Road skills test (road test)
An ALEA driver license examiner gives the road skills test in your own vehicle after inspecting it. You may be asked to do all or some of 18 listed items, including backing about 50 feet, a three-point turnabout, and stopping and starting on an upgrade. ALEA does not publish a point system for its own examiners; you can fail for a crash, a violation, reckless driving, not cooperating, or several errors in safe driving practice.
Checked October 4, 2026 against official Alabama Law Enforcement Agency, Driver License Division sources. Tap a numbered chip to read the exact wording.
Drivers under 18 must hold a Stage I learner license for at least 6 months, have parent or guardian permission, and present either a form showing at least 50 hours of supervised practice or a completed state-approved driver education course. A 16-year-old must be accompanied by a parent or guardian. Applicants 18 and older can test right away. Official source 1alea.gov“Must be age 16 or older. Those who are under age 18 must have a Stage I license for at least 6 months before applying for a Stage II license.”“signed by a parent, grandparent, legal guardian or certified driving instructor verifying that the applicant has COMPLETED a minimum of 50 hours of behind-the-wheel practice.”“Students must submit a completion form supplied by the State Department of Education (SDE) verifying that the applicant has COMPLETED an SDE-approved driver education course.”“Individuals who are age 18 and older may apply immediately for a Stage III license (passing score on road skills exam is required).”Open the official page (opens in a new tab) ↗Checked October 4, 2026Official source 2alea.gov“applicant must be accompanied by a parent or guardian. Before testing may begin, an examiner will inspect the vehicle”Open the official page (opens in a new tab) ↗Checked October 4, 2026
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The examiner checks your car before you drive. If it fails, you usually can’t take the test that day.
ALEA publishes no point scale for examiner-given tests. The study guide lists five reasons you may fail, including several errors in safe driving practice. On the third-party (driver education) skills checklist, any check in the failure column means the student fails. Official source 4alea.gov“You may fail the driving test for ANY of the following reasons: 1. If you are involved in an accident. 2. If you violate the law.”“If you make several errors in safe driving practices because of habit or not enough practice.”Open the official page (opens in a new tab) ↗Checked October 4, 2026Official source 5alea.gov“NOTE: ANY check in the failure column means the student is not eligible to receive the DPS certificate.”Open the official page (opens in a new tab) ↗Checked October 4, 2026
Any one of these ends or fails a Alabama road test, no matter how well the rest goes.
Steps and scoring come from Alabama Law Enforcement Agency, Driver License Division’s own materials, in their words where possible. Where a state publishes no steps, we say so rather than guess.
You must know where the controls are and how to use them. Third-party checklist: pass if you check controls and adjust them before moving; fail if you are unsure how to put the car in motion.
Back about fifty feet slowly, straight and smooth, looking back over your right shoulder the whole time. Checklist failures: not looking back at all or for at least the last 20 feet, losing control or a dangerous speed, swerving, hitting the curb or leaving the lane.
Turn around in a narrow street backing only once, without bumping the curb or using a driveway. Checklist failures: not checking traffic, running over the curb or losing control, or not positioning the car to finish.
Park parallel to and within 18 inches of the curb, wheels turned correctly, car secured. Checklist failures: running over the curb or losing control (two attempts allowed) and not setting the parking brake. Turning the wheel the wrong way does not fail you on its own.
Pull out smoothly without racing the motor or rolling back. Checklist failures: not looking and causing a collision or near collision, the car rolling back several feet, or not being able to release the parking brake.
Stop as quickly and safely as possible from a low speed after checking your mirror. Checklist failures: not checking mirrors, braking so hard it causes a near accident, pumping the brakes, or swerving.
Stop before the crosswalk or stop line and wait until it is safe. The third-party checklist scores stop signs twice and red lights twice; failing to stop completely or running a light is a failure.
Signal at least 100 feet ahead, slow before the crosswalk, and turn into the proper lane. The checklist scores right turns three times.
Signal early, turn from near the center line or turn lane, and turn into the proper lane. The checklist scores left turns three times; holding up traffic by missing the light two or more times is a failure.
Stay in the right lane except to pass or turn left, signal and check blind spots before changing lanes. Checklist failure: straddling the center line, driving in the wrong lane, or a lane change that causes a dangerous action.
