CHECKLIST
Once you have mastered the following, you are ready for the oral part of the practical driving test.
Brakes
- The brake pedal must not be able to be pressed all the way down when the pedal is pressed quickly and hard.
- The brake pedal must not sink while being held down at constant pressure.
- The brake fluid level must be between the min. and max. marks.
- Checking the vacuum booster (brake booster)
The engine must be off.
Depress the brake pedal 3-5 times until the brake pedal feels hard.
Hold the brake pedal down and start the engine. In response, the pedal should sink a little.
NOTE: (We cannot test this in our car, as our car has an electric brake booster and it performs a self-check at regular intervals)
Steering
- In new cars there should normally be no play in the steering wheel. This is checked by having the wheels immediately follow the movements of the steering wheel (in cars with power steering the check is carried out with the engine running).
- The steering system must operate easily, safely and quickly.
- There should normally be no play in the steering wheel. This means that the wheels should immediately follow the movement of the steering wheel.
In cars with power steering, the check is carried out with the engine started. The vast majority of cars HAVE power steering. Move the steering wheel slightly from side to side and see if the wheels follow the movements of the steering wheel. - The fluid level in the power steering reservoir must follow the car manufacturer's instructions. This is checked either by checking that the fluid level is between the min. and max. marks or by checking that the indicator light is not on.
NOTE: (Our car does not have a power steering reservoir as it has electric power steering)
Lights, reflectors and horns
- All lights and reflectors must be intact (undamaged) and clean (not covered by snow, ice, mud or other dirt), and all lights must be able to light (the bulb must not be blown).
- The dipped beam: There must be 2 lights, must be white or yellowish, and must not dazzle and must not fall 1 cm per meter.
This is checked by standing in front of the car with the dipped beam on, marking the incidence of light with a finger and stepping back approx. 1 meter. Here it should have a fall of approx. 1 cm. - High beam: There must be 2 lights, must shine white or yellowish
- Taillights: There must be 2 lights, must be red
- Stop lights/brake lights: There must be 3 lights (2 on older cars), must be red, and must be significantly/3-4x brighter than the tail lights
- The turn signals: There must be 6 lights, and must flash with yellow light that is clearly visible in sunlight.
- The hazard warning flasher must be able to turn on all turn signals simultaneously.
- The position light: There must be 2 lights, must shine white or yellowish, and must not dazzle.
- License plate lights: At least 1 light must have white light that must be able to illuminate the rear license plate so that it can be read from 20 m. distance.
- Lights in pairs of lights must have the same color and brightness.
- The horn must have a clear and constant tone.
Engine and exhaust system
- The engine must not produce unnecessary smoke and noise.
- The engine must not be contaminated by leaking oil.
- Engine oil must be filled in sufficient quantity, read on the dipstick's max. and min. marks or according to the instructions in the instruction manual.
- Coolant must be filled in a sufficient quantity according to the instructions in the instruction manual.
- Windshield washer fluid must be filled in a sufficient amount (enough for the trip)
- The exhaust system must be tight and secure. Load-bearing parts
Tires, Rims and Shock Absorbers
- Tires, wheel rims and wheel bearings must be undamaged.
- The tires must be of the same type on all four wheels.
- All tyres must have a minimum of 1.6mm of tread depth in the main tread.
If you are asked to check if there is sufficient tread on the tyres, look for an arrow, manufacturer symbol or the letters TWI (Tread Wear Indicator) as this will show you where you can find a tread wear indicator that is exactly 1.6mm high. Check that the tread is deeper than the tread wear indicator (a small rubber nub between the sipes (grooves)). - There must be correct tire pressure in all wheels. In the car's instruction manual, you can find out how high the pressure should be. You should check the pressure regularly.
- If the tires are directional, they should all run in the direction of the arrow. The arrow is on the outside of all tires. If they are non-directional, there is no arrow.
- Studded tires may be used from November 1st to April 15th.
- Shock absorbers must be effective at all wheels, judged by the fact that the car immediately comes to rest after a strong impact on the shock absorbers. There are shock absorbers at all wheels.
Picture of the engine compartment of our car (Mazda CX-30)
NOTE: (Our car does NOT have a power steering reservoir as it has electric power steering)
Driving technical questions – get a handle on the driving test
On this page we have compiled a checklist that will prepare you for the technical part of the driving test. Once you have mastered the driving technical questions, you have a good starting point for the oral part of the practical test, where a driving expert is guaranteed to test your technical knowledge.
Driver's license checklist – Brakes and steering
If the driving expert asks about brakes or steering, remember the following:
The brake pedal must not be able to be pressed all the way down when pressed hard and quickly and must not sink when pressed constantly.
When checking the brake fluid, the level should be between the min. and max. marks.
If the driving expert asks you to check the manual brake booster, press the brake pedal 3-5 times until it feels hard. Then hold the pedal down while you start the engine. If the booster is working, the pedal will sink a little.
In newer cars, there must be no play in the steering wheel. This means that the wheels must immediately follow the movements of the steering wheel. If you are taking a driving test in a power-steering car, the check is carried out with the engine running. The steering must operate easily, safely and quickly, so that you can always maintain control of the car.
Most cars have power steering. The fluid level in the power steering reservoir must be between the min. and max. marks so that the fluid level follows the car manufacturer's specifications.
Checklist for driving test – Lights, reflectors and horns
Lights and reflectors must be visible. This means that there must be no damage to the lights and reflectors, and they must be kept clean. The lights must of course be able to light. If the bulb is blown, it must be replaced immediately.
Low beam: Two lights with white or yellowish light. Must not dazzle and must fall 1 cm. per meter.
High beam: Two lights that glow white or yellowish.
Taillights: Two lights with red light.
Brake lights: On newer cars there are three lights, while older models may have two. The light should be red and 3-4x brighter than the tail lights. When you activate the hazard warning lights, all turn signals should start at the same time.
Position lights: Two lights with white or yellowish light. The light must not be dazzling.
License plate light: At least a single light that illuminates the license plate so that it can be read at a distance of up to 20 meters.
What is common to car lights is that the light must match in color.
Horn: The tone should be clear and constant.
Technical Questions – Engine, exhaust, tires, rims and shock absorbers
The engine must not produce unnecessary smoke or noise and must not be contaminated by leaking oil.
If you are asked to check that the engine oil level is satisfactory, make sure that the gauge is between the min. and max. marks unless other instructions are given in the owner's manual. The same applies to coolant and washer fluid. The owner's manual must be followed here.
The exhaust system must not be loose or leaking.
Tires, rims and wheel bearings must be free of obvious damage, and the same type of tire must be used on all four wheels.
The main tread of the tyres must have a minimum depth of 1.6mm. If your driving instructor asks you to check this, you should use the wear indicator which can be found by looking for an arrow, the manufacturer symbol or the letters TWI on the tyre. The indicator is a small rubber nub.
The tire pressure must meet the manufacturer's specifications. You can find these in the owner's manual. The tire pressure must be checked regularly.
If you are driving on directional tires, all tires must run in the direction of the arrow. You will find the arrow on the outside of the tire unless the tires are non-directional. In those cases, there is no arrow.
Studded tires, which provide better grip on slippery roads, may be used during the period: November 1 – April 15.
All four wheels have shock absorbers, and the shock absorbers must of course be effective. This is checked by the car coming to a standstill immediately after a strong impact on the shock absorbers.
We recommend that you read the list before your practical driving test. If you have this information at hand, as well as the practical aspects, you will have a good starting point for passing the test.
