Driving Tests

Arkansas Driving Test: What to Bring, Car Rules, What Fails

informational·how to guide·Published October 10, 2026

What do you need to bring to the Arkansas driving (skills) test?

Bring your original instruction permit (not photocopied or laminated), a licensed driver who is 21 or older with a valid hard copy license, current proof of insurance and valid registration for your own vehicle. Book an appointment first. Your car must pass the examiner's check. The permit is valid for 2 years and cannot be renewed or extended.

Where the Arkansas skills test facts come from

The bring-list, car rules, permit limits and weather rule come from the Arkansas State Police 1-2-3 Skills Checklist (revised October 6, 2026). The vehicle controls, road test grading, penalties and license names come from the Arkansas Driver License Study Guide (Edition 10, October 2026). The permit rules also use Act 550 of 2023 and Act 928 of 2025. The rules in this guide are as of 2026. Confirm the rules with the Arkansas DFA Office of Driver Services (dfa.arkansas.gov) and the Arkansas State Police before you drive.

What to bring on skills test day

What to bring on skills test day
Item	Rule
Instruction permit	The original. Do not photocopy it and do not laminate it.
Licensed driver	A licensed driver who is 21 or older rides in the front passenger seat. This person shows a hard copy license to the examiner. The license must be valid, not expired, suspended or revoked.
Proof of insurance	A paper card or an electronic card. It must be current.
Vehicle registration	Valid registration for the vehicle you drive.
Glasses or contacts	Bring them if you wear them.
Immigration documents	If you have them, bring all of them each time.

How to get to the Arkansas skills test

1
Get your instruction permit
You must be at least 14 years old and pass the knowledge exam and the vision test. The permit is issued for 2 years from the date you pass the knowledge exam. Our Arkansas instruction permit guide explains this step.
2
Practice with a licensed driver
The permit lets you practice driving with a licensed driver who is 21 or older. Since April 11, 2023, the law has no 30-day minimum permit time. You must still hold a valid permit before the skills test.
3
Book the driving portion
Make an appointment for the driving portion on the ASP skills scheduling page. You must have the permit before you schedule.
4
Check your car
You use your own vehicle. Check it against the car rules below before test day.
5
Pass the test, then get the license
Pass the skills test and buy your license at any Arkansas Revenue Office before the permit's 2 years end.

Arkansas skills test car rules: what gets your car turned away

Arkansas skills test car rules: what gets your car turned away
Part of the car	What the examiner denies
Overall condition	A car that is not clean and in good mechanical condition. A very dirty interior. Warning lights on the dash. Serious defects, such as bad brakes.
Windshield	Damage that affects the driver's view. Cracks outside the line of view are reviewed before testing.
Windshield brow	A brow that measures more than 5 inches from the center of the windshield.
Window tint	Tint darker than 25% on the front windows or darker than 10% on the back windows. No tint at all on the front windshield.
Tires	Tires with no tread, exposed wires or wear that makes them unsafe. A donut spare is not allowed on the car.
Lights, horn, speedometer, exhaust	Lights, a horn or a speedometer that does not work. A muffler or exhaust system that does not operate correctly.

Can you ask for a windshield check before test day?

Yes. To have your windshield checked ahead of time, visit your local Arkansas State Police Troop Headquarters. The examiner does not test a car that is denied, so fix damaged glass, dark tint, worn tires or a failed light before test day. To review how worn tires change the way a car drives, try our free practice question on bald tires.

The vehicle controls part: what the examiner asks you to find

Rear turn signals and front turn signals
Brake lights
Horn
Adjust the side mirrors and the rearview mirror
Emergency flashers
Headlights (turn on and turn off)
Windshield wipers

How many controls can you miss on the Arkansas skills test?

The examiner asks you to identify each control on the list above. Each control that you cannot find counts as a missed control. You are allowed three missed controls before the test is failed. If you are not familiar with the controls, the examiner does not give the test. Practice finding each control in the car that you will use before the appointment.

What fails the Arkansas road test?

On the road, the examiner grades how well you know the rules of the road. Two missed attempts in the same category fail the test. For example, the examiner warns you at your first rolling stop. A second rolling stop gives you a two-week penalty. An automatic failure gives a 30-day penalty. A violation of any law can also give you a failing grade. Review the full stop with our free question on stop signs.

What if the weather is bad or your permit runs out?

The weather is not safe for testing

Skills tests happen only in weather that is safe for testing. The Troop Commander decides whether to cancel skills exams. A cancellation does not extend your permit.

Your permit reaches 2 years before you finish

The permit cannot be renewed or extended, and there are no exceptions. If you do not pass the skills test and buy the license in time, you retake all phases of the driver's exam.

You pass the skills test

Go to any Arkansas Revenue Office to get your license. Your valid instruction permit must show that you finished the knowledge exam, the vision test and the skills test.

Which license do you get after you pass?

The study guide gives three licenses by age: a Learner's License between 14 and 16, an Intermediate License between 16 and 18, and a Class D License at 18 or older. A 2025 law (Act 928) also lets DFA issue an intermediate license to drivers who are 16 or older. If you are 18 or older, ask the DFA Office of Driver Services which license you will get. For the teen limits, see our guide to the Arkansas intermediate license.

Key takeaways

Bring your original permit, a licensed driver who is 21 or older (hard copy license), current insurance and valid registration. Book the appointment first.
The car must be clean and in good condition, with working lights, horn and speedometer. Tint darker than 25% in front or 10% in back is denied, and so is any tint on the windshield.
You are allowed three missed vehicle controls before the test is failed. Two missed attempts in the same road test category fail the test with a two-week penalty. An automatic failure brings a 30-day penalty.
The permit lasts 2 years and cannot be renewed or extended, also not for bad weather.
Next step: review the rules of the road on the free Arkansas Class D practice test.

Arkansas driving test: common questions

Do I need an appointment for the Arkansas driving test?

Yes. Schedule the driving portion on the Arkansas State Police scheduling site. In the list of appointment types, choose the driver's license and motorcycle skills test. You must have your instruction permit before you can schedule it. On test day, bring the permit, your licensed driver, proof of insurance and the registration.

What happens if I fail the Arkansas driving test?

Two missed attempts in the same road test category fail the test and give a two-week penalty. An automatic failure gives a 30-day penalty. More missed vehicle controls than the three that are allowed also fail the test. Your permit still ends 2 years after your knowledge exam, so leave time for a second attempt.

Can the person who rides with me show a digital driver's license?

No. The licensed driver who rides with you must show a hard copy license to the examiner. The license must be valid, and not expired, suspended or revoked. This person must be 21 or older and sit in the front passenger seat while you drive.

Can I record my Arkansas driving test with a dashcam or a phone?

No. Cameras and recording devices are not allowed at the Arkansas skills test. This rule is on the Arkansas State Police 1-2-3 Skills Checklist, with the car rules. If your car has a dashcam, turn it off or remove it before the test, and keep your phone put away.