Tag: Road test

All About Driving License

If you are new to the USA or to the Quad cities, one thing you certainly need is the Illinois driving license. Due to the limited public transportation and the extreme weathers, the driving license has become indispensable. It also serves as a state ID apart from letting you go places. However, there are certain requirements with respect to documents, vehicle, tests, and of course certain fees for a test. Here is an overview of the requirements for obtaining a driving license.

Intersection

Documents

The DMV certainly needs to verify your documents in order to take up the written test or road test. They need to see a valid unexpired original document from four groups. They must be most recent or within 90 days from the date applying. For example:

  1. Group A: Written Signature – Cancelled check, Major credit cards, Passport, EAD Card, I-94, Green card, Social Security Card, Current Driver’s License, State ID, and so on.
  2. Group B: Date of Birth – Passport, US Visa, Green card, EAD Card, Birth Certificate (US), Social Security Award Letter, Military ID, Naturalization Certificate, and so on.
  3. Group C: Social Security Number – Social Security Award Letter, Social Security Card, Driver’s License Record, Military ID, and so on. TVDL applicants no more required to submit a No SSN Letter. They will sign a declaration at the DMV.
  4. Group D: Residency – Bank Statement, Cancelled Check (within 90 days), Utility bill, Official mail from US Federal agency, Rental or lease agreement, Credit report, Pay stub, Electronic deposit, and so  on.

One document may satisfy more than one group. Illinois DMV does not accept photocopies. They need originals. New drivers must submit one document from Groups A, B, C, and two documents for Group D.

Vehicle

Your vehicle must be running with a valid insurance card. The vehicle must be running with all indicators working and with no problems. The vehicle:

  1. Must comply according to the Illinois Secretary of State standards
  2. Must have a valid insurance which is required before the road test
  3. Must display front and rear licence plates with unexpired license sticker
  4. Must be driven to the DMV by a driver with valid license and insurance

Tests

You are required to take a written test and a road test. At the DMV, first you have to take a token for a written test. The written test is a computer based test and covers the road signs, basic rules, seat belt requirements, and so on. You can skip a question if you think it is confusing. As soon as you answer thirty-five questions the computer will inform you that you have passed the test.

//

 

Then, you can take a token for road test. A tester from the DMV will accompany you on a short road course with real traffic. The tester will test if you are able to follow directions and instructions properly. They will grade you on certain key aspects such as uphill, downhill, backing from a driveway on to a road, yielding, lane changes, parking, and so on.

Fees

You are required to pay a fee for the computer test, written permit, and road test. The fee varies from $25 to $40 depending upon your age and type of test.

Make sure you have all original documents and take extra photocopies. Check the weather and road conditions before you go. Also, check the national holidays and working hours of the local DMV. It is better to go in the early hours so you can finish off early. You can expect two to three hours before the entire process is completed.

Training

If you are new to the USA or to the Quad cities, it is suggested to go through a trainer who will guide you through the entire process. The trainer with a valid vehicle and insurance card can guide you through the rules and regulations of the road. It is better to take four to five classes before you go for the road test.

All the best for your tests and experience at the Illinois DMV. They are here to help us if we have everything what they need. Let me know your experience through the comments section. Have fun driving and enjoy the new-found freedom. 🙂

How to get driving licence – Tips to alien dependents in Quad cities, IL

Step 3: Road test

Once you are comfortable and are bored of driving practice you can go for the test. If you want to gain more confidence, you can ask your family friend or other experienced driver to rate your driving skills and ask for suggestions. This is useful as you may be blinded by your spouse’s positive as well negative comments.

Check Points

Stopping at the signals and Stop signs, Indicators, Lane change rules, Left and right turn, Backing up from a parking lot, Parking are some of the basic skills tested. The other resources and rules of Illinois can be found at Rules of the Road.

You will be tested to start the vehicle, back the vehicle, turn about, park uphill, start uphill, park downhill, start downhill, control the vehicle and so on. 

Acceptable Documents

Along with the passport, I-94, letter with your name and address printed, it is mandatory to have the letter from SSN office. Also, insurance card of the vehicle is mandatory.

  • The validity of the proof of address, that is, a letter with your name and address printed is only one month.
  • The letter from SSN office is valid for only three months or 90 days.

So, check the validity before you decide to go for road test.

