Use this guide to review California hill-parking rules, curb colors, fire-hydrant restrictions, and other parking rules that commonly appear in written-test questions.
QUICK ANSWER
For hill parking, set the parking brake and leave the vehicle in park or in gear for a manual transmission. Facing downhill, turn the front wheels toward the curb. Facing uphill with a curb, turn them away from the curb. Colored curbs also have specific meanings: white is passenger loading, green is time-limited parking, red means no stopping or parking, and blue is reserved for qualified disabled parking.
STUDY NOTES
Parking on hills
The purpose of turning the wheels is to keep the vehicle from rolling into traffic if equipment fails. Uphill with a curb, turn the wheels away from the curb and let the vehicle roll back slightly until the tire touches the curb. Downhill, turn the wheels toward the curb. With no curb, turn the wheels right so the vehicle would roll away from the center of the road.
Colored curbs
- White: stop only long enough to pick up or drop off passengers.
- Green: park only for the posted or painted time limit.
- Yellow: load or unload passengers and freight; restrictions depend on posted rules.
- Red: no stopping, standing, or parking, except buses at zones marked for buses.
- Blue: parking for a disabled person or a driver transporting a disabled person who has the required placard or plate.
Distances that are easy to confuse
The handbook says not to park within 15 feet of a fire hydrant or fire station driveway. It also prohibits parking within 20 feet of a marked or unmarked crosswalk, or within 15 feet where a curb extension is present.
PRACTICE CHECKS
Check your understanding
Answer each question before opening the explanation.
1. When parked uphill next to a curb, which way should the front wheels point?
Show answer
Answer: Away from the curb.
DMV says to turn the front wheels away from the curb and allow the vehicle to roll back slightly until the tire touches it.
2. What does a blue curb mean?
Show answer
Answer: Parking for a qualified disabled person or someone transporting that person with the required placard or plate.
Blue curbs designate disabled parking.
3. How close may you park to a fire hydrant?
Show answer
Answer: Do not park within 15 feet.
The handbook lists 15 feet as the minimum clearance from a fire hydrant or fire-station driveway.
FAQ
Common questions
What does a white curb mean in California?
Stop only long enough to pick up or drop off passengers.
What does a red curb mean?
No stopping, standing, or parking, except a bus may stop at a red zone marked for buses.
Which way do I turn my wheels on a hill with no curb?
Turn the wheels to the right so the vehicle would roll away from the center of the road if the brakes fail.
How far from a crosswalk can I park?
The handbook says not to park within 20 feet of a marked or unmarked crosswalk, or within 15 feet where a curb extension is present.
VERIFY THE RULE
Official source
This study page was reviewed against the DMV material below. Open the source when you want the complete rule, exceptions, or surrounding context.
Last reviewed: August 16, 2026 · Reviewed by Master My Test