Road skills test
Virginia's road skills test is an on-road drive in your own vehicle. Drivers under 18 take it at the end of their driver education course, from the school's instructor. Adults who held a learner's permit for 60 days instead of taking driver education take it at a DMV customer service center, where it took about 20 minutes on average (2018 DMV report). The DMV test starts with a vehicle safety check and is scored on a DMV form whose scoring rules are not published. The state driver education evaluation is failed by any mark in its automatic-failure section or by more than 5 deficiency marks.
Checked October 4, 2026 against official Virginia Department of Motor Vehicles sources. Tap a numbered chip to read the exact wording.
Under 18: complete a state-approved driver education program, which gives the road skills test; hold the learner's permit at least nine months; have a parent or guardian certify 45 hours of driving, 15 after sunset; and be at least 16 years and 3 months old to get the license. 18 and older (never licensed): hold a learner's permit for 60 days and take the road skills test at DMV, or complete driver education. Starting January 1, 2027, first-time applicants aged 18 through 20 must hold the permit 90 days and complete driver education. To test at DMV you must be a Virginia resident, have passed the knowledge exam, bring a completed CSMA 140 form, and show proof of driver education or a signed In-Car Maneuvers Observation Record (CSMA 19). Official source 1dmv.virginia.gov“Successfully complete a state-approved driver education program Hold a learner's permit for at least nine months before you can receive a driver's license, and”“Have your parent or guardian sign the completion certificate to certify that you have driven at least 45 hours, 15 of which occurred after sunset”“You must be at least 16 years and three months old to apply for a driver's license.”“If you're a Virginia resident under age 18 , you must take the two-part knowledge exam and you must complete the road skills test through your driver’s education program.”“If you did not complete a driver's education program , and instead chose to hold a learner's permit for 60 days, you must take the two-part knowledge exam and the road skills test.”“If you are 18 through 20 and you have never held a license issued by any state, U.S. territory or foreign country, you must: Hold a learner's permit for a minimum of 90 days, and”Open the official page (opens in a new tab) ↗Checked October 4, 2026Official source 2dmv.virginia.gov“You must meet the follow criteria to take a road skills test: Virginia resident A completed CSMA 140 form Have passed your knowledge exam (computer).”Open the official page (opens in a new tab) ↗Checked October 4, 2026Official source 3dmv.virginia.gov“complete a behind-the-wheel checklist (DMV form CSMA 19 available at dmv.virginia.gov or any DMV office) that describes specific driving tasks that you may be asked to perform while taking the road skills test.”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.
DMV test: in two parts, a pre-road vehicle safety check and then the drive on a set route. The examiner scores your performance on a DMV form, but DMV does not publish its point values or pass mark. Driver education test: on the state evaluation form incorporated in the Board of Education's driver education rules, you pass with no marks in the automatic-failure section and no more than 5 deficiency marks in the general skills section. The evaluation should last at least 20 minutes. Official source 6rga.lis.virginia.gov“The road skills test for both the non-commercial and the motorcycle classification consists of two parts, the pre-road skills safety check and the in-vehicle examination.”“If the CSR determines that the customer has achieved a passing score on the road skills test, the CSR records the score on a DMV form and enters a “Pass” into the customer’s record.”“at the 72 CSC locations that administer road skills testing, it takes a CSR 20 minutes to administer this test.”Open the official page (opens in a new tab) ↗Checked October 4, 2026Official source 7ris.dls.virginia.gov“Successful completion of the route, skills, and process evaluation requires students to receive no marks on the automatic failure section, and no more than 5 deficiency marks in the general skills section.”“The road skills evaluation should be a minimum of 20 minutes.”Open the official page (opens in a new tab) ↗Checked October 4, 2026
Any one of these ends or fails a Virginia road test, no matter how well the rest goes.
Steps and scoring come from Virginia Department of Motor Vehicles’s own materials, in their words where possible. Where a state publishes no steps, we say so rather than guess.
