Driving Tests

Louisiana Road Skills Test: Third-Party Testers and How It Is Scored

informational·how to guide·Published September 15, 2026

Where do you take the Louisiana road skills test and how do you pass?

You take the Louisiana Class E road skills test at an Office of Motor Vehicles (OMV) office or with an approved third-party tester (TPT). Private driving schools must give it. You need 80 out of 100 points to pass. Speeding 5 mph over the limit or a rolling stop can fail you. The OMV charges no fee for the test, but a TPT does.

Where these rules come from

This guide uses the OMV Road Skills Tests policy 12.00 (revised 09/23/2026), the Class D & E Driver's Guide and the OMV page on the intermediate license. It also uses the OMV FAQ and Permits pages and Louisiana R.S. 32:402.1, 32:407 and 32:408. The rules are as of 2026. When two sources differ, this guide follows the law and then the newer OMV policy. Confirm the rules with the Louisiana Office of Motor Vehicles (expresslane.org) before you drive.

Who gives the Louisiana road skills test?

OMV examiners and approved third-party testers (TPTs) give the Class E road skills test. State law lets the OMV give the tests itself or approve a third party, such as a private training facility or a driver education course provider.
Where you took driver education decides your choice. Private driving schools must give the road skills test. Public school driver education providers do not have to give it. If yours does not, you go to an OMV field office or another TPT.

Where should you take your test?

You took driver education at a private driving school

Go back to that school or to another TPT for the road skills test.

You took driver education at a public high school

The OMV can give your test. If your school does not give it, use an OMV field office or a TPT.

You are 18 or older and take the pre-licensing course

The skills test is part of the course. The guide to the adult pre-licensing course has the details. If you fail the test, you get a certificate that shows you finished the course but failed the test.

OMV or third-party tester: what changes

OMV or third-party tester: what changes
Item	OMV office	Third-party tester (TPT)
Fee	No fee for the road skills test	A fee. Prices vary by location
Vehicle	You bring a vehicle that is licensed, inspected and insured	The TPT may provide a vehicle. Rental fees may apply
Booking and timing	You may need to schedule the test	The TPT may test you up to 30 calendar days before your eligibility date
Weather and heat	No test in inclement weather or unsafe driving conditions, or when the heat index is above 100°F and the vehicle has no working air conditioning	Ask the TPT about its rules

What is on the Louisiana road skills test?

The test checks the rules of the road and how safely you drive in normal traffic. The examiner does not try to trick you, and takes off points for driving errors. The graded skills include backing, yielding the right of way, keeping in lane, parking between cars, following others, attention and your response to signs and signals. The free question on what to do after a stop at a stop sign covers one rule that the test checks.

The maneuvers on the Class E test

Starting and backing out
Straight-in parking
3 left turns and 3 right turns
2 lane changes
2 traffic signals, 2 intersections and 2 stop signs
Also graded: a railroad crossing (not required), speeding, yielding the right of way, lane usage, attention and distraction, time and following

How is the road skills test scored?

Each test starts with 100 points, and each maneuver has a point value. When you do a maneuver wrong, you lose its points. You need 80 out of 100 or higher to pass. After the test, the examiner tells you your errors and the maneuvers that you need to improve.

What makes you fail the road skills test?

A clear traffic violation: speeding 5 mph over the limit, a rolling stop at a stop sign, running a red light, driving on the wrong side of the road or not yielding to an emergency vehicle. The free question on what a posted speed limit means helps you check the basics.
A dangerous action, such as any bumper contact with a fixed object, including running off the road into shrubbery or lawns.
The examiner must take the wheel or use the dual brake, or another driver or a pedestrian must avoid a crash for you.
An accident in which you are at fault.
Lack of cooperation, refusal to do a maneuver, or an offer of a bribe or gift.
Many small mistakes that bring your score below 80 out of 100.

Your own vehicle at the OMV: what it needs

A vehicle that is licensed, inspected and insured, with a current license plate and a valid inspection sticker. If it fails the safety inspection, you may use another vehicle.
Proof of liability insurance and the vehicle registration. Show them when you apply for the test. You cannot be listed as an excluded driver on the policy.
A working speedometer. Before the test starts, you do a safety equipment check of your own vehicle.
No loose objects that could break or cause injury.
For a minor: a custodial or domiciliary parent, tutor or legal guardian comes with you and gives proof that the test vehicle is insured.
No passengers. Only you, the OMV staff member and an interpreter (if you need one) can be in the car.

Retests and the test certificate

After a failed test you get a return date, and you cannot retest before it. The wait is 1 to 30 days, depending on the cause of the failure. If you have no learner's permit, the examiner may recommend one. It is the only legal way to practice driving on the road.
When you pass with a TPT, you get a certificate in a sealed envelope for the OMV. The OMV does not accept the certificate unless the envelope is sealed. The certificate is good for five years from the issue date.

Who needs the Louisiana road skills test?

You take the test to move from the learner's permit to the intermediate license. For that step you must be at least 16 and must have held the permit for at least 180 days. A driver education student needs a Temporary Instructional Permit (TIP) before the on-road skills test. The guide to the 38-hour driver education course explains the TIP. At 17, a full license needs vision, knowledge and road skills tests.

Key takeaways

The OMV or an approved third-party tester gives the Class E road skills test. Private driving schools must give it.
You need 80 out of 100 to pass. Speeding 5 mph over the limit or a rolling stop at a stop sign can fail you.
The OMV charges no fee, but you bring a licensed, inspected and insured vehicle. A TPT charges a fee.
After a fail, the retest wait is 1 to 30 days. A TPT certificate comes in a sealed envelope and is good for five years.
Next step: practice the rules of the road on the free Louisiana Class E practice test. It is in English only.

Louisiana road skills test: common questions

What score do you need to pass the Louisiana road test?

You need at least 80 out of 100. The examiner starts you at 100 points and takes off the point value of each maneuver that you do wrong. One serious error can also fail you, for example running a red light or a bumper contact with a fixed object.

How much does the Louisiana road test cost?

The road skills test at the OMV has no fee. A third-party tester charges a fee, and the price changes from one location to another, so ask the tester for its price. If the tester also provides the car, you may pay a rental fee too.

What car can I use for the Louisiana road test?

At the OMV, you bring the car. It must be licensed, inspected and insured, pass a safety inspection and have a working speedometer. Bring proof of liability insurance, and make sure that you are not listed as an excluded driver on the policy. If the car fails the inspection, you may use another vehicle.

Can my parent ride with me during the Louisiana road test?

No. During an OMV test, only you, the OMV staff member and an interpreter, if you need one, may be in the car. If you are a minor, a parent, tutor or legal guardian must still come with you and show proof that the test car is insured.

How long do I have to wait to retake the Louisiana road test?

The examiner gives you a return date, and you cannot test again before it. The wait is between 1 day and 30 days, and it depends on why you failed. Use the time to practice, with your learner's permit, the maneuvers that the examiner told you to improve.

Can I take the road test before my eligibility date?

Yes, with a third-party tester. A TPT may test you up to 30 calendar days before your eligibility date. The certificate comes in a sealed envelope that you give to the OMV when you apply, and it stays good for five years from the issue date.