Warning: Seriously EPIC Road Test Tips For Drivers

ICBC Road Test Tips for all drivers.

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Do you need to Pass Your ICBC Road Test or DMV Road Test?

Maybe it’s your ICBC Road Test Class 7

Or Your ICBC Road Test Class 5

You have come to the right place for some excellent tips to help you do so. The road test is an exciting, necessary, and terrifying rite of passage (or something like that, blah, blah, etc, etc,).

ICBC Road Test Booking

Click here to Book your ICBC Road Test Online

How to Automatically Fail Your Road Test ICBC

You will not pass your road test ICBC if you do anything illegal. Examples: speeding, lane change over solid white line, driving the wrong way down a one-way street, reversing into an intersection.

…Or if you do anything unsafe. For example: a pedestrian has to jump out of the way, a driver has to do evasive action in order to avoid you, you hit the wrong pedal and accidentally drive onto the sidewalk...

Worrying About Being Perfect on Your ICBC Road Test? Worrying about Parking on the test? Don’t!

You don’t need to be perfect to pass your road test. No one drives perfectly all the time, not even driving instructors.. we are all human. You can make some mistakes but it shouldn’t be the same mistake over and over; the examiner will then notice a pattern that needs to be corrected.

Most people seem to be very worried about their parking ability (or lack of). If you’re stressing more about the parking than about other things, stop right now!

You should know how to park, but you don’t have to be a pro at it.

You’re allowed to make corrections. You can fix it/readjust it if it doesn’t work the first time, or the second time.

Examiners on the road test ICBC are not timing you. They’re not going to get out at the end and measure it to make sure the vehicle is exactly between the lines and perfectly straight. Although, of course, it’s a nice bonus if your passengers can actually get out of the car after you’re done parking 😉

Perfection on the Road Test And Safety Are Two Very Different Things

Being Safe is more important than being perfect on your iCBC road test, and in real life

It’s more important that you have good observation skills when parking and you’re looking in the correct direction when reversing. When you drive forwards, you look forwards, right? So, when you drive backwards, you must look backwards. And no, this does not mean looking in your mirror.

If your car is a bit crooked when you’re done parking, that’s not actually going to hurt anybody.

Becoming good at parking can take many years of experience. Examiners do not expect new drivers to be perfect: they expect you to be safe, and legal.

Driving At Intersections Properly – to Pass Your ICBC Road Test

If you insist on worrying about something, worry about your ability to safely turn left, right, and go straight at intersections.

Collisions happen most frequently at intersections. Surely it’s critically important for you to know how to properly navigate your intersections safely and confidently.

Turning left is generally considered dangerous and turning incorrectly or when it isn’t safe could have very devastating consequences.

here is a basic left turn example

We yield to

pedestrians
oncoming or conflicting traffic

Get some epic left-turning tips here

10+ Juicy Tips to Turn Left at a Traffic Light Safely

Here are some common mistakes I’ve seen people make on the ICBC Road Test & some tips:

When You’re Stopping at Stop Signs

Not completely stopping at the stop sign (“California Stop” = “Rolling Stop”)

You don’t have to stop, take out your stopwatch and count to 10 seconds or anything like that. But, do make sure that you indeed fully & completely stopped moving!

A lot of drivers don’t completely stop their vehicle, they just kind of, sort of, slow down type of thing; try to avoid this bad habit.

Not stopping for a red light on a right turn.

Many student drivers hear “you can turn right on a red light.” Some don’t realize that you must stop first! If you just slow down and turn without actually stopping, it’s illegal.

This is because if your light is red, it means someone else has a green light. It’s your job to figure out who that is and to yield to them first before you turn.

If you do turn without stopping, it will be an automatic fail because red means stop; so if you don’t, technically you are in violation of the law.

Yes, you may turn right on a red light if you stop first, and determine it is safe. But keep in mind, you do not have to turn right on a red light. It’s a red light, after all. Remember this is the reason why we have green lights and red lights in the first place! People with green lights can go. People with red lights have to let the people with the green lights go first.
Keep reading to learn more about how to pass your road test in British Columbia Canada

read more about how to park on a hill safely

How to Park on Hills.

Nervous Wreck on Your ICBC Road Test?

