Just got my driver license

[Konstanov]

I always got the impression that the driving test in the states is a lot more laid back. Definitely not as strict as the UK anyway.

I was referring to Russia where I grew up, where it takes tons more driving talent to drive, especially in winter.

[ViZioN]

I was referring to Russia where I grew up, where it takes tons more driving talent to drive, especially in winter.

Yeah I wouldn't fancy driving during a Russian winter :p

[lt8480]

I thought I was the only 1 who got my drivers license late. I got my drivers license like 1 1/2 to 2 months ago and I'm already 21 (all of my friends drive). Going to be getting a car soon myself, probably a 2000 Celica GT for ~$4500 from a friend. The thing that sucks is that it's a stick (learned on an automatic) and driving an auto doesn't even feel completely natural to me yet. Oh well, another obstacle to overcome ;)

But anyway, congrats :)

You can learn in an auto (presumably also took your test in an auto), and then drive a Manual!?.... is that legal in the states? as in the UK an Auto License does not legally allow you to drive a manual transmission gearbox. A manual however allows you to drive an auto. UK cars "by standard" are Manual and almost all of them are - at a garage you would have to ask for an automatic.

[MikeChipshop Member]

I thought I was the only 1 who got my drivers license late. I got my drivers license like 1 1/2 to 2 months ago and I'm already 21

Mate i'm 30 and i still haven't got round to it. I use the age old excuse that 'there's no point owning a car in London' but if the truth be known, i'm just damn lazy :D

[Kondrath]

Just got mine today! A little late (19), but we didn't have a car until just recently. The first time, I failed for no apparent reason. The guy was like... Satan McSternFace. He was so " -___- " the whole time. I did perfectly fine, but he decided to tell me that I failed because I magically dislodged an entire street curb in the parallel parking test. Anyway, he was an idiot... So I took it at another place and passed :)

[lt8480]

Just got mine today! A little late (19), but we didn't have a car until just recently. The first time, I failed for no apparent reason. The guy was like... Satan McSternFace. He was so " -___- " the whole time. I did perfectly fine, but he decided to tell me that I failed because I magically dislodged an entire street curb in the parallel parking test. Anyway, he was an idiot... So I took it at another place and passed :)

Touching a curb during manoeuvring is a perfectly legitimate reason to fail you (in the UK at least), sometimes if you gently touch one they will let you off but they don't have to. I imagine its because you are not intending to hit the curb, and by doing so shows you cannot control the car how you intend - the kerb becomes path and is the word of the pedestrians so its quite a severe safety issue too!

[+Warwagon MVC]

The Trick is to take as many online driving tests as you can find.

I did that before I had to take it again because I forgot to renew my license for like a year. OOPS!.

I took all the online tests and there was on question on the test I would have never known the aswer too had I not taken the online test.

[Toon_Army_Fan]

congrats its the best feeling in the world. I passed mine on the 10th January 2002 and will never forget it. I got mine first time and dont think I could have gone through the nervs again. lol.

lots of people do learn late in life but I passed 4 months after I turned 17 which was the legal age in the UK. I wouldnt recomend leaving it as apparently its harder to learn when your older. Not sure why and have no evidence to back that up but thats what i was always told. Most of my friends who said they had no money and couldnt be botherd to learn cause they didnt have a car still cant drive and we are now 25! Just because you dont have a car learn anyway as you may keep putting it off and also the price of lessons go up so quick. 8 years ago They cost ?8 per hour and now they are ?26 per hour. lol

The UK test is really hard and has got even harder since I have done it as you now need to do more theory which is another reason to get it done when u can before they bring new things in. In Northern Ireland each test centre is aloud to pass and fail a certain amount a month so if they have got there numbers for the month you have to drive seriously good to pass.

[Kondrath]

Touching a curb during manoeuvring is a perfectly legitimate reason to fail you (in the UK at least), sometimes if you gently touch one they will let you off but they don't have to. I imagine its because you are not intending to hit the curb, and by doing so shows you cannot control the car how you intend - the kerb becomes path and is the word of the pedestrians so its quite a severe safety issue too!

Oh, no, I'm not saying that hitting the curb isn't worth failing over. In fact, if I knew I had hit that curb, I would have been perfectly OK with failing. But I know there's no way I hit it. I parked perfectly, the car didn't "jump" when it hit, etc. It was dislodged SO FAR AWAY from where I was that it made no sense to even blame me for it. But hey, that's okay, 'cause when I retook it at the other DMV I passed... so I'm good, haha.

Edit: Here's an illustration that I drew in paint

Not even joking. I don't even know how that happens :rofl:

Edited November 20, 2009 by Kondrath

[ViZioN]

Mate i'm 30 and i still haven't got round to it. I use the age old excuse that 'there's no point owning a car in London' but if the truth be known, i'm just damn lazy :D

For London there probably isn't any point in getting a car. You've got the tube for getting about. Edinburgh is kind of similar, a normally great bus service, but you're stuck with the unpredictability of public transport :p

[Andrew Lyle Global Moderator]

Congrats, don't get into a crash :p