Surviving (Passing!) the Written Driver's License Test

Driving is fun, but you gotta pass the written test after 70, not so fun.

Jerry's birthday was last Saturday, the deadline for him to renew his driver's license, and being a champion procrastinator at all things non-entomological, he waited until the last minute to make an appointment at the Department of Motor Vehicles. The only available appointment in the entire Bay Area turned out to be in San Jose on his birthday. It was that or waiting a minimum of three hours in lines at the local DMV. 

Worst of all, he had to take the written driver test because he's over 70.  This had him mildly freaked out. In fact, I don't think I've met anyone who isn't mildly freaked out about taking that test.

So we went to San Jose--I went with him out of pity for someone who had to spend his birthday at the DMV.  He passed the test with no errors, but the whole business was a hassle.  Here are some things he learned along the way, and I'm putting them down here to help other poor souls and myself, because in five years, it's test time for me, too.

1.  Make an appointment online as soon as you get a renewal notice from the DMV.    The appointment slots fill up fast.

2.  Golden nugget of information: It turns out that some DMV offices are open on Saturdays for appointments only.  No lines, no fuss.  It's a dream, whether or not you have to take the written test.   Here's the link:  https://www.dmv.ca.gov/portal/dmv/detail/fo/fo_sat_offices/          

3.  Without an appointment you're toast:  When I renewed my license in April at the DMV, I met a woman who'd spent three hours in line before she even got to the test-taking. 

4. You can read the driver handbook online:  http://apps.dmv.ca.gov/pubs/dl600.pdf    Jerry got a hard copy at the DMV and pored over it, because
you can't depend on 50+ years of driving to know what you need to know: there's a bunch of numbers to memorize (what percent blood alcohol is illegal, how many feet ahead to signal a turn, all that). 

5.  Take the free sample tests at the back of the driver handbook and on the DMV website:  http://www.dmv.ca.gov/portal/dmv/detail/pubs/interactive/tdrive/exam  .  Jerry thought taking these tests was the biggest help; many of the questions on his test were ones he'd seen on practice tests. 

6.  He also practiced on free tests found here:   http://freedmvpracticetests.com/ca-california/drivers-license/ca-drivers-license-practice-test/take


7.  You'll be asked to take a test with 18 questions, three of which you can opt out of (or miss).  As you take the test, a red flag indicates an incorrect answer (nerve-wracking!).  Also, you'll have to take the test on a computer terminal--no more paper tests.

8.  The DMV does not accept credit cards.  You have to pay the $33 in cash or by check.  I don't know if you can use a debit card.

Afterward, have a treat!  We went directly to a bakery and ate pastries with hot coffee. When we looked out the window, we saw all kinds of people not adhering to the minutiae of the Vehicle Code.  Which we went right back to doing.