Hold the clutch down when starting, shifting, and below 10 mph when stopping; do not ride the clutch. Official source 4alea.gov“Hold the clutch pedal all the way down when starting the motor, shifting gears, and when your speed drops below 10 miles per hour when stopping.”Open the official page (opens in a new tab) ↗Checked October 4, 2026
Both hands on the wheel, sit up straight, no elbow in the window. Official source 4alea.gov“Keep both hands on the steering wheel and do not rest your elbow in the window. Sit up straight.”Open the official page (opens in a new tab) ↗Checked October 4, 2026
Proper lane, slow down, look both ways before entering an intersection. Official source 4alea.gov“Get in the proper lane, decrease speed and look in each direction before entering an intersection.”Open the official page (opens in a new tab) ↗Checked October 4, 2026
Yield to pedestrians, do not block intersections, pull over for emergency vehicles. Official source 4alea.gov“Always allow the person on foot to cross in front of your car. Do not block an intersection.”Open the official page (opens in a new tab) ↗Checked October 4, 2026
Only to warn pedestrians or when about to pass outside town. Official source 4alea.gov“Do not use your horn to signal friends, hurry other drivers, or try to clear an intersection.”Open the official page (opens in a new tab) ↗Checked October 4, 2026
Two-second rule. Official source 4alea.gov“Do not drive too closely behind other vehicles. Use the "two second rule" to judge proper following distance.”Open the official page (opens in a new tab) ↗Checked October 4, 2026
Never above the posted limit; reasonable for conditions. Official source 4alea.gov“Must not exceed posted speed limit signs. Speed must be reasonable under existing conditions.”Open the official page (opens in a new tab) ↗Checked October 4, 2026
Third-party checklist: attentive to other traffic at all times. Official source 5alea.gov“Driver is constantly distracted to the point of a collision or almost collision”Open the official page (opens in a new tab) ↗Checked October 4, 2026
Headlights must be on when it is raining. Official source 4alea.gov“Alabama Law requires headlights be turned on when raining.”Open the official page (opens in a new tab) ↗Checked October 4, 2026
ALEA does not publish a waiting period, retest fee or attempt limit for the Class D road skills test. Walk-ins are accepted at all testing sites, and Stage II road test appointments can be booked online up to two weeks ahead at select locations. Official source 1alea.gov“appointments for the road skills examination (for Stage II license) can be scheduled online. Appointments can be scheduled up to two weeks in advance.”Open the official page (opens in a new tab) ↗Checked October 4, 2026
Didn’t pass? What to do next, including the Alabama permit (knowledge) test retake rules.
Under Act No. 2012-501, private high school driver education teachers can be designated third-party testing agents and give the driving portion using the DPS skills checklist on DPS-approved routes. The certificate is valid only once the student is 16 and has held a learner license for at least six months. Official source 6alea.gov“allows private high school driver education teachers to be a designated third-party testing agent of the Alabama Department of Public Safety to administer the driver portion of the licensing exam.”Open the official page (opens in a new tab) ↗Checked October 4, 2026Official source 7alea.gov“Remind students that the certificates ARE NOT valid until they turn sixteen years of age and have had a learner license for a minimum of six months.”Open the official page (opens in a new tab) ↗Checked October 4, 2026
An ALEA driver license examiner gives the road skills test in your own vehicle after inspecting it. You may be asked to do all or some of 18 listed items, including backing about 50 feet, a three-point turnabout, and stopping and starting on an upgrade. ALEA does not publish a point system for its own examiners; you can fail for a crash, a violation, reckless driving, not cooperating, or several errors in safe driving practice. Maneuvers covered by official sources: Location of controls, Backing, Turn about (three-point turn), Stop on upgrade, Start on upgrade, Smooth stop, Stop signs and traffic lights, Right turns, Left turns, Passing, merging and keeping in lane.
ALEA publishes no point scale for examiner-given tests. The study guide lists five reasons you may fail, including several errors in safe driving practice. On the third-party (driver education) skills checklist, any check in the failure column means the student fails.
Official Alabama sources list these as automatic failures: Being involved in an accident; Violating the law; Driving recklessly or dangerously; Failing to cooperate with the examiner; Several errors in safe driving practice from habit or lack of practice; Not making a complete stop at a stop sign (third-party checklist); and Running a red light or turning right on red without stopping (third-party checklist).
Your learner license (it is surrendered at the road test); Proof of current insurance; Vehicle registration; A licensed driver (applicants 18 or older doing all testing at once); Corrective lenses, if your license requires them; Practice-hours verification form or driver education completion form (under 18); and Cash or money order for the license fee (no checks).
Brake lights; Left and right turn signals; Horn; Must be in safe operating condition (examiner inspects it before the test); Valid registration and current insurance; Rental cars only if your name is on the rental agreement as an additional driver; and The study guide's equipment diagram also labels: headlights, signal lights, brakes, safety glass, wipers, mirror, horn, good tires, parking brake, muffler and tight exhaust system, seat belts, license plate and light, brake lights and tail lights.
Drivers under 18 must hold a Stage I learner license for at least 6 months, have parent or guardian permission, and present either a form showing at least 50 hours of supervised practice or a completed state-approved driver education course. A 16-year-old must be accompanied by a parent or guardian. Applicants 18 and older can test right away.
ALEA does not publish a waiting period, retest fee or attempt limit for the Class D road skills test. Walk-ins are accepted at all testing sites, and Stage II road test appointments can be booked online up to two weeks ahead at select locations.
Under Act No. 2012-501, private high school driver education teachers can be designated third-party testing agents and give the driving portion using the DPS skills checklist on DPS-approved routes. The certificate is valid only once the student is 16 and has held a learner license for at least six months.
The official examiner score sheet for ALEA-given tests is not published. ALEA publishes a one-page Road Test Study Guide (18 items 'all or some' of which may be tested) and the DPS 3rd Party Testing Skills Checklist used by private high school testers. That checklist is pass/fail per item, and any failure check fails the student. Parallel parking is not listed among the tested items. The vehicle equipment list beyond brake lights, turn signals and horn comes from a labeled diagram in the study guide (image text, read visually). No retest waiting period or fee is published. The $20 skills test fee on ALEA's fees page is for CDL applicants.
Every fact above links to one of these official pages. Checked October 4, 2026.
This guide summarizes official Alabama sources for study. It is not the test itself, and only a ALEA examiner (or a tester the state licenses) can pass or fail you. Rules change; confirm with Alabama Law Enforcement Agency, Driver License Division before test day.