Questions about driving test (DC)

[Anonymous]

Hi all-

DS is hoping to take his driving test in the next few weeks. I was wondering about two things...

1. Does it make a difference if we use our own car (which is a luxury car) or should we work with a driving school to use one of their cars? I don't want him to be penalized in any way because of the car he is taking the test in.

2. If he does take our car- we have a dashboard screen which helps provide guidance (and audio beeps) when backing up and I am trying to teach him not to rely on that for the parallel parking. Has anyone's kids not passed because of using this type of thing?

I acknowledge that this post is filled with privilege so I apologize in advance for that. Just trying to navigate this. FWIW, DS will NOT be driving a luxury car if he ever passes the licensing test.

Thanks in Advance!!!!

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Hi all-

DS is hoping to take his driving test in the next few weeks. I was wondering about two things...

1. Does it make a difference if we use our own car (which is a luxury car) or should we work with a driving school to use one of their cars? I don't want him to be penalized in any way because of the car he is taking the test in.

2. If he does take our car- we have a dashboard screen which helps provide guidance (and audio beeps) when backing up and I am trying to teach him not to rely on that for the parallel parking. Has anyone's kids not passed because of using this type of thing?

I acknowledge that this post is filled with privilege so I apologize in advance for that. Just trying to navigate this. FWIW, DS will NOT be driving a luxury car if he ever passes the licensing test.

Thanks in Advance!!!!

They're not going to ding him for a schmancy car. Don't worry.

[Anonymous]

Make sure your vehicle meets the requirement of having a emergency hand brake between the front seats. https://dmv.dc.gov/page/road-skills-tests

[Anonymous]

Our kid is also taking the test soon in our luxury car with a 360 camera; our other (non) luxury car is the one he’ll drive regularly, but it doesn’t have a hand brake, so we can’t use it.

I figure it’s better for him to take it on a car he’s driven before than one from a driving school that he’s not familiar with. I think they see all kinds of cars and don’t really care what kind it is, as long as it’s registered and insured and has a hand brake.

[Anonymous]

Do many cars have handbrakes these days??

We have 3 cars - 2007, 2013, and 2020 and none have a handbrake. All have pedal emergency brakes. What do families do who don't have one?

- curious maryland mom