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California DMV

Lancaster DMVDriving Test Practice Routes

721 W Ave L6, Lancaster, CA 93535

Within two miles of Lancaster DMV there are 41 sets of traffic lights. 10th Street West runs close to the office, up to 6 lanes wide in places and signed at 55 mph.

Start with the practice routes just below, then see how far a test can reach and how you'll leave the office.

Lancaster road test practice routes

Practice loops that start and finish at the DMV, each built from Lancaster's real streets and harder than the last.

These are practice loops we planned. They aren't official DMV test routes. Drive with a licensed supervisor, and follow the signs and conditions on the day, which may differ from the map.

Map of the practice loops around Lancaster DMVABCDE10th St WestWest Ave LSierra HwyWest Ave KEast Ave K20th St WestChallenger WayWest Ave MDivision StR. Lee Ermey Ave (West Ave N)East Ave MBusiness Center PkwyEast Ave N15th St WestDMV
Practice loopLightsAll-way stopStop signACrash hotspot
Map data © OpenStreetMap contributors

Stage 1: Quiet streets

Mostly residential streets around 10th St West and 8th St West, with few traffic lights. Start here for your first few drives.

Length
2.4 mi
Approx. time
7 min
Turns
8
  • 2 sets of lights, with 1 left turn and 1 right turn at them
  • Multi-lane driving on 10th St West
  • 1.4 miles of residential streets
  • Junction C below, among the busiest for crashes
Open in Google Maps

Send it to your phoneScan to open this route in Google Maps, or open it here.

Google Maps can pick slightly different streets between our stops, so check it against the map here. It works best in the Google Maps app.

Turn-by-turn directions (9 steps)
  1. Leave the DMV and head north on 8th Street West. 0.3 mi
  2. Turn left onto West Avenue L. 0.1 mi
  3. At the lights, turn left onto 10th Street West. 0.3 mi
  4. Turn right onto West Avenue L 4. 0.2 mi
  5. Turn left onto 12th Street West. 0.3 mi
  6. Turn left onto West Avenue L 8. 0.3 mi
  7. Turn left onto 10th Street West. 0.5 mi
  8. At the lights, turn right onto West Avenue L. 0.1 mi
  9. Turn right onto 8th Street West and return to the DMV. 0.3 mi

Where the Lancaster DMV drive test can go

Every drive test starts and finishes at the office, so the closer a road is, the more likely you are to drive it. The shading shows how long each road takes to reach from the DMV.

10th St WestWest Ave LSierra HwyWest Ave KEast Ave K20th St WestWest Ave MR. Lee Ermey Ave (West Ave N)DMV
Under 2 min2 to 4 min4 to 6 min
Map data © OpenStreetMap contributors

Within a 6-minute drive

  • 32sets of traffic lights
  • 1schools

Main roads in the area: West Ave L, 10th St West, West Ave K, Challenger Way, West Ave M, 15th St West, West Ave K 8 and 20th St West.

Drive times are our estimates from speed limits, with time added for lights and stops. They aren't DMV figures.

Leaving and returning to Lancaster DMV

The parking lot and the first junction are the only parts of the route you can be sure of. The office is on W Ave L6.

110th St WestWest Ave L8th St WestDMV
Map data © OpenStreetMap contributors
P

In the parking lot

The test sheet scores how you drive through the lot, so watch for people and cars, keep it slow, and take extra care reversing out of your space.

1

North to West Ave L

0.3 mi along 8th St West to West Avenue L.

The roads around Lancaster DMV

What you'll be dealing with near the office, counted from map data within 2 miles.

41

Sets of traffic lights

Most are on 10th St West and West Ave K.

4

Schools

The limit near a school drops to 25 mph when children are around.

2

Railroad crossings

Look both ways, never stop on the tracks, and wait if there isn't room on the other side.

1

Roundabout

Give way to traffic already in the roundabout and signal as you leave.

8 mi

Bike lanes

Check the bike lane before turning right, and enter it no more than 200 feet before the turn.

Source: OpenStreetMap contributors, downloaded 2026-10-07. Counts cover public roads within 2 miles of the office.

Where to practice each part of the California drive test

The DMV's drive test score sheet (form DL 32) marks you on parking lot driving, backing, intersections, turns, lane changes, and business and residential driving. Here's where to practice near Lancaster DMV.

  • Parking lot driving

    The DMV lot itself, at the start and end of every test
    Every loop
  • Lights you drive straight through

    10th St West: 6 sets of lights in 1.6 mi
    Stage 3
  • Left turn at lights

    From Gadsden Ave onto West Ave K
    Stage 2
  • Left turn without lights

    From 8th St West onto West Ave L, giving way to oncoming traffic
    Stage 2
  • Right turn at lights

    From West Ave L onto 10th St West
    Stage 2
  • Lane changes

    10th St West, a multi-lane road
    Stage 3
  • Residential streets

    8th St West and the streets around it
    Stage 1
  • Freeway merging

    Only scored on supplemental (referral) tests. For practice, the nearest on-ramp is on West Ave L
    Not on a loop

Score sheet sections from California DMV form DL 32. Places from OpenStreetMap.

Which lane do I need near Lancaster DMV?

Lane layouts at the junctions with lights on our practice routes, as you'd see them approaching. Arrows show which way each lane can go.

10th St West and West Ave L

On Stages 1 and 2 and 3.

Heading west on West Ave L
Left, left, straight, straight, straight
Heading south on 10th St West
Left, left, straight, straight, right

Two lanes turn left heading west. Start and finish the turn in the same lane.

