Get ready for your driver’s road test
Oct. 3, 2024
Taking your driver’s license exam can be nerve-wracking, but it doesn’t need to be. Our Driver and Vehicle Services (DVS) division aims to help calm your anxieties by making sure you know what to expect before, during and after your road test.
“We know many people who come to take their test are nervous. Understanding the process can go a long way toward putting them at ease,” said DVS Director Pong Xiong.
The first thing you should do is study the rules of the road. Specifically, read the Class D Driver's manual, which is available in several languages. Fifty-six percent of people statewide who take the written test, fail. The more you study, the more likely you are to pass on the first try.
After that, your second priority should be to practice driving. The more you practice, the better you’ll feel when its time to test.
When you arrive at the exam station, you’ll walk inside or drive up to a window to receive a pink paper called an RX form. If it is your second attempt, the RX form will be yellow. You’ll give that to your examiner, along with proof that the vehicle you’re driving is insured. If you’re under 18, you’ll also need to hand over your signed course completion card and a driving log signed by your parent or guardian.
Remember that only you and the examiner can be in the vehicle during the road test.
Before you leave the parking lot, the examiner will have you demonstrate the following features:
Then it’s time to test your driving abilities. The type of skills tested vary by location and examiner but may include parking on a hill, parallel parking, driving on one-way roads and reading multiple types of road signs. Remember to stay calm and pay close attention to the road throughout the test.
After you’re done, you’ll park your vehicle at the exam station and the examiner will go over your results. If all goes well, you’ll go home with a paper temporary license, and DVS will mail you your standard license.
To see the process, watch our video on YouTube. From the minute you arrive to after you finish the test the video shows students exactly what to expect from their road test.
