Author Topic: What is the driver's exam like?  (Read 1906 times)

I really only studied the manual the day I took my permit test. I did fine.

Most of it is common sense but you should probably study for it so you can memorize specific questions like "how far away from a turn should you signal" and "how long can it take a full tractor trailer semi going 60mph to come to a stop". Some of the questions are just stupid but you have to know them.

Guys, he's talking about the permit test, not the driver's test.
What's the difference?
We have 2 tests in the UK, a theory one (so a written test) and a practical test (where you actually drive).
Is that the same as permit/drivers, or are they different?

What's the difference?
We have 2 tests in the UK, a theory one (so a written test) and a practical test (where you actually drive).
Is that the same as permit/drivers, or are they different?

It is essentially the same here, but I generally use the terms "permit test" and "license test". Quite sure they have more specific government names, but in the permit test, it is just written, they take your picture, and give a temporary piece of paper used as a permit. They then mail a permanent card to your house and you get rid of the piece of paper. In Missouri, it said I had to do 40 hours of instruction with a licensed driver. I logged the hours faithfully only to find out that they didn't care about my hours when I went for my license.

For the license, it said in my handbook that I would have to retake the writing test (technically was on an old computer in the driver's station) if previous results were over a year old, but they didn't say anything about it and I took the driving exam. I then got another temporary paper to use as a license and they mailed the permanent card.

Easy. Drivers test is also easy. Enjoy the excitement while you can.

I really only studied the manual the day I took my permit test. I did fine.

Most of it is common sense but you should probably study for it so you can memorize specific questions like "how far away from a turn should you signal" and "how long can it take a full tractor trailer semi going 60mph to come to a stop". Some of the questions are just stupid but you have to know them.
I was super nervous my first time taking the permit test, and ended up failing by a single point.

I retook it the next day and got 100%.

The actual driving test is easy as balls though.

So you don't have any form of license before taking the Permit Test then?

Here in the UK at the age of 17 you can apply for a Provisional Driving License, and all you do is send off your info and a valid photo, and the application fee, and it gets sent back.
Then I can drive a number of vehicles (Your basic car and moped, also a tractor, lawn-mower or similar vehicle), so long as I have a passenger in the car who has a full license.

With the Provisional then I can start to take lessons, and apply for the full license and complete the two exams.
As far as I can tell, you also don't have to have logged any number of hours before taking the exams. You could go in with zero experience (although that would be stupid and a waste of your money). But I suppose that's fair, because you can drive a vehicle without any form of license, so long as you are on private property.

I've got a provisional license, but I only got one because it's an easy form of official ID, so I can purchase alcohol.
I've never had any lessons or attempted to drive any vehicles.

The Permit Test only allows someone to drive with a licensed driver over the age of 21. You can only apply for the license after possessing it for 182 days (six months), but apparently logged hours are just a recommendation. I think that driver can only have one person who isn't an immediate relative in the car, but immediate relatives are allowed so long as they are riding safely. The permit test age limit is 15 years and older.

There is then the Intermediate License, which requires a driving test. I never got this because the age range is between 16 years and 18 years old, but it's pretty much just a license that expires on your 18th birthday, you can't drive between 1 AM and 5 AM, and you can only have one unrelated person in the car. After having the license for six months, you can have up to three unrelated people in the car.

Between 18 and 21 is the Under-18 Full Driver's License, which is what I have. No idea why it's even a thing because it's no different than a Full Driver's License (21+), but there aren't any special limits or anything. It's just a license that permits someone to drive under any circumstance.

My driving instructor apparently screamed "DO YOU HAVE A DEATH WISH?" into the ears of every poor soul to take the test.

He also wet his pants when I was behind the wheel.

That sounds like a bit of an over-complicated system.
I suppose one advantage though is being able to start your learning to drive at the age of 15.

But that said, given the amount of 17/18 year olds I've known who have learnt to drive AND QUALIFIED, and then gone to crash their cars/bikes very soon after, maybe it's more worrying, lol.

That sounds like a bit of an over-complicated system.
I suppose one advantage though is being able to start your learning to drive at the age of 15.

But that said, given the amount of 17/18 year olds I've known who have learnt to drive AND QUALIFIED, and then gone to crash their cars/bikes very soon after, maybe it's more worrying, lol.

I hear stories at school that are so pathetic that I don't even know how some kids passed their tests.

I hear stories at school that are so pathetic that I don't even know how some kids passed their tests.
One person I know rolled their car on a straight road, 1 day after getting their full license.

And another parked their brand new car on a steep road, without the handbrake on, and it rolled down and hit two other cars, all a couple of months after passing.

The permit test for me was 10 multiple questions about what the signs and lights mean.

My driver's test consisted of driving 2 blocks, a 3 point turn and a parallel park behind a car. It took less than 5 minutes.

My driving test didn't even include parallel parking. I still don't know how to do it :cookieMonster:

My driver's test didn't even include parallel parking. I still don't know how to do it :cookieMonster:
Yeah I've had my license for five years and still haven't needed to parallel park lol

I studied for the test in an afternoon and passed, the only time I ever studied something once and passing.
Why do people fail the test ever? I've heard stories of some poor forgets taking the test SIX TIMES.