When it comes to staying on top of the latest advances in the IT field, the DHSMV in Florida is right there ahead of the whole country. To this day, Florida is the only state where you can take a learner's permit test online, without even leaving your house. All you have to do is log into one of the approved websites, punch in your information and you can take the test right away! The DMV will have your results instantly, so all you have to do now is just visit a local DMV office, have your picture taken and pick up your permit.
It sounds great, doesn't it? Well, if it's so good and convenient, why don't other states utilize the same testing procedure, wouldn't it make life easier for both the license applicants and the DMV employees? We tried to look at all cons and pros of the system that currently allows lucky teens in Florida to take their permit test online.
Great Things About Online Permit Testing
Convenience, convenience and convenience again. This is the main reason why anyone would pay for taking the permit test online. The test is available to you any time, any day, which makes it very easy to fit this activity into one's schedule. Previously, teens had to coordinate their schedule with that of their parents and then make sure to find time during the DMV business hours to take the exam. You have to wait in line, since testing is provided on the walk-in basis and there may be quite a few people taking the exam before you.
Taking the Florida permit test online solves these problems. All you have to do is just log into one of the websites that provide such services, pay the fee and take the test. No hassle there.
Stress free environment. Let's face it, many of us perform worse under pressure. The permit test is no exception, people just freak out when they have to take the exam at the DMV, at one of those booths or stands. It's simply an usual environment and you may not be able to concentrate in this environment as well as you do at home. When you are taking your learners test online, this problem does not exist.
Practice before taking the permit test online. Most of the companies that provide the online permit test will also offer you Florida permit practice tests that will help you prepare for the real exam before you take it. Make sure to take advantage of this extra help, since it comes free anyway, you would be a fool not to practice before you take the real thing.
Any Cons of Taking The Permit Test Online?
If everything is so great, the system works, why don't we just let everyone take their permit exams online? Well, there is a number of concerns about testing people's knowledge of driving rules online and some of them prevent other states from adopting the same testing procedure.
Cheating. It's no surprise that people cheat. I know it, you know it, we all know it. While there are many great people out there, quite a few of us are prone to “cutting corners” and “using supplemental study aids”. Cheating on a maths test at school is one thing, however here we are talking about allowing people to get behind the wheel of a 3000-pound vehicle that is capable of maiming or killing people, so allowing people to cheat on the permit exam is definitely not acceptable. If we are to allow people to take the permit test online, we have to make sure it's really them who are taking the test and that they do not cheat.
The way the system works now is that the test is offered as a “parent-supervised” exam. The test taker must be supervised by one of the parents and they have to ensure that there is no foul play. This is why the test can only be taken by those who are under 18 years of age, since when you turn 18, you become an adult from the legal point of view and your parent cannot supervise you taking the exam online anymore.
Most states argue that this supervision is insufficient, since some parents may also try to help the student during the test, which is not allowed by law. Clearly, additional anti-cheating mechanisms need to be devised.
Money. Online permit testing cost additional money. The price of the test will depend on the company you choose to take the exam, but it is usually around $30 for the original test and then another $20-25 for each retake, in case you fail the original test. If you take your permit test at one of the Florida DMV offices, you will have to pay only the license application fee that already includes the amount for the original exam and then $10 for a retake, should you need one. You really pay for convenience when you choose to take the permit exam online, if you are looking to save a few bucks, you should take the test at a local DMV facility.
Personal data. Before you take the test, you will be required to provide a lot of information about yourself, including your social security number. If you do not have a social security number, you will not be able to take the permit exam on the Internet and will have to do it at the DMV. When you are providing so much information about yourself to a website, you really have to be sure that the website can be trusted not to use any of this information in any inappropriate way. Of course, websites that offer online testing services must be licensed by the DMV and that is a good sign that the site can be trusted. This is the first thing you should do before you sign up - check if this website is licensed by the Florida Department of Motor Vehicles.
Having said all that, we think that allowing people in Florida to take their permit test online is a big step forward for the development of online education. Face it, the world is changing and we have to make use of these new technologies to make our lives a bit more convenient and fun. Being able to take the DMV exam online is great and we hope that some day we will be able to even get a full scale learners permit or drivers license online, without having to leave your house!
