IS YOUR VEHICLE READY FOR THE DMV ROAD TEST?
Avoid getting turned away at the DMV because of your car.
So you've passed your written test, and now think you're ready to get behind the wheel for the last piece of the driving puzzle.
Before you pull up to the curb in your refurbished, repaired, and recycled heap of metal you call your vehicle there are a couple things you need to know before using it for your DMV driving test.
Each state may have their own specific requirements, but generally speaking these rules should apply to most. It's not because every state is equal with their political views, laws, or beliefs, but because all share a common interest safe roads.
Most are common sense but so is brushing your teeth twice daily yet Dentists find ways to finance their retirement plans filling cavities. If you brush up on these tips, you should be gingivitis free in no time and the proud owner of a new license.
If these guidelines are not met, not only will you fail your test but you will be on the wrong side of bewildered looks from passing drivers as you attempt to steer your dilapidated vehicle through traffic.
Ultimately, you don't need to be a certified mechanic to ensure your vehicle is operating at standards safe for road travel, but you should know about basic general maintenance, and a lot of these fall under that.
Here are the Vehicle requirements for your driving test:
1. Your car needs to have two license plates
The plates must be affixed to both the front and back of your vehicle. The rear plate needs to show your current registration. If you don't have a registration or know what a registration is, do not continue with this list. Contact your local DMV office to find out how to make your car legal for road travel.
2. You must have working signal lights and brake lights
Perhaps you've seen cars fail to use signal lights and nonchalantly change lanes, however that is illegal and is a common bad driving technique. Have your Mom, Dad, brother, sister, or any human who can tell when a light is on or not stand behind the car as you test the lights. If you are an orphan and live alone in the woods, find a bear going through picnic baskets who knows how to work the car gauges to assist. I've heard they work for salmon.
3. A horn designed for the vehicle must be functioning
Why do I need a functioning horn if none of my friends are going to be out during my driving test? Contrary to popular belief a horn is actually used to warn other cars in the case of a possible accident and not for alerting honeys wearing short shorts. Test your horn a few times before the test to make sure it works properly.
4. Check your tires and make sure there are no bald spots
Your Dad might be going bald yet still manages to function on a day to day basis. Your tires cant. Make sure they've been replaced within the last few years and still have enough tread. This will not only help you on the test, but will prevent accidents, not to mention allow your tires to keep pride among their tire friends when the Hair Club, jokes start.
5. Make sure your brakes have adequate brake pressure
One of the parts of your test will be to step on the brakes and make sure they work properly. If you do that during the test and your brakes make a sound like a dying walrus, the test administrator will raise an eyebrow and start jotting notes in his notebook. Notes during a test equals bad. Get your brakes checked if you are unsure of the pressure.
6. You must have a drivers side window that rolls down
The DMV doesn't discriminate against automatic or manual windows. Just make sure it works. If you don't know which side of the car is the drivers side, stop reading this immediately and repeat the third grade.
7. Your windshield must allow a full unobstructed field of vision
If you cant see out your windshield that probably means you need to make a stop at the gas station and remove the seagull droppings that have accumulated. Make sure you can see out of the entire windshield, and not just the drivers side
8. Two rear view mirrors
Perhaps you are a visionary. A person that is looking full speed ahead to the future, ready for whatever challenges await. Why should I worry what is behind me you ask? Well, it is important for vehicle safety for one. That and its important to the test administrator in case he has an outstanding warrant and is attempting to elude the police during your test.
9. Your driver and passenger doors need to open from both inside and outside
Despite thinking you are Starsky & Hutch and you regularly go flying through the window into the drivers seat to show off for the ladies, both doors must open during your test. Try them out and go to the mechanic if you cant open them from both ways.
10. Your glove compartment door must be secure
The last thing you want when you hit a speed bump too fast during the test is for the glove box to open and your Justin Bieber CDs come flying out. Make sure your glove box is secure to avoid any embarrassment and a failed grade.
11. The passenger seat must be permanently attached to your vehicle
As much as the test administrator would enjoy sitting on a wobbly bar stool in the place of a car seat, you must have a seat affixed to the vehicle. It makes the ride much more enjoyable for the DMV employee and will help you pass.
12. Your safety belts must be functioning
Torpedoing out the front windshield looks cool in movies, but it isn't in real life. Malfunctioning safety belts are not only unsafe, but they also will play a key role in your failed test.
13. The emergency/parking brake must be functioning
If you are a person who enjoys parking on a hill, not setting the emergency brake then betting with your friends on whether or not your car will remained parked or roll into someone's living room, then this driving test might not be for you. For the rest of you, make sure your brake holds securely in place and get it repaired before the test if not.
14. The Car must have valid Insurance and State registration
It's also important to make sure you have all the required paper work for your registration and Insurance. While your at it, never hurts to check to see if you might be paying to much for car insurance. Get a Quote Online.
If your vehicle meets these guidelines you are ready to hit the road and are well on your way to obtaining your license.