The DMV will not tell you more than 50 percent of Americans fail their first DMV road test. But don’t let the statistics fool you; passing a driving test is achievable with adequate preparation. In fact, lack of preparation is the major reason why most learners fail their first road test. Don’t be a statistic! There is no shortcut around it; you have to prepare yourself if you want to pass.
A mock test is an effective way to point out your mistakes before the ultimate road test. However, you should only do a mock test after you have put in hours of practice behind the wheel. Always ask the instructor to clarify whenever you are not so sure of what you should do next. Remember, it is okay to make mistakes when you’re on practice, just don’t forget to learn from it. In fact, the more mistakes you make during the practice the better since you will know the weak points to work on. Once you’re confident of your skills, do a mock test around the area you will most likely be tested on. Ask your friends where they took their road test and you can bet there is one friend who took their test at the same route you will go through. Space out your mock tests at least 1 or 2 weeks before the actual road test to give yourself room to concentrate on your weak areas. You can also use our free DMV practice test online before you go for a road test.
Schedule the road test when you’re ready
Don’t schedule the road test immediately after the written test. Give yourself time to get familiar and confident behind the wheel before the eventual road test. For that reason, schedule the road test at least 4 weeks after doing the written test. The time of the day you’re willing to do the road test is another factor to consider. It would be ill-advised to tell everybody to schedule their test in the morning since not everybody is a morning person. Just schedule your DMV road test at whatever time you feel you will be more alert whether it is morning or afternoon.
Accept and deal with your nervousness
Most people make the mistake of pretending they’re not nervous while deep down they can’t avoid feeling nervous. It’s okay to feel nervous when you’re driving test approaches and instead of fighting it, it would be easier to accept and deal with it. There are various ways of dealing with nervousness such as taking a deep breath, drinking water, chewing gum and self-realization. Whatever you do, don’t let whatever stress you’re going through at home get into you. When you are on the road, it is just you, the road and your surroundings; nothing else matters.
Never stay up all night drinking and partying with your friends when you have a DMV road test the next day. The worst you can do is going to an early morning road test with a hangover. Don’t think the examiner will not notice to flunk your test. An 8 hour uninterrupted sleep is not much to ask, is it?
Check out which papers you should bring when making an appointment to take a road test. For instance, in Florida State, you won’t be allowed to get a driving license without completing a Traffic Law and Substance Abuse course. Before scheduling the road test, you will need proof of completing the afore-mentioned course. In other states, you will be required to do a drug test prior to the driving test. If you are a minor, it is obvious you will need a parental consent form. You will also need to bring papers to prove that your vehicle is well insured before the driving test or else it will be postponed.
Check your vehicle requirements
If you are bringing your car for the DMV road test, make sure it meets the requirement prescribed by the DMV. Usually, the examiner will check out for licensed number plates, functioning signals and brake lights, safety belts, working emergency brakes, 2 rear view mirrors, sufficient brake pressure, clear windshield, rolling driver’s window, functioning doors, secure glove box, working horn and tires that are not worn out. Since the requirement vary in different states, check out the requirement for your state online. For example, in New York, you can have your test postponed if the area around the seat belt is filled up with unnecessary items. Even a burn out brake light or a missing windshield wiper can get you sent back home. Never assume that your vehicle will pass the inspection. Always double check. In case, you find something wrong with the vehicle, get it fixed rather than switch it up for a completely different car model. No matter what happens, never take a driving test with a vehicle you’re not familiar with.
