How to Pass the Automated Driving License Test in Delhi

Hi everyone! I recently crossed a big personal milestone by finally earning my driving license at age 36! And I did it while being six months pregnant 🧿🧿🧿 I’ve learnt driving three times before this but never went past the learner’s license phase. So, believe me when I say, achieving this milestone seemed an impossible dream. Even this time, I failed three attempts at Delhi’s new automated driving license testing facility before finally passing. But in the process, I learnt a lot, so I’m here to tell you how to pass the automated driving license test in Delhi.

Without these tips and tricks, you also may fail as this difficult and completely automated test has a 90% fail rate! Read on to know how to pass the automated driving license test in Delhi:

If Possible, Learn on an Automatic Car

The major deterrent for me when I learnt driving the first three times (at age 18, in my 20s, and then at 30) was driving a stick-shift or manual car. There are lots of things happening on the road all at once, and when you are driving, your attention has to be on all of them. If you are also changing gears on top of that, it just feels so overwhelming! So, this time, when I decided to learn, I knew it would have to be in an automatic car.

Apart from the fact that an automatic car is much easier to drive, it also helps you pass the automated driving license test in Delhi. This is because the test route is much easier to navigate in an automatic car. I’ll share why this is the case in points below.

I understand that automatic cars are more expensive and hence not within everyone’s reach. So, here’s what I recommend: learn on your own car if it’s manual but borrow an automatic car from someone simply for the purpose of passing the test.

The Smaller the Car, the Better Your Chances of Passing

The test routes in the automated driving license test in Delhi’s RTOs are all very narrow. So, your chances of failing the test increase if you attempt it in a medium-sized or large car. According to the rules, if you touch the sidewalk of the test route at any point, you will automatically fail. Hence, no matter what car you actually drive, borrow a smaller one from someone else for the test!

Whoever you Learn Driving From, Always Take ‘How to Pass the Test’ Lessons from a Driving School for at least 1-2 weeks

The first time I attempted to learn how to drive, I did it at a driving school that brings its own car to your doorstep. The lessons didn’t last very long. The next two times I joined the Maruti IDTR Driving School which teaches lessons right next to the automated driving license test track in Sarai Kale Khan, Delhi. The first time I stopped attending classes because the teacher yelled at me. The second time, I completed the course but just got too lazy to practice driving and get my license after I left.

This time, determined to overcome my fear, I called my father, and he actually taught me how to drive on his own automatic car in a very gentle and patient manner over a period of months. So, I can understand if you would rather learn from a particular family member or friend instead of joining a school.

However, it’s extremely important that you take lessons from a proper instructor on how to pass the automated driving license test in Delhi , after you have learnt driving, because they are the ones who will teach you the tips you need. Their focus is on teaching you the tasks for the test. I called Verma Motor Driving School, and their teacher taught me on my own i20 automatic car. The number is 9911311353.

Study the 5 Tests Well and Practice Each Step Multiple Times

Depending on where you choose to take the test, you will have to clear either 4 or 5 tests. Each one has to be completed within the allotted time window and without touching the pavement (a tough task considering the narrow roads). Your driving teacher will tell you about all the tests beforehand and prepare you for them.

Choose Your Testing Centre Wisely!

This is an extremely important point. I gave the test three times at Sarai Kale Khan simply because this centre is closest to where I live. After failing all three times due to the narrowness of the roads, I finally switched to a different centre – Dwarka Sector 22. I was amazed to see that the test track roads here were much wider! And so, it was much easier to pass the test. I’m not sure about the other test centres, but I feel you should certainly avoid Sarai Kale Khan!

Book a Slot to Practice on a Testing Centre Route for a Minimal Fee

I didn’t actually do this, but in hindsight I feel I should have. As soon as you enrol for your test slot, your number gets picked up by a practice driving facility. All you have to do is pay a minimal fee of Rs 500 and you can practice on their test track. This facility is also located in Dwarka, and I avoided it because it’s so far from me. However, I think I could’ve saved myself some time and a lot of frustration of failing the first three tests if I had practiced on the test track first. Here’s the number: 8860599333 (JAGJEET SINGH).

