Can You Get a Driver's License Without Going to a Driving School?
3 Answers
You cannot get a driver's license without going to a driving school. Here are the specific details about obtaining a driver's license: 1. Definition: Obtaining a driver's license refers to the learning and examination process required to receive a driver's license. It is generally divided into three parts: written test, reverse parking, and on-road driving. 2. Exam Content: Road traffic safety laws, regulations, and rules; traffic signals and their meanings; safe driving and civilized driving knowledge; safe driving knowledge for highways, mountainous roads, bridges, tunnels, nighttime, adverse weather, and complex road conditions; emergency handling knowledge for situations like tire blowouts, steering failure, and brake failure; basic knowledge of vehicle structure, main safety devices, and routine inspection and maintenance; basic knowledge of self-rescue and first aid after traffic accidents, as well as common hazardous materials knowledge.
Back when I was learning to drive, I didn't go to a driving school because I thought the fees were too high. Nowadays, there's indeed a self-study direct exam policy where anyone over 18 can apply. You need to prepare your own modified vehicle, install an auxiliary brake and additional rearview mirrors, which is quite a hassle. The key is to find a friend with over 5 years of driving experience to act as your coach and take you to practice on designated routes. The most challenging part was practicing reverse parking for the second subject—I spent two weeks practicing in a stadium parking lot before I got the hang of it. You have to book your exam three months in advance and prepare a pile of documents, making multiple trips to the DMV. Looking back, although I saved money, it cost me a lot of time and effort, and self-practice can easily lead to developing bad driving habits. If you want to save trouble, I'd recommend going to a proper driving school—at least the instruction is systematic.
Recently, while helping my cousin research driving school options, I learned that the government actually opened up self-study and direct testing back in 2016. You can get a driver's license without going to a driving school, but I really don't recommend doing it this way. First, the car needs modifications - installing a secondary brake in a regular sedan costs two to three thousand yuan. Then you need a professional instructor accompanying you; if caught driving without a license on the road, you'll lose 12 points. Practice areas are restricted to designated routes, all located far from the city center. Even more frustrating is scheduling the exam - self-study candidates are always placed at the back of the queue. My cousin ended up enrolling in a driving school after all. Though more expensive, he got his license in just two months. Going the self-study route might end up costing more than attending a driving school when you factor in all the expenses.
