Road skills test (road test)
A Tennessee Department of Safety examiner first inspects your vehicle and has you show you can use its equipment, then gives directions on a drive that averages 20-25 minutes. The examiner counts errors: 6 or fewer passes, and more errors mean a longer wait before you can retest. A traffic violation, refusing directions, any dangerous action or contributing to an accident fails you immediately.
Checked October 4, 2026 against official Tennessee Department of Safety and Homeland Security, Driver Services Division sources. Tap a numbered chip to read the exact wording.
For the Intermediate Restricted License you must be at least 16, have held a learner permit at least 180 days, and have 50 hours of behind-the-wheel practice (10 at night) certified on the 50-Hour Certification form. You must have passed the knowledge test before the road test appointment. A licensed driver 21 or older must come with you. Official source 1tn.gov“Must be at least 16 years old Must have held a valid learner permit for a minimum of 180 days Must have 50 hours of behind the wheel driving experience including 10 hours of night driving”“A 50-Hour Certification form must be signed by your parent, guardian or driving instructor confirming this experience”“Any applicant, holding a learner permit, visiting a Driver Services Center to take a skills/road test, must be accompanied by an individual, 21-years-or-older, with a valid driver license.”Open the official page (opens in a new tab) ↗Checked October 4, 2026Official source 2tn.gov“You must have successfully passed the required knowledge test(s) prior to your road test appointment. If you arrive for your road test appointment and have not passed the knowledge test your appointment will be canceled.”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.
The examiner counts errors (points). 1-6 errors passes. 7-9 errors fails with a next-day retest; 10-12 means a 7-day wait; 13-15 a 14-day wait; 16 or more, or any automatic failure, a 30-day wait. Official source 2tn.gov“1 to 6 errors / points 7 to 9 errors / points 10 to 12 errors / points 13 to 15 errors / points 16 or more errors / points -ORAutomatic Failure PASS no re-test needed Next (1) Day Seven (7) Days Fourteen (14) Days Thirty (30) Days”“Applicants may be allowed to re-test after mandatory practice times as determined by their total score (number of errors) under the guidelines in Table 4.2.”Open the official page (opens in a new tab) ↗Checked October 4, 2026
Any one of these ends or fails a Tennessee road test, no matter how well the rest goes.
Steps and scoring come from Tennessee Department of Safety and Homeland Security, Driver Services Division’s own materials, in their words where possible. Where a state publishes no steps, we say so rather than guess.
The vehicle must pass inspection, and you're asked to show you can use each of the listed equipment items (safety belts, brakes, headlights, tail and brake lights, wipers, defroster, mirrors, horn).
Not officially described by TDOSHS.
The examiner watches whether you look over your shoulder, back in a straight line, turn safely while backing, and back into and out of a parking space.
Not officially described by TDOSHS.
Listed among the backing questions the examiner observes; not stated as a set maneuver.
Not officially described by TDOSHS.
Are you in the proper lane, do you look both ways, make sure your path is clear rather than relying on the signal, and signal and change lanes carefully?
Not officially described by TDOSHS.
Do you stop smoothly and at the right spot, and can you stop quickly and safely in an emergency?
Not officially described by TDOSHS.
Checking mirrors, fastening the safety belt, turning on lights or wipers as needed. Official source 2tn.gov“How you prepare to drive. Have you checked your mirrors, fastened your safety belt, turned on any necessary lights or wipers?”Open the official page (opens in a new tab) ↗Checked October 4, 2026
Look for other cars, signal and wait until it's safe. Official source 2tn.gov“How you start your vehicle. Do you look for other cars? Do you signal and wait until it is safe before entering traffic?”Open the official page (opens in a new tab) ↗Checked October 4, 2026
Smooth acceleration, correct use of pedals, steering and controls, handling curves. Official source 2tn.gov“How you control your vehicle. Do you accelerate smoothly? Do you use your gas pedal, brake, steering wheel, and other controls correctly? Handle curves properly?”Open the official page (opens in a new tab) ↗Checked October 4, 2026
How you obey traffic signals and posted signs. Official source 2tn.gov“How you obey the traffic signals and posted signs. 6. How you drive in traffic. Do you pay full attention to driving?”Open the official page (opens in a new tab) ↗Checked October 4, 2026
Full attention, scanning for signs, signals, pedestrians and vehicles; yielding correctly. Official source 2tn.gov“Do you scan carefully for signs, signals, pedestrians and other vehicles? Do you yield and take the right-of-way correctly?”Open the official page (opens in a new tab) ↗Checked October 4, 2026
Maintaining a safe distance from other cars. Official source 2tn.gov“How you judge distance. Do you maintain a safe distance from other cars?”Open the official page (opens in a new tab) ↗Checked October 4, 2026
Avoiding sudden changes, signaling at the right time, slowing early. Official source 2tn.gov“How you communicate to other drivers. Do you make sudden changes, or signal too late or too early?”Open the official page (opens in a new tab) ↗Checked October 4, 2026
Courtesy and watchfulness; adjusting speed for limits, traffic, light, weather and road conditions. Official source 2tn.gov“How you change your speed to suit the situation. Do you take into account the speed limit, other cars, light, weather and road conditions?”Open the official page (opens in a new tab) ↗Checked October 4, 2026
The wait depends on your error count: 7-9 errors, next day; 10-12, seven days; 13-15, fourteen days; 16 or more or an automatic failure, thirty days. The same waits apply after later failures. No retest the same day. You pay the application fee each time you take a test and fail, and must bring all original documents again. Official source 2tn.gov“NOTE: The guidelines established above will also be applied to wait times between additional re-testing opportunities if applicant does not pass the examination on the second or subsequent attempts.”“When you return to take a test over, you must bring back all of the original documents you are required to provide. You will be required to pay the $2 application fee each time you take a test and fail.”“Applicants who do not successfully pass the skills test on the first attempt or subsequent attempts are not permitted to take the examination again on the same day.”“Upon completion of the driving test, the examiner will advise you of your errors, how to correct them, and what maneuvers you should practice to improve your driving skill.”Open the official page (opens in a new tab) ↗Checked October 4, 2026
Didn’t pass? What to do next, including the Tennessee permit (knowledge) test retake rules.