10th St West and West Ave K 8

On Stages 2 and 3.

Heading east on West Ave K 8
Left, straight, right
Heading west on West Ave K 8
Left, straight, right

Heading east, the far-right lane is for turning right only.

Gadsden Ave and West Ave K

On Stage 2.

Heading north on Gadsden Ave
Left, straight, right
Heading west on West Ave K
Left, straight, straight, straight

Heading north, the far-right lane is for turning right only.

12th St West and West Ave K

On Stage 2.

Heading north on 12th St West
Left, straight, straight
Heading west on West Ave K
Left, straight, straight

Heading north, there's no separate right-turn lane, so turn right from the right-hand lane.

Lane layouts from OpenStreetMap. Road markings can change, so always follow the arrows painted on the road.

What causes crashes on Lancaster's roads

Recorded causes of the 1,197 crashes on local roads within 2 miles of the office from 2021 to 2025, leaving out freeways. Unsafe turn or lane change and too fast for conditions top the list.

Unsafe turn or lane change
25%
Too fast for conditions
18%
Not yielding
17%
Stop sign violation
8%
Impaired driving
7%
Running a red light
7%
Following too closely
5%
Unsafe reversing or pulling out
4%

Share of the 1,079 crashes where a cause was recorded. Other causes made up the remaining 7%. About 28% of these crashes happened after dark. Source: California Crash Reporting System, California Highway Patrol, via data.ca.gov.

Lancaster junctions worth practicing

The junctions within 2 miles of the office with the most crashes from 2021 to 2025. Each one is marked on the practice routes map.

A

Challenger Way and East Ave M

32 crashes from 2021 to 2025

1.9 mi from the office. 42 people were hurt.

Most were side impacts. On a fresh green, look both ways before you go, and never try to beat the lights.

B

Sierra Hwy and East Ave M

29 crashes from 2021 to 2025

1.1 mi from the office. 11 people were hurt.

Most were rear-end crashes. Leave a bigger gap than you think you need, and brake early and smoothly when the lights change. Running a red light was the recorded cause in 5.

C

10th St West and West Ave L

25 crashes from 2021 to 2025

0.4 mi from the office. On Stage 1 and 2 and 3. 13 people were hurt.

Most were side impacts. On a fresh green, look both ways before you go, and never try to beat the lights. Running a red light was the recorded cause in 7.

D

20th St West and West Ave K 8

19 crashes from 2021 to 2025

1.5 mi from the office. 25 people were hurt.

Most were side impacts. On a fresh green, look both ways before you go, and never try to beat the lights. Running a red light was the recorded cause in 3.

E

10th St West and R. Lee Ermey Ave (West Ave N)

19 crashes from 2021 to 2025

1.7 mi from the office. 13 people were hurt.

Most were rear-end crashes. Leave a bigger gap than you think you need, and brake early and smoothly when the lights change. Running a red light was the recorded cause in 3.

Crashes located within about 100 feet of each junction. Source: California Crash Reporting System, California Highway Patrol, via data.ca.gov.

Booked your Lancaster road test?

See routes from real Lancaster tests

Once you're confident on these loops, the Driving Test Routes app has 6 routes recorded from real tests at Lancaster DMV, with turn-by-turn voice directions on your phone.

QR code: get the Driving Test Routes app

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Lancaster driving test questions

Where does the Lancaster DMV driving test go?

The DMV doesn't publish its test routes. Every test starts and finishes in the office parking lot, and the roads closest to the office are the ones you're most likely to drive, such as West Ave L, 10th St West, West Ave K. Routes recorded from real Lancaster tests are in the Driving Test Routes app.

Are these the real Lancaster test routes?

No. Our practice routes are loops we planned from Lancaster's street data to cover the skills on the test. They're for practice, not a copy of the DMV's routes.

What do you need to pass the California drive test?

The DMV's score sheet (form DL 32) says you pass with no more than 15 errors on the driving maneuvers and no critical driving errors. Before you set off, you also need no more than 3 errors on the parking brake, arm signals, wipers, defroster, emergency flashers and headlights.

What makes Lancaster's roads tricky for learners?

Within 2 miles of the office, 10th Street West is up to 6 lanes wide.

Which junctions near Lancaster DMV have the most crashes?

Challenger Way and East Ave M (32), Sierra Hwy and East Ave M (29), 10th St West and West Ave L (25), counting crashes from 2021 to 2025.

How do I book a drive test at Lancaster DMV?

Book online through the California DMV appointments page, choosing Lancaster as your office. Book on the DMV website.

Lancaster DMV office information

Address

721 W Ave L6
Lancaster, CA 93535

Phone: (800) 777-0133

Book a drive test

Opening hours

Monday8:00 am to 5:00 pm
Tuesday8:00 am to 5:00 pm
Wednesday9:00 am to 5:00 pm
Thursday8:00 am to 5:00 pm
Friday8:00 am to 5:00 pm
SaturdayClosed
SundayClosed

Hours can change on holidays. Check the DMV's Lancaster page before you go.

Directions in Google Maps

Nearby offices

Services at Lancaster DMV

  • Behind-the-wheel drive tests
  • Written knowledge tests
  • Motorcycle driving tests
  • Commercial driving tests
  • Driver's license and ID applications
  • Replacement documents
  • Vehicle registration and renewals
  • Title transfers
  • License plates
  • Disabled parking placards
  • Self-service kiosks
  • Driver and vehicle records