Tick each box during practice drives in the weeks before your test. The numbers in brackets are the sources listed at the bottom. How it’s scored: Errors are marked on the Driving Performance Evaluation score sheet (DL 32). To pass: no more than 3 errors on pre-drive items 9-14, no critical driving errors, and no more than 15 errors on the scoring maneuvers. Any critical driving error is a failure. [5, 6] Bring to the test [3]- Your instruction permit (or driver's license if you have one)
- Another California-licensed driver at least 18 (25 for minors), unless you are already licensed
- A vehicle that is safe to drive for the test
- Valid proof of insurance and vehicle registration
- For a rental car, a contract that lists your name and does not exclude drive tests
Vehicle check before you go [3, 4]- Driver-side window opens
- Windshield gives a full, unobstructed view for you and the examiner
- At least two mirrors, one outside on the left
- Front and back turn signals work on both sides
- Left and right brake lights work
- Each tire has at least 1/32 inch tread; no bald tires and no donut spare
- At least 1 inch between the depressed brake pedal and the floor
- Horn designed for the vehicle and audible at 200 feet
- Working parking brake
- Front passenger door opens and closes; glove box closes securely
- Working seat belts for you and the examiner
- Driver assistance features such as automated parallel parking, lane departure and adaptive cruise control may not be used; backup cameras and blind-spot monitors may be used but don't replace looking
Maneuvers the examiner scores [4, 6]- Pre-Drive Safety Check
- Parking lot driving
- Pull to the curb, back in a straight line, and merge back into traffic
- Intersections (through, stop, and start)
- Left turns
- Right turns
- Lane changes
- Freeway or highway driving (may be tested)
Skills checked throughout [3, 6]- Traffic checks
- Speed in business and residential areas
- Spacing and lane position
- Following multiple directions
- Unnecessary stops
Automatic failures: never do these [6]- Examiner has to intervene physically or verbally
- Three attempts to back the vehicle
- Hitting a vehicle, object, bicyclist, pedestrian or animal that could have been avoided
- Driving over the curb or on the sidewalk
- Rolling a stop sign, flashing red light or right turn on red faster than a brisk walk (4 mph)
- Not stopping and waiting for green at a red light or red freeway ramp meter
- Unnecessary stop at a green light or on a freeway-metered ramp
- Disobeying other traffic signs or lane markings (lane drops, painted arrows or islands, curb markings, traffic cones)
- Passing a school bus with flashing red lights
- Not pulling over and stopping for an emergency vehicle, or disobeying safety personnel, police or firefighters
- Causing another driver or pedestrian to take evasive action
- No traffic check at an uncontrolled intersection when a hazard is present
- Blocking an intersection so it impedes cross traffic
- Not checking mirrors or blind spot when changing lanes, merging, backing, turning right with a bike lane, or pulling from the curb
- Stalling in an intersection, or 3 times from poor clutch/gear use
- Driving 10 mph over the limit, 10 mph under it when conditions don't warrant, or too fast for safety
- Not using wipers, defroster or headlights when weather or darkness requires them
- Lane violations: more than 200 feet in a bike lane or center left turn lane, straight from a turn lane, in the oncoming lane, turning from a straight lane or the wrong lane
Sources- dmv.ca.gov: driver licenses dl
- dmv.ca.gov: instruction permits
- dmv.ca.gov: the testing process
- dmv.ca.gov: pre drive checklist safety criteria
- dmv.ca.gov: Driving Performance Evaluation Score Sheet Sample (PDF)
- dmv.ca.gov: driving performance evaluation dpe scoring criteria
- dmv.ca.gov: licensing fees
- leginfo.legislature.ca.gov: codes displaySection.xhtml
- leginfo.legislature.ca.gov: codes displaySection.xhtml
- leginfo.legislature.ca.gov: codes displaySection.xhtml
- dmv.ca.gov: preparing for knowledge and drive tests
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