Getting behind the wheel on a public road counts as advance permission for a chemical test, such as a breath test, after a lawful DUI arrest. Saying no to the test brings separate penalties, among them loss of the license.
California requires an SR 1 report to the DMV within 10 days whenever a collision injures or kills anyone or causes more than $1,000 in property damage, no matter who caused it. Failing to file can lead to a license suspension.
Since January 1, 2025, California's required minimum liability coverage is $30,000 for one person who is injured or dies, $60,000 if at least two people are injured or die, and $15,000 for damage to property.
California has a zero-tolerance rule for drivers under 21, so any measurable alcohol, starting at a BAC of 0.01 percent, makes their driving illegal. The 0.08 percent limit is the one that applies to drivers 21 and older.
Tossing trash from a vehicle or leaving it beside the road is against the law and can cost you as much as $1,000. Hold on to your garbage until you can throw it away properly.
In the first year of a California provisional license, a driver under 18 may not drive from 11 p.m. to 5 a.m. Exceptions cover trips for school, work or a medical need, and driving with a parent or guardian or another licensed adult who is at least 25.
Typical minor violations, and the points tied to them, drop off a driver's record automatically after 36 months, or three years. Major offenses such as a DUI or reckless driving remain for 10 years.
Under zero-tolerance rules, a driver younger than 21 is breaking the law once their BAC reaches 0.01%. The 0.08% figure is the limit for drivers 21 and older in most states (Utah uses 0.05%).
In California, drivers under 21 face strict consequences for having alcohol in their vehicle: it can be impounded for as long as 30 days, the driver can be fined up to $1,000, and the license can be suspended for a full year.
Whether you must file an SR1 depends on the results of the crash rather than on who caused it. The report is required when property damage is over $1,000 or when anyone is injured, even if you were not at fault.
In California, a driver 18 or older whose record reaches 4 points in 12 months (or 6 in 24 months, or 8 in 36 months) is treated as a negligent operator and can have the license suspended. Two points in a year is not enough, and 6 points is more than the minimum needed. Drivers under 18 with a provisional license face stricter limits.
California gives new residents, and people who start working in the state, 20 days to register a vehicle that carries out-of-state plates. Missing that deadline can lead to fines.
Because of the zero-tolerance approach to underage drinking and driving, a driver younger than 21 loses the license for a full year after a first DUI conviction, a heavier penalty than adults usually receive.
By signing a minor's application, a parent or guardian accepts civil liability for damages the minor causes while driving. This responsibility continues after the license is issued, until the minor turns 18 or the signer cancels the license.
Under the zero-tolerance approach for drivers younger than 21, a BAC as low as 0.01% already counts as driving under the influence. The 0.08% figure is the adult limit, and 0.04% applies to commercial drivers.
In California, a first DUI conviction carries a fine of at least $390, and it can also bring jail time, a license suspension, and a required DUI program. Offenders attend such programs rather than teach them, and a first offense does not cost the license for life.
In California, a DUI conviction comes with a required DUI program that combines alcohol and drug education with counseling. DUI fines run far higher than $100, and the conviction is always recorded on the driving record.
Running a red light or disregarding a sign counts as a routine moving violation worth 1 point. More serious offenses, such as reckless driving, are worth 2 points.
Going above 100 mph counts as a major offense and puts 2 points on your record. The court can also order a license suspension along with a hefty fine.
Anyone who smokes in a car while a person under 18 is riding along breaks the law and may pay a fine of as much as $100. The goal is to keep young passengers from breathing secondhand smoke.
Lending your car to someone who is not licensed puts the car at risk: if that person is caught driving it, it can be impounded for 30 days. You are also not allowed to let anyone with a suspended or revoked license drive it.
California requires an SR-1 report to reach the DMV within 10 days of any crash that hurts or kills someone or does more than $1,000 of property damage.
A Californian can begin practicing with a learner's permit at age 15 1/2. A full, unrestricted license is not available until 18; before that age, new drivers receive a provisional license that carries restrictions.
When a driver younger than 21 is caught with alcohol in the vehicle, possible penalties include a one-year license suspension, a fine up to $1,000, and impoundment of the vehicle for a maximum of 30 days. Impound periods of 60 or 90 days are not allowed by law.
Hitting an unattended vehicle obliges you to put a written note on it showing your name and address, and also to report the crash promptly to the city police, or to the CHP in unincorporated areas. Both steps are required.
When a vehicle is sold or its ownership is transferred, the DMV must be notified within 5 days so that the former owner is no longer held responsible for it. Repainting the car or getting a traffic ticket does not create this 5-day duty.
For drivers 21 and older, the standard legal limit is a BAC of 0.08%. Drivers under 21 are covered by zero-tolerance laws with a far lower limit, so 0.08% is not the cutoff for 18- to 20-year-olds, and 0.06% is not the standard adult limit.
Tip Watch the decimal point closely: the adult limit is 0.08% BAC, not 0.8%.
The DMV watches a newly licensed driver's record closely for the first 12 months, and collisions or violations during that year can bring a restriction or a suspension of the driving privilege.
A conviction or collision is kept on your record for no less than 36 months, or three years, and more serious entries stay longer. Meanwhile it can raise what you pay for insurance and add toward a possible suspension.
Within 10 days of moving, your new address has to reach the DMV; you may report it online, by mail, or in person at a DMV office. An up-to-date address ensures official notices get to you.
Every question in this set has its own page with the correct answer and an explanation.
