A teenager in Arizona found herself caught in an unexpected controversy after her driving test was deemed invalid due to the advanced features of the car she was using—a Tesla Model Y.
The aspiring young driver believed she had passed her test, but things took a surprising turn when the DMV told her otherwise, citing concerns that the vehicle’s technology was doing more of the work than she was.
The Tesla Model Y, like many electric vehicles, comes equipped with cutting-edge features such as Full Self-Driving (FSD) mode and regenerative braking. While the teenager’s family insisted that FSD was not engaged during the test, the DMV examiner raised concerns over the car’s automatic braking capabilities. Specifically, the examiner noted that the teen didn’t use the brake pedal enough during the test, leading to doubts about her ability to manually control the vehicle under normal driving conditions.
The key issue lies in Tesla’s regenerative braking system, which slows the car down automatically when the driver eases off the accelerator. This feature, designed to improve energy efficiency, significantly reduces the need for traditional braking.
However, for the DMV, it raised an important question: “If we don’t know she can brake with the brake pedal, then how do we know she can drive a non-Tesla?”
Frustrated, the teen’s father took to Reddit, pointing out that drivers who take their tests in automatic transmission cars aren’t expected to prove they can operate a manual transmission. This sparked an online debate, with some Reddit users sharing their own experiences of how modern electric vehicles, with features like rearview cameras and automatic lane-keeping, were tripping up test-takers. One user even mentioned their girlfriend failed for using the rearview camera to park—a now-standard feature in many cars.
Not everyone sided with the teenager and her family, though. Some commenters felt the DMV had a valid point. “If she ever has to drive a regular car, will she know how to brake properly?” one user asked, suggesting that the test is meant to ensure drivers can handle emergency situations in any vehicle.
After a persistent back-and-forth with Arizona’s Department of Transportation (AZDOT), the DMV ultimately relented, allowing the teen to receive her license. However, the ordeal highlighted a growing gap between traditional driving tests and the capabilities of modern electric vehicles.
The DMV has since hinted that they may reconsider how they handle tests involving Teslas in the future, potentially even banning certain advanced features during tests to ensure drivers can demonstrate full manual control.
As electric vehicles like Teslas become more common, this situation may not be an isolated case. Some are suggesting that DMV requirements might need a refresh, requiring drivers to disable features like regenerative braking and lane-assist during tests. The goal? To make sure every new driver can perform fundamental driving tasks—like braking and parking—without relying on technology.
In an era where technology is evolving faster than the driving tests themselves, it’s clear that both DMVs and new drivers will need to adapt.