Before the drive, the examiner checks that the vehicle is safe and that you can understand instructions. The practice checklist expects you to sit upright and adjust the seat and mirrors.
Signal your intent, get into the proper lane, slow down as needed, and complete the turn properly.
Signal your intent, get into the proper lane, slow down as needed, and complete the turn properly.
Steer under control in close quarters, watch traffic, signal correctly, control speed and gears, and stop for traffic.
Not officially described by DMV.
Stay in the proper lane, check traffic before changing lanes, change lanes smoothly, don't change lanes too often, and don't straddle lanes.
Not officially described by DMV.
Control the vehicle in the proper lane while passing on a multi-lane street, judge distance, signal, and accelerate properly.
Not officially described by DMV.
Slow down on approach, check cross traffic, look both ways, and keep control of the vehicle.
Not officially described by DMV.
Check the mirrors and look over both shoulders, control the brake and accelerator, and back smoothly in a straight line without weaving.
DMV practice checklist: drive into a parking lot and park within the lines, checking traffic, signaling and keeping a proper speed. By law, DMV can require parking only in an adequate space between horizontal markers, not between flags or sticks that stand in for parked cars. The driver education evaluation scores one parking type: perpendicular, angle or parallel.
Start the engine, use the proper gear, and brake properly; shift or use the automatic transmission smoothly with eyes on the road. Official source 5dmv.virginia.gov“Starting Demonstrates ability to start engine, engages and uses proper gear, demonstrates proper use of brake.”“Gears Shifts gears or uses automatic transmission smoothly, accelerates smoothly, changes gears smoothly, keeps eyes on the road while shifting, shifts gears at correct speed.”Open the official page (opens in a new tab) ↗Checked October 4, 2026
Stay alert to surroundings and traffic and follow instructions. Official source 5dmv.virginia.gov“Basic Skills Is attentive, alert, aware of surroundings and traffic conditions, follows instructions well, observes conditions in time to complete a maneuver safely.”Open the official page (opens in a new tab) ↗Checked October 4, 2026
Keep a proper distance and speed in traffic. Official source 5dmv.virginia.gov“Following Maintains proper distance and speed in traffic. OBSERVING DRIVER SIGNATURE”Open the official page (opens in a new tab) ↗Checked October 4, 2026
Yield without hesitating, watch for pedestrians, and stop behind crosswalks. Official source 5dmv.virginia.gov“Right of Way Yields without hesitating when necessary, shows consideration of pedestrians, attention to signals, makes proper use of right-of-way in traffic, stops behind crosswalks.”Open the official page (opens in a new tab) ↗Checked October 4, 2026
Stop at the marked place, then edge forward for a clear view and stop again if needed. Official source 5dmv.virginia.gov“Signs & Signals Observes and obeys stop signs and other signals, stops at indicated place, proceeds to gain clear vision but stops again if necessary.”Open the official page (opens in a new tab) ↗Checked October 4, 2026
Stop smoothly in good time, respect crosswalks, and start promptly on green. Official source 5dmv.virginia.gov“Traffic Lights Observes the red, yellow, green traffic lights, interprets and obeys the meaning of the light's color and the location on the traffic light, comes to smooth stop in ample time, observes crosswalks, starts promptly when light turns green.”Open the official page (opens in a new tab) ↗Checked October 4, 2026
DMV test: you may test only once per business day. After a first or second failure, wait two days. After three failures you cannot test a fourth time until you complete the in-vehicle part of driver education at an approved school, finished after the third failure, and bring DMV the certificate. DMV gave non-commercial road skills tests free of charge as of the 2018 DMV report; you pay the license fee ($32 for 8 years). Retest rules for driver education tests are not published. Official source 1dmv.virginia.gov“Driver’s license fee ($32 for a standard eight-year license)”Open the official page (opens in a new tab) ↗Checked October 4, 2026Official source 2dmv.virginia.gov“Customers who fail the road skills exam 1 or 2 times must wait two days before they are eligible to re-test.”Open the official page (opens in a new tab) ↗Checked October 4, 2026Official source 3dmv.virginia.gov“The test may be taken only once per business day. If you fail the road skills test, you must wait two days to take it again.”“If you fail the road skills test at DMV three times, you will not be able to take it a fourth time until you complete and pass the in-vehicle part of driver education at a driver training school approved by DMV or the Department of Education.”Open the official page (opens in a new tab) ↗Checked October 4, 2026Official source 6rga.lis.virginia.gov“DMV administers all non-commercial and motorcycle skills tests to customers free of charge.”Open the official page (opens in a new tab) ↗Checked October 4, 2026Official source 8law.lis.virginia.gov“Any person who fails the behind-the-wheel examination for a driver's license administered by the Department shall wait two days before being permitted to take another such examination.”Open the official page (opens in a new tab) ↗Checked October 4, 2026
Didn’t pass? What to do next, including the Virginia permit (knowledge) test retake rules.
