Taking Your Driving Test

Driving can be dangerous and is full of traps for the unwary. Even experienced drivers can develop bad habits, have lapses of concentration, or make simple mistakes.

To get a drivers license you will need to apply. The age at which you can apply, and the waiting time vary from country-to-country. The shortest you will have to wait is virtually immediately, and the longest is around 10-12 months. Getting to your full license from the initial driving permit or provisional/learners license varies between countries.

For learner drivers the usual procedure is to apply for a learner’s license. Your initial license will come with restricted rights, such as lower speed limit, less powerful vehicle, restricted hours of use, requirement to have a qualified driver in the car, and low (or zero) alcohol limits. These permits are usually given on the completion of a theory test of 20-40 questions and in some countries it can be obtained from age 15.

There are road code websites where you can practice the theory questions online, giving you a greater chance of successfully passing first time.

Some countries have a second stage learner/provisional license where some of the restrictions are removed, but the driver is on a sort of probation for anywhere from 6-24 months. Completion of an advanced driver training course may reduce the amount of time spent in this pre-full-license state.

Handicapped drivers can obtain a separate badge that allows them to access restricted parking areas. A separate fitness test may be required to assess a person's ability to manage a vehicle safely.To get a full license it’s required that you sit a test, and there may be a long waiting list, so it’s best to apply well in advance. If you need to cancel your test, you can sometimes get a refund of the test fee if you cancel far enough in advance; if you don’t show up on the day, you will forfeit your slot.

Application forms are typically available from a post office or the driver license authority’s website in the country you are in. In many countries it's a legal requirement you carry your driver's license with your when driving.

Practical tests are mostly conducted out on the road network (except perhaps for initial motorbike training), and theory tests are conducted in examining centres. If the local conditions are particularly bad, your driving test might be postponed.

Passing the driving test is often as much about being calm, relaxed and focused as it is about driving skills. Whilst you must take sufficient driving lessons and get enough driving practice to learn to drive proficiently, techniques that can help you prepare mentally to stay focused and relaxed ahead of the driving test itself will be beneficial.

Car insurance for younger drivers is often expensive to obtain and sometimes comes with restrictions. Getting insurance for a high-powered vehicle may be difficult for learner drivers, though there are specialist insurers for this. It's best to take your test in a manual (stick shift) car so that you will be allowed to drive both a manual and automatic.