The California permit test has **46 multiple-choice questions**. You need to answer at least **38 questions correctly (83%)** to pass. The test is administered by the California DMV and is based entirely on the official Driver's Handbook. That's the short answer. Here's the longer answer: the question count and passing score are two of the most-Googled facts about the California permit test, but they're only part of the picture. To actually pass on your first try, you also need to know what categories the questions come from, how much time you'll have, and what happens if you fail. Roughly on