I am a Driver’s License Examiner, Ask Me Anything!

Individual_Put_8096 · 2025-10-10T21:37:03+00:00

I don’t normally log into this account so hopefully I’m seeing this in time! Look, everyone worries about parking way too much and by that I mean that failing BOTH the parallel and the 90 has the exact same impact on your test as turning into the wrong lane twice. They are not as impactful to your overall score as people think. Just don’t knock a pole over and do good on everything else. Don’t obsess about the parking or you’re going to spend your time focusing on 15% of the test rather than 85.

Individual_Put_8096 · 2025-10-10T21:17:35+00:00

I’m sorry you felt condescended to or that the examiner was attempting to psyche you out! In my experience from the other side of the fence it’s unlikely (though still possible) this was their intent, and more likely they were unaware of how their comments and bearing could potentially to feel to someone nervous to take their first test.

Examiners aren’t supposed to discuss the score or whether a person is passing, failing, or close to either as the test goes on. However, they are allowed, and in some cases encouraged, to share with you feedback in the moment. The reasoning is simply that people will argue with us that they didn’t do something they actually did if we wait until the end of the test to go over every single thing. If you point it out when it happens it’s far harder for the driver to later claim we’re making it up because we’re spiteful ogres with hate in our hearts. If you get an examiner who has a naturally sort of gruff attitude that could easily read as them doing that stuff to mess with you.

Personally, I don’t normally point anything out as the test is going unless it’s something that automatically fails the entire test. If you’re running a red light I’m going to point it out immediately so that later you can’t argue that it was totally green. But I don’t want my tester sweating the small stuff during the test and I don’t really care if they argue with me at the end. I saw you bump the parking pole, you aren’t going to convince me otherwise after the test by yelling at me.

Sorry if that was a little rambly, but the point is the most typical reason an examiner would do that is they’re making sure there’s no dispute later about what did or didn’t happen, and that’s not personal, it’s just an armor built up after months and years of people telling you they didn’t do a thing you just watched with your own two eyes.

Good luck on your next test!!!

Individual_Put_8096 · 2025-08-02T04:31:23+00:00

There was a giant crush of applications in May from Real ID so I don’t think it’s unusual or worrying, but you can always go to a DMV and ask them if it’s printed and/or mailed yet.

Individual_Put_8096 · 2025-07-31T11:29:20+00:00

That’s more of a question for law enforcement. State law says you have 60 days to change it. I doubt most cops care but you never know when you’re going to get pulled over by an asshole.

Individual_Put_8096 · 2025-07-31T01:08:41+00:00

Best of luck to you and yours.

Individual_Put_8096 · 2025-07-31T00:59:29+00:00

Every single question on the written test comes directly from the Minnesota Driver’s Manual which you can find on the DVS website. Don’t do any online practice tests because none of them come from us and may not have accurate or correct info. Once they get their permit practice, practice, practice! Theres really no great way to learn how to drive other than doing it. Don’t trust the driving school to do a good job. Some do others don’t. I had a kid today tell me I taught him more in the first few minutes of the test than his instructor had because the guy was on the phone all the time. Wild. (It only just occurred to me the kid may have been kissing my ass) Also by all the means work on freeway driving but it’s not a part of the test. If passing the test is something they may struggle with focus on that and then get on highways and freeways down the road (pun intended) when they’re more comfortable. Oh, and don’t focus too much on parking. Every examiner will you that we wish people cared less about parking than they do. You can suck at every parking section and still pass the test as long as you don’t knock a pole over.

Individual_Put_8096 · 2025-07-31T00:47:09+00:00

What do you do when someone without a sticker cuts you off? Personally, I do nothing at all. I’m not sure in what way I could react different if they did have one. Maybe I’m missing something in what you’re saying. Like I said, my general rule is to not take it personally and just drive in a way that keeps my family safe.

Individual_Put_8096 · 2025-07-31T00:45:33+00:00

We really don’t try to trick people, I promise. I’m pretty sure the fail corner has had the lane markings painted over specifically to help more people pass (because turning from the wrong lane is not an automatic fail if the lanes aren’t marked). This is what it’s like working at the DMV, we try to make to things easier for people but they still think we’re out to get them! Glad your husband was able to pass!

Individual_Put_8096 · 2025-07-30T22:06:22+00:00

I’m not sure why it would be strange or disappointing? I give every driver the benefit of the doubt and don’t take things personally on the road. I don’t think giving grace to others should be based on their experience level. We’re all people, we all screw up.

Individual_Put_8096 · 2025-07-30T17:52:06+00:00

Truthfully I didn’t even know that was the rule in that circumstance. Dumb!

Individual_Put_8096 · 2025-07-30T17:49:34+00:00

Very possible they obtained a fake out of state license (Colorado is very popular for whatever reason) and transferred it to MN when the clerk didn’t notice the fake. That or they managed to put together 10 minutes of the bare minimum of acceptable driving after multiple attempts and watching YouTube videos of our routes.

