Maximum control-identification errors
These are checklist items in the official control-demonstration group.
California noncommercial Class C Driving Performance Evaluation · verified 2026-08-17
Make safe habits visible.
The California DMV examiner is not looking for a performance trick. The official criteria reward observation, space, smooth control, and lawful decisions repeated across the whole drive.
Official score sheet
Three separate gates.
Critical driving errors allowed
A mark in the critical section makes the result unsatisfactory.
Maximum scoring-maneuver errors
The examiner also records repeated ordinary driving errors across the route.
Official process
What happens before the car moves.
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Bring the required people and documents
- Your instruction permit or driver license, if you have one.
- A California-licensed accompanying driver who is at least 18 years old, or at least 25 when the applicant is a minor, unless the applicant is already licensed to drive.
- Valid vehicle registration and proof of insurance.
- For a rental, a contract that names you and does not exclude a behind-the-wheel test.
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Present a safe, familiar vehicle
- The vehicle must pass the pre-drive safety check before road evaluation begins.
- Advanced assistance such as automated parking, lane-departure control, and adaptive cruise control is not permitted during the test.
- A backup camera or blind-spot monitor may assist, but it does not replace direct mirror and shoulder checks.
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Protect the test environment
- Only the examiner rides along, apart from the limited exceptions listed by the agency.
- Audio and video recording is prohibited. A device that cannot be disabled must be blocked from recording.
- The examiner may give more than one direction at once. Complete each direction only when it is safe and legal.
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Read the recorded result
- The official score sheet separates pre-drive control errors, scoring-maneuver errors, and critical driving errors.
- A minor who receives an unsatisfactory behind-the-wheel result waits 14 days before retesting, not counting the day of the failed test.
- Use marked items as a practice plan rather than as a prediction of the next route.
Official criteria
Pass the parked-car check first.
Vehicle items that must pass
A failure in the required mechanical group causes the appointment to be rescheduled.
- The driver window opens, and the windshield gives both occupants a full unobstructed view.
- At least 2 secure, unbroken mirrors provide a clear view, including one outside mirror on the left.
- Front and rear turn signals work on both sides, and both side brake lights work.
- Every tire has at least 1/32 inch of tread in 2 adjacent grooves and is not bald.
- The depressed foot brake keeps at least 1 inch of clearance above the floorboard.
- The vehicle horn works and can be heard from at least 200 feet.
- The parking brake sets and releases, the passenger door works, the glove box closes, and both occupants have working seat belts.
Controls you must locate or demonstrate
Missing 4 or more of checklist items 9 through 14 is an unsatisfactory result.
- Set and release the parking brake.
- Show the arm signals for left, right, and slowing or stopping.
- Locate the windshield-wiper, front-defroster, headlight, and, when equipped, hazard-light controls.
- In bad weather, the relevant wipers, defroster, hazard lights, and headlights must also function or the appointment is rescheduled.
Official criteria
What the examiner scores.
A traffic check means seeing the relevant vehicles, cyclists, and pedestrians, then responding safely. The examiner observes that pattern in every action.
Traffic checks
Observation plus the correct response is scored throughout the drive.
- Scan ahead, behind, and to each side as the situation requires.
- Turn your head for blind spots before changing lanes, merging, backing, entering a bike lane, or leaving the curb.
- Notice people walking or cycling and react early enough to preserve their space.
Parking lot and backing
Control, observation, signaling, and a straight curb-side backing maneuver are evaluated.
- Use a safe parking-lot speed and remain in control.
- Signal when pulling to or away from the curb, check traffic and blind spots, and look through the rear window while backing.
- Back straight for 3 vehicle lengths, stay within 3 feet of the curb, and use no more than 1 forward correction.
Intersections and stops
The examiner watches approach, braking, complete stops, placement, yielding, and the restart.
- Brake smoothly, stop fully, and avoid rolling forward or backward.
- Stop behind the limit line or corner with safe space, then recheck every conflict before moving.
