Arizona Driving License

[HikerMark 5]

I passed my Arizona driving test today and now have an Arizona driving license. Another step in the transition to feeling this is my new home.

To help others moving to AZ here are my experiences of the test.

I went to the DMV mid week and fairly early in the morning. This worked out a treat as there was no queue and I was seen straight away. As I wear glasses they tested my eye sight at the information desk. Just a case of putting your face up against a machine and reading a line of numbers and saying on which side you can see flashing lights. After that my application form was checked at one of the service counters, ID copied and then on to the written test section. They didn't even ask to see my UK license.

The written test is done at a computer and uses a touch screen. It is 30 multiple choice questions based on pictures of road situations, signs etc. It is very straightforward provided you have read the Driver License Manual. I'm not sure of the pass rate but my test finished after the 29th question with a pass mark of 83%. To prepare for this I would highly recommend the videos at the CA DMV and the CA DMV sample tests. Most of the rules are the same as in AZ.

After the written test came the road test. Firstly there is a parallel parking test to pass before the road test which involves reversing between some big cones and the curb. You have three attempts to pass without hitting the cones or the curb. I took two attempts as the near side tires need to be on a yellow line next to the curb. After this test came the actual road test which took all of 5 minutes and involved going round the block once and was mostly in a residential area. When I think back to what is involved with the UK road test this one was very very basic.

Once back at the DMV it was five minutes to have my photo taken and I was handed the license. As I am a CR1 it expires when the CR1 expires so will need to be renewed once the green card conditions are removed. However, this only involves bringing in the new green card to the DMV.

So, overall not too much to worry about and fairly straightforward.

[rheanick 42]

Hi

Thanks for this post. Im also from Arizona and plan to take my driver license exam soon. I'm still bad with my paralle parking. Would need to practice more.

Which DMV office you visited?

[HikerMark 5]

Hi

Thanks for this post. Im also from Arizona and plan to take my driver license exam soon. I'm still bad with my paralle parking. Would need to practice more.

Which DMV office you visited?

I went to the Tempe DMV office which is on Larkspur Lane just off McLintock.

I did a bit of practice for the parallel parking as it is so rare that you have to do it in real life driving.

Best of luck with your test.

[rheanick 42]

I visited the link you provided. Big thanks! Great link.

Tempe is quite near. I often drive to tempe during weekends.

For parallel parking practice, try to go to SouthMountain in the afternoon (3 or 4 )... There is a big chance that you would do parallel parking.

Hi

Thanks for this post. Im also from Arizona and plan to take my driver license exam soon. I'm still bad with my paralle parking. Would need to practice more.

Which DMV office you visited?

I went to the Tempe DMV office which is on Larkspur Lane just off McLintock.

I did a bit of practice for the parallel parking as it is so rare that you have to do it in real life driving.

Best of luck with your test.

[JamalNTam 1]

I got my AZ license in Tucson and I didn't need to parallel park!! I still don't know how to do it! lol!

Edited January 30, 2009 by JamalNTam

[GloAndCole 22]

I'm in az too and gonna take the driving test (written) next week. Thank you so much for sharing ur experience with us. I would probably go to Tempe one too as I live in Mesa. Btw its so nice to know there is someone like me living in this desert states too! Dunno that many ppl here yet and been having home sick and miss my friends in HK.....

[rheanick 42]

Good luck on your written test next week. If you missed asian food, you could drop by in Lee Lee's supermarket. Its one big asian store here in AZ. Don't forget to ask for discount.

I'm in az too and gonna take the driving test (written) next week. Thank you so much for sharing ur experience with us. I would probably go to Tempe one too as I live in Mesa. Btw its so nice to know there is someone like me living in this desert states too! Dunno that many ppl here yet and been having home sick and miss my friends in HK.....

[GloAndCole 22]

Good luck on your written test next week. If you missed asian food, you could drop by in Lee Lee's supermarket. Its one big asian store here in AZ. Don't forget to ask for discount.

I'm in az too and gonna take the driving test (written) next week. Thank you so much for sharing ur experience with us. I would probably go to Tempe one too as I live in Mesa. Btw its so nice to know there is someone like me living in this desert states too! Dunno that many ppl here yet and been having home sick and miss my friends in HK.....

Aww thanks! Hahaha I missed asian food alot and we go to Lee Lee's supermarket all the time now. Heard they will have another big store like that with same owner.