Avoid being too cautious. Some people do not pass their ICBC road test, British Columbia Canada because of this

Yes, you can fail for being overly cautious

Examiners want to see a confident and competent driver. They don’t want to see a bag of nerves. Driving 20 km/hr under the speed limit and slowing down for no reason at every intersection isn’t recommended. (Don’t worry. We’ve all been there).

Of course, people are nervous on road tests and examiners know this.

Just try not to be so nervous that you stop where you’re not supposed to. Or, drive way too slowly, or do strange things that you wouldn’t otherwise do.

Remember to breathe; this helps a lot.

Adjust Your Driving For The Conditions on Your ICBC Road Test, Road Test british columbia, alberta road test, Just As You Would in Real Life

Drive for conditions: Slow down in the snow, for example. Or any other time conditions are not ideal. (yes you could be failed for driving too fast for conditions).

You should always decide what the safe speed is based on conditions.

Show the examiner that you are an intelligent being capable of making appropriate decisions based on the conditions you encounter.

The same thing goes for strange situations that you were never taught about on your driving lessons.

If you don’t know what to do, think about it.

What would be the best, most safe, option?

Reacting Properly To Pedestrians on Your Driving Test

Pedestrian conflicts: Examiners want to see that you’re willing to help pedestrians, not fight with them over the available space.

This means if you aren’t sure if there’s enough time to go before a pedestrian, you should wait patiently. This is much better than the alternative of trying to race them, or cutting them off, or driving so close to them that you give them a heart attack.

You should stop for pedestrians in marked crosswalks and unmarked crosswalks (any intersection without white crosswalk lines).

Sometimes pedestrians are unpredictable and cross where they aren’t supposed to.

If you aren’t sure what to do, try to think of what the safest option is. Keep in mind you should be keeping track of what’s behind you. We don’t want any slamming on the brake if there’s a semi-truck following too closely.

Issues With Poorly-Behaved Pedestrians on Your ICBC Road Test

Pedestrian conflicts with jaywalking or illegally crossing pedestrians.

Say you’re turning left at a traffic light and you’re waiting in the intersection because there’s a lot of traffic. Then the light goes yellow. You start to turn, but you see there’s a pedestrian starting to walk across the road where he shouldn’t.

In this case, you should start to exit the intersection and honk at the pedestrian. ASK him to hurry up and get out of the way.

Student drivers often don’t know what to do in this situation. They may fail the road test for not dealing with it properly. Many will hesitate inside the intersection after the light has gone yellow and wait patiently for the pedestrian.

However, if the light is yellow/red by that point, that pedestrian has no right to be there. And while you can’t run him over, you should be starting to leave the intersection and alerting him.

Steering Wheel, Hands On The Wheel During Your ICBC Road Test

Steering issues: one hand on the wheel is not OK (not considered safe)

‘Hooking’ or ‘palming‘ the wheel are not okay (not considered safe)

Improper use of the steering wheel when turning.

How to Hold [and NOT hold] Your Steering Wheel

*Note: ICBC driver examiners do not care if you dry steer on the road test. However, if you do this habitually, your power steering components may wear prematurely. You may end up with costly repair bills.

(Perhaps they don’t care because you are using your vehicle, not theirs). Just my guess.

Dry Steering – Don’t Do It

Use hand over hand, or shuffle steering (either one is fine; the most important thing is that you are controlling the vehicle).

You must use two hands on the wheel at all times. The only exception being when you are reversing in a straight line:

how to reverse in a straight line – video

If you’re driving standard, put your hand back on the wheel once you’re done shifting gears. Literally. Every. Time.

I have received a lot of questions regarding if you can take your hand off for a moment to scratch something. LOL. Or, perhaps to move your hair out of your eyes. Good news –> YES, you are allowed to be human!

Observation Issues on Your ICBC Driving Test

Observation issues. Not noticing yellow lights, not noticing pedestrians, not noticing playground/school zones. Or not noticing turning restriction signs and turning against them (i.e. right turn on red light with turning restriction).

If you have these issues, you may need more practice/experience.

Turning Problems : Turning Wide, Cutting The Corner, Sloppy, etc. Nice Turns to Pass Your Driving Test in Canada

Improper turning. This comes from a lack of training or insufficient practice. Cutting corners on left turns or turning wide on right turns, or both.

Cutting Corners, Turning Wide, Proper Turning

Confused About Basic Rules of the Road?

Right of way confusion: not understanding which cars you have to wait for in different situations.

Some people do not pass their road test British Columbia Canada because of this foundational, but very important understanding.

