How to prepare well for your driving test

How to prepare well for your driving test
Getting your driver's license is a big step towards independence, but getting there requires being well prepared.


 
How to prepare well for your driving test
Is your 16 year birthday fast approaching? Exciting: you are almost old enough to get your driver's license! Before you can drive on your own, however, you will have to pass the theory tests and your practical driving test. To pass these exams, it is important to prepare yourself well.

Did you know that the average pass rate for the road test is only 65%? It is even lower in urban centers like Montreal. This means that on average, one in three people fail this exam. In the event of failure, the Société de l'assurance automobile du Québec (SAAQ) imposes a minimum period of 28 days before the examinations are resumed. In short, the better prepared you are, the more likely you will be to pass your driving exams and the sooner you will get your license, not to mention the fact that you will save money by passing your exams the first time.

Having your success and your safety on the road at heart, Promutuel Insurance gives you the best advice to be well prepared for your driving exams, in addition to revealing everything you need to know to be protected on the road.

The steps towards obtaining your driver's license
You will not automatically receive your driver's license in the mail on your 16th birthday. Getting a driver's license is a multi-step process. Here is what you will need to do to get your probationary driver's license, that is, the one that will allow you to drive alone on the road:

Take driving lessons (24 hours of theory and 15 hours of practice)
Pass the knowledge test to obtain a learner's license
Driving accompanied for 10 months
Pass the theoretical exam for the probationary driving license
Pass the practical driving test
5 tips for passing your driving theory tests
The knowledge test for a learner's license usually takes place at your driving school, at the end of the theory course block. It has many multiple choice questions on a variety of topics, including road signs, road sharing and regulations. You will have 60 minutes to answer all the questions. Ten months after obtaining your learner's license, you will be able to take the SAAQ theoretical exam for the probationary license. Here are some tips to help you prepare well for these two theory exams:

Pay attention during your lessons.
Ask the trainers questions if in doubt.
Take all the readings requested by your driving school.
Carefully review the Driving a Passenger Vehicle guide, the Driver's Handbook and your driving school's manual.
Take the tests available on the SAAQ Knowledge Tests site to practice.
 

5 tips to pass your practical driving test
Twelve months after completing your driving school training and obtaining your learner's license, if you have passed your theory test for the probationary license, you can make an appointment to take your road test. This final step in obtaining your driver's license can be stressful, but with the following 5 tips, you will increase your chances of success:

1. Practice, practice and practice again!
Your success here will depend on your driving experience. Once you have obtained your learner's license, you must wait a year before you can take your driving test. Try to vary the contexts as much as possible, for example when driving on the motorway, in the countryside, near schools, during the day, at night, in the snow and in the rain. Don't forget to practice the parking maneuvers too!

2. Review the theory
Review the Highway Traffic Act and your driving school manual. It's been two months or more since you passed your theory test, so it is important that you review the theory so that you can put it into practice on the road.

3. Make sure the vehicle you will be using is in good condition
The SAAQ does not provide you with a car to take the road test. Make sure the car you will be using is in good condition, as it will be inspected before your exam. If a lighthouse is burnt out or has a significant mechanical failure that could interfere with the exam, you may not be able to take the exam. Before you go for your exam, check the following:

The windshield and mirrors: they must be in good condition, without cracks or chips.
Turn signals and lights: they must all be functional.
Tires: they must be properly inflated.
Brakes: they must be functional, including the emergency brake.
Gasoline: You must have enough gasoline to be able to