U turns — California Permit Test

A U-turn is turning your vehicle around to go back the way you came, and you signal and use the left turn lane or far-left lane to make one.

The turn crosses every lane on the road at once, so it starts from the lane closest to the middle.

To make a U-turn, signal and use the left turn lane or far-left lane.

You may make a U-turn in a residential district if no vehicles are approaching you within 200 feet.

Two hundred feet is about the distance a car covers while you swing the whole way round.

In a residential district if no vehicles are approaching you within 200 feet.

You may make a U-turn at an intersection on a green traffic light or green arrow unless a NO U-TURN sign is posted.

The green holds the other traffic back, which is the only time the whole road is yours to cross.

At an intersection on a green traffic light or green arrow, unless a NO U-TURN sign is posted.

You may make a U-turn across a double yellow line, and on a divided highway where a center divider opening is provided.

An opening in the divider is built for turning through. Everywhere else the divider is a wall.

Across a double yellow line.

Never make a U-turn at or on a railroad crossing, or on a one-way street.

A car stopped across the rails has nowhere to go, and a one-way street has no other way back.

Never make a U-turn:

Never make a U-turn when you cannot see clearly for 200 feet in each direction.

The turn takes long enough that a car you never saw arrives while you are still sideways.

When you cannot see clearly for 200 feet in each direction.

Never make a U-turn in front of a fire station, and never use a fire station driveway to turn around.

An engine leaving on a call cannot wait for a car swinging across its doorway.

In front of a fire station. Never use a fire station driveway to turn around.

Never make a U-turn in a business district, except at an intersection or on a divided highway where an opening has been provided.

A business district is the part of town with the most doorways and the most people stepping out of them.

In business districts (the part of a city or town where most offices and businesses are).

Which lane do you make a U-turn from?

The left turn lane or far-left lane. The turn crosses every lane on the road at once, so it starts from the lane closest to the middle. California Driver’s Handbook, p.20: “To make a U-turn, signal and use the left turn lane or far-left lane.”