Driving Test Experiences

[ktun 0]

Hi All,

Well, we have a new car and AAA wont put me on the insurance without an Iowa DL, and I cant just trade my British Licence for an Iowa one as I read that you are able to in some states. Today I picked up the Iowa Driver's Manual and have been reading it all afternoon, making notes etc. However, I can't find anywhere, (a website, in the manual etc) where it tells you how many questions there are on the written test and how many you have to get right? Also for those who have taken the practical test, how long did it last and what did they ask you to do? Again the manual isn't helpful simply stating that the driving test shows how well you can control your vehicle and that the examiner will sit in the front seat scoring your driving ability.

What happened on your test?

Were you asked to perform maneuvers like reverse or parallel parking? Did you go on the Interstate? How long did it last?

Any info or help is much appreciated.

Thank you

Kate

[Boiler 43,676]

There is no State that does not require you to take a test. Not sure where you got that from.

I did my written test by mistake, I just went to enquire and was given a form to fill in, one wrong. I think you can get 5 wrong, but then you could have gone straight back in and done it again until you got enough right. Most were obvious, some required thinking about, I got the 4 way stop priority wrong, got my lefts and rights mixed up.

Whilst each State does its own thing, the one thing they have in common is that they are very easy, nothing to worry about. Just remember to STOP at Stop signs and obey the speed limit.

[Kez/JWolf 6]

When I took my written test I had not even read the manual and I passed with only 2 wrong.... the driving test was easy for me... the state trouper asked me to show the hand signals and then asked how long I had been driving in the UK (20 years) and how long here (8 months).... he then asked me to drive to the junction at the end of the road and make a left turn.... then take the next left and then the next left (I thought I had failed as we were back where we started) he told me to pull over at the side of the road and switch off the car... he then got out and walked round to my open window and handed me a slip of paper and said you are all set..... go inside and give them this and they will give you your temp licence today... Lasted all of 10 mins.... got my State licence in the mail about 10 days later....

Good Luck

Kezzie

p.s I got added to my husbands insurance with just my UK licence as it is valid for driving here in MA for 12 months from date of entry....

[Boiler 43,676]

i should have added that I am surprised that an Insurer would not cover you, most will. There are many people who can not get US DL's.

[Angelica 0]

Here, the written test had 40 questions . You could get up to 5 wrong and pass.

The practical, driving part.....1st insurance, car registration and your id are checked out. Next, he stood outside and asked me to use indicators, lights, brakes etc....just so he knows you know what the knobs and dials are, and what they do. Also he checks vehicle is roadworthy.

The actual driving took 25mins. 8 rights..8 lefts...take a curve...park....reverse.....onto a motorway..off motorway...couple of lane changes... nothing complicated and voila !! My guy asked a few questions while driving, wasn't part of the test, he said he asked everyone that stuff cos it was all things you could get tickets for. Not a bad experience at all

Kim

[Nikita2Charles 32]

Each state is different

When i got my driver's license in NY long back, I had to do parrallel parking, Freeway driving, here in The san francisco bay area, my wife went for her driving test, there was no Parallel parking, no freeway driving, just basic maneuvers and they check if you respect the regulations.

[ktun 0]

There is no State that does not require you to take a test. Not sure where you got that from.

I did my written test by mistake, I just went to enquire and was given a form to fill in, one wrong. I think you can get 5 wrong, but then you could have gone straight back in and done it again until you got enough right. Most were obvious, some required thinking about, I got the 4 way stop priority wrong, got my lefts and rights mixed up.

Whilst each State does its own thing, the one thing they have in common is that they are very easy, nothing to worry about. Just remember to STOP at Stop signs and obey the speed limit.

Apparantly according to another topic in this Forum there are some States that do not require you to take the test if you can produce your Driving Record.

Anyway....

Thank you all for your info and suggestions. I understand that some insurance companies would have included me on the insurance, but my husband doesn't want to switch and to be honest my 12 months of being allowed to drive legally on my British Licence is coming to an end in September, so I really should get an Iowa Licence now. Also, I'm looking for a job and without being on the insurance, Craig will have to drive me to interviews and eventually to work, so I better get my licencing done sooner rather than later. Kezzie, I hope my test is as easy as yours!!

Thanks again

Kate

[littlepoem 0]

Hi All,

Well, we have a new car and AAA wont put me on the insurance without an Iowa DL, and I cant just trade my British Licence for an Iowa one as I read that you are able to in some states. Today I picked up the Iowa Driver's Manual and have been reading it all afternoon, making notes etc. However, I can't find anywhere, (a website, in the manual etc) where it tells you how many questions there are on the written test and how many you have to get right? Also for those who have taken the practical test, how long did it last and what did they ask you to do? Again the manual isn't helpful simply stating that the driving test shows how well you can control your vehicle and that the examiner will sit in the front seat scoring your driving ability.

