Can a Temporary ID Be Used for the Driving Test (Subject Three)?

[VanVivienne]

A temporary ID can be used for the Subject Three driving test. A temporary ID holds the same legal validity as a permanent ID and can be used as a formal ID within its 3-month validity period. Therefore, there is no issue with using a temporary ID for the Subject Three test. Subject Three, which includes the road driving skills test and the safety and civilized driving knowledge test, is part of the motor vehicle driver's license examination. It is commonly referred to as the road driving skills and safety and civilized driving knowledge test. The full score is 100, with a passing score of 90. A retake is allowed immediately if failed, and if the retake is also unsuccessful, a new appointment can be scheduled after 10 days. The road driving skills test for Subject Three includes: vehicle preparation, light simulation test, starting, driving straight, gear shifting, lane changing, pulling over, passing through intersections straight, turning left at intersections, turning right at intersections, crossing pedestrian crossings, passing school zones, passing bus stops, meeting oncoming vehicles, overtaking, making U-turns, and driving at night. Key points for the Subject Three test: Starting: Close the door, fasten the seatbelt, signal left, shift to 2nd gear, honk three times, check the left rearview mirror, slowly release the clutch while accelerating, and avoid rolling backward. Going straight at intersections: Speed should not exceed 30 or drop below 20; do not cross the yellow line. Bus stops: Speed should not exceed 30 or drop below 20; do not cross the yellow line. Turning right at intersections: Signal left 3 seconds in advance; speed should not exceed 30 or drop below 20; do not cross the line. Changing lanes: Signal left 3 seconds in advance; speed should not exceed 30 or drop below 20; do not cross the edge line. Overtaking: Signal left 3 seconds in advance; speed should not exceed 30 or drop below 20; do not cross the edge line. Turning left at intersections: Signal left 3 seconds in advance; speed should not exceed 30 or drop below 20; do not cross the line. Passing school zones: Speed should not exceed 30 or drop below 20; do not cross the line or honk. Driving straight: Shift to 5th gear when speed exceeds 40; speed must remain above 40; do not cross the line. Accelerating: Shift to 5th gear when speed exceeds 40; speed must remain above 40; do not cross the line. Making a U-turn: Choose a suitable spot, signal right to move to the far-right lane, stop, signal left, shift to 2nd gear, and perform a two-forward-one-reverse U-turn without rolling backward. Pulling over: Signal right for 3 seconds before pulling over; the right wheel must be within 30 cm of the roadside line, engage the parking brake, and shift to neutral. Subject Three scoring criteria: Immediate failure for the following: Not wearing a seatbelt as required; Blocking or turning off in-car audio/video monitoring devices; Not following the examiner's instructions; Rolling backward more than 30 cm when starting; Mismatched gear and speed for extended periods, causing engine RPM to be too high or low; Failing to shift gears twice in a row while driving; Coasting in neutral while driving; Not following traffic signals, signs, or markings; Not driving at the required speed; Driving over solid center lines or lane edge lines; Driving on lane dividers for more than 15 seconds; Changing two or more lanes consecutively; Parking in no-parking zones like crosswalks or grid lines; Missing the scheduled test time. 10-point deductions for the following: Rolling backward less than 30 cm when starting; Shifting to the wrong gear when starting or driving; Not using or misusing turn signals before starting, turning, changing lanes, overtaking, or parking; Turning less than 3 seconds after signaling; Stalling the engine once due to improper operation. Vehicle preparation: Failure to walk counterclockwise around the vehicle to inspect its condition and surroundings results in failure. Immediate failure for the following during starting: Insufficient brake pressure; Starting with the door not fully closed; Starting with the gearshift not in neutral; Starting without releasing the parking brake and not correcting it promptly. 10-point deductions for the following: Starting without releasing the parking brake but correcting it promptly; Not releasing the ignition switch promptly after starting the engine. Gear shifting: Failure to shift smoothly as instructed results in failure; Mismatched speed and gear incurs a 10-point deduction. Pulling over: Parking with the vehicle over the right edge line or crosswalk results in failure; Not closing the door after exiting the vehicle results in failure; Parking more than 30 cm from the right edge line or sidewalk incurs a 10-point deduction; Not engaging the parking brake after parking incurs a 10-point deduction; Releasing the brake pedal before engaging the parking brake incurs a 10-point deduction; Not turning off the engine before exiting the vehicle incurs a 5-point deduction. Going straight, turning left, or turning right at intersections: Failure to slow down or stop to observe as required results in failure. Passing crosswalks, school zones, or bus stops: Failure to slow down as required results in failure.

[ThomasMarie]

Recently while teaching at the driving school, I've often been asked whether a temporary ID card can be used for the Subject 3 test. This is actually a common question. A temporary ID card is completely valid within its expiration period and is accepted by testing centers. However, there are a few details to note: first, the photo side of the ID must be clear and undamaged; second, it's advisable to call the DMV a day in advance to confirm, as some older testing facilities might not be able to read the chip and may require manual processing. Additionally, I recommend making a photocopy as a backup—just in case the original gets damaged on the way. The key to passing Subject 3 is mastering the skills: don't make mistakes with the light operations, align properly within the 30cm line when parking, and most importantly, stay calm. With the right mindset, passing on the first try is entirely achievable.

[DiAbigail]

Last year when I took the driving test (Subject 3), my official ID card happened to be expired, so I used a temporary ID instead. The staff let me through without any hassle. A piece of advice: arrive at the test center half an hour early and keep your documents and appointment slip in a transparent folder to avoid last-minute panic. Remember that temporary IDs are only valid for three months, so your test date must fall within this period. Another tip: the test uniform has shallow pockets, so it's better not to stuff your ID in your pants pocket as it might fall out during the waiting period. The whole process went smoothly, and there were no issues when I later exchanged it for a formal driver's license.

[DeEmerson]

From a legal perspective, temporary ID cards hold the same legal validity. According to the Resident Identity Card Law, any temporary ID within its validity period can serve as proof of identity. The core process of the driving test (Subject 3) involves verifying identity information—as long as the name and photo on the temporary ID match the records in the driving exam system, it is acceptable. However, ensure the document shows no alterations or damage, as these may render it invalid. It's advisable to bring your original household registration booklet as supplementary proof on the exam day, though it likely won't be needed—just for peace of mind. The exam procedure itself is unaffected by the type of identification document used.