You can make your road test appointment on-line at
www.nysdmv.com
or by
phone at 518-402-2100 (or 1-800-368-1168 for the hearing impaired).
When making your appointment, you must have your social security number,
client ID number (9-digit number directly over your photo on your permit)
and the certificate number that is printed on the front of your MV-278 certificate.
When you arrive for your road test, you must bring your MV-278 certificate
and your photo learner permit. If you have an interim or temporary learner permit
without a photo, you must also show a NYS photo driver license or a NYS non-driver ID card.
Photo documents from other states are not acceptable. If you have a junior learner permit
issued after 9/1/03, you must also bring a completed Certification of 20 Hours of
Supervised Driving (MV-262), signed by a parent or guardian. This does not apply to
applicants 17 years old who have completed a Certified Driver Education Course and
present a valid Student Certificate of Completion (MV-285) at the road test.
If you do not have all required items, you will NOT be given a road test.
If you do not pass the road test, your MV-278 certificate will be returned to you.
When you apply for another road test, use this certificate to prove that you have
completed the pre-licensing course. You can use the MV-278 certificate for up to one year after the
"Date of Issuance" shown on the front.
If you lose your MV-278 certificate, you must get a replacement from
the course provider who issued the original certificate.
If your MV-278 certificate is a replacement for a lost certificate, the
"Date of Issuance" shown on the front is the date the original certificate was issued.
If you got your class DJ or MJ learner permit after September 1, 2003 you must bring form MV-262 (Certification of 20 Hours of Driving Experience) unless you are 17 years of age and have an MV-285 (Student Certificate of Completion).
If another driver drives the test vehicle to the test site, the driver must be age 18 or older and must have a driver license that is valid to operate the test vehicle. Remember that when you drive with a learner permit, the accompanying driver must be age 21 or older.
Remember that you cannot drive in a road test area except when you take the road test.
Confirm that the vehicle you bring for the test has a current registration and a valid inspection sticker.
Confirm that the vehicle operates properly. Check the seat belts, headlights, doors and other equipment to confirm that they also operate properly.
PRACTICE,
PRACTICE, PRACTICE. New York State recommends at least thirty hours
of practice before you take the road test. You will be more
confident in your driving and less nervous during the road test. The
examiners will make you nervous.
Know were the road test site is located before the day of the road test.
Get good rest the night before the road test.
Driving
is a skill that needs to be performed daily to keep up with the ability to
control the vehicle.
You
cannot talk your way though the road tests.
You
should have practiced at least 50 or more Parallel Parks and Three
Point Turns before taking the test.
Check
and make sure you have all your documentation at least three days
before the day of the road test.
Your "photo permit" is required at the road test, not your temporary permit.
Bring
any other forms that you need if you lost your license.
If you have restrictions on your permit, abide by them. For example, if glasses are required, wear them. And remember to bring any additional paperwork as required.
Dress appropriately. Don't wear clothing that may distract the examiner, and
do not wear flip flops, unsecured sandals or anything that
may interfere with proper operation of the car.
DO
NOT use a vehicle on the day of the road test you have not been
practicing with or are not familiar with. Different vehicles handle and
drive differently.
Make sure the vehicle has all the required valid documents such as
inspection sticker, registration card, registration sticker, insurance
card and your permit.
Make
sure the accompanying driver is at least 21 years old and has their valid license with them. State law
requires all drivers to have a valid license when driving. The
examiners will check!
Arrive 15 minutes earlier than your scheduled time. Pull up to
the "Road Test Starts Here" sign and wait for the examiner. If there are
vehicles in front of you, pull up as they leave. If there is a
car in front of you, stop so you can see its rear tires. This will prevent
you from interfering with the examiner's inspection or being backed into by the other vehicle.
When you are next in line, shut off the radio and your cell phone completely, so you don't distract yourself or the examiner during the test.
While
waiting for your turn in line, chew gum, take a short back and forth
walk, or talk to your accompanying driver. Do whatever it takes to calm
yourself.
Only the driver and the examiner are allowed in the car during the test. The accomanying driver is not allowed in the car until the test is complete. Make sure the accompanying driver is dressed for the weather conditions, as they will be outside with only a bench and gazebo for cover.
During the test, KEEP QUIET. Listen to instructions then follow them. The examiners are very busy and don't need to be distracted.
Road test is between 5 - 10 minutes long, so have all papers ready to hand to the examiner.
Have the inside of the car clear of junk and debris and the front passenger seat pushed all the way back so the examiner can get in the car easily. The
seatbelt has to be clean, untwisted, and clicked into the correct clamp.
Leave
the car windows open about an inch so you can hear traffic at blind
intersections. The vehicles nowadays have better insulating
properties, which makes it harder to hear outside noises.
If
you're not sure about the CORRECT driving procedures, call for
a driving evaluation in your car or ours, at least a week before the
road test.
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