Many people dread taking the DMV road test, but there really isn’t any reason too. If you have properly prepared yourself, you should not have any problems.

One of the best ways to pass your DMV road test is to practice, practice, practice. As you know, if you are a minor, you must have your permit for six months and practice for an extra 50 hours beyond your required six hours with a school to take the road test. Of course if you got your permit after you turned 17 1/2, the six month waiting period will be shortened. If you turn 18, the 50 hours is not required.

It is estimated that it takes at least two to three years of driving experience in numerous types of situations to start to become adept at driving. Learning to drive is a life-long process. Getting a license doesn’t mean you have nothing else to learn. This makes the required 50 hours of practice to get your license a bare minimum of experience.

In California, you do not have to formally log your 50 hours and turn the log into the DMV. It is based on the honor system. On the second page of a minors permit is a top line where an instructor signs you off to legally drive after your first lesson with a school. Below that is a second line where a person who can verify that you did 50 extra hours will sign when you go to get your license.

Some students still log their hours to have an idea of their experience. It takes about two hours per week over six months to do 50 hours. Getting 50 hours of practice is not just about getting your license. You really don’t want to go out on the road by yourself without proper experience.

Here are some helpful tips for preparing for your road test:

• If you do not already have a copy, pick up the DMV booklet Driving Test Criteria. This little booklet has a lot of good information about the test. It explains what you will be tested on plus it explains the major critical errors which automatically fail you. Unfortunately, this booklet is not on-line; you have to pick it up at the DMV office.
• Make sure you take your permit and your Certificate of Completion for your six hours with a school. Double check the second page of your permit and make sure it is signed off by an instructor. If it is not, the DMV usually does not let you take the road test.

• Make sure your car meets the requirements for the test. The Driving Test Criteria booklet covers this in the first part under the Predrive section. It’s not unusual for someone to get to their drive test with an exterior light out, or the drivers window doesn’t work, or the emergence brake is broken, or the tire tread is bad, plus many other problems. If your car does not pass, your test will be cancelled.

• Review the California DMV Handbook and rules of the road.
• Review the DMV YouTube Channel videos about the rules of the road and taking the test.

• Do not expect a driving school to take you on the actual test routes. This is completely against DMV regulations. A school and/or instructor can lose their occupational license for doing this.

• If you are taking a review lesson with a school right before your test and it is your third lesson, be careful how you schedule the lesson. In a third lesson, you should be issued a Certificate of Completion for your required six hours. Make sure you schedule your lesson at least 10-14 days before your test to allow for the problem of “stuff happens.” On the day of your lesson, something can go wrong with a car, or an instructor may have a personal emergency or illness. Your lesson might have to be cancelled and you won’t get your certificate. No certificate, no road test. I worked for a large driving school that had numerous cars and instructors and even with all their cars and personnel, they rarely could provide a lesson on such short notice. They were booked up with no car or instructor available.

• If you are taking a review lesson before your DMV road test, whether it is your third lesson or not, it is good to have a 10-14 day lead time before the test. A review lesson for the test is to help reveal possible things you need to correct. A period of 10-14 days will give you the time to practice and drill on what you need to correct.

On the day of your test, try to be well rested, awake, and don’t go too hungry. If at all possible, relax. I personally do not test well, so I know how nerve wracking testing can be. The best tip I can give you is for you to remember you are taking your test in a great area. Keep telling yourself: “At least I’m not having to take my test in the Bay Area.” The drive test in the Bay Area can be torture!

Lake-Mendo Driving School wishes you best with your test.