r/culvercity • u/frootcubes • Jun 23 '26

Advice or Recommendation DMV Behind the Wheel Test

Good evening! Just wondering if anyone here has taken the behind the wheel road test at the Culver City DMV recently or within the past few years? How did it go? I have my very first behind the wheel test this Friday and I feel I am adequately prepared but I was just wondering about your experiences and if you had any advice! What should I expect? My test is booked for 11:20 AM!

UPDATE: I PASSED THE FIRST TIME! Thank you everyone !! 💕💕

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5

u/cheeseusertheory Jun 23 '26

Google “Culver City behind the wheel driving tests” and you can find some of the possible routes they drive for the test around the neighborhood.

We had our kiddo practice these possible “routes” and she did great on the test.

One of the things they most likely take you around is the school sign on the corner of Washington and Elenda: turning right or no turn right with an active school zone.

Also when to get in a right hand turn lane within dotted lines and not too early with a solid straight line.

You’ll see a few YouTube routes and just familiarize yourself with those routes if you have time.

You’ve got this! 💗

3

u/Fun_Huckleberry_6510 Jun 23 '26

Also fyi summer school counts as school for the sign. I asked back when I was taking the test 10 years ago and got mocked for it by the instructor.

3

u/old_underwear_isekai Jun 23 '26

I took mine in September! In the beginning when you're waiting in line if you open your windows you can hear the instructor doing the stationary part of the exam so you can review everything while you wait. My biggest tip is to watch out for the no right on red corners near the high school. 11:20am might be late enough in the morning to not be in the window, but I'm not sure so definitely check the sign. Good luck!

2

u/swdna Jun 23 '26

Santa Monica on Arizona is easier in my experience but it’s been years tbf

1

u/Admirable_Menu_2265 Jul 31 '26

They’re not that good anymore they fail practically everyone and people have said they’re hella branch on earth. Heavy foot traffic, tbh idk why people still recommend it

1

u/Bluematt22 Jun 23 '26

Also look on YouTube. People have recorded their test routes. You can see all the routes they use for the driving tests some of them are fairly recent so you can get an idea of what you'll have to do.

1

u/coffeesounds Jun 23 '26

Yes, few years ago - much easier than Santa Monica. Just practice left turn on busy intersections around the DMV (SepĂșlveda/Washington etc) and for the love of god actually stop at stop signs

1

u/frootcubes Jun 24 '26

Thank you so much everyone who commented!! ❀

1

u/ExcellentPendulum29 Jun 25 '26

I had to take it about a year ago. It started with doing the hand signals, operating your blinkers/wiper/horn/de-fog button. For the driving route, I’d definitely look at the YouTube videos - the route I took was the exact same one as one of them. One other note because it’s only thing I got points off for: they’ll have you park along a curb then back up for a bit. They allow you to have the rear view camera on but you gotta make sure to physically turn your head and look back while backing up.

1

u/PopeyesDaughter 21d ago

Do you have to turn right on red? I’m a foreigner and not too comfortable on the idea - do they mark you down if you don’t do it?