Driver education programs at public, private and commercial schools give the road skills test to students under 18, so they do not test at DMV. Adults who complete driver education take only the knowledge exam. The Commissioner may waive the DMV driving portion for anyone who completes an approved driver education or driver training school course. Holders of a valid license from another U.S. state, Canada, Germany, France, South Korea or Taiwan skip the road test. Official source 1dmv.virginia.gov“If you completed a driver's education program , you only need to take the two-part knowledge exam.”Open the official page (opens in a new tab) ↗Checked October 4, 2026Official source 3dmv.virginia.gov“For applicants under 18, the road skills test will be given as part of the driver education course taken at a public, private or commercial driving school.”“You will need to take the road skills test if you do not hold a valid driver’s license from another U. S. state, Canada, Germany, France, the Republic of Korea, or Taiwan.”Open the official page (opens in a new tab) ↗Checked October 4, 2026Official source 8law.lis.virginia.gov“he may waive those parts of the Department's examination provided for in this section that require the applicant to drive and park a motor vehicle.”Open the official page (opens in a new tab) ↗Checked October 4, 2026
Virginia's road skills test is an on-road drive in your own vehicle. Drivers under 18 take it at the end of their driver education course, from the school's instructor. Adults who held a learner's permit for 60 days instead of taking driver education take it at a DMV customer service center, where it took about 20 minutes on average (2018 DMV report). The DMV test starts with a vehicle safety check and is scored on a DMV form whose scoring rules are not published. The state driver education evaluation is failed by any mark in its automatic-failure section or by more than 5 deficiency marks. Maneuvers covered by official sources: Vehicle safety check and posture, Left turns, Right turns, Turnabout or U-turn, Lane use and lane changes, Overtaking and passing, Controlled and uncontrolled intersections, Backing in a straight line, Parking in a lot.
DMV test: in two parts, a pre-road vehicle safety check and then the drive on a set route. The examiner scores your performance on a DMV form, but DMV does not publish its point values or pass mark. Driver education test: on the state evaluation form incorporated in the Board of Education's driver education rules, you pass with no marks in the automatic-failure section and no more than 5 deficiency marks in the general skills section. The evaluation should last at least 20 minutes.
Official Virginia sources list these as automatic failures: Not wearing a seat belt (driver education evaluation); Speed (driver education evaluation); Striking an object (driver education evaluation); Driving in the oncoming lane (driver education evaluation); Disobeying a regulatory sign or signal (driver education evaluation); A dangerous maneuver (driver education evaluation); Failing to yield to a school bus or emergency vehicle (driver education evaluation); Turning from the wrong lane (driver education evaluation); The instructor has to step in (driver education evaluation); Any other violation of the law (driver education evaluation); and DMV test: a second instance of prohibited conversation between you and your translator or interpreter (the first gets a warning).
Your learner's permit; Completed CSMA 140 form (Road Skills Testing - Vehicle Owner and Applicant Acknowledgement), signed by you and the vehicle owner; Proof of a state-approved driver education class, or a completed In-Car Maneuvers Observation Record (CSMA 19) signed by a licensed driver who watched you practice; A vehicle with license plates and its registration card; If you passed the knowledge exam but were not issued a permit: the documents needed for an original Virginia driver's license; and Optional: a translator or interpreter aged 18 or older with an unexpired U.S. driver's license (DMV does not provide one).
