All states give a two-part test before issuing a driver’s license. Each state’s requirements vary, but in general, the written portion tests your knowledge of driving safety and traffic rules. The practical portion examines your skills at safely maneuvering a vehicle on the road.
Get The Handbook
The written test pulls questions from information in your state’s driver's handbook, so get a copy of the manual and read it. States often offer their driver’s manual for free, and you usually can pick one up at your state’s public safety offices, office of motor vehicles locations, driving schools, the library and bookstores. Some states, such as New York, California and Florida provide their handbooks in a variety of formats including print and electronic versions.
One of the best ways to retain information is to get a thorough understanding of the material. And, understanding information often comes when you connect it with an activity. One way to do this is to take the manual with you on your trips around town. Pay attention as the driver responds to the various traffic laws and signs, and connect these activities with the information in your manual.
Pay attention to traffic signs and road markings that you encounter, because these are likely to be on the test.
In some states you’ll need to take a driver education course before you can get your license. For example, young people in Illinois who are 18 to 20 years old need to take a drivers education course if the following are all true:
Didn’t take driver’s education in high school or at a commercial drivers school
In Texas, you need to take an adult driver’s course if you’re between 18 and 24 years old, and in Michigan, taking the course is optional.
The adult driver's education course is often waived if you have a driver's license from another state. In all states, teenagers must take a driver's education course.
You’ll need to take the theory test before you take the practical test, but resist the urge to take either portion of the DMV test before you get some driving practice in. Practicing to drive helps solidify the theories in the manual. Wait until you’ve at least read your state’s driver’s manual to start practicing to drive. Always practice with a licensed, skillful driver.
Certain skills are a must in some states, so check out your handbook for skills that the tester will review. For example, in Pennsylvania, parallel parking is a must, and in North Carolina, you must successfully maneuver the three-point turn. In almost every state, you must master the following:
Changing lanes
Parking
Responding to road signs
Reversing the vehicle
Using the horn
If you don't respond correctly to the tester's instructions or if you don't handle the vehicle safely, you'll likely fail the test. For example, a tester can fail you if you accelerate too quickly. Don't let nervousness take over. Remember to breathe and relax when you take the practical test.
