Got my Driving License!!
In U.S, when one is staying with family, it becomes very essential that atleast one person in the family has a valid driving license. The following is the procedure which I followed to get a license.
>> Like India, one has to write a written test to get a driving permit. This is like a learners’ license.
>> The written test consists of 25 objective type questions.
>> I dont think time is given much of a importance. the test is computer based.
>> For Wasington state, this link : http://dol.wa.gov/driverslicense/guide.html
would bring you to a page where you can download a softcopy of the driver license guide.
>> One has to go through this guide thoroughly to clear the test.
>> We need to get more than 20 correct answers to clear the test. I did not clear the test in the first attempt. I cleared it on the second attempt. This is quite embarrasing to me as my wife cleared the test in the first attempt 
>> The permit is valid for 1 year.
>> Once, we get the permit then you can practise driving. There are some rules which one has to adhere to while driving with a permit. One important rule is that there has to be an experienced (5+ yrs) driver besides you while driving. There is another rule which allow people with valid allien driving license to drive in WA state upto a period of 1 year.
>> Then, one has to clear the practical test to get permanent driving license.
>> The practical test is quite strict. Make sure, your car has all the indicators and brake lights working before you take the test.
>> The hand signals are pretty simple.
>> The test is quite elaborate for it does test ones’ driving skills and the ability to follow traffic rules.
>> I was asked to do the following: uphill parking; downhill parking; backing around the corner; parallel parking; parking in a mall area; changing lanes. The inspector would check for the control of the steering wheel; the confidence of the driver (my friend did not clear the test as he was too cautious); whether the driver obeys all traffic rules.
>> The inspector rates the driver on a scale of 100. The passing score is 80.
I got 85 in my first attempt 
. My wife got 82 in her first attempt It does feel good to obtain a driving license in the very first attempt. Let me know if you have any questions regarding driving license, i’ll try to answer them..
All hail ‘First Attempt’ Mani
thanks Bala!!
cool.. thanks for info.. i dont know when i can come to US..lekin when i come.. may be i will read ur blog again..
@ arvind,
thanks for stoping by..
Nah if you are married then you dont need to have driving licence. The primary purpose of driving licence is to buy cigarettes, booze or to enter any adult clubs. I know you dont do any of the three. So ask yourself again – why did you waste money on it?
@Oemar,
“I know you dont do any of the three”…
thanks for saying GOOD things about me
Congratulations.
May I ask a few questions about the driving test in the USA:
I understand that the driving test is at a test centre rather than on a public road – is this true?
Did you have any driving lessons to get used to traffic and driving conditions on the roads before you took your test?
Many thanks.
@driving courses,
I understand that the driving test is at a test centre rather than on a public road – is this true?
Ans: It involves both. The test stats and ends in a test centre, while we are asked to take the car on public roads as well.
Did you have any driving lessons to get used to traffic and driving conditions on the roads before you took your test?
Ans: Yes, I did take couple of hours of driving lessons.
Cool dude, when I first got to US, I made sure that I had my IDP done (International Driving Permit), and that gave me the flexibilty to start driving from the 3rd week in US(was driving my official car).
Even I had to go through pretty much the same procedure for the driving test in the state of Nevada.