Under California left turn law, a driver turning left or making a U-turn must yield the right-of-way to every vehicle coming from the opposite direction that is close enough to be a hazard, and must complete the turn from the leftmost lane after signaling for at least 100 feet. Break one of these rules and you’re looking at an infraction that runs roughly $234 once penalty assessments are added, plus a point on your DMV record.1California Legislative Information. California Vehicle Code VEH 21801 – Right-of-Way Left Turn2California Courts. Uniform Bail and Penalty Schedules 2026
Yielding to Oncoming Traffic
This is the rule that everything else orbits. When you turn left or U-turn on any California roadway, you yield to every oncoming vehicle close enough to be a hazard at any point during your turn, and you keep yielding until the turn can be completed safely.1California Legislative Information. California Vehicle Code VEH 21801 – Right-of-Way Left Turn It applies at intersections, driveways, and parking lot entrances.
There is no fixed distance in the statute. “Close enough to constitute a hazard” depends on how fast the oncoming car is moving and how long your turn will take. When in doubt, wait for the next gap.
The same rule controls at stop signs and uncontrolled intersections. If you’re stopped waiting to turn left, every approaching vehicle that could reach the intersection during your turn has priority.
Signals: Green Ball, Green Arrow, and Red
A circular green light lets you turn left, but you still yield to oncoming traffic and to pedestrians lawfully in the intersection or a nearby crosswalk.3California Legislative Information. California Code VEH 21451 – Circular Green Signal A green arrow is a protected phase: oncoming traffic has red, so you only need to watch for pedestrians.
California allows a left turn on red in exactly one situation. After a complete stop at a steady circular red, you may turn left from a one-way street onto another one-way street, provided no sign prohibits it and you yield to pedestrians and to any vehicle close enough to be an immediate hazard.4California Legislative Information. California Code VEH 21453 – Circular Red or Red Arrow Left on red from a two-way street is illegal. Left on a red arrow is illegal. A posted “No Turn on Red” sign overrides the one-way-to-one-way exception.
Lane Position and Signaling Before the Turn
You have to approach a left turn as close as practicable to the left edge of the leftmost lane going your direction.5California Legislative Information. California Code VEH 22100 – Right and Left Turns Get into that lane before you reach the intersection rather than drifting across lanes as you turn. Don’t start the physical turn before you enter the intersection either; cutting the corner puts you into the path of drivers in the opposing left-turn lane. Once inside, complete the turn and exit into any lane lawfully open for traffic going your new direction.
You can’t turn from a straight path until it’s safe to do so, and you must signal whenever another vehicle could be affected.6Justia. California Code VEH 22107 – Turning and Required Signals The signal has to run continuously for at least the last 100 feet before the turn.7California Legislative Information. California Code VEH 22108 – Signal Duration At city speeds that’s about two seconds, so activate the signal before you start braking. Signaling early also protects you if someone rear-ends you while you slow.
Two-Way Left-Turn Lanes
The center lane bordered by parallel double yellow lines, dashed on the inside and solid on the outside, is a two-way left-turn lane. Drivers going either direction can enter it to stage a left turn into a side street, driveway, or parking lot.8California Legislative Information. California Code VEH 21460.5 – Two-Way Left-Turn Lanes
Two limits apply. You cannot travel in the center turn lane for more than 200 feet while setting up your turn; using it as a regular travel lane is illegal and risks a head-on with someone doing the same thing from the other side. And when a two-way left-turn lane exists, you have to use it. Turning left from any other lane is a violation.
U-Turn Rules by Location
U-turns are legal in California in more places than most drivers assume, but the rules shift depending on where you are.
At Traffic Signals
On a circular green, you may U-turn from the leftmost lane unless a sign prohibits it.3California Legislative Information. California Code VEH 21451 – Circular Green Signal At signalized intersections generally, U-turns must be made from the far left lane available for traffic in your direction.9Justia. California Code VEH 22100.5 – U-Turns at Controlled Intersections U-turns at signalized intersections aren’t automatically banned; check for a posted restriction.
Business Districts
In a business district you can only U-turn at an intersection or through a designated opening in a divided highway’s median.10California Legislative Information. California Code VEH 22102 – U-Turns in Business Districts Mid-block U-turns downtown are illegal. Miss your turn, drive to the next intersection.
Residential Districts
Residential rules are more permissive. You can U-turn mid-block in a residential area unless a vehicle is approaching from either direction within 200 feet. There’s a carve-out: at an intersection where the approaching vehicle is controlled by a traffic signal or stop sign, you can proceed even if that vehicle is within 200 feet.11California Legislative Information. California Code VEH 22103 – U-Turns in Residence Districts
Limited Visibility
On any highway, a U-turn is illegal without an unobstructed view of at least 200 feet in both directions.12California Legislative Information. California Code VEH 22105 – U-Turns on Highways Hills, curves, and overgrown vegetation are the usual reasons the view falls short. If you can’t see the distance, don’t attempt the turn.
Posted Local Restrictions
Cities and counties can restrict turns at specific intersections with signs like “No Left Turn,” “No U-Turn,” or “Left Turn Only.” A posted restriction overrides any general permission the Vehicle Code would otherwise give you, and some restrictions apply only during certain hours for rush-hour traffic management. Read the signs, especially in urban areas.
Fines, Points, and Traffic School
Turning and U-turn violations are infractions. The base fine for most of them is $35, but California’s mandatory penalty assessments, surcharges, and court fees push the total to about $234, and some counties run higher.2California Courts. Uniform Bail and Penalty Schedules 2026
Most turning infractions also add one point to your DMV record. Points stay for three years and can lead to a license suspension if you rack up enough of them: four in 12 months, six in 24, or eight in 36. Insurance premiums usually climb after a point hits your record, often costing you more over a policy cycle than the ticket itself.
For a one-point turning violation you can typically ask the court for traffic school. Finishing the course keeps the point off your public record, so your insurer doesn’t see it. California allows this once every 18 months, the court has discretion to deny based on your driving history, and you still pay the full fine plus an administrative fee.
Fault After a Left-Turn Crash
Because the statute puts the yield burden on the left-turning driver, insurance adjusters and courts start with a strong presumption that the turning driver caused a collision with oncoming traffic. The presumption isn’t absolute. The oncoming driver may have been speeding, running a red, or distracted, but overcoming the presumption takes real evidence.
California follows pure comparative negligence, so fault can be split by percentage between drivers, and each side recovers the share of damages attributable to the other’s fault. Dashcam video, traffic camera footage, and witness statements often decide whether the split is lopsided or balanced.