Road (skills) test
A Kentucky State Police examiner first inspects your vehicle and documents, then rides along while you drive in normal traffic. The test covers stops, backing, turning the car around, stopping and starting on a hill, parallel parking, intersections, speed, turns, lane use, right-of-way and overall control. You get a score sheet marked pass or fail with no numerical score. Any collision, traffic violation or dangerous act can mean automatic failure.
Checked October 4, 2026 against official Kentucky Transportation Cabinet, Department of Vehicle Regulation, Division of Driver Licensing sources. Tap a numbered chip to read the exact wording.
Under 18: hold your permit at least 180 days, reach age 16, and complete 60 hours of supervised practice (10 at night). The test leads to an intermediate license. Ages 18-20: hold the permit 180 days. 21 and older: hold the permit 30 days. Tests are by appointment only with the Kentucky State Police Driver Testing Branch. Official source 1apps.legislature.ky.gov“a person who is under eighteen (18) years of age may apply for an intermediate license to operate a motor vehicle if the person has: (a) Attained the age of sixteen (16) years;”“If an applicant for an intermediate license successfully completes the examinations required under KRS 186.480, the Department of Kentucky State Police shall affix an intermediate license sticker to the instruction permit”Open the official page (opens in a new tab) ↗Checked October 4, 2026Official source 2drive.ky.gov“After holding the permit for at least 180 days and reaching age 16, schedule a road skills test appointment with the Kentucky State Police.”“Complete at least 60 hours of supervised driving practice, including 10 hours completed at night.”Open the official page (opens in a new tab) ↗Checked October 4, 2026Official source 3wp.kentuckystatepolice.ky.gov“You must hold the permit for 180 days before you are eligible to take the road test.”“You must hold the permit for 30 days before you are eligible to take the road test. Practice is encouraged during this 30-day period.”“All testing is conducted by appointment only. To schedule an appointment for either the written test or the road test, please visit our website”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.
At the end you receive a score sheet marked pass or fail, with no numerical score. Any collision, traffic violation or dangerous act may mean automatic failure. Failing to follow the examiner's instructions twice disqualifies you. Official source 3wp.kentuckystatepolice.ky.gov“The applicant will be given a score sheet at the completion of the test, indicating whether he or she passed or failed. There will not be a numerical score on the score sheet.”Open the official page (opens in a new tab) ↗Checked October 4, 2026
Any one of these ends or fails a Kentucky road test, no matter how well the rest goes.
Steps and scoring come from Kentucky Transportation Cabinet, Department of Vehicle Regulation, Division of Driver Licensing’s own materials, in their words where possible. Where a state publishes no steps, we say so rather than guess.
The examiner reviews registration and insurance, then you show you know how to operate the headlights, dimmer switch, horn, windshield wipers, turn signals, emergency brake, emergency flashers and brake lights.
Listed as a test item. It must be done without parking assist. The manual says to master it for the skills test.
'Turning the car around' and 'backing' are test items. The manual describes backing into a driveway to turn around and says to master it for the skills test.
Listed as a test item. No scoring detail is published.
Not officially described by KYTC.
Listed as a test item, along with stops, turns, lane use and right-of-way.
Not officially described by KYTC.
Listed as a test item. Kentucky's FAQ says to signal at least 100 feet before a turn, about 6 to 7 car lengths.
You drive in traffic and meet normal situations; the examiner will not play tricks or ask you to do anything illegal. Official source 3wp.kentuckystatepolice.ky.gov“Applicants will be required to drive in traffic, encountering normal situations. The Examiner will not play tricks during the road test, and you will not be required to do anything unlawful or illegal.”Open the official page (opens in a new tab) ↗Checked October 4, 2026
These are all named test items, with clutch use if the car is a manual. Official source 3wp.kentuckystatepolice.ky.gov“The test will consist of stops, backing, turning the car around, stopping and starting on a hill, parallel parking, intersection approaches, clutch use (if applicable), speed, turns, lane use, rightof-way use, and overall vehicle control.”Open the official page (opens in a new tab) ↗Checked October 4, 2026
Failing to follow instructions twice disqualifies you. Interpreters are not allowed in the car. Official source 3wp.kentuckystatepolice.ky.gov“Interpreters are not permitted in the vehicle during the road test. However, an interpreter may be present both before and after the test to assist as needed.”Open the official page (opens in a new tab) ↗Checked October 4, 2026
Wait at least one week (seven full days) from the failure before retesting. No attempt limit or retest fee is published. Official source 2drive.ky.gov“If you fail the road test, you must wait seven full days before retaking it.”Open the official page (opens in a new tab) ↗Checked October 4, 2026Official source 3wp.kentuckystatepolice.ky.gov“If you fail the road skills test, you must wait at least one week from the date of the failure before attempting the test again. Applicants are encouraged to practice during this time.”Open the official page (opens in a new tab) ↗Checked October 4, 2026
Didn’t pass? What to do next, including the Kentucky permit (knowledge) test retake rules.
