Driving Tests

California Roundabout Rules: Right of Way, Lanes and Exits

informational·how to guide·Published May 8, 2026

How do you drive through a roundabout in California?

Slow down as you approach a California roundabout and yield to all traffic already in it. Enter heading to the right when the gap is big enough to merge safely, then travel counter-clockwise. Do not stop or pass in the roundabout. In a multi-lane roundabout, choose your lane by where you are going. Signal when you change lanes or exit, and keep going around if you miss your exit.

Where these roundabout rules come from

The steps in this guide come from Section 7 of the California Driver Handbook of the California Department of Motor Vehicles (DMV), as of 2026. The pedestrian and bicyclist rules below are the handbook's general rules for intersections and crosswalks. Confirm the rules with the California DMV (dmv.ca.gov) before you drive.

How to go through a roundabout in California, step by step

1
Slow down and read the signs
Slow down as you approach, and look for the signs and lane markings that guide you through the roundabout.
2
Yield to traffic already in the roundabout
All traffic that is already in the roundabout goes first, so you may need to wait at the entry. Test this step with the practice question on entering a roundabout.
3
Enter when the gap is big enough
When the gap in traffic is big enough to merge safely, enter heading to the right, in the same direction as the traffic already in the roundabout.
4
Travel counter-clockwise
Drive counter-clockwise around the central island. Do not stop or pass.
5
Signal to change lanes or exit
Use your turn signal each time you change lanes, and again when you leave at your exit.
6
Go around again if you miss your exit
Continue around the central island until you come back to your exit.

Which lane to use in a multi-lane roundabout: right, straight or left

Which lane to use in a multi-lane roundabout: right, straight or left
Where you are going	What to do
Turn right	Choose the right lane and exit in the right lane.
Go straight	Choose either lane and exit in the lane you entered.
Turn left	Enter and keep driving until you reach the exit in the direction you choose. The handbook shows this path in a picture (the blue car).

Pedestrians and crosswalks: who has the right-of-way

The handbook says that pedestrians always have the right-of-way at intersections, and in marked or unmarked crosswalks. Not all crosswalks are marked. Some crosswalks have flashing lights: look for people on foot and be ready to stop, whether or not the lights flash. If there is a limit line before a crosswalk, stop at the line and let pedestrians cross.

What to do around people on foot and at a YIELD sign

A pedestrian is crossing the road, with or without a crosswalk

Use caution, reduce your speed, or stop so the pedestrian can finish crossing safely.

A pedestrian makes eye contact with you

The pedestrian is ready to cross. Yield.

A vehicle is stopped at a crosswalk ahead of you

Do not pass it. A person who crosses in front of that vehicle can be hidden from you.

The pedestrian is a senior, has small children or has a disability

Give extra time. These groups may need more time to cross safely.

You reach a red YIELD sign

Slow down and be ready to stop to let any vehicle, bicyclist or pedestrian pass before you go.

Bicyclists and motorcycles: what drivers check at an intersection

Look left, right and ahead for vehicles, bicyclists and pedestrians before you enter an intersection.
Yield to bicyclists, pedestrians and other nearby vehicles that may have the right-of-way when you approach signals or signs.
When you turn right, check for pedestrians crossing and for motorcycles and bicycles riding next to you.

Blind pedestrians at crosswalks

Pedestrians who use a guide dog or a white cane have the right-of-way at all times. Never stop in the middle of a crosswalk: a blind pedestrian could be forced to step out of it into traffic. Do not sound your horn at a blind person. When you turn or back up, take extra care in a hybrid or electric vehicle, because blind pedestrians rely on sound to know that a vehicle is near. If a blind person pulls in the cane and steps away from the intersection, this usually means that you may go. Test yourself with the practice question on a white cane or guide dog.

Key takeaways

Slow down, yield to all traffic already in the roundabout, and enter heading to the right when the gap is big enough to merge safely.
Travel counter-clockwise, do not stop or pass, and signal when you change lanes or exit.
In a multi-lane roundabout: to turn right, use the right lane in and out; to go straight, use either lane and exit in the lane you entered; to turn left, keep driving until you reach your exit.
Pedestrians have the right-of-way in marked or unmarked crosswalks. When you turn right, check for bicycles and motorcycles beside you.
Next step: practice the roundabout and right-of-way questions on the free California Class C permit practice test.

California roundabout rules: common questions

Do you have to stop at a roundabout in California?

You may need to stop at the entry. Yield to all traffic already in the roundabout, and wait for a gap that is big enough to merge safely. Once you are in, do not stop or pass. At a crosswalk, be ready to stop for pedestrians. A stop sign on all four corners follows a different rule: see who goes first at a four-way stop.

Who has the right of way in a roundabout?

Traffic that is already in the roundabout goes first. Pedestrians have the right-of-way at crosswalks, marked or unmarked, and people who use a guide dog or a white cane have it at all times. Never assume that another driver will yield to you: give up your right-of-way when that helps prevent a collision.

What if I miss my exit in a roundabout?

Keep going around the central island until you return to your exit. Do not stop on the way around. When you reach your exit, signal and leave. Try the practice question on a missed exit to test this rule.

Do you use your turn signal in a roundabout?

Yes, in two cases: when you change lanes and when you exit. As you approach, slow down and read the signs and lane markings that guide you. In a roundabout with more than one lane, pick your lane by where you are going.

Do skateboarders and wheelchair users count as pedestrians in California?

Yes. The California Driver Handbook counts as pedestrians a person walking, a person on roller skates or a skateboard, and a person with a disability who uses a wheelchair, tricycle or quadricycle to get around. At a crosswalk, give them the right-of-way, and allow the extra time that a person with a disability may need.