Free Permit Practice Tests: 6 Official Picks (CA, TX, FL)

Short answer: The best free practice comes from your state's own agency. California has official sample tests, Florida points learners to an official practice test, and Texas offers a free handbook but, as far as we could find, no official online practice test for the regular Class C exam. Read the handbook first, then practice with sample questions.

Every item on this list is free and official. We opened each page below in October 2026. Agencies change their pages, so check the date on the page before you rely on it.

At a glance

1. California DMV sample Class C knowledge tests (CA)

The California DMV posts free sample knowledge tests for a regular Class C license. There are four tests per language, and the DMV says it "periodically adds new questions." The first test has 10 questions. The DMV does not say the samples match the real test's questions or format, so treat them as practice, not a preview.

• Languages: English, Spanish, Armenian, Chinese, Farsi, Punjabi, Russian, Tagalog, Vietnamese and American Sign Language.
• Best for: California learners who want real DMV-written questions.
• Catch: The page doesn't describe scores or answer explanations, so keep the handbook open to check why an answer is right.

Open the sample tests

2. California Driver's Handbook (CA)

The handbook is the source the knowledge test is based on. Read the section on the testing process before you go: you get three attempts to pass before you must reapply, minors wait seven days to retake a failed test, and you can't use a handbook or phone during the test.

• Best for: Everyone in California, as the first step.
• Catch: The handbook doesn't give the pass mark. The DMV's instruction permit page does: 80%.

Read the handbook

3. Texas Driver Handbook (TX)

Texas DPS offers the Driver Handbook as a free download in English and Spanish. DPS recommends it for preparing for the test.

• Best for: Texas learners, and the main free source in the state.
• Catch: We didn't find an official DPS online practice test for the regular driver license exam. You need at least 70% on each knowledge test (37 TAC §15.52), so pair the handbook with practice questions that explain each answer.

4. Florida Driver License Handbook (FL)

The FLHSMV posts the handbook on its Handbooks & Manuals page in English, Spanish and Haitian Kreol.

• Best for: Florida learners who want to study in Spanish or Haitian Kreol.
• Catch: Florida's Class E knowledge exam is English only as of 2026. You can learn the rules in another language, but learn the English wording too. The exam has 50 multiple-choice questions and you need 40 right (80%) to pass.

5. Florida Class E Knowledge Practice Test (FL)

The FLHSMV's Class E knowledge exam page tells learners to study the handbook and take the Class E Knowledge Practice Test. Start from the exam page to find the current link.

• Best for: Florida learners who want an official check before the exam.
• Catch: We couldn't open the practice test itself, so we can't tell you how many questions it has or whether it explains answers. The real exam draws randomly from a large question bank, so studying the handbook beats memorizing questions.

6. Florida study guide and answer locations (FL)

The FLHSMV publishes a study guide answer key that maps each study guide question to its page in the 2023 handbook. There is also an older Test Your Knowledge worksheet organized by chapter.

• Best for: Learners who like checking answers against the page.
• Catch: The answer key is tied to the 2023 handbook, and the worksheet is dated 2017. Check any answer you're unsure about against the current handbook.

How to use these together

1. Read first. Go through your state's handbook once, chapter by chapter.
2. Practice second. Use the official sample test if your state has one (California, Florida).
3. Review misses. For every wrong answer, find the rule in the handbook.
4. Repeat the weak chapters. Signs, right-of-way and speed rules are common trouble spots.
5. Match the test language. Practice the English wording if your exam is English only, as in Florida.

Want the handbook turned into a plan? Permi turns your state's official handbook into short daily lessons and practice questions, with an explanation for every answer, in English and Spanish. Start with the free 1-minute quiz or get access. Our state guides cover the details for California, Texas and Florida.

FAQ

Is there an official free permit practice test?

In California, yes: the DMV posts sample knowledge tests. In Florida, the FLHSMV tells learners to take its Class E Knowledge Practice Test. For Texas we didn't find an official practice test for the regular exam, only the free handbook.

Are the official sample questions the same as the real test?

Not necessarily. California's DMV says its sample tests are examples and adds new questions from time to time, but it doesn't say they match the real test. Florida's real exam picks questions at random from a large bank.

Can I take the permit test in Spanish?

It depends on the state. California's knowledge test is available in more than 40 languages, including Spanish (DMV). Texas offers its exams in English and Spanish. Florida's exam is English only as of 2026, even though the handbook comes in Spanish.

Do I need a paid app?

You can pass with the free handbook alone, but most learners study faster with structure. An app like Permi adds explained answers, a mistake bank, a practice exam and a readiness score that tells you when to book the test. See our comparison of the best permit test apps.

Sources

• California DMV, Sample driver license knowledge tests and Sample Class C test 1
• California DMV, Driver's Handbook, section 3: The testing process
• Texas DPS, Driver Handbook, English and Spanish
• Florida FLHSMV, Handbooks & Manuals and Class E knowledge exam page
• Palm Beach County Tax Collector, Knowledge exam