California Truck Following Distance
300 feet - but read the fine print. That gap (VEH 21704) only applies when you're a big rig behind another big rig on the open road, and it switches off the moment there are two or more lanes in your direction. It never stops passing. Behind a car, in town, or on a multilane, the rule is the general 'reasonable and prudent' standard (VEH 21703) - a roughly $238 infraction plus a point. Run the CDL 7-plus seconds; 300 feet isn't the no-tailgate minimum.
How much room California makes you keep
300 feet - but read the fine print. That gap (VEH 21704) only applies when you're a big rig behind another big rig on the open road, and it switches off the moment there are two or more lanes in your direction. It never stops passing. Behind a car, in town, or on a multilane, the rule is the general 'reasonable and prudent' standard (VEH 21703) - a roughly $238 infraction plus a point. Run the CDL 7-plus seconds; 300 feet isn't the no-tailgate minimum.
The required distance
- Rule: Fixed truck gap
- Gap: 300 feet behind another big rig, outside a business or residence district - switched off on a highway with two or more lanes in your direction, and never bars passing.
- Fine: Infraction, about $238 plus court costs, plus 1 DMV point (VEH 21703).
California Following Distance FAQ
How much following distance must a truck keep in California?
What is the required gap in California?
What is the following-too-closely fine in California?
Reference information for planning, not legal advice. Traffic laws change and this can be out of date, so always confirm the current statute and obey posted signs before you rely on it. Last reviewed July 2026. Source: https://leginfo.legislature.ca.gov/faces/codes_displaySection.xhtml?lawCode=VEH§ionNum=21704.. See our Terms & Disclaimer.
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