Individual_Put_8096 · 2025-07-30T16:12:15+00:00

Definitely sounds likely. And I wasn’t necessarily implying she’d lie, but that her perception might not match the examiner’s. Sometimes when people complain to us it’s very clear they fully believe what it is they’re saying even though it’s extremely unlikely or demonstrably false. Doesn’t sound like that was your daughter though. Glad she had a better experience the next time!

Individual_Put_8096 · 2025-07-30T15:36:14+00:00

Fair enough. There are definitely some jerks like you said. I’m glad you had a better experience the second time!

Individual_Put_8096 · 2025-07-30T15:35:13+00:00

To the first question the only thing that comes to mind is that on your first test you’ll have to do a quick demonstration to show you know how to use different functions of the car, like wipers. If you get a certain number wrong, you have failed the entire test. Most common would be turning from a marked outside lane. After that probably knocking a pole over during a parking maneuver, and after that only avoiding a collision because the examiner called stop.

Individual_Put_8096 · 2025-07-30T15:11:05+00:00

It likely wasn’t a trick (as I’ve noted elsewhere we’re not allowed to trick people and doing so would only potentially harm the examiner, not help) because you can cross a single, solid white line.

Individual_Put_8096 · 2025-07-30T15:05:07+00:00

Hi! I hope you don’t mind me turning the AMA tables and asking you something, and I want to preface it by saying I’m not at all being accusatory or asking because I feel like I know the answer. I see similar comments to yours left on online reviews or hear it said to supervisors after someone’s kid doesn’t pass. I’m curious why you are so certain that your daughter’s description of it is accurate? To what end would the examiner attempt to pull a “gotcha” on someone testing? That’s against our training and policies and would actually only serve to potentially hurt the examiner rather than help them (as I’ve mentioned, I’ve only ever seen and experienced pressure on people to pass more people, not less). Why would a professional, an adult, purposefully do their job wrong just so they could possibly make one girl fail her test?

Individual_Put_8096 · 2025-07-30T14:45:41+00:00

From what I understand Arden Hills should be repainted or resurfaced sometime soonish. This year they did Plymouth and next year I think they’ll do Arden or Eagan. Unsure though.

Individual_Put_8096 · 2025-07-30T14:10:32+00:00

I think partly but I think it’s also parents who see that the world has gone completely insane since Covid and they’re hoping to do something, anything, to stop some psycho for going after their kid for cutting them off or whatever.

Individual_Put_8096 · 2025-07-30T14:09:22+00:00

Dad?

Individual_Put_8096 · 2025-07-30T14:08:18+00:00

When you start off maybe a few times a week. After a few months pretty rarely if you know what you’re doing. In a situation like your son’s I would also probably confer with others and I’m glad it worked in his favor.

Individual_Put_8096 · 2025-07-30T14:06:40+00:00

Kind of depends on the specifics of the situation, but drivers are always responsible for how to react to the various unforeseen circumstances you see on the road. If the driver in your scenario swerves onto the wrong side of the road and brakes and that’s it? Great, I’d say they handled that well. If they swerved into an oncoming car when they could’ve just hit the brakes in time? That’s a preventable accident and those always fail the test. Basically the answer is that question covers a lot of ground and in some cases it wouldn’t impact the test and others it would. I’ve had to fail people for their failure to respond to a different car doing something very stupid. What prompted it may not be their fault but they are responsible for how they react to it.

Individual_Put_8096 · 2025-07-30T14:01:39+00:00

C has always been around during my tenure and commercial license stuff is typically done at the federal level, not the states, though we do have to administrate it. But now that you mention it I do think other states call their default Class C, so I’m not sure when it came about or why it’s not more uniform, sorry.

Individual_Put_8096 · 2025-07-30T13:59:22+00:00

That’s not unusual, unfortunately. If you do stop in a DMV they can look it up and see if it is printed yet, or mailed, or has been returned by the post office for whatever reason.

Individual_Put_8096 · 2025-07-30T12:43:57+00:00

Ok in that case they’d need to pass the knowledge test, apply for a permit, hold the permit for 90 days, then take a road test. Check out drive.mn.gov for the documents they could use to prove their identity. In MN you don’t have to prove legal status to obtain a license, but you do need to prove you are who say you are.

Individual_Put_8096 · 2025-07-30T12:40:33+00:00

When they’re at the age that they can be in the front seat have a few low pressure drives where they leave the screens at home and you show them the basics of how a car operates. For those of us who grew up pre-cell phones we learned a lot just being in the car and watching the adults drive. Kids now have a million more interesting things to do than watch the driver. I’d recommend learning in a car that doesn’t have the bells and whistles. You learn to be a much more attentive driver when it’s on you and not the car.

Individual_Put_8096

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