Car Condition

The car you are taking for the test must be in good driving condition. Make sure all the indicators, lights, wipers and other controls are working. The tyres and seats must be clean and in good condition.

Clean the car windows, rear-view mirror, side-mirrors, rear window shield with clean cloth. Keep the dash board and the cup holder clean and cluster free.

Day of the test

I started early and drove to Rockford along with my spouse and kid. The journey was smooth though the kid got bored in the backseat. After reaching the office, here is what happened.

  • As it was a week day, the office was not crowded and I was led directly to the counter
  • The officer checked my documents and learner’s permit and insurance card of the vehicle
  • After checking the documents, they asked me to wait until the officer arrives
  • The officer was a white American. He appeared friendly and was soft spoken
  • He instructed me to sit in the car and turn on the signals and break
  • He checked the left signal, right signal and then the break light
  • After he was seated, I  asked him to adjust the seat height and leg distance
  • He instructed me to take the car through the parking lot to a small road at the back of the DMV office
  • He observed whether I stopped correctly at the STOP signal and traffic signals
  • The officer checked whether I was scanning the road, whether I was using the indicators properly and how I started from a STOP signal
  • The officer asked me to take right and left turns in a small residential road with maximum speed limit if 30 mph
  • At a downhill, I was asked to park the vehicle and immediately asked to get to the main road. Remember to switch on the parking light, when you park the vehicle at the downhill or uphill
  • I was asked to take a three-point turn at an intersection
  • And finally after multiple left and right turns we came back to the DMV office
  • The officer suggested that I could park anywhere I like
  • I waited for ongoing pedestrians and then parked opposite the DMV office
  • I was really scared now as the car was in a cross position and was not parked straight
  • Then, the officer turned to me, smiled and said that I ‘passed the test’

Finally, the officer instructed me to wait in the office. After a while, the counter officer called   y name to take a picture. They took the picture and a minute later handed me my licence.

I was happy to see  my face on the card in the outlined by the border of Illinois state. My spouse and kid were happy. My spouse was happy that all his training was fruitful and I had successfully completed the test. My son for having passing the test and he could go to karate classes. 🙂

What was surprising is the test is far easier than actual driving on the road. I wonder what would happen if the officer tested me on a highway or in the downtown.

How to get driving licence – Tips to alien dependents in Quad cities, IL

Taking your kid to the library or getting an urgent grocery from Walmart can be a challenge if you cannot drive in US. You are practically crippled if you cannot drive. I got my Temporary Visitor Driving Licence (TVDL) recently.

All these days, I was hoping to get a valid identification document once I receive a Driving licence, but  was surprised to learn that alien dependents who do not possess an SSN get a TVDL, not a DL. The TVDL is not a valid identification document, it says.

Anyways, here are some tips I followed:

Step 1: Computer test

Take the computer test after you have gone through the driving manual of Illinois. Reading the entire book once or twice will help.

You may not memorize all the rules, but it is better to remember the basic rules and signals. Passing the computer test is easier than the road test and may require one week study.

It is a must to acquire a letter from SSN office before going to the Rockford DMV office. The other documents required can be found at Acceptable Documents.

Being a Saturday, the office was busy and crowded when I took the computer test.

  1. You will be required to take a token number on entering.
  2. Once your number is called, you need to submit your required documents at the counter.
  3. The people are courteous to speak slow enough that we can understand them. So I wasn’t scared.
  4. An eye exam will be performed at the counter to screen your vision. It is similar to the one which do at the doctor’s office.
  5. After verifying the documents, you will be asked to wait to take the computer test.
  6. Once the queue is cleared, you will be asked to start the test.
  7. If you are familiar with computers and English, the test environment is comfortable.
  8. The questions appear one after the other. All are multiple choice or fill in the blanks. You will have to select an answer from the given options.
  9. If you are unsure of an answer, you can skip that question, which will appear later.
  10. Sometimes the questions are linked and are leading answers to other questions.
  11. Once you are done with all the questions (35/100), the results appear.
  12. You need not answer all the questions correctly, if you get minimum correct, you are through.

The officers will give you a Learner’s Permit after you pass the computer test. You can drive a vehicle under the supervision of a licence holder. The validity of the permit is one year. Now, you can practice driving the vehicle.

Read my subsequent posts about the remaining two steps.