Renewing my driver's license was a pain this year.

[ificandream]

In California, when you hit 70, they make you take the written test again. I hadn't taken it since I was in high school. I remember easing through it back then so I figured it would be no sweat. Boy, was I wrong. There was a lot I'd forgotten. So I studied like hell. I used the free tests online every day and compiled my own cheat sheet on my phone with questions I'd had trouble with. Even that didn't help at first. I kept getting all these questions that I hadn't had in my studies.

The worst was how many days do you have when you come to California to get your car registered. My recollection from back in the 60s was two weeks. I was wrong. It was 30 days. But why am I getting asked that question? It's totally irrelevant to me since I've been living here so long.

Finally, I did pass. But the whole experience was really demeaning. I want to say it's ageism to make me take the test again, but I also understand why they're having you do it. But my driving record was fairly clean. I had one moving violation (for a cell phone) in recent years. No speeding tickets, no accidents. Why am I having to do this test again? It seems unfair.

A word of advice to anyone whose license is coming up for renewal: Make use of the free driving tests online. DO NOT pay for cheat sheets. You can make your own up as I did for free. (Some of the prices being asked for these cheat sheets made me laugh.)

[Walleye]

1. I guess I better look up the regulations here in Delaware

My last renewal was a breeze, but it’s coming up again in February. I was 70 then, didn’t even take an eye test. So we’ll see what happens at age 75. I think I got most of it done through a kiosk. Delaware DMV has really improved themselves from the bad reputation they used to have. Congratulations on passing your test OK

[Marthe48]

2. Every driver candidate should have to take a series of written tests

before they get a license, even if the questions are the same over and over. Questions like: What does the red sign mean? What does the red light mean? Use a turn signal to change lanes, True or False? Explain Right of Way. Explain Yield. Explain Speed Limits.

And every person regardless of age should be required to take a written test every time they renew.

I live in Ohio. I think whoever administers the road test would give a license to a monkey if the monkey could pay the fees.

I'm 71. I renewed my license in 2020, after I developed a vision problem in my right eye. I really sweated the vision test, but they let me renew. I've never gotten a ticket in 45 years.

[Joinfortmill]

3. Here's a list of State Requirements for those interested...

I'm 74 and live in a very northern NE State. Just looked up the test requirements for over 75. No special requirements for seniors, but an option exists to have seniors take a written test. Very vague about when this would apply.

https://www.thezebra.com/resources/driving/driving-rules-seniors/#:~:text=Drivers%20between%20the%20ages%20of%2067%20and%2074%20are%20required,take%20a%20written%20knowledge%20test.

[bucolic_frolic]

4. Questions should be about what you do on the road

They pulled the renewal question on me when I first applied. The testing instructor would pull random questions after the driving portion of the test. "How long before you have to renew your license?", he asked. "When it comes in the mail," I said. He didn't like the answer, said it was 4 years I think, but he did pass me.

[question everything]

5. In Minnesota AAA offers a refresher course, takes several hours and then you get a discount

on your car insurance.

[Historic NY]

6. A pro tip signed up for an AARP driver class...

in some places you can take the test on-line, its for insurance reduction and points elimination. You will learn the new driver language, updated rules, signage, and technology. Its good for 3 yrs but it will keep you current.

https://www.aarp.org/auto/driver-safety/

[hvn_nbr_2]

7. The questions that really get me are the ones like ... (and a kudo to DMV)

The questions that really get me are the ones like, "The penalty for doing xyz stupid shit is 1 year, 5 years, or 7 years." What you really need to know is "Don't do stupid xyz shit."

I will give the DMV credit for significant improvement in recent years. I've had to take the written test twice now (I'm 76), and the most recent time the process was like night-and-day difference for the better. The first time, several years ago, no appointments were available for months in advance so I had to go in and just wait without an appointment. After waiting there all day, I finally got seen just before they closed. The most recent time, even with the additional complications of everyone getting RealID, I did written and vision tests, got my RealID docs verified, got a new picture, and was in and out in an hour.

On edit: This is California DMV I'm talking about.

[Journeyman]

8. Every 5 years, everyone should have to take a simulated driving test . . .

all ages, no exceptions.

As realistic as computer simulators are these days, it'd be easy to create a program that would test our knowledge of the road, as well as our reflex times and our ability to react to hazardous situations and conditions.

And this should be for everyone, across the board.

My 30-year-old niece has absolutely no business whatsoever being behind a wheel of a car. She has neither the mental or emotional maturity to handle driving, especially in traffic or at speed.

And should you fail on the simulator, then you'd need to be evaluated in your car by a human.

[cbabe]

9. WA allows personal interpreters for non English speakers. No screening required. Infuriated

my neighbor. Easy test cheating. Plus road danger if driver’s poor language skills meant they couldn’t read signs, etc.

[rsdsharp]

10. My license expired, and I couldn't renew because of cataracts.

I was finally able to get those corrected, so I need to take the written AND the driving test. I could have renewed by mail, but I wasn’t willing to lie when answering the question about whether my vision had changed since my last renewal.

[OldBaldy1701E]

11. Going to the DMV is an epic experience every single time.

Obligatory...

(Warning, Primus may not be for everyone. You have been warned.)

[PoindexterOglethorpe]

12. I agree that we should all be required to pass

a driving test, no matter how old or young we are.

When I lived in Kansas, and I needed to renew my license, they sent a test and the answers to me. I generally took the test while standing in line at the DMV. What I loved most was that I was reminded of the basic rules of the road/driving which helped me remember that things I needed to know to be a decent driver.

It should always be that way. Passing the driving test at the earliest age possible should NOT be a permanent pass on knowing the rules of the road. We should all need to pass driving stuff, no matter how old we are. I'm currently 75, and I don't think I needed to actually pass any kind of test when I got my license here in this state some 15 years ago. I do know that in a year or so I will need to renew my license every year, but I'm not sure what is required other than (maybe?) a vision test. It really ought to be more than that. We should all go through the same basic tests that a brand new driver goes through. And if we can't pass them, oh gosh, too bad, we can no longer drive.

My older brother was in the process of going blind, and I don't know what the licensing thing was in his state, but I do know that he kept on having many fender benders, because he couldn't see very well. He continued driving years after he should have. If his state had had a thing where a driver had to show up and pass a vision test, he'd have been denied a license years earlier.

I am 75 years old and still drive. I can tell that I'm not as good a driver as I used to be. I am honestly looking forward to not driving, but that will depend on moving into some kind of independent/assisted living place, which I honestly expect to happen by the time I'm 80.