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A New View

Angela Connor is Managing Editor for User-Generated Content at CBC New Media. She recently relocated to the Triangle from South Florida with her husband and two young daughters.  In this blog she shares the ups, downs and uncertainties that come along with making North Carolina her new home.

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Road test

What! I Have to Take a Driver's Test?

Posted: April 11, 2007

I've held a driver's license in three states: Michigan, Ohio and Florida.
The only time there was any kind of testing involved was when I got my very FIRST license, the one that comes right after the learner's permit.
You see, when you give up your license from one state in exchange for another, it's for the most part an even exchange. They confiscate the old one and hand over the new one.
Not so easy in North Carolina.
If you want to drive in this state, at least as a resident, you have to prove you're worth by taking a test. And it isn't even a road test. It's a WRITTEN test. And, I heard from a co-worker who moved here several months before I did, that it's a real doozy.
He said that his wife barely passed and he actually FAILED and had to take it again. That is not what I wanted to hear.
The killer question had something to do with tractors and the allowable proximity to farm animals, I believe. (I don't recall THAT one on the driver's test in Michigan.)

He suggested I visit the DMV website and download the drivers guide so the same thing won't happen to me. Needless to say I went straight to the site and did just that. Looks like I've got some brushing up to do.
But before you laugh, put yourself in my shoes. How many of you veteran drivers out there would jump at the chance to take that written test all over gain. And how many of you would fail?

Copyright 2011 by Capitol Broadcasting Company. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.
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13 Comments


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When I moved here from California I went to the DMV to get my new license and was surprised that I had to take a written test. I took it anyway while I was there and missed ONE question without having studied at all. It's not a hard test if you know the basic rules of the road! The one I missed was about how often you have to get your car inspected (it's every two years in CA, so that was what I guessed), which has nothing to do with actual driving.
Arcturus
April 17, 2007 9:04 a.m.
[abuse] Report abuse
I got my first license in NC and lived here all but 4 1/2 years of my life. I moved to Miami, Florida and did not ahve to take a test. I moved back after the 4 1/2 years from Florida to NC, and did not have to take a test. Apparently, as I was told, my old license was still in effect, even though I had surrendered it to get the Florida license. My husband, on the other hand, will have to take the test here. As will my now 17 year old daughter. She was able to take the online driver's permit test in Florida, but the laws here rewuire she have classroom time so she would have to take the permit test again, THEN wait another freaking year to get her license. (BTW, she now has a Florida driver's LICENSE, done while on a trip there). She will be 18 this fall, so she will be elligible for a license no matter what anyways.
Lollipop Luv
April 16, 2007 11:20 p.m.
[abuse] Report abuse
I've been driving for 37 yrs, only one accident...not my fault, person turn left as I was coming thru. I too had to take the test when moving to NC and failed...dont make sense...even read the book cober to cover, it's the signs that gets you.There should be a standard test for USA...no matter where you live. Same thing happen to me when I moved to Arizona, the problem there was turning lanes, being from a small town in Texas, we had no turing lanes, so this i didn't know, just thought that all test were the same. WE NEED A STANDARD DRIVING TEST...
texasvirgo914
April 16, 2007 7:28 p.m.
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If you can't pass the written test, you don't need to be driving.
saturn5
April 16, 2007 5:40 p.m.
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From the way most of the people I see on the road drive, I think they should be forced every renewal to take the written test.
Red
April 16, 2007 3:42 p.m.
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It's not that hard. I barely studied and got 100 on the written test when we moved here. I had to take a written test out in the northwest when I moved there. No biggie.
Click to view my profile tamiam
April 16, 2007 3:40 p.m.
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Just be sure that you can answer the questions at the end of the chapters in the book. As for the signs, the type of sign matters: caution, stop, regulatory (speed limit, reduce speed, etc.). No, I wouldn't be too keen on retesting, but I am keen on people having to know the NC laws to get an NC license. For instance, we can't pass on the right here unless we have a lane provided, but PA can. I like that PA advantage, but we don't have it. You'll be fine, and you need that NC license to get the best insurance rates.
Madame Carlotta
April 16, 2007 2:51 p.m.
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It's only been within the last 30 years that you had to take the written test every time you got your license. If you get points on your license, then, you fall into that category. Just to make sure that you are up on all the new laws, it's not a bad idea to download the manual every time you need to get your license renewed.
jdixon2
April 16, 2007 2:30 p.m.
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If you don't know the answers all the more reason for the test. When I moved to California some years back I had to take written and road test to get a license and they did not take my NC license. And by the way the road test can be given here too, if the examiner feels it may be necessary.
ridgerunner
April 16, 2007 1:53 p.m.
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I didn't think the test was that bad, but then again, I had been licensed in NC, moved to Maryland, then moved back to NC.

What got me was the requirement that I produce my social secuirty card! I worked for Social Secuirty and we told people NOT to carry their SS card around. With the MD license and my very blonde appearance, I don't think anyone would think I'm an illegal alien. However, I went to the local SS office, told them my number, and they gave me a letter to take back to the DMV. Take proof of legal US residence--like your SS card when you go.

Which brings up the question--how did all those illegal aliens get a drivers license???
Rebel
April 16, 2007 1:51 p.m.
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