Indiana BMV road test: what to expect

What the examiner checks

• Proper lane use, lane markings and signaling
• Following distance
• Reacting to being passed
• Speed control
• Defensive driving habits
• Following instructions and traffic flow
• Approaching intersections and complete stops
• Reversing and backing out of a parking space
• Parking

How it's scored

Standardized evaluation form. Point-deducting errors include failing to use the defroster or wipers, not having both hands on the wheel, wrong gear, failing to signal, driving too slowly, overrunning a stop line or crosswalk, not checking blind spots, reversing too fast, and leaving the signal on.

Mistakes that end the test

• Disobeying a yield, stop, school zone or no-turn-on-red sign
• Disobeying a traffic signal
• Backing over a curb
• Driving into a parked vehicle
• Failure to follow instructions
• Failure to use a seat belt
• Failure to react to hazardous conditions
• Speeding
• Driving too fast for conditions
• Turning into or using the wrong lane
• Passing in a no-passing zone or crossing a solid yellow line
• Driving left of center
• Straddling marked lanes
• Driving too close to pedestrians or bicycles
• Failure to stop for emergency vehicles or school buses
• Causing an accident
• Failure to yield the right of way
• Failure to obey railroad crossing laws

Your car

• Must be registered, insured to state minimums, legally equipped, safe and clean
• May be rejected for unsafe tires, missing bumper, broken glass/mirrors, inoperative door
• Interior cameras and driver-assistance technology must be deactivated (backup cameras excepted)

After you pass

Drivers under 21 (licenses issued under 21 are probationary and valid until 21 years and 30 days; renew after 21 years and one day for an unrestricted license) get a provisional or junior license first. Its restrictions:

• First 180 days: no passengers unless a licensed person 25 or older, a licensed spouse 21 or older, or a driver training instructor is in the front seat (child, stepchild, sibling, step/half-sibling or spouse allowed without an accompanying adult)
• First 180 days: no driving between 10 p.m. and 5 a.m.
• After 180 days and under 18: no driving Sunday-Thursday after 11 p.m., Monday-Friday before 5 a.m., or Saturday and Sunday between 1 a.m. and 5 a.m., except for work, school-sanctioned activities, religious events, or with a licensed person 25+ (or spouse 21+)
• No telecommunications device use except hands-free or 911 (all drivers)
• Driving privileges of a juvenile are suspended for school expulsion, a second suspension in a school year, habitual truancy or withdrawal from school

How to prepare

• Practise in the car you'll take the test in, including parking and backing up.
• Drive the kinds of roads near the test site with your supervising driver: intersections, lane changes, school zones.
• Check the car the day before: lights, signals, horn, brakes, mirrors, tires, seat belts, and current registration and insurance documents.
• On the day, signal every turn and lane change, check mirrors and blind spots visibly, and come to full stops behind the line.