For the California drive test, you bring a car that is safe to drive, with valid proof of insurance and registration, and it has to pass the examiner’s pre-drive check: signals, brake lights, mirrors, tires, horn, seat belts and more. Most people use a family car. Others use a rental with their name on the contract, or a driving school car. Our DMV exam package is the last option: a prep lesson, then a test-day lesson in the car you take the test in.

What the DMV requires on test day

The DMV handbook lists what you must bring to a behind-the-wheel test.

Your instruction permit, or your license if you have one.
Another California-licensed driver who is at least 18, or at least 25 if you are a minor, unless you are already licensed.
A vehicle that is safe to drive for your test.
Valid proof of insurance and vehicle registration.
For a rental, your name on the rental contract, and a contract that does not exclude behind-the-wheel drive tests.

A few more rules surprise people. Only the examiner rides with you during the test. Recording devices, including dash cams, are not allowed; if one cannot be switched off, you must block it. Driver-assist features such as automated parallel parking, lane departure systems and adaptive cruise control are not permitted. Backup cameras and blind-spot monitors may be used, but they do not replace looking at your mirrors and over your shoulder.

The pre-drive check: what can stop a test

Before you drive, the examiner checks the car and asks you to show its controls. If the car fails a safety item, the test is rescheduled as a mechanical failure. If you cannot find or demonstrate four or more of the control items, the test is scored unsatisfactory. In bad weather, the wipers, defroster, hazard lights and headlights must work or the test is rescheduled.

Item	DMV requirement	Check it the night before
Driver window	Must open	Roll it down and up
Windshield	Full, clear view; cracks may postpone the test	Look for cracks in the driver’s view
Mirrors	At least two, one outside on the left	Secure, unbroken, clean
Turn signals and brake lights	Front and back signals both sides; left and right brake lights	Have a helper stand behind the car
Tires	At least 1/32 inch of tread; no donut spare	No bald spots, no spare on the car
Foot brake	At least one inch between pedal and floor when pressed	Press it firmly with the engine on
Horn	Works, loud enough to hear at 200 feet	One short tap
Parking brake	You set and release it	Practice until it is automatic
Passenger door, glove box, seat belts	Door opens and closes, glove box shut, every belt works	Clear the passenger seat too

You will also be asked to show arm signals for a left turn, a right turn and slowing or stopping, and to find the wipers, defroster, hazard lights and headlights. In an unfamiliar car, these are the items people fumble. Sit in the car you will test in and find each one before the day.

Your options for a test car

Each choice works. Each one has something to check.

Option	Works well when	Check first
Your family car	You practiced in it and it passes the pre-drive check	Insurance card and registration current and in the car; dash cam off; no warning lights
A rental car	Your own car is not available or will not pass	Your name on the contract; the contract does not exclude drive tests; practice in it before the test
A borrowed car	A relative’s car you have driven before	Proof of insurance and registration; the owner’s permission
A driving school car	You want a warm-up and a familiar, dual-control car	How the school schedules test day and what happens if the DMV cancels

How our DMV exam package works

We do not rent the car on its own. The warm-up lesson keeps test day safe and familiar, because you test in the car you just practiced in. The package is $417.99 by card or $399.99 cash, sold as one package of two lessons, and it is valid for 90 days.

Book the DMV appointment first. Drive tests are by appointment only. Book it on the DMV appointment page.
Book the package with the appointment details. Give us the date, the time and the DMV office. Families usually choose Chico, Oroville, Red Bluff or Redding, and any other office works too.
Lesson 1, before test day: a prep lesson on what examiners score. The pre-drive check, smooth stops, turns and lane changes, scanning and blind-spot checks, backing and parking, and speed control in school and residential zones.
Lesson 2, on your appointment day: it starts that day and ends no later than 30 minutes after your appointment time. You warm up, then your instructor goes with you to the DMV office in the training car.
The test. You test in the car you practiced in, subject to DMV requirements on the day. We provide the car with current registration and proof of insurance. The DMV alone decides the result.

The package is not only for our own students. Teens who trained with another school can use it, and so can adults. More detail is on DMV drive test prep.

If the DMV cancels or moves your test

It happens. If the DMV cancels or moves the road test, or does not hold it for a reason outside your control, we rebook lesson 2 for the new date at no charge and extend the package to that date, as long as you send us the DMV notice within 14 days. If the DMV refuses our car for a reason within our control, that counts as our cancellation. A change you make less than 24 hours before the lesson uses the lesson, so update us as soon as your appointment changes.

Choosing a DMV office

Pick an office you can reach easily on test day. Use the DMV field office locator for current addresses and hours, and check your appointment confirmation for the exact time. We do not teach an exact test route, because the examiner chooses the route on the day. What we practice are the kinds of streets examiners use near a DMV office: residential streets, school zones, signalized intersections and lane changes.

Test-day checklist

Bring your permit and appointment confirmation. Teens also bring the Certificate of Completion of Driver Training from their driving school and a permit signed by a parent for the 50 practice hours. If you are using your own car, walk around it the night before with the table above. If a teen does not pass, the DMV requires a 14-day wait before the retest, and the retest fee is $7. Our drive test checklist covers the documents, and what examiners check covers the drive itself.

Quick answers

Can I use a rental car for the California drive test? Yes, if your name is on the rental contract and the contract does not exclude behind-the-wheel drive tests.

What does the car need for the DMV test? Valid proof of insurance and registration, and it must pass the pre-drive check: window, windshield, mirrors, signals, brake lights, tires, foot brake, horn, parking brake, passenger door, glove box and seat belts.

Can I use your car for my DMV test in Chico? Yes, with the DMV exam package: a prep lesson, then a test-day lesson and our car. Book the DMV appointment first.

Which DMV offices do your students use? Usually Chico, Oroville, Red Bluff or Redding. Tell us which office you booked.

Sources

Check the source. Requirements can change. Confirm current rules on the California DMV website before you apply.

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