Anyone have advice from recently passed Driver's test?
Hi All! New to Doha, and with RP in hand, discovered I cannot directly exchange my US Driver's License (??) for Qatari license. So off to driving test on Wednesday, and would really welcome a recent, detailed description of the actual driving part of the exam. Any and all impressions are welcomed...I've been driving in the US for more than 1/2 of my life, yet I've read things that have me concerned about this exam. Thank you for your help!
HI ,.i passed my test today ,.i had an indian licence but i had to go 12 classes ,,,then to the test today morning 5 am :( ....i had joined gulf driving school ...
test procedure
1)signal test -u have to ans 4 or five signals asked by the police officer
2)THE L turn - i did great ...
3)pocket parking -easy one
after that ROAD TEST ..i just followed the officers insturctions and follwed all basic instructions ,..ckecking mirror,signal at good time ,.and the soomtness in the gear swifting,seat belt/adjustment>>> wow
Thank you all for your responses! I will be going to Gulf Driving School for the test...they have automatic's..but I can drive stick no problem. Have their book of signs and glad to learn 3 out of 5, although I'm sure I will be able to nail all 5. Thanks for the great detail of what the test will entail...I just need to wrap my head around this as driving is my tool for freedom here, and so it is important to pass first time. Will update as to my experience tomorrow morning, and appreciate any more insight!
Thank you all for your responses! I will be going to Gulf Driving School for the test...they have automatic's..but I can drive stick no problem. Have their book of signs and glad to learn 3 out of 5, although I'm sure I will be able to nail all 5. Thanks for the great detail of what the test will entail...I just need to wrap my head around this as driving is my tool for freedom here, and so it is important to pass first time. Will update as to my experience tomorrow morning, and appreciate any more insight!
Thank you all for your responses! I will be going to Gulf Driving School for the test...they have automatic's..but I can drive stick no problem. Have their book of signs and glad to learn 3 out of 5, although I'm sure I will be able to nail all 5. Thanks for the great detail of what the test will entail...I just need to wrap my head around this as driving is my tool for freedom here, and so it is important to pass first time. Will update as to my experience tomorrow morning, and appreciate any more insight!
Couple of things:
1. Take the Driving book and study signs and their names. Regardless of what that sign means in US, you have to answer what is written in the book.
2. Trained yourself for driving stick shift cars. You will be tested on that car.
3. Go to driving school and observe the how to do parking. You have been driving in US, but you have to know the TRICK when to turn the steering wheel for parking. Believe me if you dont know the trick, it is very difficult to pass.
Hope that helps.
Dont forget, these are older-ish cars and they are all manual gear.
you must also know how to pocket park.
on the road they will generally ask you to make a u-turn at a nearby roundabout and thereafter the police may ask you to stop right there and then. this means you must: check mirrors, indicate, pull over, stop, pull handbrake, gear in neutral, push warning lights.
some police are not picky, others wants you to do this in exact order.
also do not "cross your arms" when turning steering wheel.
it all depends on who is in the car with you.
good luck.
exam is piss easy.
u first need to pass a theory exam. which is 5 oral questions about signs. depending on schools u need to get a minimum of 3 correct, but you should really be getting all 5 correct.
then u have to show them u can start the car.
then u have to show basic driving skills. this are park the car once, then been able to remove the car from the parking space.
then you have to do what they call an L turn. u basically take a right turn up a tiny hill. you stop halfway up, pull the handbreak, and then continue all the way up the hill without spinning the wheels, overreving the engine or letting the car slip.
After that you go into the roads with a police officer and just follow his instructions.
there are only two things that are problematic. one is the accent which can be hard sometimes. the other is the actual times. you have to be at the test centre at 4am until about 11am.
but my parents got their UK license made into a Qatari at a police station, you should go ask again
hope that helps