California Driver License: Alcohol, Insurance and Collisions

25 questions with the correct answer and an explanation for each. Topic: Alcohol, Insurance and Collisions. Free, no account needed.

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1. A driver takes a strong prescription cough syrup that leaves them noticeably impaired, then drives to the pharmacy anyway. Does DUI law apply to this situation?

  1. Yes, but only if the driver is also over the legal BAC limit
  2. No, DUI law only covers alcohol, not medicine
  3. Yes, DUI law makes no distinction between illegal drugs and medicines from a doctor or pharmacy
  4. No, because the medicine was legally prescribed by a doctor

Answer: C — Yes, DUI law makes no distinction between illegal drugs and medicines from a doctor or pharmacy

DUI law covers alcohol and any drug that affects driving, whether illegal or a prescribed or over-the-counter medicine.

2. How does a person's tolerance to alcohol generally change as they get older?

  1. It falls with age
  2. It depends only on body weight, not age
  3. It stays constant after age 21
  4. It increases steadily

Answer: A — It falls with age

Tolerance to alcohol falls with age, so the same amount of alcohol affects an older driver more.

3. A 15-year-old is convicted of riding a bicycle while under the influence of alcohol. What can happen to their future driving privilege?

  1. It can be suspended or delayed for one year
  2. It only affects their bicycle riding privileges, not driving
  3. It is automatically revoked for ten years
  4. Nothing, since they were not driving a motor vehicle

Answer: A — It can be suspended or delayed for one year

Someone aged 13 to 20 convicted of bicycling under the influence may have their driving privilege suspended or delayed for one year.

4. A private car is carrying a bottle of wine that has already been opened. Where must the opened bottle be kept?

  1. In a cup holder within reach of the passenger
  2. In the trunk or somewhere passengers do not sit
  3. Anywhere in the car, since it only matters if the driver drinks
  4. In the glove box

Answer: B — In the trunk or somewhere passengers do not sit

An opened alcohol container must go in the trunk or another area passengers don't occupy, never the glove box.

5. A 25-year-old driver is stopped and tests at a BAC of 0.07%. Is this driver over the legal limit?

  1. Yes, the limit for drivers 21 and older is 0.04%
  2. Yes, any BAC above 0.01% is illegal for all drivers
  3. No, because 0.07% only applies to commercial drivers
  4. No, the limit for drivers 21 and older is 0.08%

Answer: D — No, the limit for drivers 21 and older is 0.08%

For drivers 21 and older, the illegal threshold is 0.08% or higher, so 0.07% is under the limit.

6. A driver operating a vehicle that requires a commercial license is found with a BAC of 0.04%. Is this illegal?

  1. Yes, but only if the driver is also under 21
  2. No, the commercial limit is the same as the general limit, 0.08%
  3. No, commercial drivers are held to a higher limit than regular drivers
  4. Yes, 0.04% or higher is illegal for a vehicle requiring a commercial license

Answer: D — Yes, 0.04% or higher is illegal for a vehicle requiring a commercial license

The illegal threshold drops to 0.04% for vehicles requiring a commercial license or when driving a passenger for hire.

7. A driver shows clear signs of impairment during a traffic stop, but the officer never obtains a BAC measurement. Can the driver still be arrested and convicted of DUI?

  1. Yes, impairment alone can support an arrest and conviction
  2. Yes, but only if the driver later admits to drinking
  3. No, the driver must first refuse a test before this applies
  4. No, a BAC measurement is always required for a DUI conviction

Answer: A — Yes, impairment alone can support an arrest and conviction

A driver can be arrested and convicted of DUI based on impairment alone, even without a BAC measurement.

8. Which of the following counts as one standard drink for estimating BAC?

  1. 5 ounces of 80-proof liquor
  2. 12 ounces of 5% beer
  3. 1.5 ounces of 5% beer
  4. 12 ounces of 12% wine

Answer: B — 12 ounces of 5% beer

One drink is defined as 1.5 oz of 80-proof liquor, 12 oz of 5% beer, or 5 oz of 12% wine.

9. By simply driving on the road, what does a driver automatically agree to if an officer suspects them of DUI?

  1. Nothing, until formally arrested
  2. A breath, blood or urine test
  3. A field sobriety test only
  4. Only a breath test, never blood or urine

Answer: B — A breath, blood or urine test

Driving implies consent to a breath, blood or urine test when an officer suspects DUI.

10. A driver is arrested for DUI and the officer confiscates their license on the spot. What is the driver typically given instead?

  1. A permanent replacement license
  2. Nothing, until the DMV hearing concludes
  3. A 30-day temporary license
  4. A 10-day temporary license

Answer: C — A 30-day temporary license

The officer may take the license and issue a 30-day temporary license under the Administrative Per Se process.

11. How soon after a DUI arrest must a driver request a DMV hearing to contest the license suspension?

  1. Within 5 days
  2. Within 24 hours
  3. Within 30 days
  4. Within 10 days

Answer: D — Within 10 days

A driver may request a DMV hearing within 10 days of the arrest.

12. How long does a DUI conviction remain on a driver's record?

  1. It never comes off the record
  2. 3 years
  3. 5 years
  4. 10 years

Answer: D — 10 years

A DUI stays on the record for 10 years, and another DUI within that window draws extra penalties.