What happened on your test?

Were you asked to perform maneuvers like reverse or parallel parking? Did you go on the Interstate? How long did it last?

Any info or help is much appreciated.

Thank you

Kate

hi kate.........i am from canada, living in iowa....i only had to take the written test and i believe there were about 40 questions and without even looking at the book i passed the test.....canada and the u.s. is basically the same when it comes to driving and road rules.......good luck oh your test!!!........where in iowa are you? i am in des moines

[griffin 7]

Greetings!

Here in Michigan, went to secretary of state and took the written test and passed....everything was in the small manual that was given prior to the test.

The roadl test however involves two things:

1. basic skills : asking you to drive and stop, then 90 degree parking, parrallel parking...all will be tested right at their own parking lot.

2. actual road test

note: 10 minutes for the basic skills

35 minutes for the actual road driving

if i can do it then you will.....i guess i am the oly one who passed the test without experienced driving in the expressway but im glad that i made it....also i took the test on a Sunday morning and as early as 6:35 a.m...i was lucky to find an examine with a flexible timing for the test.

Goodluck Griffin

correction : road test instead or roadl test

examiner instead of examine

thanks!

[ktun 0]

Hi All,

Well, we have a new car and AAA wont put me on the insurance without an Iowa DL, and I cant just trade my British Licence for an Iowa one as I read that you are able to in some states. Today I picked up the Iowa Driver's Manual and have been reading it all afternoon, making notes etc. However, I can't find anywhere, (a website, in the manual etc) where it tells you how many questions there are on the written test and how many you have to get right? Also for those who have taken the practical test, how long did it last and what did they ask you to do? Again the manual isn't helpful simply stating that the driving test shows how well you can control your vehicle and that the examiner will sit in the front seat scoring your driving ability.

What happened on your test?

Were you asked to perform maneuvers like reverse or parallel parking? Did you go on the Interstate? How long did it last?

Any info or help is much appreciated.

Thank you

Kate

hi kate.........i am from canada, living in iowa....i only had to take the written test and i believe there were about 40 questions and without even looking at the book i passed the test.....canada and the u.s. is basically the same when it comes to driving and road rules.......good luck oh your test!!!........where in iowa are you? i am in des moines

Hi fellow Iowan I'm in Council Bluffs, so just a couple of minutes from the Nebraska border. I feel okay about the written test. I've been through the manual and got almost all of the practice questions right. Hope the actual driving test is not too bad. I have been driving here some on my British Licence, but it is a question of confidence. I really dont like driving on the Interstates, but apart from that I'm okay.

[Badgerbabe 0]

I did some written tests on a site called driver's Ed - cost about $10 for 50 tests.

You can choose the state.

For the DMV exam there were 40 questions - multi choice and also then 10 seperate ones on road signs only. You have to pass both.

The practical test wasn't so bad - paralell parking/reversing straight ( not round a corner like the uk) no emergency stop !

Make sure that when turning left you follow the lane around and not pull over straight away into the curb lane.

Just remember to look in your mirrors often and also look over your shoulder when moving off and checking in the blind spot. They seemed pretty hot on this.

good luck !

[ChristinaM 0]

I actually ran a Stop sign on my driving test and still passed. (It was not really my fault.)

I know that here in Maine, it's a lot easier to get a DL than in the UK.

[Dixie_Peach 1]

Kate... there is a website that my son is using to help him study to get his learner's license... i will send it to you... maybe it can help...

http://www.dmv.org/ga-georgia/practice-tes...p?source=google

go to the middle of the page where it says Take the DMV.ORG Drivers License Practice Test now...

hope that helps!

[Girona40 0]

Really there is nothing to worry about. If you can pass a UK driving test then you can pass a US one!

I took the written test - studied and got all worked-up about it, for no reason at all. Then drove out of the DMV car park, 200 yards up the road, was asked to do a U-turn back to the parking lot - issued with license!

I was gob-smacked, it was so easy!

[ktun 0]

Wow, thanks guys for all the responses. You've made me feel easier about it now. I tend to get in a state about these things and make silly mistakes that I would never make under normal circumstances, so I hope that I'll be able to relax some.

I dont have my Greencard yet, but the interviewer stamped my passport. Do you think I'll have to wait for the GC to arrive or will the stamp be enough to prove residency status at the DMV?