Your driving test day can fill you with much tension and stress because you do not know what exactly to expect, even if you know some of the things to say to the DMV test examiner. You have prepared well for the road test, but then there is a sense of restlessness and suspense that will not vanish. These uneasy feelings can make you fail the test no matter how prepared you are.
How do you handle them? There are simple tricks you can apply, but here we are going to focus on the things you should say to the DMV test examiner. You can find a warm, friendly examiner whose broad smile wins you over instantly. You then relax, as if the examiner is your brother or sister.
But let’s face it: some people are just cold and unfriendly by nature. Now, suppose you find yourself with such a serious-looking, no-nonsense official as your test examiner! The look on his/her face is wholly business. There is little you can do to change such a person’s overall attitude. Some people are hard to please or impress. The worst you can do under the circumstances is to act as though you also mean business, or to get tenser.
Remember that it is the examiner who is going to decide your fate, so how you relate with them can have a bearing on your success. So, regardless of which kind of person you end up with as your test examiner, you should go out of your way to be friendly. The following are the five best things you should always say to the test examiner to increase your chances of passing the driving test.
1. Start With a Warm Greeting
The driving test examiner is a human being like anyone else; they have feelings, so just treat them like anybody. So, just start with something as natural as a greeting. Say, “Hi, how is your day going?” You only have to be friendly yourself before you expect the same from the examiner.
A warm greeting accompanied by a genuine, heartfelt smile can disarm even the coldest of hearts. A no-nonsense driving test examiner can gradually like you if you come across as a nice person.
“How are you today? How is your day going?” goes to show that you care about your examiner, not just about passing your test.
2. Ask the DMV Test Examiner to Repeat the Instructions
Some learners mishear part of the instructions the test examiner gives but will not ask him to repeat, fearing it is an indication they are less attentive and so bad drivers. The examiner will not penalize you if you ask him to repeat the part of the instructions you have not understood well. It is not an indication that you are less attentive; it could be that you are not used to his accent or phrases.
It is better to ask him to repeat himself than to make the wrong move because you misheard him. For instance, you are instructed to make a right turn. You fail to hear it but then act as though you heard him clearly. You then make an about-turn! The examiner may not like you henceforth. For that reason, do not be afraid to ask the examiner to repeat an instruction, especially if you are unsure you heard it well.
3. Cheerfully Inform the Examiner That You Are Willing to Demonstrate Any Driving Skills
You do not have to be boastful, but then you should be confident enough to let the driving test examiner know that you are prepared to demonstrate any driving skill he may have in mind.
Don’t go about it like you are the best driver he is about to examine or that you are daring him to prove you wrong. You are not challenging him, but just letting him know that you have practiced for the test.
This is important because some people come to the driving test unprepared, giving the examiners a hard time. It is good to let the examiner know that you can do what is required.
4. Compliment the Examiner
Complimenting the test examiner might appear like flattering him to win his favor for your selfish interests. For that reason, you may want to ignore anything positive about him/her. You are a lady and your examiner, who turns out to be a female, wears a lovely dress. You instantly fall in like the dress, and she notices it. Nevertheless, you keep quiet about it because a compliment in such a situation is like a bribe.
The truth is, a compliment can be a form of a bribe in certain situations, but do not hold back a genuine compliment. These examiners are human beings, after all. If you like his/her dress, shoes, glasses, or hairstyle, say it. This can be before or during the test — sound natural, not mechanical, like you rehearsed.
But don’t make inappropriate compliments, like when the dress is obviously not that outstanding, but you insist it is. Don’t force a compliment; if there is nothing worth complimenting, hold your horses. Also, don’t shower the examiner with praises all the way.
5. Inform the Test Examiner That You Take Safety Seriously
Here you are, an inexperienced driver who is working his or her way to a driving license. You do not want to fail the driving test due to the inconvenience that comes with that. In your desperation, you end up clumsy, causing an accident.
The driving test examiners have been on the road long enough to know that a clumsy, restless examinee can cause a serious accident. That is why you should cheerfully inform the examiner that safety is at the front of your mind.
You are not just here to pass the test, but to pass it safely. An accident will affect even the examiner who sits on the passenger’s seat during the test. You should indeed take safety seriously; it is not just a matter of assuring the examiner. Act it to put your examiner at ease.
The Final Take
Armed with these simple words plus other useful tricks, you will be able to play your part in forging a warm relationship with the test examiner for the short but critical moment you are to take your driving test.
At Pierre Paul Driving School, we teach you not just about driving, but also the effortless tricks to use to pass the test like knowing exactly things to say to the DMV test examiner. We understand that some good drivers fail the driving test out of interaction issues, not lack of driving skills.
I’m a certified driving instructor for cars, buses, and tractors with 17+ years of experience. When not teaching aspiring drivers how to drive, I enjoy spending time with my family and playing with my kids.