becoming an organ donor.
- How to avoid road rage.
- Driving in rain, fog, and snow.
- Myths about seat belts.
- Ways to avoid gridlock.
- Safety for the aging driver.
- Handling emergencies.
- Liability insurance requirements.
- Vehicle theft prevention.
- How to lose your license.
Reading through the California Driver Handbook from time to time is a great way to refresh your knowledge of the state's driving rules and regulations―and it's a good way to pick up on bits of information you might have missed before.
Top Commercial Driver Handbook
If you're interested in applying for a commercial driver's license (CDL), there is a driver's handbook just for you:
Related Questions from DMV Answers
Where can I access the traffic violation codes online?
Conveniently, most states post these codes on one or several Web sites.A state government Web site that posts state laws online will include all state laws, and you’ll need to sift through to find the section that deals with vehicle code and, more specifically, the section that deals with all the traffic violation codes. On the other hand, if you search through your driver handbook or the Web site of the state agency that handles driver- and vehicle-related mattes (this agency varies by state, but think the DMV, your county clerk’s office, or a division of your state’s public safety, transportation, or revenue department), chances are you’ll find that agency has isolated just the vehicle code.Understanding your state’s traffic violation codes can help you avoid getting a traffic ticket and, in some cases, even help you prove your citation was unwarranted. AlabamaAlaskaArizonaArkansasCaliforniaColoradoConnecticutDelawareFloridaGeorgiaHawaiiIdahoIllinois...
Read more >>How many questions do I have to get right to pass drivers permit test?
Check the grid below for your state’s requirements. It will tell you how many questions – or, how high a percentage of questions – you must answer correctly in order to pass your drivers permit test.Every state requires applicants to take a written test (or, knowledge test, as it’s often called) at some point, whether it’s to obtain a learners permit, a junior or provisional license, or a full drivers license. The results of this test help examiners determine whether or not you have a sufficient knowledge and understanding of driving-related matters like the rules of the road and traffic signs and markers. In order to make sure you do have that knowledge and understanding – and can prove it to examiners – it’s best to actually prepare for the test. Many states require applicants to complete a driver education or training course, but other ways to get ready for the drivers permit exam include studying your driver handbook and taking a p...
Read more >>According to the rules of the road, do pedestrians always have the right of way?
To be a safe driver, you must understand the rules of the road. This includes knowing how to share the road with pedestrians. One in six traffic fatalities is a pedestrian, so it's extremely important to be safe whenever you encounter someone traveling on foot. Pedestrians have the right of way in crosswalks. Crosswalks are typically marked with white lines and located at corners, but they can sometimes be in the middle of the block. Yellow crosswalk lines may be used to indicate school crossings and some crosswalks may have flashing lights. Pedestrians who are crossing the road at a point other than a marked crosswalk must yield the right of way to all vehicles. People sometimes use the term "jaywalking" to describe pedestrians walking outside of crosswalks. This is generally not a legal term. Most states allow pedestrians to cross outside of designated crosswalks if they yield to oncoming traffic. The only absolute exception to the standard right of way rules involves blind pedest...
Read more >>Is the permit book free?
Yes, you should be able to obtain a free driver's manual. Most states make permit books available through local drivers license branches. And, many now allow you to view and download the driver's permit books online.If you can't obtain a permit book through either method, you can call your state's main driver's license agency and asked to have one sent to you. Some states will charge for the book, or maybe just for the postage. Also, you may be able to get a permit book from a third-party provider, but chances are you'll have to pay for it.Regardless of how you obtain it, be sure to study the learners permit book thoroughly before attempting to take your written test. Doing so greatly enhances your ability to pass the test on the first attempt.
Read more >>What are the junior license restrictions?
Junior license restrictions vary from state to state; check the grid below.NOTE: This grid deals with junior drivers licenses that, for the purposes of this answer, are the licenses you get after you get a learners permit and before you get a full drivers license. If your state doesn’t provide a provisional license, the grid notes the name of the learners or instruction permit it does provide, and that is the permit you should contact your DMV about. Different states have different names for junior licenses. Some states call them junior licenses, and others refer to them as provisional licenses, intermediate licenses, or learners licenses. You might even find the name is unique to your state; Arizona, for example, calls its provisional license a Class G License.Junior licenses provide extra learning time for new drivers. At this stage in the game, chances are high you’ve already completed a drivers ed or training course that has helped you learn the rules of the road and...
Read more >>
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