More Details to think about on Your Road Test: Leaving a Parking Lot, Lane, Or Driveway

Did you know that you’re supposed to stop completely before exiting a parking lot, lane, & back alley; even if you can see nothing there? Simply stop and treat as you would any other stop sign

This may cover the part where you leave the parking lot at the beginning of the road test.

Emerging from a Lane, Driveway, or Parking Lot

Scanning With Your Eyes, Especially At Intersections on Your Road Test

Lack of Scanning. You should be doing a left to right scan of intersections before you go through them. Do it at all intersections including 4-way stops & approaching traffic circles. Especially important when you’re stopped at a red light and it changes to green.

Don’t just go through intersections without looking.

Don’t make the foolish assumption that stop signs can stop cars. Or that red lights can stop cars. Think about it.

Scanning : Make It Obvious for the Road Test Examiner

Make it obvious on the road test that you are doing a good scan.

Turn your head and take a good look in each direction.

Is it actually safe to go?

Don’t just use the corner of your eyes. From the examiner’s point of view, it might seem like you aren’t looking at all.

Driving Over Train Tracks

If you’re going past some train tracks, even if they don’t have any stop sign or lights, scan before proceeding.

There probably isn’t one coming, but if you fight with one you will lose.

how To Scan Intersections

Is Your Lane Change in Canada Legal? Are You Sure?

Illegal lane changing: it’s illegal to lane change over a solid white line and while it’s not technically illegal to
change Lanes In An Intersection…
it is definitely frowned upon if not dangerous.

Merging Onto The Freeway

Merging on the freeway. You’re allowed to speed up to the freeway speed limit when you are driving on the acceleration ramp. This is the ramp that leads onto the freeway.

When your car passes the sign that says “If your vehicle can not do 60 km/hr, stay off the freeway,” then that is considered the freeway ramp. This ramp does not actually have a speed limit. (Don’t get any ideas though)

Just make sure you aren’t speeding up too early while you’re still in the 50 km/hr zone.

Match the flow of the traffic but do not go faster than the speed limit.

In other words, don’t merge at 60 km/hr in a 90 zone unless you have a good reason. (This would be covered above where it says Do not drive like a Granny.)

Also, when you leave the freeway, generally you should not slow down while you’re still on it.

Wait until your vehicle is completely and positively off the freeway, and on the exit ramp, Before you slow down. This way, vehicles behind aren’t forced to slow down if they aren’t leaving. (We are Canadians… after all 😉

Technically, these exit ramps do not have a speed limit either. The yellow exit speed sign you see – since it’s a yellow sign – is a suggestion/recommendation. It’s a good idea to follow these. But, you don’t have to slam on the brakes. Slow down gradually.

***** You do not have to merge onto the highway/freeway if you have your “L” and going for your “N.” But you may (most likely) have to merge onto the freeway/highway if you are going for your Class 5 full license.*****

Dealing With Emergency Vehicles

Know how to deal with Emergency Vehicles properly

I have seen people fail road tests that would have otherwise been perfect because they panicked. They didn’t act accordingly when an emergency vehicle was approaching.

New drivers don’t have much experience with this and it is a strange skill to expect anyone to practice. Just be sure to read up on it as much as you can and be aware of your surroundings. Just do your best.

This might sound funny but an important part of it is simply noticing the emergency vehicle. If it’s obvious you’re oblivious, this is a problem.

the other part is acting the proper way.

Learn About It Here

Proper Left Turns at Traffic lights – Leaving the Intersection

Read this post on exiting the intersection on a left turn at traffic lights. Sure, don’t leave the intersection until it’s safe, but once it’s safe, don’t leave too slowly either:

Rant on Exiting Intersections on Yellow/Red

Shoulder Check Before Opening Your Door

You must shoulder check (left) before you open your door.

You are looking for pedestrians and cyclists – and anything else – of course!

Driving Backwards

Improper reversing skills

Looking the wrong way while reversing, lack of 360 degree check before reversing, unsafe reversing.

Reversing/Backing Basics

Parking On Hills

Make sure you know how to
Park on a Hill

Parallel Parking Skills

Make sure you know how to
Parallel Park

Reverse Stall Parking Skills

You should also know how to
Reverse Into a Parking Stall

Basics Skills for your Road Test in Canada: Know Your Hand Signals

Make sure you know your hand signals. The examiner will check and make sure you’re aware of how to do them.

