Get me a license, quick!

March 21, 2007 7:05 PM

What's the best location for a driving test in New York? Does anyone have any experience at the Wantagh location?

I've got a bit of a problem:

I need to schedule a driving test in New York State on or before April 16th. I'd have scheduled it earlier, but I just received the required 5 hr course certificate.

Also: with Passover coming up, my regular restrictions on Saturdays are expanded to include April 2,3,4,9&10.

Currently the only thing I found available is the Wantagh location, and I've booked it. Is it an 'easy' site?

Apparently the Staten Island sites are easy, but they're not available within my limited timeframes.

So, just general reviews of NYS driving test locations, along with specifically the Wantagh location, and with a preference to relative closeness to the 5 boroughs.

Thanks!

posted by mhz to Travel & Transportation (7 answers total)

I got mine in the Bronx about 6 years ago.

Bronx Office Licensing Center - NYSDMV
1350 Commerce Avenue
Bronx NY 10461
License tests 8:30 to 3:30
1-718-966-6155

As for ease, it was residential streets on a weekday, so there wasn't much other vehicle traffic. One stop sign, one K-turn, one right-side parallel park. I did have to drive under the elevated train tracks (lots of poles), but my instructor had taken me to similar areas during our lessons, so I was familiar with navigating that kind of thing.
posted by xo at 7:20 PM on March 21, 2007

My only advice is to avoid Red Hook--I don't know a single person who passed on their first try there. Most of my friends went to the Bronx.
posted by cosmic osmo at 8:45 PM on March 21, 2007

I have no standard for comparison, but Wantagh seemed pretty straightforward to me.
posted by sappidus at 9:23 PM on March 21, 2007

I know a little more about road tests sites on Long Island than I wish I did, but:

Hicksville: Avoid.
Garden City: I heard pretty good things about it, but had no luck there.
Freeport: I passed here. Pretty simple; I was helped by the fact that my parallel park was on snow, and didn't have to do as great a job as I might have in nicer weather.

I don't know anything about Wantagh.
posted by phaded at 9:31 PM on March 21, 2007

I'm in the exact same situation as you (needing an immediate license, needing to avoid Passover-scheduling, and all). My instructor said to avoid Yonkers at all costs, and to do it in the Bronx - (I've forgotten the name of the neighborhood she used for it).

She just took me on a 'dry run' near the course -- she couldn't take me on the course itself because it's apparently illegal for her to do so, so she said she'd only do it with me on a Sunday. Let me know if you want a referral - she's quite good.
posted by prophetsearcher at 4:58 AM on March 22, 2007

I work right around Wantagh, and am pretty familiar with the area. And double-checking checking Google Maps, it looks fairly straight-forward. Sunrise Highway might be a bit of a bother (multiple lanes, including "suicide lanes"), but not too bad.

Back when I took my test (in the pre-cambrian era), it was in Huntington. That was pretty easy. Is Huntington available? I'd vote for that over Wantagh.

Anyone for a Long Island meetup after mhz's test?
posted by ObscureReferenceMan at 9:40 AM on March 22, 2007

Thanks, all. Unfortunately, it is impossible to even see the available appointments until you cancel your current one, and I'm not willing to risk missing what may be my only chance beofre the 16th.
posted by mhz at 9:23 PM on March 29, 2007