Driving Test Tips NSW

When preparing for a driving test in NSW, understanding and practicing safe driving techniques is crucial. One fundamental tip is to avoid the ‘high-risk zone’ alongside other vehicles, minimising the potential for side collisions. On multi-lane roads, prioritise driving in the left lane and only use the right lane when you intend to overtake or execute a right turn, as this reduces the risk of head-on collisions. Additionally, precise positioning during turns is essential to ensure traffic flows smoothly and safely. By incorporating these strategies, learner drivers can increase their likelihood of passing the NSW driving test and promote safe driving habits.

As you get closer to doing the driving test it is only natural to get nervous, so we have prepared Driving Test Tips NSW. As a driving instructor I meet a lot of students who want to know how to pass the driving test. It can be daunting getting into a car with a complete stranger who will test your driving and decide if you pass or not.

Therefore you need to be prepared for the test. The fact is that you can fail the whole test with just one mistake. And no matter how hard you try to relax you can’t help but worry that you will make that one mistake that costs you the test. You will need to drive properly even when you are nervous.

The best you can do is make sure you are ready for the test. Learn the road rules and get lots of practice at driving under different conditions. Research shows that the best way to improve your driving is with lots of practice with a good instructor.

On the day of the test you will be given the opportunity to demonstrate to the examiner that you are prepared and you can drive safely. So here is a quick checklist to make sure you are ready for the test.

Driving Test Tips – Preparation

1. Book a driving lesson with your driving instructor prior to the test. It will help you to go over everything just prior to the test. A local driving instructor will also have local knowledge of driving test tracks and the difficult sections of the test routes. Learn to Drive Driving School offers driving lessons and practice driving tests.
2. Make sure you have covered all the things that can come up in the test with your driving instructor before booking your test.
   1. Indicators have to be on for 5 seconds or 30 metres where possible. Do you know how to indicate for roundabouts?
   2. Blind spot checks or required observation checks are the number one fail item in the Driving Test. Do you know where your blind spots are? Do you know when to do your required observation checks?
   3. Stop and give way rules result in a lot of students failing the test. Do you know these rules and can you apply them in real life situations.
   4. Gap selection and turning in front of other vehicles results in a lot of accidents. Make sure you know how to pick gaps and don’t cut people off.
   5. Buffering and crash avoidance spaces is an important part of low risk driving. Know these rules and how to apply them.
   6. You must show good decision making skills in the test because you will be marked on your ability to make good decisions in every section of the test. Therefore you need to know how to apply the road rules in all situations.
   7. You need to demonstrate good road position at all times during the driving test. Make sure you know how to drive on the correct part of the road in all situations.
   8. Do a trial driving test with a good local driving instructor and see if you are ready to pass the test.
3. Complete the Safer Drivers Course with a driving school that is based in your area. It is important to deal with a driving school that has extensive knowledge of your area and what is required to pass the driving test.

A local driving instructor with local knowledge will be able to provide insightful tips when conducting the safer driver course.

Tips on Booking you Driving Test

1. Book a test time that suits you, don’t book a time in the middle of exams when you will be distracted. If you need to use your parents car or a driving instructors car make sure it will be available for the test.
2. Think about the time of the test. It will be a good idea to avoid peak hour traffic on the day of the test. Their will be more traffic and school zone times  to contend with on school days during school zone times. This will give you more hazards and traffic to deal with.
3. Whilst you can not predict the weather on the day of the test it will be an important factor on the day. Get lots of practice at driving in adverse conditions and make sure you know how the wipers and demister works on the car.

Each driving test location tests you on a variety of different driving skills. You should consider which driving test location you will be most comfortable at. For lesson pricing or to book at lesson please visit the service area page for your preferred location. For more information on the various driving test centre please read our various blogs on each location. When you have selected your preferred lesson and test location you can visit the service area page for more details including pricing. For example if you would like to do the driving test at Richmond NSW just visit the Driving Lessons Richmond page.

What to bring to the test

A good driving test NSW tip is to make sure you bring everything you need to the driving test. The RMS regularly refuses to allow people to do the driving test because they did not bring the correct documentation.

1. Your Log book needs to be filled in properly. Including all the details for the 120 hours of driving, because incomplete entries will be deducted from your total hours. In addition you need your supervising driver to sign off on all the learning goals. Which are located at the beginning of the log book. Finally you and your supervising driver need to sign the declaration at the back of the book.
2. Digital Log Books: Make sure you press the submit button on the app to send the details to the Roads & Maritime Services. The testing officer needs to know you have completed your log book correctly
3. Fill in your Application Form before the Test.
4. Arrive early for the test and make sure you have time to find parking and submit your paperwork. You will not be allowed to do the test if you are late.

Road worthy check conducted prior to driving test

1. You need to park your test car in the location allocated by the Roads & Maritime Services.
2. Prior to the test the examiner will conduct a check of the motor vehicle to ensure it is safe for the test. This will include:
   1. Checking the motor vehicle registration is current.
   2. Checking your car windows are clean and not damaged, if the window has a crack in it you may not be allowed to use the car for the test.
   3. Do the tyres need more air, as low air pressure may result in the test being cancelled.
   4. Do the tyres have sufficient tread, a bald tyre or uneven wear on a tyre will result in your test being cancelled.
   5. Does your indicators and brake lights work correctly.
   6. Is their any panel damage on the car?

Driving Test Tips – Test Day

1. Get a good night sleep the night before the test and make sure you eat properly and keep hydrated. Tests are mentally draining and require you to make decisions in short periods of time. Research shows that the brain takes longer to respond when you are tired or dehydrated.
2. You must make sure your mobile phone is switched off prior to the test.
3. Throughout the test it is important to remain calm and focus on the next bit of driving. You will make mistakes and get nervous but do not get distracted. A lot of students have made a mistake in the test and become distracted thinking about it. Then they make more mistakes because they are not focused on what they are doing.
4. Follow the examiners instructions. If you do not hear or understand their instructions ask them to repeat it.

At Learn to Drive we provide structured lessons to get you ready for the test. We also offer trial tests at various test locations in Western Sydney. To learn more about some of these RMS test locations please read some of our other Blogs.