You provide the vehicle; an autocycle cannot be used; Valid safety inspection sticker, license plates, registration card and decals; Working brakes, safety belts, horn, lights, turn signals, mirrors and speedometer; Rental cars or Zipcars only if you are listed on the rental agreement as an authorized driver; If you bring a translator, the back seat must also have safety belts; and The examiner checks the vehicle before the drive and can end the test if it is not in safe working condition.
Under 18: complete a state-approved driver education program, which gives the road skills test; hold the learner's permit at least nine months; have a parent or guardian certify 45 hours of driving, 15 after sunset; and be at least 16 years and 3 months old to get the license. 18 and older (never licensed): hold a learner's permit for 60 days and take the road skills test at DMV, or complete driver education. Starting January 1, 2027, first-time applicants aged 18 through 20 must hold the permit 90 days and complete driver education. To test at DMV you must be a Virginia resident, have passed the knowledge exam, bring a completed CSMA 140 form, and show proof of driver education or a signed In-Car Maneuvers Observation Record (CSMA 19).
DMV test: you may test only once per business day. After a first or second failure, wait two days. After three failures you cannot test a fourth time until you complete the in-vehicle part of driver education at an approved school, finished after the third failure, and bring DMV the certificate. DMV gave non-commercial road skills tests free of charge as of the 2018 DMV report; you pay the license fee ($32 for 8 years). Retest rules for driver education tests are not published.
Driver education programs at public, private and commercial schools give the road skills test to students under 18, so they do not test at DMV. Adults who complete driver education take only the knowledge exam. The Commissioner may waive the DMV driving portion for anyone who completes an approved driver education or driver training school course. Holders of a valid license from another U.S. state, Canada, Germany, France, South Korea or Taiwan skip the road test.
Score sheets: DMV examiners score on the Final Road Skills Test Score Sheet (CSMA 09), which is listed in 24VAC20-121. The Class B Driver Training School Manual says schools must request it from DMV Print Services, so it is not posted publicly, and its point values and error limit are unknown. The only public official evaluation form is the Board of Education's 'Commonwealth of Virginia Road Skills Evaluation' in Module Eleven of the Curriculum and Administrative Guide for Driver Education (August 2001), posted as a document incorporated by reference under 8VAC20 on ris.dls.virginia.gov. Its automatic-failure list (seat belt, speed, strikes an object, drives in oncoming lane, disobeys regulatory sign or signal, dangerous maneuver, failure to yield to a school bus or emergency vehicle, turning from improper lane, instructor intervention, other violation of the law) was read from the rendered form page (p. 43) because the PDF's text layer scrambles the table. That is why most automatic-failure entries cite the pass rule instead of the item name. A newer DOE 'Final Road Skills Evaluation' (07/01/2014) circulates through school-division websites. It lists a 30-minute test, at least 2 left turns, 2 right turns and one turnabout, and automatic failure for teacher intervention, dangerous maneuver, disobeying a regulatory sign or signal, striking an object, speeding 5+ mph over the limit, and failure to yield. doe.virginia.gov blocks automated access, so it could not be verified from an official URL and is not cited. The 20-minute DMV test length, the free test, and the two-part test structure come from DMV's 2018 report to the General Assembly (RD475) and may have changed. The DMV route is pre-set at each office; closed-course testing ended September 29, 2024. The DMV maneuver descriptions come from the CSMA 19 practice checklist, which lists maneuvers you 'may be asked to perform'. Beyond turns and U-turns, DMV does not publish which ones every test includes.
Every fact above links to one of these official pages. Checked October 4, 2026.
This guide summarizes official Virginia sources for study. It is not the test itself, and only a DMV examiner (or a tester the state licenses) can pass or fail you. Rules change; confirm with Virginia Department of Motor Vehicles before test day.