For a California drive test, bring your instruction permit, a licensed adult to drive you (25 or older if you are under 18), a car that is safe to drive, and valid proof of insurance and registration. Teens also bring the Certificate of Completion of Behind-the-Wheel Training from their driving school. The examiner checks the car before you move, and a dead brake light, a cracked windshield or a missing mirror can get the test rescheduled.

Documents and people

Your instruction permit. If you reapplied because a permit expired, bring both the old and the new one. The DMV credits the time you already held, but it needs to see both.
The 50-hour signature. For teens, a parent or guardian signs the permit to certify 50 hours of supervised practice, 10 at night.
Your behind-the-wheel training certificate (teens). The DMV says you must bring it when you test. From a DMV-licensed driving school, that is form DL 400D.
A licensed driver to come with you. The handbook says to bring another California-licensed driver, at least 18, or 25 for minors, unless you are already licensed.
Proof of insurance. The DMV checks it before the test begins, and the test is postponed without it.
Current registration. The DMV's test-prep sheet says the rear license plate must show current registration.
Your appointment. Drive tests are not given without one.

The DMV accepts several forms of insurance proof, including a document showing a liability policy or surety bond number, an insurance binder, or written confirmation from the insurer. A rental car can be used only if your name is on the contract and the contract does not exclude drive tests.

The car: what the examiner checks first

The DMV's pre-drive checklist has 17 items. Items 1 to 8 and 15 to 17 are about the car. If one of them fails, the DMV calls it a mechanical failure and reschedules the test. Check all of these the evening before.

Item	DMV requirement	How to check at home
Driver window	Must open	Roll it down and back up
Windshield	Full, clear, unblocked view for you and the examiner; cracks may postpone the test	Look for cracks in front of either seat; clear off anything on the dash
Mirrors	At least two, one outside on the left; secure and unbroken	Check both side mirrors and the inside mirror
Turn signals	Left and right, front and back, all working	Have someone stand outside while you test each one
Brake lights	Left and right both working (the center light does not count)	Back up to a garage door at dusk, or ask a helper
Tires	At least 1/32 inch of tread; no bald tires; no donut spare	Look for smooth spots; make sure the spare is not on
Foot brake	At least 1 inch between the pressed pedal and the floor	Press firmly with the engine running
Horn	Made for the car, working, heard from 200 feet	One short tap
Passenger door	Opens and closes properly	Open it from inside and outside
Glove box	Closes securely	Shut it and give it a tug
Seat belts	Working belts for you and the examiner, and worn	Buckle and unbuckle both front belts

The DMV's test-prep sheet adds a few more: two license plates, doors that open from inside and outside, and a passenger seat that is firmly attached. Refusing to wear a seat belt also gets the test rescheduled.

The controls you must show

Items 9 to 14 check that you know the car. If you cannot find or show 4 or more of them, the test counts as a failure before you leave the lot.

Parking brake: set it and release it. If it does not hold, the DMV treats it as a mechanical failure.
Arm signals: left turn, right turn, and slowing or stopping. The handbook shows each one.
Windshield wipers: find the switch and turn them on.
Defroster: find the front windshield defroster.
Emergency flashers: find the hazard light button.
Headlights: find the switch.

In bad weather, the wipers, defroster, flashers and headlights must actually work, or the test is rescheduled. Our DMV prep lesson starts with this check, because it is the easiest part of the test to get right and the most frustrating part to get wrong. Practice it in your own car until your teen can do all six without looking for them.

Rules inside the car

Only the examiner rides with you. Parents and instructors do not ride along. An interpreter can help during the pre-drive check but cannot ride along.
No recording. Dash cams and other recorders are not allowed. If one cannot be switched off, you must block it.
Driver-assistance features off. Self-parking, lane-keeping help and adaptive cruise control are not allowed. A backup camera or blind-spot monitor may be on, but you still have to look.
You may ask to see the examiner's DMV ID badge before the test. The DMV suggests it.

Using a driving school car

Some families prefer to test in the car the student trained in. Stallion's DMV exam package is two 2-hour lessons: a prep lesson on what examiners score, then a warm-up lesson on your appointment day in our dual-control SUV, which you then use for the test, subject to DMV requirements on the day. We do not rent the car on its own; the warm-up keeps test day safe and familiar. It is $417.99 by card or $399.99 in cash or check, and the package is valid 90 days. Book the DMV appointment first, then the package with that date. Teens who trained with another school can use it too.

The night before

Walk around the car with a helper: signals front and back, brake lights, headlights.
Check the windshield, mirrors, tires and horn.
Empty the dash and passenger seat. Close the glove box.
Practice the six controls until they are automatic.
Put the permit, training certificate, insurance card and registration in one folder.
Check the appointment time and the office address on the DMV site.
Sleep. A rested driver scans better than a crammed one.

Test morning in Chico

Most Chico families test at the Chico DMV office. Others book Oroville, Red Bluff or Redding. Confirm the address and hours on the DMV's field office locator, and book or change your time through the DMV appointment page. Arrive early so there is time to park, check in and settle.

A short drive before the test helps more than a long one. Fifteen minutes of quiet streets, a few full stops and one round of backing is enough. Avoid trying a new road on test morning.

For what happens once you pull out of the lot, read what DMV examiners score. If you want a calm practice run first, our parking steps and using our car for the DMV test cover the rest.

Quick answers

What documents do I need for the California drive test? Your permit, proof of insurance, current registration and, for teens, the behind-the-wheel training certificate, plus a licensed adult unless you are already licensed.

Can a cracked windshield stop my test? Yes. The DMV says windshield cracks may postpone the test.

Can I use a rental car? Yes, if your name is on the contract and it does not exclude drive tests.

Can my parent ride along during the test? No. Only the examiner rides with you, apart from limited DMV exceptions.

What if I forget where the defroster is? One missed control is not a failure, but missing 4 or more of the six control items is.

Sources

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

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What to Bring to the California DMV Drive Test: A Checklist