Road Skills Test

You must take the road skills test if you do not hold a valid driver's license, and you must provide a vehicle for the test. The vehicle must have a valid safety inspection sticker, license plates, registration card, and working brakes, safety belts, horn, lights, turn signals, mirrors and speedometer.

The road skills test will be administered by a DMV representative. Only the applicant and the DMV representative are allowed in the vehicle during the road skills test. The test may be taken only once per business day. For applicants under age 19, the road skills test will be given as part of the driver education course taken at a public, private or commercial driving school.

Regardless of age, if you fail the road skills test three times at a CSC, you must complete the behind the wheel portion of driver education from a Virginia approved Driver Training School and present the Driver Education Certificate with a completion date that is after the date of the third test failure to satisfy eligibility requirements for re-examination at a customer service center. Re-examination requirements for home-schooled students can be found in the Home-Schooled Re-Examination Requirements Information Sheet" (HS 4).

The road skills test is offered at all DMV customer service centers except the Fair Oaks Mall location.

A Footnote about Footwear

Please remember that proper shoes play a big part in driving safety.

Drivers should wear safe footwear that does not have an open heel (such as flip-flops or sandals), because these types of shoes can slip off and wedge under accelerator or brake pedals. High-heeled shoes can also be problematic, because heels can get caught in or under floor mats and delay accelerating or braking when needed. Driving in bare feet or in just socks or stockings can also be dangerous, as your feet may slip off the gas or brake pedals.

Sneakers or low heel flat shoes are encouraged.