California DMV Handbook 2025

As part of our permit test preparation program, we have made available the official California DMV driver’s 2025 handbook (California DMV Driver's Handbook 2025: Interactive Manual w/Audio). This manual is available in a variety of languages: English, Spanish, Russian, Chinese, Punjabi, Farsi, Armenian, Tagalog, and Vietnamese. Each of these versions is in PDF format and can be easily downloaded from this webpage.

In California, all drivers, regardless of age, must obtain an instruction permit to practice supervised driving before applying for a driver’s license. The requirements for obtaining an instruction permit include passing a vision test and a knowledge (permit) test on safe driving. (You may take the knowledge test online.) You must also complete a driver’s education course if you’re under 18.

All questions on the official knowledge test are based on topics covered in the official manual. Therefore, you should study the manual as the first step in your preparation to pass the knowledge test. However, this may not prepare you well enough. In 2020 – 2023, about 55.3% – more than half – of those who took the DMV knowledge test failed it on their first attempt. To be sure you pass the knowledge test, you should follow our entire test preparation program, including our graduated series of practice tests accompanied by our AI assistant. It can give you hints and explanations to help you learn. You can also ask it to clarify complex terms or obscure or confusing points that you may find in the handbook.

We have also created an audiobook of the English version of the official driver’s handbook. It’s formatted as a series of MP3 files, one for each chapter of the handbook. You can download each chapter file from the right side of this webpage and listen to it on any device that supports an internet browser or audio app capable of playing MP3s. You can listen to a chapter while you’re performing other activities. You can also listen to a chapter while you follow along by reading the text of that chapter in the PDF version of the manual. This study technique will help you concentrate on the material.

In addition to the official handbook, we also offer our own permit test study guide (available elsewhere on this website) to help you prepare for the day of the California knowledge test. It covers what documents to take with you to the DMV, what fees you may have to pay, frequently missed knowledge test questions, and other last-minute knowledge test tips.