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10 Road Test Tips

How to Pass Your Road Test: 10 Notable Tips

Going into your first road test can be a major source of anxiety for beginner drivers. However, contrary to popular belief, passing the road test is fairly simple as long as the prep work is done. Road test preparation can introduce complications for many student drivers.

Don’t be fooled though. There is not one “secret tip" that will guarantee you success on the road test. It essentially comes down to practicing and how much effort you put into it. Many students often experience immense pressure during the actual road test due to their lack of driving experience, which is why coming prepared is important.

Here are some important tips that can help young drivers pass their road test. If you are interested in road test preparation with a driving instructor, please reach out to us today.

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10 Tips on How to Pass Your Driving Test

1) Remember your pre-drive checklist

As soon as you enter your vehicle, there are a few moves that your instructor will expect you to perform. Here are some common aspects to look out for.

Operating your seatbelt safely.
Adjusting your side and rear-view mirrors.
Controlling your air conditioning and heating systems.
Turning on your headlights, taillights, and high beams.

2) Practice behind the wheel as often as you can

There is no substitute for simply getting behind the wheel and practicing. Whenever possible, you should ask a parent or close relative to accompany you on a supervised drive to practice. By doing so, you can gain a certain level of comfort on the road, which will help you a lot on the road test. Also, choosing an experienced supervisor that constantly gives you tips when practicing can go a long way and help you see your own mistakes.

3) Always stay within 5 mph of the speed limit

Traveling at speeds too high is a common reason many student drivers end up failing their road tests. It is easy to lose track of your acceleration when you are nervous and not paying full attention to the speedometer. It is also important to keep a smooth, constant speed throughout the duration of your road test.

Before your road test, try and train yourself to always stay within 5 miles per hour of the posted speed limit every time you practice driving. Actively look for speed limit signs and drive within 5mph of the posted speed limit. This is one of our best driving test tips for anxious student drivers. You do not want to fail your test just because you haven’t made this a driving habit!

4) Brake gently

Aggressive braking is a frequent reason drivers lose points on the road test. While it might be tempting to slam on the brakes, it’s important to practice gradually applying pressure—ideally starting about a quarter-mile before your stop. This gives your vehicle plenty of time to slow down safely and smoothly.

One effective way to avoid harsh braking is to keep your eyes well ahead of your vehicle. By scanning the road in advance, you can spot potential hazards early and respond calmly instead of reacting suddenly.

5) Know your basic maneuvers

Having a solid grasp of your basic maneuvers will be necessary to pass the driver’s test. Even knowing how to properly perform simple tasks such as stopping and accelerating smoothly can be the difference between passing and failing your test.

Make sure you are comfortable demonstrating the following maneuvers:

Three-Point Turns
Complete Stops
Steering Control
Reversing

6) Keep your eyes on the road and your mirrors

Many students make the common mistake of focusing solely on what’s directly in front of them during the driving test. While this might seem like the safest approach, it can actually be dangerous—and may even lead to an automatic failure.

Your side and rear-view mirrors provide essential information about the traffic around you. Examiners pay close attention to how often and how effectively you use these mirrors to stay aware of your surroundings. It’s equally important to check your blind spots, as vehicles can be hidden from view in these areas. Consistently using your mirrors and checking blind spots ensures you maintain full awareness of the road and avoid being caught off guard by vehicles beside or behind you.

7) Slow down before turning

Accelerating while turning is a risky habit that can lead to serious accidents. As a beginner, it’s especially important to take turns slowly and with control. Always reduce your speed before entering a turn and wait until you’ve safely completed the maneuver before gently accelerating again. Stay alert and scan your surroundings for pedestrians, obstacles, or debris that may be in your path.

8) Be cautious when approaching traffic lights

Traffic lights are one of the first traffic rules we learn, even as kids—green means go, and red means stop. But yellow lights often create confusion about what action to take.

In most situations, especially during a driving test, a yellow light means you should prepare to stop. Slowing down and stopping safely helps you avoid running a red light, which would result in an automatic failure on the test.

Always be ready to stop when you see a yellow light.

Additionally, before accelerating at a green light, take a moment to look both ways. Some drivers may try to beat the red light and speed through the intersection, creating a dangerous situation. This isn’t just smart advice for passing your road test—it’s a habit that can help you stay safe every time you drive.

9) Check your surroundings when reversing

While many modern vehicles come with backup cameras, using them during the DMV road test is not allowed. Your examiner will either ask you to turn the system off or cover the screen, often with a clipboard.

Because of this, it’s essential to check your surroundings thoroughly before shifting into reverse—and continue doing so as you back up. Be sure to make your head and eye movements clear and deliberate. If the examiner doesn’t see you checking behind the vehicle, you could lose points for not properly observing your surroundings while reversing.

10) Learn to parallel park

Parallel parking is often one of the most challenging skills for new drivers to learn. While it can be frustrating at first, it's an essential maneuver—especially for those living in crowded urban areas. Some argue it’s less necessary for suburban or rural drivers, and a few states have even removed it from the driving test altogether.

However, if your state still includes parallel parking in the exam, it’s crucial to practice until you’re confident. It's commonly seen as one of the toughest parts of the test.

Even if it’s not required during your road exam, knowing how to parallel park is still valuable. Sooner or later, you'll likely encounter a situation where this skill comes in handy—regardless of where you live.