Most teens and young people without driver’s licenses in Pennsylvania will eventually want to be able to operate a motor vehicle legally. In fact, passing a driver’s test in Pennsylvania is a rite of passage among many high school students! So how do you help your child prepare for their driving test?
To successfully be allowed to drive under commonwealth law, they must pass all the requirements. Here are a few strategies to prepare for your teen’s upcoming Pennsylvania driver’s road test.
Understanding Driver’s License Eligibility in Pennsylvania
In Pennsylvania, your child must follow a few rules before they can sit for their driver’s test. Here are five important Pennsylvania driver’s road test requirements:
- Age: First, they must be at least 16 ½ years old. They must also have had their valid learner’s permit for at least six months (hence 16 ½ years old).
- Training: They’ll also need no less than 65 hours of on-road training before taking a driver’s test. Please note that certified driver’s education courses can take up at least six out of the 65 hours. Once your child has completed the necessary training, they’re ready to sit for their test.
- Documentation: One of the most important things to do before going to the DMV is knowing what to bring to the driver’s test. This includes a signed parent or guardian form DL-180C and DL-180TD if under 18 years old.
- Registration and authorization: You should provide valid proof of registration for the vehicle that is being used during the test. Be aware that the person who brings your teen to take the driver’s test should be prepared to show their authorization to legally drive, too.
- Auto insurance: You will also need to show the driver’s test representative valid auto insurance cards. If the learner driver still primarily lives with their parents and does the test with their parent’s car, they may maintain coverage through the parent’s auto insurance.
Tips for How to Pass the Driving Test in Pennsylvania
Now that you have an understanding of when your teen may take their driver’s test in Pennsylvania, consider implementing the following steps to improve the chances of passing:
Get Enough Hours of Practice
Teen drivers in Pennsylvania must log a minimum of 65 hours of behind-the-wheel training before applying for their driver’s license. Let your children go beyond the minimum to help ensure they are well-equipped for passing the Pennsylvania driver’s test. As they say, practice makes perfect.
Of those 65 hours, you’ll want to ensure 10 go toward driving at night, while five go toward driving in bad weather. Learner drivers should aim to practice until they become comfortable and practice obeying the traffic laws until they become a habit. Getting behind the wheel of a vehicle consistently will give your child a type of muscle memory for how to drive. Really, the greatest teacher is experience.
Drive During All Types of Weather
To become a proficient driver, your teen should know how to drive when the weather does not cooperate. Of course, they do not have to drive long distances in heavy rain or snow. However, they should not just drive when it is sunny and beautiful outside. Any Pennslyvania native can attest to how varied and inconstant the weather can be, so it’s important to be ready for anything.
A good order might be to start practicing in an empty parking lot, then in a quiet neighborhood during the day and then at night once they have mastered the previous practices. They may then move on to busier streets and gradually start driving in different kinds of rainy conditions. Encourage them to consistently push the edges of their comfort zone at a reasonable pace and put various hours into each condition until they can drive well in any weather.
Take the Driver’s Test in a Familiar Vehicle
Are you buying a new family car in a day or two? Hold off allowing your child to take their test in it until they get accustomed to the way it handles. Your new model may react differently than the car your child first learned to drive with. The last thing you want is for them to feel uncomfortable while being evaluated for their driver’s license. Encourage your child to take their test using the same vehicle they used for all or most of their training.
If you’re buying a second-hand car or have an older car, make sure that all features of the car are working. The DMV employee will want to check that the vehicle is safe and meets safety standards. The vehicle should have working lights, doors, brakes, tires, windshield wipers, mirrors and turn signals.
Know What to Expect
Your teen’s driver’s test will be on a busy local road. Although you will not know exactly where they’ll be asked to drive, they can get a good idea by driving in the areas near the test center. It’s a good idea to test-drive in the area once you pick out the DMV location.
The examiner will observe your child’s driving skills to determine whether they’re a safe driver. It’s important for the learner driver to pay attention to how they obey and approach stop lights, traffic signs and intersection rules. Additionally, they may not be able to use their vehicle during the exam if it has self-parking features or park assist. Some key actions they’ll need to avoid to help them pass include:
- Violating traffic laws
- Causing a crash
- Not using turn signals
- Ignoring the examiner’s instructions
- Driving recklessly or dangerously
Tips for Choosing Auto Insurance for the Pennsylvania Road Test
Are you still looking for auto insurance to improve driver’s test eligibility? Here are a few things you’ll want to look for in an auto insurance policy and the provider:
- Property damage liability: This coverage may pay for replacement and repair costs for property the insured car damages.
- Injury liability: This covers injuries the driver caused others while driving the insured car.
- Medical bills: This coverage helps to cover the driver’s and passenger’s medical bills.
- Eligibility and cost criteria: Factors that may affect the premium include your location, age, marital status, the quality and safety of the vehicle, your accident and violation history, and whether you drive to work or school. Insurance providers cannot make decisions based on your gender, race, national origin and religion.
Get Auto Insurance With Strock Insurance
Excited at the prospect of your child earning their driver’s license in Pennsylvania? Start by getting them into an auto insurance plan. One option is to add them to your auto insurance policy. Otherwise, if they’re going to be independent soon, it might be suitable to help them take out their own policy.
Strock Insurance offers comprehensive auto insurance coverage, whether you’d like to add your teen to your Strock Insurance policy or want them to have their own policy. To learn about your options, contact our knowledgeable team or request a quote with us today.
Updated on December 26, 2024