Am I screwed?

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I'm currently living in California and went to the DMV to get my state license. I already have my drivers license but not in the state of California. They made me take a written test that made absolutely no sense to me. Any of the answers were possible for any of the questions. I have no problem driving. I explained to the person at the counter that I didn't understand the written test but that I'd be happy to take the road test. She told me I need to pass the written test and again I told her it made no sense. Things began to escalate and I started going off about how the test was catered to people who didn't think like I did.

Three weeks later I get a threatening letter in the mail saying I'm going to have my drivers license suspended if a doctor can't vouch for me being able to drive. This is unbelievable. All I wanted was to take a test that my brain understood. I felt that they were being extremely dismissive of me and when I told them I had Asperger's and that those sorts of tests didn't make sense to me they accused me of all sorts of crap. What in the world do I do?

I highly doubt Aspergers will make you unable to do something like drive. Unless you have something along with it, like any physical deformities.

How did you get your previous license? Was there no written test?

Many people with Asperger's can't drive because of a difficulty in managing sensory input. You have to juggle a lot of things at once. As for the written test, i don't know if it's different from the one I took eons ago but I do know that sometimes I have a problem seeing too many possible answers to a question.

I have AS. I've taken the California written test. I passed it without studying (I've never driven a car before and I didn't grow up in America). I'm thinking that perhaps you let yourself get overly stressed about it and that made it seem more difficult than it actually is?

I didn't have any problems with the written test in my state. Maybe CA's is different, but regardless, I have taken many tests with questions/multiple answers that didn't make sense to me. Wasn't until I was in college that I found most instructors, when the ambiguity was pointed out, not only gave me credit for previously incorrect answers, but extra points for bringing the questions to their attention. I doubt though, you'll get that kind of reception at ANY DMV.

Here's what I would suggest:

Find someone, anyone who has already passed the test (preferably someone who knows you fairly well if you can, but at least someone who is understanding). Get the state driving manual and go through the questions with them. I doubt there are that many. Talk to them about why you think other answers could apply, and see if the can't explain to you why they don't.

It's basically a game of "figure out what the NT's want." Don't worry about whether any of it makes sense. Just see if you can memorize what they are looking for, and you'll probably do just fine.

Get the driver's manual- available at the DMV or on their website- and study for the test. This is just like any test in school and you can study for it if you have the proper written materials.

Get the driver's manual- available at the DMV or on their website- and study for the test. This is just like any test in school and you can study for it if you have the proper written materials.

edited to add: I just looked at California's DMV website: the driver's handbook is available online. Study it and re-take the test.

California is pretty much anal about requiring written tests, even on renewing a driver's license or getting one within the state since you've moved there. I absolutely hated it but I passed it barely in 2002. It's amazing at how many people are driving in California even with these tests. It's like they cheated on them or never took it while the rest of us have to take it instead.

That is annoying. People are foolish.

As obnoxious as it sounds, can you get a doctor to vouche for you? You shouldn't need to do that in the first place, but it might be easier than dealing with the people at the DMV.

Also, I understand this kind of misses the point, but if you had earplugs and/or a secluded room do you think the extra focus would allow you to pass the test?

I don't think you are screwed.

It serves the state no purpose to create a driving test to confuse people - they're just interested in minimizing the danger of having average humans zipping about in fast-moving mechanical death machines in public places. These tests are usually written in such a way that even those with fairly low IQs can understand them. There might be a question or two that's worded in a tricky way, but ultimately there's only one correct answer and if you know that answer, you shouldn't have that big a problem, unless you're taking strong meds that affect your cognitive processes.

I'd recommend studying intensively and trying again. The laws can vary a bit from state to state and that may have contributed to your confusion. If you've got an out-of-state license already, then you know for a fact there are people out there driving around every day who are more than a few fries shy of a Happy Meal, and they passed the written driving test, so surely you can, too (you've done it before). Chalk it up to an off day, study the manual and take another run at it.

I failed my states written test 3 times because it made no sense as well. I studied for days then went to go do it and I would read a question, look at the answers and more than one answer seemed right. Needless to say I finally passed after disappointing my parents for failing it. Then again this is kind of the reason it's taken me 4 years to get a driver's license, aside from the crazy amounts of stress from driving an automobile.

Actually, I just took the CA written test and got 1 answer wrong, but I've taken it before, gotten half the answers wrong, and the woman at the DMV said, "Weeelll (she had to think for a while), I guess I'll pass you", so they do have some leeway. What I would do is take home the manual and just study it very, very well so the choices are less confusing (that's what I did this time, and it worked). I'm not sure what sort of thinker you are, but the choices they give you can be very confusing if you just show up without any sort of preparation.

I think it's likely that the person at the DMV took that you didn't understand the written test as an indication that you were a bit deficit in your mental capacity, and they want a doctor to evaluate you to prove you do not have some form of dementia or psychiatric issues that would make you a danger to others on the road.

The Calfornia DMV will make certain accommodations for disabilities, learning and otherwise, though I'm not sure how you set this up.

The written test can be taken orally, for example.

However you seem to express difficulty with the multiple choice answers to the questions. Yes, hypothetically they could all be possible, however only one of the answers is correct. The correct answers can be found in the California DMV handbook.

You should read the handbook. There are also online practice tests you can find which will be similar to those given by the DMV.

I think it's likely that the person at the DMV took that you didn't understand the written test as an indication that you were a bit deficit in your mental capacity, and they want a doctor to evaluate you to prove you do not have some form of dementia or psychiatric issues that would make you a danger to others on the road.

The Calfornia DMV will make certain accommodations for disabilities, learning and otherwise, though I'm not sure how you set this up.

The written test can be taken orally, for example.

However you seem to express difficulty with the multiple choice answers to the questions. Yes, hypothetically they could all be possible, however only one of the answers is correct. The correct answers can be found in the California DMV handbook.

You should read the handbook. There are also online practice tests you can find which will be similar to those given by the DMV.

Some states require new residents to take a written test in their state prior to issuing a new resident a drivers license. New Hampshire did not require it but Minnesota did. In fact, I passed the written test with flying colors without even looking at the manual, getting only one question wrong (the distance to lower from high beams to low beams is longer in MN than it is in NY).

They doctor thing is probably because you had a meltdown in front of a state employee and they reported it. I heard of that happening to an aspie here in Minnesota because she had a meltdown when she was pulled over once.