What to expect on your drive test

Drive test requirements

Below is a list of what we will test you on once you're behind the wheel:

1. Starting your vehicle

2. Leaving the curb

• Signal and wait until it's safe to re-enter traffic

3. Controlling the vehicle

• Use the gas pedal, brake, steering wheel, and other controls correctly
• Change your speed to meet:
  • The number and speed of other vehicles and pedestrians
  • Road and weather conditions
  • Construction
  • Amount of light
  • The distance you can see ahead

4. Driving in traffic

• Use the proper lane
• Signal to change lanes
• Change lanes carefully
• Follow other vehicles at a safe distance
• Turn your head and look back before changing lanes
• Signal the proper distance before turning

5. Obeying traffic signals and signs

• Turn into the proper lane without cutting the lane or going wide into the improper lane
• Scan carefully for signs, signals, pedestrians, and other vehicles, yield, and take the right-of-way correctly

6. Driving through blind or crowded intersections

• Scan carefully for signs, signals, pedestrians, and other vehicles
• Yield and take the right-of-way correctly

7. Stopping

• Stop smoothly and at the right spot
• Stop quickly and safely in an emergency

8. Backing up

• Look over your right shoulder
• Back in a straight line
• Have complete control of your car

9. Judging distance

• Stay a safe distance away from:
  • Other cars when following or passing
  • People walking or riding on the roadway

10. Respectful driving

• Be courteous to other drivers, pedestrians, and bicyclists
• Pay full attention to the driving task

11. Performing specific maneuvers 

• Arm signals for right/left turn and slow or stop (you may use your arm signals during the test)
• A brake reaction test/emergency stop: you will be asked to put your foot on the gas pedal and step on the brake as fast as possible when told to stop
• Parking on a hill: you will park as if you were going to leave your car there unattended
• Parallel parking: you will parallel park without parking assist features on your vehicle
• Simulating backing out of a driveway or alley into traffic using a corner: you will be directed to back your vehicle around the corner to the right, staying as close to the street as you can, and continue backing in a straight line until directed to stop

New Driver Toolkit (printable)

Use the printable pages below to take along and practice your driving skills.