If caught driving after your California driver's license is suspended what can happen to you?

It is possible that you can be released with a warning (with your passenger driving the car), but that is an extremely remote probability. You will almost certainly be given a citation, and you could be subject to arrest. Your vehicle might be towed and impounded, too. It will be up to the officer who makes contact to determine what course of action will be taken.

There are what we call variables. Factors that affect the situation will be the character and mood of the officer, your attitude, the reason your license was suspended, and the circumstances surrounding the traffic stop. (A broken tail light is not nearly as bad as if you were going 90+ in a 35 mph zone and your license was suspended for speeding on several different occasions.)

The extent of your difficulties might only be fully apparent on the date you appear before a judge. Expect your checkbook to be a lot lighter, and your "risk" will shoot up wildly. Are you going to continue to drive after a suspension and a subsequent charge of driving on a suspended license? And don't even think about what your insurance company is going to do. They'll have to get some time on a supercomputer to figure out a new rate for you.

The best advice that might be offered is to stand up straight, look the judge right in the eye, admit your mistake(s) (depending on what your attorney suggests, if you have one), and apologize. It wouldn't hurt to offer an assurance that you will do the right thing in the future, but don't bother to do that if you don't intend to. It will only be insulting to the court. Be smart about this and may good luck come your way.