13. A 19-year-old is driving alone with a sealed bottle of wine in the passenger seat, and no one 21 or older is in the car. Is this legal?

  1. No, drivers under 21 can never carry alcohol under any circumstance
  2. Yes, as long as it stays in the passenger compartment
  3. No, a driver under 21 may not carry alcohol unless someone 21 or older is present
  4. Yes, since the bottle is sealed and unopened

Answer: C — No, a driver under 21 may not carry alcohol unless someone 21 or older is present

A driver under 21 may not carry alcohol in a vehicle unless someone 21 or older is present, and then only sealed and unopened.

14. A driver under 21 is caught in violation of the alcohol-in-vehicle rule. What can happen to the vehicle itself?

  1. Nothing happens to the vehicle, only the driver is fined
  2. It can be impounded for up to 30 days
  3. It is permanently confiscated by DMV
  4. It can be impounded for up to 10 days

Answer: B — It can be impounded for up to 30 days

Being caught with alcohol in the car can bring vehicle impound for up to 30 days, plus a fine and license consequences.

15. An 18-year-old driver is convicted of DUI with a BAC of 0.01%. What is the consequence?

  1. A fine only, since it's below the adult 0.08% limit
  2. A 30-day vehicle impound with no license action
  3. A one-year revocation and a required DUI program
  4. No penalty, since 0.01% is below any legal threshold

Answer: C — A one-year revocation and a required DUI program

For a driver under 21, a DUI conviction at 0.01% or higher brings a one-year revocation and a DUI program.

16. A driver at fault in a collision injures one other person. What is the minimum liability coverage required to cover that injury?

  1. $100,000
  2. $60,000
  3. $15,000
  4. $30,000

Answer: D — $30,000

The minimum required coverage is $30,000 for one death or injury.

17. Who is generally responsible for carrying the financial responsibility, or insurance, for a 16-year-old driver?

  1. The California DMV
  2. Their parents or guardians
  3. The 16-year-old themselves
  4. The driving school that certified them

Answer: B — Their parents or guardians

Parents or guardians carry the financial responsibility for drivers under 18; the driver takes it over at 18.

18. A driver is in a collision without proper insurance, even though the other driver was at fault. What happens to their driving privilege?

  1. It is suspended for exactly 10 days
  2. It is suspended only if they are under 21
  3. It is suspended for up to four years
  4. Nothing, since they were not at fault

Answer: C — It is suspended for up to four years

A collision without proper insurance suspends the privilege for up to four years, whoever was at fault.

19. You're involved in a collision and someone is injured. What should you do first?

  1. Exchange insurance information with the other driver first
  2. Call 911 at once
  3. Wait for the other driver to call for help
  4. Move the vehicles out of traffic before doing anything else

Answer: B — Call 911 at once

If anyone is hurt, call 911 immediately; moving vehicles out of traffic first only applies when no one is hurt.

20. A driver causes a collision and drives away without stopping or exchanging information. What is this considered?

  1. A financial responsibility violation only
  2. Not a violation if no one was hurt
  3. A minor traffic infraction
  4. A hit-and-run

Answer: D — A hit-and-run

Leaving the scene of a collision instead of stopping is a hit-and-run, which carries severe punishment.

21. A collision results in another driver being injured. Within how many hours must it be reported to law enforcement?

  1. 72 hours
  2. 24 hours
  3. 48 hours
  4. 10 hours

Answer: B — 24 hours

Collisions involving injury or death must be reported to law enforcement within 24 hours.

22. You back into a parked, unattended car in a parking lot and cannot locate the owner. What should you do?

  1. Only report it if the damage looks like more than $1,000
  2. Leave a securely attached note with your name, phone and address, and report it
  3. Wait at the scene for as long as it takes for the owner to return
  4. Leave immediately since no one witnessed it

Answer: B — Leave a securely attached note with your name, phone and address, and report it

If you hit a parked car and can't find the owner, leave a securely attached note with your contact information and report the incident.

23. A collision causes $1,500 in property damage and no injuries. Within how many days must it be reported to DMV, and on what form?

  1. It does not need to be reported since no one was hurt
  2. 5 days, using form SR 22
  3. 10 days, using form SR 1
  4. 24 hours, using form SR 1P

Answer: C — 10 days, using form SR 1

Collisions causing more than $1,000 in property damage must be reported to DMV within 10 days on form SR 1, regardless of injury or fault.

24. After selling your vehicle, how many days do you have to notify DMV with a Notice of Transfer and Release of Liability?

  1. 30 days
  2. 10 days
  3. 20 days
  4. 5 days

Answer: D — 5 days

After selling a vehicle, you must notify DMV within five days using a Notice of Transfer and Release of Liability.

25. Someone moves to California and brings their out-of-state vehicle. How many days do they have to register it, and what must the vehicle meet?

  1. 5 days, and no additional requirements apply
  2. 10 days, and it must pass a financial responsibility check
  3. 20 days, and it must meet California requirements including emission controls
  4. 30 days, and it must be inspected by the seller's home state

Answer: C — 20 days, and it must meet California requirements including emission controls

A new resident has 20 days to register an out-of-state vehicle, which must meet California requirements including emission controls.

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