US Driver
Can you take the California knowledge test online?
Today you take the knowledge test at a DMV office. The DMV's Virtual Test Center page now says: "This link for our online testing pilot is no longer available. If you were previously provided this link by a DMV office, you will need to revisit the DMV office to complete your application." (read on 2026-11-05)
The same page still lists the old conditions of the pilot: you must have started an application and had a photo and fingerprint taken at a DMV office before you could use the Virtual Test Center, the test was watched by automated remote proctoring, and it did not work on mobile devices. Because the page contradicts itself, treat the sentence above as the current answer and ask the DMV if you are unsure.
The DMV piloted at-home online testing from 2022. Its news release of 2023-12-28 said the option was introduced in 2022 for eligible Californians over 18, and that in September 2023 the DMV expanded eligibility to people under 18 and people moving to California from out of state. Its news releases of 2024-06-25 and 2024-08-29 said the DMV "continues to offer its online knowledge test in 35 languages". The 2024-08-29 release added that the test is taken on a computer or laptop with a webcam, Monday to Friday from 8 a.m. to 4 p.m. except state holidays, and that applicants had to verify their identity and agree to monitoring during the exam. The 2023-12-28 release also said that after the online test you might still need to visit a DMV office for identity and residency documents, a photo, a thumbprint and a vision screening.
What does exist online today is the eLearning course. It is a no-fail course that replaces the knowledge test only for people renewing a noncommercial Class C licence. It is not available to first-time applicants.