- Yield when required, but accept a safe right-of-way without creating confusion or blocking traffic.
Turns
A turn is scored from the first traffic check through the final signal cancellation.
- Check traffic and the relevant blind spot, signal in time, slow smoothly, and choose the designated lane.
- Yield as needed, keep full steering control, and neither cut nor swing the turn.
- Finish in the proper lane, accelerate smoothly, and cancel the signal.
Straight driving
Business, urban, residential, and rural segments reveal everyday habits.
- Scan driveways, parked vehicles, people walking, and people cycling.
- Use the appropriate speed for the limit and conditions, with safe space on every side.
- Hold a centered lane position and slow early for hazards or obstructions.
Lane changes
Observation, communication, gap choice, speed, and steering are each visible.
- Check mirrors, look over the correct shoulder, and wait for an adequate gap.
- Signal before moving and cancel after settling in the new lane.
- Keep an appropriate speed, steer smoothly, recenter, and rebuild the space cushion.
Official failure criteria
Critical errors make the result unsatisfactory.
Examiner intervention
A physical or urgent verbal intervention is critical.
- An action or failure to act makes the examiner take control or urgently direct you.
- You need 3 attempts to complete the backing maneuver.
Collision or object contact
Avoidable contact shows that space or control was lost.
- You strike a vehicle, object, person, cyclist, or animal when contact could have been avoided.
- You drive over a curb or onto a sidewalk.
Signs, signals, markings, and directions
Disobeying a traffic control is a critical error.
- You roll through a stop sign, flashing red, or right turn on red at or above the listed 4 mph brisk-walking threshold.
- You fail to wait at a red light or red ramp meter, or stop unnecessarily at a green light or ramp meter.
- You disregard lane arrows, islands, curb markings, cones, a lane drop, or another traffic control.
- You pass a school bus displaying red lights, fail to yield to an emergency vehicle, or disobey authorized safety personnel.
Dangerous maneuver
A maneuver is critical when it forces another person to evade or exposes an unchecked hazard.
- Another driver or pedestrian must take evasive action because of what you do or fail to do.
- You miss a required traffic or blind-spot check at an uncontrolled intersection, lane change, merge, backing maneuver, bike-lane turn, or curb departure.
- You block an intersection, stop unnecessarily in a freeway merge lane, stall in an intersection, or stall 3 times through poor clutch or gear use.
Unsafe speed or equipment use
Speed must fit both the posted rule and actual conditions.
- You drive 10 mph above the limit, or 10 mph below it when conditions do not justify the lower speed.
- You drive too fast or too slowly for safety.
- You fail to use wipers, defroster, or headlights when weather or darkness requires them.
Lane violation
Using the wrong lane or crossing its legal purpose is critical.
- You travel more than 200 feet in a bike lane or two-way center left-turn lane.
- You continue straight from a turn lane, turn from a straight lane, turn from the wrong lane, or drive unnecessarily into oncoming traffic.
Practical preparation
Rehearse the criteria, not a rumored route.
- The night before, inspect every mechanical checklist item with the exact vehicle you will bring.
- While parked, locate each control without hunting and rehearse all arm signals in order.
- Ask a qualified supervising driver to watch a quiet practice loop for full stops, visible traffic checks, lane position, signals, and smooth control.
- Practice curb-side backing until looking through the rear window and making small steering corrections feels ordinary.
- Use the official score sheet for feedback after each practice loop. Do not treat a clean rehearsal as a promise of a passing result.
- During the test, follow directions only when legal and safe. Missing a turn is safer than forcing an unsafe movement.
Primary sources
Read the current official text.
- California Driver Handbook, The Testing Process
- California Driving Test Criteria, Pre-Drive Checklist
- California Driving Test Criteria, DPE Scoring Criteria
- Official Driving Performance Evaluation Score Sheet sample
- California Knowledge and Drive Tests Preparation
All links checked 2026-08-17. Rules and procedures can change.