Anyone taken a driving test in CA?

[Stan1234 0]

Hello, so finally I've managed to get my driving permit (the lady at the DMV didn't even look at my EAD and didn't seem to care that my I-94 had expired months ago! so who knows?!).

Just wondering if anyone out there has taken their test in CA and give me any tips on what to expect. Its been *ah-hum* a few years since I took my driving test in the UK and have probably fallen into some bad habits. I'll definitely have to try my hardest to stop at stop signs! not speed!! and it still seems unnatural to turn right on a red light.

I'm mainly interested in knowing whether their are any manouvers involved in the test because I really can't parallel park for s**t and might need to practice my 3 point turn!

Thanks

[Jasman0717 8]

parallel parking and using turn signals Also, using your mirrors

Edited January 17, 2009 by jasman0717

[brtlmj 0]

The only "maneuver" I was asked to demonstrate was reversing in a straight line. Overall, the test was much easier than the one in Poland, years ago.

[spikeyflip 0]

Hello, so finally I've managed to get my driving permit (the lady at the DMV didn't even look at my EAD and didn't seem to care that my I-94 had expired months ago! so who knows?!).

Just wondering if anyone out there has taken their test in CA and give me any tips on what to expect. Its been *ah-hum* a few years since I took my driving test in the UK and have probably fallen into some bad habits. I'll definitely have to try my hardest to stop at stop signs! not speed!! and it still seems unnatural to turn right on a red light.

I'm mainly interested in knowing whether their are any manouvers involved in the test because I really can't parallel park for s**t and might need to practice my 3 point turn!

Thanks

Hi,

Just wondering where in Cali are you taking your test?? some places would be more harder (depending on the location of the dmv). Just remember...full stop on stop signs, you can turn right on a red light, but still u need to stop fully before turning, or unless a sign says you can't turn right on a red. Some places like San Francisco might require you to do a parallel park. The 3 point turn seems to be mandatory on all dmvs.

Good luck ! Oh..you might have to go early also since the places gets pretty crowded ^^;;

[Jasman0717 8]

Hello, so finally I've managed to get my driving permit (the lady at the DMV didn't even look at my EAD and didn't seem to care that my I-94 had expired months ago! so who knows?!).

Just wondering if anyone out there has taken their test in CA and give me any tips on what to expect. Its been *ah-hum* a few years since I took my driving test in the UK and have probably fallen into some bad habits. I'll definitely have to try my hardest to stop at stop signs! not speed!! and it still seems unnatural to turn right on a red light.

I'm mainly interested in knowing whether their are any manouvers involved in the test because I really can't parallel park for s**t and might need to practice my 3 point turn!

Thanks

Hi,

Just wondering where in Cali are you taking your test?? some places would be more harder (depending on the location of the dmv). Just remember...full stop on stop signs, you can turn right on a red light, but still u need to stop fully before turning, or unless a sign says you can't turn right on a red. Some places like San Francisco might require you to do a parallel park. The 3 point turn seems to be mandatory on all dmvs.

Good luck ! Oh..you might have to go early also since the places gets pretty crowded ^^;;

Making complete stops is a biggie

[brtlmj 0]

Oh... and obey speed limits. They will not fail you for driving 20 in a 25 zone, and it gives you more time to think!

[Stan1234 0]

Thanks for the replies. I'll be taking the test in sacramento so not sure how tough they are here?

My wife says I've already perfected the californian stop - the one where you kind of roll of to the stop line half think about stopping but don't! And my foot can be a little heavy, 25 just seems so slow. I'll have to try hard to be on my best behaviour for the test!!

Guess I'll also have to practice my parking just in case.

[spikeyflip 0]

Thanks for the replies. I'll be taking the test in sacramento so not sure how tough they are here?

My wife says I've already perfected the californian stop - the one where you kind of roll of to the stop line half think about stopping but don't! And my foot can be a little heavy, 25 just seems so slow. I'll have to try hard to be on my best behaviour for the test!!

Guess I'll also have to practice my parking just in case.

Ah hehe...yes the california stop...can't remember how many tickets I've been issued for that all these years but yes just make sure you do complete stops....the person administering it may stop the test and fail you on the spot...as for the speed limit...just drive maybe a bit lower than the posted limit...just check your speed once in awhile during the test. Not sure about Sacramento dmv so sorries ^^;;

[andrew&evelyn 6]

I'm from Sacramento. I took my road test at DMV Carmichael branch last Nov 18. It just took me like maybe 10 minutes. The instructor didn't asked me to do anything. No parallel parking, no 3 points turn. I just drove around the dmv area. She just told me to make a complete stop on the "stop sign" and scanned the intersection before turning left or right.

Evelyn

[C&P 0]

My husband hasn't caught on to the "california roll" just yet, which should help him in his test! Definitely practice your parallel parking, I have never heard of them not making you do it! They usually pick a big enough spot, but it might be embarrassing if it takes you 5 minutes! And when checking your mirrors, actually move your head, not just your eyes. This was the only mark I had on my test! Other than that it should be easy, my test only lasted about 10 minutes.

[Jasman0717 8]

Claudeth starts driver training in nine hours

[Mags 112]

Claudeth starts driver training in nine hours

Why don't you be supportive, rather than seeming to mock her in every post? If she is as nervous as you have made out, smilies like this -------> are hardly appropriate. You should be giving her hugs, telling her she'll be okay and that you'll help her in any way you can.

Edit: for grammar

Edited January 23, 2009 by Magenta

[Stan1234 0]

Damn guess I'll have to practice my parking

I found a bunch of videos on youtube from the CA DMV which are hilarious.

Will also have to practice my ridiculously over exagerated looking - look my head is spinning more than the exorcist girl are you happy!

[spikeyflip 0]

Claudeth starts driver training in nine hours

Mmmm you should have let her do the driver's training in the Philippines...after that driving here should be easy

I'm from Sacramento. I took my road test at DMV Carmichael branch last Nov 18. It just took me like maybe 10 minutes. The instructor didn't asked me to do anything. No parallel parking, no 3 points turn. I just drove around the dmv area. She just told me to make a complete stop on the "stop sign" and scanned the intersection before turning left or right.

Evelyn

Wow ... I think that's probably the most easiest driving test I've heard off ^^;;

[lucyrich 19]

I taught Lucy to drive. I don't recommend drivers education as a marriage-building experience. Hire a professional instructor.

The test was conducted only on city surface streets. Max speed limit was 35 mph. There was no freeway driving or other high speed driving involved.

One vital thing on the test is that you must always come to a full and complete stop for every stop sign, and you must never exceed the speed limit, not even a little. Of course, those two rules don't apply quite so much after you get your license. Also, you must remember to signal every turn and lane change (that one really SHOULD apply after you get your license).

When I was teaching, I insisted on Lucy following those rules every single time, just like my high school driver's ed teacher insisted for me. There were times when she was angry, saying, "but you don't always stop completely". And she had a point, but my point was that she had to build the habits necessary for passing the test, so that when the instructor was in the car those things would come automatically without thinking about them. After she passed the test, she could interpret the stop signs and speed limits a little more like most drivers do.