Be Prepared At Any Age: Retaking The Written Driving Test When Renewing A License
If you've received a notice about renewing your driver's license, check it carefully. It might also be time for you to retake the written knowledge test, that multiple choice test that determines how well you remember driving laws. It can be a shock to get that notice after a couple of decades of hassle-free renewals. But don't worry -- you can get a good idea of how your driving knowledge is doing by taking a practice test online.
Local Driving Culture
Don't think that just because you've been driving for all these years that you remember the laws perfectly. Driving laws change yearly, and local driving habits might run counter to the actual driving laws in your city. For example, the (in)famous California Rolling Stop, where you almost-but-not-quite stop at a stop sign where you can already see there's no oncoming traffic, is not really legal. But people get used to doing it anyway and gradually forget that they're not supposed to be inching past the stop sign.
Or, maybe people in your area don't pay attention to who has right of way at a four-way stop. Regardless of the example, the point is that you get very used to driving in a certain manner, and that can influence how you answer test questions. And that can lead to embarrassment if you don't answer them correctly, and the DMV has to reissue the test.
Advance Practice Tests
Instead, take a practice permit test when you get that notice. If you score well, take a couple more versions just to be sure, and then relax. But if you find you don't do well, then you have the time to review the laws before taking the real test.
This is also a helpful thing to do if you've just moved to another state. Most of the time, if you move, you can pretty much trade in your old license for a new one in the new state. But if you let your old license expire before changing it over -- surprisingly more common than you'd think -- then you might have to take the written test in the new state. That can be very difficult if you've moved somewhere with a different driving culture than in your old state.
If you're about to do anything with your license that might require testing, take those online practice tests. They don't take long, and you'll get a great idea of just how you might do on the real thing.