Hand Signals

Defensive Driving

See this post on being defensive:
10 Commandments for Safe, Defensive Driving.

Search This Website

There is a LOT of info on this website. Use the SEARCH Function if you’re looking for something specific!

Practice Driving

Practice DRIVING – (duh?) If you’re having issues, get some lessons if you can.

Quality and Quantity of Practice

Don’t just drive to work/school/dance/soccer/whatever. It won’t help much memorizing a route and then going on autopilot, it is about learning the necessary skills so that you can drive anywhere, especially unfamiliar areas, with confidence and with ease.

One of the worst things you can do (aside from not practicing at all) is to drive the same roads all the time.

Go the long way home, challenge yourself, and get lost – it may be one of the best things you can do to improve your driving.

The Chances of Passing ICBC Road Test

*** About 50% of people who go for the Class 7 road test (“L” drivers hoping to pass the road test to get their “N”) actually pass the test.

Getting an assessment driving lesson from an experienced instructor at a reputable driving school before going is highly recommended.***

Examiners Do Not Trick You

Will the examiner try and trick you on the road test?

NO! They don’t.

What I mean is they are not going to ask you to drive the wrong way down a one-way street or to do something illegal or unsafe

Remember: It’s a TEST after all, so they are not going to help you either, and they shouldn’t have to

Their job is not to trick OR to help you, but to ASSESS your skills

Question: Can you fail your road test for not turning right on a red light?

No, you won’t fail for not turning right on a red light. It’s a red light, after all. It might be good to look around the intersection or to your left.

At least the examiner will know that you’re aware of the possibility, and not a completely clueless, knowledge-less driver.

Here’s some road test tips from ICBC for your driving test in British Columbia, Canada:

book a road test iCBC

To book your very exciting ICBC road test

Just click on this ICBC Road Test Booking link here. There, you will be able to book, reschedule, and cancel your appointment.

ICBC Road Test With ‘Check Engine Light’

Question: My Car Has Check Engine Light. Can I Still Take The Road Test?

Well, I don’t know, so I asked ICBC online. I would prefer a ‘Yes’ or ‘No’ answer, but I didn’t get it.

ICBC says: The check engine light may simply indicate that the vehicle is due for routine service rather than indicate an imminent breakdown.

For this reason, we do not automatically disqualify drivers from using a vehicle that is displaying the check engine light. However, you must be certain that your vehicle will not breakdown during the road test, and you will most likely be questioned about it by an examiner.

Did you know you can ‘Tweet’ ICBC and they’ll write back? Here’s what I got:

Q: How Can I Do The ICBC Road Test ASAP?

Question : What is the best way to take your road test as soon as possible? Is it more effective to call in to book your road test?

I have also heard that people go to a testing center early in the morning and if someone does not show up for their test, the person waiting can take the test in their appointment slot. Is this true?

Yes this was true, but I think with Covid it may not be the same. Standby appointments are not currently available due to Covid.

There are many reasons why a slot may become available (the vehicle might have a crack in the windshield or is unsafe, and then the test will not happen for that person… read this) or the person with the scheduled appointment may not be able to do the test for another reason.

You can also book your road test online.

I have heard a lot of people say they’ve had good luck with this if they check it often, a slot can potentially become available for the near future as it is always changing and being updated.

People change their mind or their plans a lot, leaving you a chance to swoop in.

Back-Up Camera During Road Test

Question: Can I use the back-up camera in my car during my road test?

Yes, yes you can use your back up camera for the driving test. An ICBC examiner says:

You can use a reverse camera, but as a tool – you can’t solely rely on it. We still want to see that you’re looking back when reversing.
ICBC Driver Examiner

ICBC FAQ Page (Frequently Asked Questions)

If You Fail Your Novice Driver’s Test in BC, What Will Happen?

Failing the ‘N’ Road Test

It’s not the end of the world. You just get your license back so that you can keep practicing and learning.

You won’t have your license taken away just for failing a road test. I believe you have to wait 2 weeks before being able to do the road test again.

*There may be different rules for seniors doing re-exams and for people with licenses from other countries.

Happy Road Testing :).

When you’re ready to Book your Road Test in British Columbia Canada you can hit up ICBC here.

Learn more here about Taking a British Columbia Road Test

Interview with a driver examiner – Tips to pass your road test