Check All Your Documents Multiple Times

At the end of the day, this automated driving license test takes place at a government facility. Which means there is a lot of paperwork involved, and they won’t accept any digital documents. Print everything relevant to your testing application and double check that you have everything – a copy of the appointment for the test, payment receipt, your Form 1 and Form 2, Learner’s License and depending on the centre, a copy of your car’s pollution certificate (Sarai Kale Khan) and / or your Aadhaar Card. I forgot to carry a couple of documents once and had to run around to get them printed – a huge waste of time and energy!

How to Clear the Reverse S

Now let’s come to the actual steps of the automated driving license test in Delhi. The first step (and the one with the highest fail rate!) is a reverse-S. You basically have to drive in reverse along a winding path, and you need to do it within a time frame of three minutes without touching the pavement. You are allowed to move forward twice but if you move more than that, you fail. I saw lots of people failing this miserably simply because they were unable to reverse in the correct direction and then change that direction.

Here’s my trick: In an automatic car, you have a screen which shows the position of your car relative to the direction you are trying to navigate. While reversing, all you have to do is look at your screen and make sure the lines that signify your car (yellow ones in this case) are running parallel to the pavement on the left and then on the right or vice versa depending on how the road curves. As long as you stay parallel to the pavement, you will not hit anything.

How to Clear the Forward 8

This is a particularly easy test because you just have to drive in two circles and give indicators while doing so. However, I failed this the first time because I didn’t estimate the space required to turn into the narrow circle and ended up touching the pavement. Estimate the amount of space you have before you turn and move cautiously. You are given two minutes to complete this task, so I advise you to drive slowly and steadily but also not to tarry or wait too long!

How to Clear Parallel Parking

This was certainly the toughest test for me. In this test you have to reverse parallel park your car into a box-shaped enclosure within two minutes. Your car can’t be outside the lines and you can’t touch the pavements. The method I was taught for a reverse parallel park is to first turn my steering wheel completely to the left and reverse it till the point that my car’s placement (yellow line) is parallel to the pavement. At this point, I’m supposed to turn my wheel completely to the right and reverse and my car will enter the correct spot automatically. However, this strategy didn’t take the narrowness of the test roads into account and made me fail this test twice.

So, here’s the crucial difference. The first step is correct but when your car’s placement is parallel to the pavement and you start turning your wheel to the right, don’t turn it completely. Turn it only about halfway or slightly more than halfway and you will be able to slide into the correct spot.

Again, be mindful that the timing is limited. As soon you have parked your car, immediately switch to drive gear and move on to the next task.

How to Clear the Uphill Drive

This task is super easy in comparison to the others, especially if you have an automatic vehicle. Most automatic vehicles come with an uphill brake built into the system. For this task, you have to stop at a red light on an incline, and then move forward immediately when it turns green. The test is to see if you lose control of your car on the incline and let it slide back. If it slides more than 12 inches, you fail the test. However, when the car is automatic, it doesn’t slide back at all, so this particular test is a breeze.

On the Day of the Test, Listen to Instructions Carefully

At the testing centre, things are still done in an old school manner. Once you arrive on the date of your appointment, your documents are checked and then you are told to wait before being given a tour of the test track where one instructor explains the rules to you. Listen to these rules very carefully because they are different at every test track.

For example, at Sarai Kale Khan, we didn’t have to give indicators at any point of the test but in Dwarka, indicators were important throughout. So, listen to instructions carefully!

Be Mindful of Your Timing

I have reiterated this many times above, but timing is of the essence if you want to pass the automated driving license test in Delhi. Be slow and patient because going too fast or being too nervous may make you mess up, but also don’t be too slow or else you will fail!

Other Things to Keep in Mind:

Here are some other basic things you must keep in mind if you are planning to give this test.

• Your Learner’s License must be valid for at least a month before you can book a test slot.
• You get three shots to pass the test with one Learner’s License. If you fail all three, you have to get a new Learner’s License before trying again.
• If you fail once, you can book the next test slot after seven days.
• Don’t be nervous and don’t take failure to heart! Keep trying till you crack it!

I recently read somewhere that only 6% of driving license holders in India are women – what an appallingly low statistic if it’s true! Now that I have overcome my fear and earned my license, I can tell you that the sense of freedom it brings is truly amazing. So, if you have been considering it but never got around to it, now is the time to do so. If I can do it, you can definitely do it too!

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This blog post is part of the blog challenge ‘Blogaberry Dazzle’  hosted by Cindy D’Silva and Noor Anand Chawla in collaboration with Zariya Healings.

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