Driving Tests

Virginia DMV Road Test: Who Takes It, Car Rules and Retests

informational·how to guide·Published September 1, 2026

Who takes the road skills test at the Virginia DMV?

In Virginia, a driver under 18 takes the road skills test as part of driver education. At 18 or older, you take it at DMV after you hold the learner's permit for 60 days, or through driver education. From January 1, 2027, applicants at least 18 and under 21 need driver education and a 90-day permit. After a fail, wait two days. After three fails, finish in-vehicle driver education.

Where the Virginia road skills test facts come from

The car rules, the items to bring, the walk-in times, the translator rules and the retest rules come from the Virginia DMV road skills test page. The steps by age, including the rules from January 1, 2027, come from the DMV page on how to apply for a driver's license and from Section 46.2-324.1 of the Code of Virginia. The checklist and the wait after a fail come from the Virginia Driver's Manual (DMV 39, April 2026). The rules for drivers from other states and countries come from the DMV page on exchanging a foreign license. This guide is current as of 2026. Confirm the rules with the Virginia Department of Motor Vehicles (dmv.virginia.gov) before you drive.

Who takes the Virginia road skills test, now and from January 1, 2027

Who takes the Virginia road skills test, now and from January 1, 2027
Your age	Rule now (before January 1, 2027)	Rule from January 1, 2027
Under 18	The road skills test is part of the driver education course at a public, private or commercial driving school.	The same. You complete the road skills test through your driver education program.
At least 18 and under 21	Hold the learner's permit for 60 days before the first road skills test, or finish driver education.	Finish driver education and hold the permit for at least 90 days. You complete the road skills test through your driver education program.
21 or older	Hold the permit for 60 days before the first road skills test, or finish driver education.	The same two options. With the 60-day option, you take the knowledge exam and the road skills test.

Where an adult takes the road skills test: driving school or DMV

An adult who finishes driver education takes the road skills test with the driver training school. The course also waives the 60-day permit hold and the DMV test. An adult who skips driver education must hold the permit for 60 days and complete the behind-the-wheel checklist (CSMA 19) before the DMV test. A driving school student can still choose to have DMV give the test. From January 1, 2027, the 60-day option stays only for applicants 21 or older. For the full changes, read our guide to the Virginia driver education requirements for 2027.

What your car needs for the Virginia road skills test

You must provide the vehicle. A rental car or Zipcar works only if you are listed on the rental agreement as an authorized driver.
A valid safety inspection sticker, license plates and a registration card.
Working brakes, safety belts, horn, lights, turn signals, mirrors and a speedometer.
No autocycle: the test cannot be taken in one.
If a translator rides with you, a back seat that also has safety belts.

What to bring to the road skills test

Your learner's permit.
Proof of a state-approved driver education class, or a completed In-Car Maneuvers Observation Record. The Driver's Manual calls this form the behind-the-wheel checklist (CSMA 19).
On the checklist, a licensed driver certifies that he or she was with you while you practiced the driving tasks. These are tasks that you may be asked to do on the test, so practice each one, for example how to look behind you when you back out of a driveway.
If you passed the knowledge exam but did not get a learner's permit: the documents for an original Virginia driver's license.
A translator or interpreter, only if you need one.

Is the road skills test in English? Can a translator ride along?

The road skills test is in the vehicle, on the road and in English. If you need language help, you can bring a translator or an American Sign Language (ASL) interpreter. The person must be at least 18 years old and hold an unexpired U.S. driver's license. DMV does not provide one. A language translator rides in the back seat and translates each instruction well before the maneuver. An ASL interpreter sits in the front seat. Our practice tests are free and in English only.

Walk-in times and appointments

Walk-in applicants must be present by 4:30 p.m. Monday through Friday, or by 11:30 a.m. on Saturday, to test that day. Walk-ins are first come, first served, so waits vary by location. If you have a scheduled appointment, arrive 15 minutes before it.

What happens if you fail the road skills test

You fail once or twice

Wait two days before you test again. You can take the test only once per business day.

You fail three times at DMV

You cannot take the test a fourth time until you complete and pass the in-vehicle part of driver education at an approved driver training school. You must finish it after the date of your third fail. Then give DMV your certificate of completion and test again.

Do drivers from other states or countries skip the road skills test?

You are 18 or older and have a license from another U.S. state that is not expired for more than one year

You need no driver training and no road skills test.

You are 18 or older with a valid license from a U.S. territory, a Canadian province, France, Germany, Japan or South Korea

You must pass a vision screening, but you may not need the two-part knowledge exam or the road skills test.

You are 18 or older with a valid license from Taiwan

You must pass a vision screening and the two-part knowledge exam. You may not be required to take the road skills test.

You have a license from any other country, or you are under 18

Under 18, you cannot exchange a foreign license and must finish all testing. At 18 or older, you take the two-part knowledge exam, the road skills test and a vision screening, but you may not need to hold a permit for 60 days. Read our guide to a foreign driver's license in Virginia.

Japanese licenses: two DMV texts differ

The DMV page on exchanging a foreign license lists Japan as a reciprocal country. The April 2026 Driver's Manual does not list Japan among the licenses that skip the road skills test. If you hold a Japanese license, follow the DMV exchange page and ask DMV which tests you must take.

Key takeaways

Under 18, the road skills test is part of driver education. At 18 or older, you take it at DMV after 60 days with the permit, or with the driver training school.
From January 1, 2027, an applicant at least 18 and under 21 needs driver education and a permit held for at least 90 days.
Bring your permit and proof of driver education or the checklist (CSMA 19). The car needs a valid inspection sticker, plates and registration.
Walk-ins must arrive by 4:30 p.m. Monday to Friday or 11:30 a.m. Saturday. After a fail, wait two days. After three fails, finish in-vehicle driver education.
Next step: practice on the free Virginia passenger practice test.

Virginia road skills test: common questions

Can I take the Virginia road skills test in a rental car?

Yes, but only if you are listed on the rental agreement as an authorized driver. The same rule applies to a Zipcar. The car must still have a valid safety inspection sticker, license plates, a registration card and working brakes, safety belts, horn, lights, turn signals, mirrors and speedometer.

Can I retake the road skills test the next day if I fail?

No. After a fail, you must wait two days before you can take the road skills test again, and you can take it only once per business day. If you fail three times at DMV, you must first complete and pass the in-vehicle part of driver education at an approved driver training school.

Can my parent or a friend translate during the road test?

Yes. A translator can be a family member, friend or community member who is at least 18 years old and holds an unexpired U.S. driver's license. The translator shows that license to DMV and certifies that he or she agrees to the test rules. A language translator rides in the back seat, so the car needs a back seat with safety belts.

What happens if my translator talks to me during the test?

The translator may only translate each instruction from the examiner and what you say during the test. Other talk is not allowed, except in an emergency or when there is danger. The first time of unneeded talk gets a warning. The second time is an automatic fail of the road skills test.

Can I take the Virginia road skills test on a closed course?

No. After September 29, 2024, closed course testing is no longer available at any DMV customer service center. All road skills tests are in the vehicle and on the road. If you need a translator or an interpreter, you can take the test with that person at any of the 75 DMV customer service centers.