Kentucky publishes no driver-education or third-party waiver of the car road test; every test is given by the Kentucky State Police. The 4-hour driver education course for under-18 drivers is needed for the full license after the road test and does not replace it. Out-of-state permit holders must take the Kentucky road test unless their out-of-state test scores are submitted. Official source 2drive.ky.gov“After completing the driver education course, holding the intermediate license for at least 180 days and reaching age 17, you may visit a Regional office to have your full-unrestricted license issued.”Open the official page (opens in a new tab) ↗Checked October 4, 2026Official source 3wp.kentuckystatepolice.ky.gov“If the outof-state test scores are not submitted, then the permit/license holder will be required to take the Kentucky road test.”Open the official page (opens in a new tab) ↗Checked October 4, 2026
A Kentucky State Police examiner first inspects your vehicle and documents, then rides along while you drive in normal traffic. The test covers stops, backing, turning the car around, stopping and starting on a hill, parallel parking, intersections, speed, turns, lane use, right-of-way and overall control. You get a score sheet marked pass or fail with no numerical score. Any collision, traffic violation or dangerous act can mean automatic failure. Maneuvers covered by official sources: Vehicle inspection and controls, Parallel parking, Turning the car around (backing into a driveway turnabout), Stopping and starting on a hill, Intersection approaches, Turns.
At the end you receive a score sheet marked pass or fail, with no numerical score. Any collision, traffic violation or dangerous act may mean automatic failure. Failing to follow the examiner's instructions twice disqualifies you.
Official Kentucky sources list these as automatic failures: Any collision, traffic violation or dangerous act (the test is stopped); and Failing to follow the examiner's instructions two times (disqualification).
A licensed driver age 21 or older to accompany you to the test site (you may not drive yourself there on a permit); Completed, signed Practice Driving Log (under 18); Graduated Driver License Skills Test Eligibility Letter, within seven days of its print date (under 18); Vehicle registration; Proof of liability insurance: insurance card, current policy, or a written binder from an agent; and If using a rental car: the rental contract listing you as an operator.
Properly registered, with the plate displayed, legible and lit at night (a valid temporary tag that matches the car is fine); Proof of liability insurance; Clean passenger seat and floor area for the examiner; Clean, working seat belts for driver and examiner; Working brakes, two headlights, two red taillights, and brake lights; Unobstructed windshield with a working driver-side wiper; Working horn, muffler and steering; A left-side mirror plus either a center inside mirror or a right-side mirror; Working turn signals; No excessive window tint, extra flashing lights, or items blocking the windshield; and Parking assist may not be used for parallel parking; a backup camera may be used, but you must still check mirrors and over your shoulder.
Under 18: hold your permit at least 180 days, reach age 16, and complete 60 hours of supervised practice (10 at night). The test leads to an intermediate license. Ages 18-20: hold the permit 180 days. 21 and older: hold the permit 30 days. Tests are by appointment only with the Kentucky State Police Driver Testing Branch.
Wait at least one week (seven full days) from the failure before retesting. No attempt limit or retest fee is published.
Kentucky publishes no driver-education or third-party waiver of the car road test; every test is given by the Kentucky State Police. The 4-hour driver education course for under-18 drivers is needed for the full license after the road test and does not replace it. Out-of-state permit holders must take the Kentucky road test unless their out-of-state test scores are submitted.
Kentucky does not publish its examiner score sheet. The manual says applicants get a pass/fail score sheet at the end with no numerical score, and no point values or error limits are published. Conflict on the minimum age: the July 2026 KSP Driver Manual says the under-18 road test is available after 180 days of the permit and 'reaching age 17', but the statute (KRS 186.452(1)) lets a person under 18 apply for the intermediate license, which is issued on passing the road test, once they have attained age 16 and held the permit 180 days, and KYTC's GDL page also says age 16. This page follows the statute: age 16. (Age 17 is the minimum for the full unrestricted license that follows.) The test items come from a single list in the manual ('stops, backing, turning the car around, stopping and starting on a hill, parallel parking...'). Step-by-step instructions are given only for parallel parking and the backing driveway turnabout. The manual's parallel-parking steps are split by its two-column layout, so only the clearly sourced steps are included. The 'reverse-two-point-turnabout' id is used; Kentucky calls this a turnabout and the test lists 'turning the car around', not a three-point turn. No retest fee or attempt limit is published.
Every fact above links to one of these official pages. Checked October 4, 2026.
This guide summarizes official Kentucky sources for study. It is not the test itself, and only a KYTC examiner (or a tester the state licenses) can pass or fail you. Rules change; confirm with Kentucky Transportation Cabinet, Department of Vehicle Regulation, Division of Driver Licensing before test day.