Backing up Straight along the curb
On the DMV drive test you back up about 3 car lengths in a straight line, within 3 feet of the curb, with no more than one correction. Look over your right shoulder through the rear window while you back, and go slowly.
DMV DL 955 "Backing" · DMV DL 32 · CA Driver's Handbook, "Backing Up" · CVC 22106How do you back up on the California drive test?
Back about 3 car lengths in a straight line, within 3 feet of the curb, with no more than one correction, looking over your right shoulder through the rear window (DL 955).
Why this rule exists
Behind the car is where you see least. A slow speed and a real look back give you the time to stop for a child or a bike.
Step by step on the road
- Signal and pull up close to the curb, parallel to it, with the wheels straight.
- Select reverse, turn your head and look over your right shoulder through the rear window.
- Back up slowly, at walking speed, with only small steering movements.
- Keep looking back, with brief checks to the front and the mirrors.
- Stop after about 3 car lengths. Then signal, check traffic, and pull back into the lane when it is safe.
Common mistakes
- Looking only in the mirrors or at the backup camera.
- Backing too fast to catch a small drift in time.
- Pulling forward more than once to straighten up.
- Drifting more than 3 feet from the curb, or riding up onto it.
On the DMV drive test
DL 955 wants you to back in a straight line for 3 vehicle lengths while staying within 3 feet of the curb, with no more than 1 correction; any movement forward counts as one. Look over your right shoulder through the back windshield instead of relying on the mirrors or a camera. Signal before you pull up to the curb and before you pull away, check traffic to the right before you pull in and to the left before you pull out. Not checking behind you while backing, making 3 attempts to back, or driving over the curb is a critical driving error.
Based on the DMV’s Driving Test Criteria (DL 955) and its score sheet (DL 32). How the drive test works ›Questions people ask
Is parallel parking on the California driving test?
No. The DMV test criteria (DL 955) and score sheet (DL 32) do not list parallel parking; the only backing task is straight-line backing along a curb.
What counts as a correction when backing on the drive test?
Any movement forward. DL 955 allows no more than 1 correction.
Can you use the backup camera on the California drive test?
Do not rely on it. DL 955 wants you to look over your right shoulder through the back windshield, not only at the mirrors or a camera.
Test yourself
Kees' three questions on this rule, the “Did you know?” facts and his tip come with the drive, in Voorrah! Pro.
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