Pre-Drive Safety CheckThe checklist for your California drive test
17 items, checked before you pull away
Before your drive test starts, the examiner checks your car and asks you to find or show 17 things. Go through them in the car you'll be testing in and tick each one off.
A fault with the car: rescheduledItems 1 to 8 and 15 to 17 must pass, or you'll have to book again.
4 or more misses: failedItems 9 to 14 are things you show. Miss 4 or more and the test counts as a fail.
The California pre-drive checklist
The 17 items in the order the DMV lists them, with what each one has to do. Tap an item once it's ready.
Items 1 to 8: your car
0 of 8If any of these fail, the examiner calls it a mechanical failure and your test is rescheduled.
Items 9 to 14: show the examiner
0 of 6You find or demonstrate these yourself. Miss 4 or more and the test counts as a fail.
Items 15 to 17: inside the car
0 of 3Like items 1 to 8, a fault here means your test is rescheduled.
Requirements from the California DMV Driver Handbook, section "Pre-Drive Checklist (Safety Criteria)". The score sheet (form DL 32) also has lines for head restraints and for whether the car has automated driving features. The handbook doesn't list requirements for those.
Practice the show-me items
Items 9 to 14 are the ones you can fail on. Sit in the driver's seat and have someone read out each request, in a random order like the examiner might.
How the California drive test is scored
The examiner marks everything on one score sheet (form DL 32). To pass, you need all three of these.
Before you drive
3 or fewer
errors on items 9 to 14: the parking brake, arm signals, wipers, defroster, emergency flashers and headlights.
While you drive
15 or fewer
errors on the scored driving maneuvers, such as turns, lane changes and intersections.
Critical driving errors
None
A single critical driving error, such as the examiner having to step in or disobeying a traffic sign or signal, means a fail.
From the California DMV Driving Performance Evaluation score sheet, form DL 32 (revised April 2021).
On the day of your drive test
- Bad weather: if it's raining or the weather is poor, you have to show that the wipers, defroster, emergency flashers and headlights actually work, or the test is rescheduled.
- Interpreters: an interpreter can help during the pre-drive check, but can't come with you on the drive itself.
- Who rides along: only the examiner goes with you. The exceptions are training, service animals and certain law enforcement situations.
Car checked and ready?
Practice the roads too. The Driving Test Routes app has routes recorded from real tests at California DMV offices, with turn-by-turn voice directions. Your first week is free.
On a computer?Scan with your phone
Try it free for a week
Looking for practice routes near your office? Find your DMV office.
Pre-drive check questions
What happens if my car fails the pre-drive check?
If something on the car itself fails, such as a brake light, a tire or the horn, the examiner records a mechanical failure and your drive test is rescheduled. It isn't counted as a failed test, but you'll need to fix the problem and book again.
How many pre-drive items can I get wrong?
For items 9 to 14, the things you find or demonstrate yourself, you can miss up to 3. Missing 4 or more counts as a failed test.
Does the third brake light count?
No. The left and right brake lights both have to work, but the center light, usually on the rear window, isn't part of the check.
Which arm signals do I need to know?
Three: left turn (arm straight out), right turn (arm out and bent up at the elbow), and slowing down or stopping (arm out and bent down at the elbow).
How much tire tread do I need?
At least 1/32 inch of tread in any two neighboring grooves on every tire. Bald tires mean the test is rescheduled.
What if my parking brake doesn't work?
If it doesn't work or won't set during the check, your test is rescheduled as a mechanical failure.