No third-party or driver-education waiver of the Class D road test is published; teens take it at a Driver Services Center. New residents with a valid, unexpired out-of-state license need only a vision screening. Official source 1tn.gov“Pass a Road Skills Test administered at your local Driver Services Center”Open the official page (opens in a new tab) ↗Checked October 4, 2026Official source 2tn.gov“Vision Screening only, if out-of-state license is valid and not expired; otherwise, knowledge and road skills test, Vision Screening”Open the official page (opens in a new tab) ↗Checked October 4, 2026
A Tennessee Department of Safety examiner first inspects your vehicle and has you show you can use its equipment, then gives directions on a drive that averages 20-25 minutes. The examiner counts errors: 6 or fewer passes, and more errors mean a longer wait before you can retest. A traffic violation, refusing directions, any dangerous action or contributing to an accident fails you immediately. Maneuvers covered by official sources: Pre-trip vehicle inspection and equipment demonstration, Backing (straight line, turning while backing, into and out of a parking space), Backing into and out of a parking space, Intersections and left and right turns, Stopping, including a quick stop.
The examiner counts errors (points). 1-6 errors passes. 7-9 errors fails with a next-day retest; 10-12 means a 7-day wait; 13-15 a 14-day wait; 16 or more, or any automatic failure, a 30-day wait.
Official Tennessee sources list these as automatic failures: Violating any traffic law; Lack of cooperation or refusing to follow directions; Any dangerous action; Contributing to an accident; and Any form of cheating (30-day wait before retesting).
Your learner permit; A licensed driver 21 or older (without one you can't test); Signed 50-Hour Certification form (under 18); Parent or legal guardian to sign the minor affidavit and financial responsibility form (under 18); Original or certified documents (no photocopies); proof of U.S. citizenship or lawful permanent residency if you don't already have a Tennessee learner permit; and Your own vehicle with current registration and working safety equipment.
Valid Tennessee registration (tags) and all safety equipment working; Safety belts in good usable condition for you and the examiner (vehicles from 1969 on); Foot brake and parking brake; Two to four white headlights (high and low beam); rear license light, two red tail lights and two red brake lights; Windshield wipers; working defroster and fan (you must show how to defog the windshield); At least one rearview mirror; Horn, muffler and working speedometer; Clear windows; no tint on the windshield; other car windows must pass at least 35% of light; Driver and passenger doors open from inside and outside; Bumpers 14-22 inches from the ground (14-31 inches for 4x4s); and No one in the car but you and the examiner; no animals; phones off.
For the Intermediate Restricted License you must be at least 16, have held a learner permit at least 180 days, and have 50 hours of behind-the-wheel practice (10 at night) certified on the 50-Hour Certification form. You must have passed the knowledge test before the road test appointment. A licensed driver 21 or older must come with you.
The wait depends on your error count: 7-9 errors, next day; 10-12, seven days; 13-15, fourteen days; 16 or more or an automatic failure, thirty days. The same waits apply after later failures. No retest the same day. You pay the application fee each time you take a test and fail, and must bring all original documents again.
No third-party or driver-education waiver of the Class D road test is published; teens take it at a Driver Services Center. New residents with a valid, unexpired out-of-state license need only a vision screening.
No examiner score sheet is published; the manual's Table 4.2 gives the error-count bands but not the point value of each error, and the manual uses 'errors / points' interchangeably. Testing rules: appointments up to 45 days ahead; arriving 5 or more minutes late cancels the test; no tests in heavy rain, thunderstorms, thick fog, flooded or snow/ice-covered roads, or in the dark (winter hours adjusted). The manual lists no set maneuvers like parallel parking or a three-point turn; the maneuver entries here come from the examiner's observation list (backing, intersections and turns, stopping). Third-party testing in Tennessee is described only for CDLs.
Every fact above links to one of these official pages. Checked October 4, 2026.
This guide summarizes official Tennessee sources for study. It is not the test itself, and only a TDOSHS examiner (or a tester the state licenses) can pass or fail you. Rules change; confirm with Tennessee Department of Safety and Homeland Security, Driver Services Division before test day.