Passing the DMV behind the wheel California test in my third attempt.

I had failed my written test on my first attempt and I realized that I cant go for the test without studying the DMV handbook. Over the course of the next week, I studied the entire book and took many practice tests. I passed the written test on my second attempt and was preparing for the behind-the-wheel test.

I practiced with New Prudential Driving and Lucys Traffic School and the instructor there was too strict, making me very anxious during driving. I practiced there for 4 hours and changed the school. The second school that I went to was IE driving school. The instructor there this time was way too lenient. He didn't correct me for my mistakes or teach me things in depth. He just finished his classes and hurried back home. 

I decided to ask my church friends to help and they did a wonderful job teaching me to drive. I practiced over the weekends and understood all the rules that were to be followed while driving. I watched youtube videos of the driving routes for my center and created a map on MyMaps and practiced on those routes with my friends.

Apart from that, I started binge-watching a lot of behind-the-wheel driving tests, driving lessons, lessons to reduce anxiety while driving on the road videos. 

1.First Attempt

My first test was at Pomona DMV. I had loaned my landlord's car for the test. My test was at 10:30am and we reached there by 10:15am. We showed the registration, insurance, identification, my permit and waited in the car for our turn for the test. When I saw my instructor, for the weirdest reasons I felt as if he was going to fail me, haha. He sat in the car and I started driving. The first few minutes were okay but when I was about to take a right turn, he panicked and grabbed my steering wheel. I froze and the vehicle hit a curb and the steering wheels stopped working. We took the vehicle to a nearby shop, called my landlord, switched on the emergency flashers, and drove back home. A total disaster.

2.Second Attempt

I was so discouraged that I waited for a few months before taking my second appointment. By the time that I was about to schedule my test in December 2020, the centers had closed again because of COVID and they wouldn't be reopening till February. I kept a watch on the DMV website every day to schedule a day as soon as they open. The day they reopened I scheduled my test for Pomona DMV. On the test day, I had rented a car from Chino Hills Driving School and reached there by 10am. This time it was a lady instructor. The test went pretty okay but she failed me as I had more than 15 mistakes.

3.Third Attempt

This was going to be my last attempt. If I failed this test then I would have to do the entire process again starting from the writing test. I prayed this time and asked God the center that I should choose to go and He directed me towards Norco. I scheduled a test at Norco and practiced a little more with my church friends. On the day of the test, I had rented a car from Ace Driving and Traffic school. My test was at 11 am and they reached my home by 10 am. The girl who brought the vehicle was showing me the hand signals and doing the pre-driving checklist when she realized that the horns didn't work. I panicked because by now it was already 10:10 am and we had to do a 40-minute drive to reach Norco. I immediately called my friend and requested her to bring her vehicle for the test. She agreed and the driving school lady was kind enough to drop me at Norco. I met my friend there and took my test with her vehicle. I finally passed on March 22,2021 with 14 errors. I was so happy. All my hard work, prayers, and persistence had finally paid off.

TIPS for new drivers:

1. Practise, Practise, Practise as much as you can.

2. Drive confidently. Do not be anxious on the test day. 

4. Practise on the DMV route. Routes can be easily found on Youtube.

Tips that helped me:

1.You don't have to take a right on red. As a new driver, a right on red can be overwhelming so you don't have to take a right if you don't want to.

2.Be an opportunist. Waiting too long for your turn is not a good thing. Keep an eye for opportunities to take a left or right turn. As a new driver, we want the lane to have as few cars as possible before taking an unprotected left turn or a right on a red. Be safe but not over-cautious that you keep waiting so long that you are unable to move.

3. To know if it's an all four stop you can look down on the road. If there are white lines on the other sides of the road as well. It's a stop for them as well.

4.Do not drive too slowly. If you drive too slowly you will fail the test. You have to observe the speed limit. 

For more tips check my blog How to pass California CA DMV behind the wheel test Easy Tips 

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