Driving Tests

Utah Driving Skills Test: Where to Test and What Fails You

informational·how to guide·Published July 23, 2026

Where do I take the Utah driving skills test and what fails me?

Take the Utah driving skills test at a Driver License Division (DLD) office from age 16, or from age 15 with a Third-Party Tester or your high school. All tests are by appointment. At the DLD, you bring your own registered, safe car. A rolling stop, not yielding, an avoidable crash or the examiner taking control fails you at once.

Where these rules come from

This guide uses the DLD driving skills test page, the Utah Driver Handbook 2026 (section 6 C) and Utah Code 53-3-205, as of 2026. Confirm the rules with the Utah Driver License Division (dld.utah.gov) before you drive.

Where can you take the Utah driving skills test?

At a DLD office, from age 16. You bring your own registered car that meets safety laws and has working seat belts.
With a Third-Party Tester, from age 15. The tester is a commercial driver education instructor whom the DLD certifies, and the tester charges a separate testing fee that is not part of the DLD license fees. After the test, you schedule a license appointment at the DLD.
Through your high school driver education course, from age 15. The Utah driver education rules explain the course path.
If you are 15 to 17, hold your learner permit for at least six months first. You can test at 15, but you must be 16 to apply for a Utah license.

What the examiner scores on the Utah road test

Your general behavior and attitude, and proper driving technique
Driving posture and correct use of lanes
Left, right and three-point turns
Starting and stopping
Parking on a hill, between cars and parallel parking
Traffic signs and signals, backing, U-turns and steering control
Attention at intersections
Your overall ability to drive safely

Lane changes, parallel parking and driver-assist features

The examiner gives you directions and scores specific maneuvers, including multiple lane changes. You will not be asked to do anything unsafe or illegal. Before each lane change, signal for at least two seconds and turn your head to check your blind spot. After a parallel park, your car should be no more than 12 inches from the curb; test yourself with a question on the curb distance. You cannot use certain driver-assist features, such as parking assist and cruise control, during the test.

What your test vehicle needs

What your test vehicle needs
Item	Requirement
Condition	Registered, clean, free of unnecessary debris and odor, and safe to drive
Plates	The rear plate shows current registration. A front plate is not required after January 1, 2025
Lights	Front and back turn signals and working brake lights
Horn and brakes	A working horn, enough brake pressure and a working parking brake
Tires	No bald spots
Windows and mirrors	A driver's window that rolls down, a windshield with a clear view, and two rearview mirrors (one outside, on the driver's left)
Doors and seats	Driver and front passenger doors that open from inside and outside, and a passenger seat that is permanently attached
Seat belts	Working seat belts

What fails you on the Utah driving skills test

Speeding, not obeying signs, signals or traffic laws, or a ticket for a moving violation
A rolling stop. Check the rule with a question on a rolling stop during the skills test
Not yielding to pedestrians or other road users
An avoidable crash, or contact with another vehicle, an object or a pedestrian
Any unsafe act, or an act that forces another driver to take sudden action to avoid a crash
Driving over a sidewalk or curb when you do not need to
Driving too fast or too slow
The examiner has to take control of the car

What to do on test day

1
Have your appointment
Book the test on the DLD website, or book with a Third-Party Tester.
2
Bring your papers
Bring your learner permit or license certificate, valid vehicle registration and valid insurance.
3
Bring a licensed driver to the office
Bring the valid license of the person who drives to the DLD office with you: a person 21 or older, or a parent, guardian or spouse 18 or older. This person does not ride in the car during the test.
4
Drive the test
Only you and the examiner are in the car. Follow the examiner's directions.
5
Hear your result
At the end, the examiner discusses your result and gives tips to improve.

If you fail or cannot test

You fail the test

Practice before the next test. You can take only one skills test per day, and you may wait several days or weeks for the next one.

You fail three times

You pay another fee. Finish all tests within six months: the handbook counts from the day you pay your fee, and Utah Code 53-3-205 counts from your application date.

The weather is bad, or your car is unregistered or unsafe

The DLD does not give the test. A broken windshield or missing seat belts are examples of an unsafe car. You must reschedule.

You arrive at the DLD before you meet the requirements

For example, you are not 16 yet. You must reschedule the test.

The examiner doubts your driving ability

The examiner can ask you to do more testing.

After you pass: temporary license, card and fee

If you tested with a Third-Party Tester or in driver education, your results go to the DLD automatically. After you pass all required tests, you get a temporary license the same day. The card comes by mail in about 4 to 6 weeks. The original regular license fee is $52 (U.S. dollars) if you are 21 or older and $39 if you are 20 or younger, and it is not refundable. A regular license expires in eight years if you are 21 or older and in five years if you are 20 or younger.

Key takeaways

Test at a DLD office from age 16, or with a Third-Party Tester or your high school from age 15. All tests are by appointment.
At the DLD, bring your own registered car with working seat belts, lights, horn, brakes and two mirrors.
A rolling stop, not yielding, an avoidable crash, driving over a curb or the examiner taking control fails you at once.
After three failed tests, you pay another fee. Finish all tests within six months.
Next step: practice the stop sign and parking rules on the free Utah Class D practice test.

Utah driving skills test: common questions

Can my parent ride with me during the Utah driving test?

No. Only you and the examiner may be in the car during the skills test. Your parent can still drive to the DLD office with you. At the office, you show the valid license of that parent, guardian or spouse (18 or older), or of another person 21 or older.

Can I use my own car for the Utah road test?

Yes. At a DLD office you must bring your own car. It must be registered and safe, with working seat belts, lights, horn and brakes, tires with no bald spots and two mirrors. If an item is missing, you may have to reschedule, so check the car before test day.

How many times can I take the Utah driving skills test?

One license application and fee give you three tries. After three failures, you pay another fee. You can take only one skills test per day, and the next open appointment can be several days or weeks away. All tests must be done within six months.

What is a Third-Party Tester in Utah?

A Third-Party Tester is a commercial driver education instructor who completes a five-day training program and gets DLD certification to give the regular skills test. The tester charges a separate fee, which is not part of the DLD license fees, and sends your results to the DLD electronically.

Can I use cruise control or parking assist on the Utah driving test?

No. During the skills test you cannot use certain driver-assist features, such as parking assist and cruise control. You stay responsible for the traffic around you, so use your mirrors and head checks. Practice hill parking and parallel parking without parking assist before test day.

Can I take the Utah driving test at 15?

Yes, with a Third-Party Tester or your high school, but not at a DLD office, which tests from age 16. If you are 15 to 17, you must first hold your learner permit for at least six months. You must be 16 to apply for your Utah license.