The most important thing which you need for passing “driving test” is not driving skills. Before you realize it after couple(or more) of failure, you should be fully prepared with important tips.

Before you walk-in

Tip1: Check your outfit. *Though you will not go to a fancy restaurant requires a jacket, it is important to avoid to be looked too casual or relaxed by waring t-shirt and half pants and sandals. Sandals are not allowed to take “driving test”. It is simply good to ware a suit or something you usually ware for a business meeting with proper driving shoes, eye glasses(if you need) and a big smile.

Before accessing to your test car

Tip2: Greeting to a testing officer with a big smile. *This is the right moment to use good greeting in Japanese “Yoroshiku Onegai Shimasu” with a big smile. No need to be fluent, but be polite to make a good first impression.

Tip3: Find an a cat under the car *Approaching to the car from back side, and crouch down to look under the car to find a cat underneath. Then go around the car in a clockwise direction, and crouch down from the front of the car to look under the car to find a cat underneath again. Once you confirm there is nothing underneath, then you access to the driver’s seat side after you show that you confirm there is no other cars coming from right and left direction. You may know there is no cat underneath and no other cars around you; however, if you do not do this you will lose some points for not giving enough attention for safety.

Before start the engine

Tip4: Many things need to be checked before start the engine *You need to wait for the testing officer sitting in the navigation seat after you sit in the driver’s seat to start check-up before stating engine. You need to show (4-1) close the door and lock, (4-2) adjust your seat and fasten seat belt, (4-3) check on left side mirror by showing index finger pointing it and head move to it, (4-4) adjust on back mirror by touching it by left hand, (4-5) check on right side mirror by showing index finger pointing it and head move to it, (4-6) check on hand brake by touching it by left hand, (4-7) put your foot on brake and (4-8) tell the testing officer that you are ready to start engine.

Tip5: Let’s start the engine *(5-1) Once you start the engine, you tell the testing officer that you move your car, (5-2) hit brake and change the shift lever in D position, (5-3) release hand brake, (5-4) check back and both side mirrors by showing index finger pointing it and head move to it,(5-5) show right side turn lamp, (5-6) turn your head back to check right back side of car, (5-7) you move your car slowly.

Driving in the testing course

Tip6: Going around the testing course *After you start your car you will go around the testing course(oval course), (6-1) drive very slow(below 25-30km/h) in left side lane since no point loss for driving too slow, (6-2) slow down(below 20km/h) before curve comes by two or three times pumping brake, (6-3) accelerate your car to 40km/h after the testing officer says “Kasoku Shina-sai(speed up)” at the longest straight in the oval course, (6-4)slow down(below 20km/h) again before curve comes by two or three times pumping brake.

Tip7: Lane changes and right turn *You need to change driving lanes when you need to make right turn or avoid objects placed on the testing course. This is the most difficult part of driving test since you are required to do many safety check in a few seconds before making right turn. (7-1) check back and both side mirrors by head move to it, (7-2) show right side turn lamp and count 3 slowly “3,2,1“, (7-3) turn your head back to check right back side of car, (7-4) move your car slowly to right side lane close to the center line, (7-5) you need to complete this series of actions 30m before right turn location, (7-6) make complete stop at right turn location to check if there is any other cars coming and make right turn slowly.

Tip8: Left turn *You need to (8-1) check back and both side mirrors by head move to it, (8-2) show left side turn lamp and count 3 slowly “3,2,1“, (8-3) turn your head back to check left back side of car, (8-4) move your car slowly to left side lane, (8-5) you need to complete this series of actions 30m before left turn location, (7-6) make complete stop at left turn location to check if there is any other cars coming, (8-6) turn your head back to check left back side of car again and make left turn slowly.

Coming back to starting location

Tip9: Stop the car *You need to come out of the oval course to stop your car at the starting location. (9-1)check back and both side mirrors by head move to it, (9-2) show left side turn lamp and count 3 slowly “3,2,1“, (9-3) turn your head back to check left back side of car, (9-4) move your car slowly to left side lane, (9-5) you need to complete this series of actions 30m before left turn location, (9-6) the testing officer asks you where you stop the car “Soko or Asoko Ni Tomeru(stop your car there)“, (9-7) slow down to approach to the starting location, (9-8) stop your car 30cm before the edge of the load avoid hitting the edge, (9-9) hit brake and change the shift lever in P position, (9-10) put hand brake, (9-11) this is also the right moment to say thank you in Japanese “Arigato Gozai Mashita”.

Pass or Fail

You will know the result of the driving test instantly. You are passed in case you receive nothing from the test officer and just indicated to wait for the rest of others to take the test. In case you received a small ticket for making another appointment for the driving test rom the testing officer, it means you failed. Do not ague with the testing officer even you do not feel it is a fair judgement since they never change the result, and you may see the same testing officer upon the next try. If you pass, you will have your driving license issued on the same day.