Photo: Mr. Matté, CC BY-SA 4.0, via Wikimedia Commons
For the Connecticut road test, you need your learner’s permit, a completed Form R-229, your appointment confirmation, and a registered, insured, mechanically safe vehicle. Your driving school sends your training certificate to the DMV electronically. Under 18s must also have their qualified trainer at the office to sign. This checklist covers what to bring, what the DMV agent checks, the vehicle faults that cancel a test, and what happens if you fail.
Key facts (Connecticut DMV, checked November 2026)
- Eligible after 120 days on the permit (driving school or high school route), 180 days (home training) or 90 days (18 and older), with training complete.
- Training proof: the driver education certificate (EDEC, called CS-1 in the 2023 manual), sent electronically by a Connecticut-licensed driving school.
- Fees as of November 2026: road test covered by the $40 testing fee, $84 license fee, $40 for each retest.
- Fail: rebook online within 72 hours, for a date at least 2 weeks after the failed test.
- Arrive 15 minutes early. An unlicensed driver may not drive to the test alone.
Connecticut road test checklist: what to bring
- The Road Test Appointment Confirmation Page (emailed when you book; you can also get it online with your PIN).
- A fully completed Form R-229 (Application for Non-Commercial Driver’s License).
- Your learner’s permit. Without it you will not be tested. If you cannot get a duplicate in time, you lose the appointment and pay a new exam fee.
- A properly registered and insured vehicle that suits the license class.
- The valid registration certificate. Bring it into the office.
- A Connecticut insurance card in the same name as the registration (leased vehicles can show the lessee). Out-of-state registered cars need the insurance declaration page showing Connecticut minimum coverage.
- Your driver education certificate (EDEC). The school sends it electronically after you finish the course.
- Under 18: your qualified trainer, present at the DMV office, to sign that all driver education and practice driving requirements are met.
- A DMV Medical Review clearance letter, only if one was required for you.
- Out-of-country license holders: a translation by a DMV-approved translator if the license is not in English.
Is your car allowed for the Connecticut road test?
The vehicle must be mechanically safe. If it is not, the test will not go ahead and you must reschedule. Common reasons a car is turned away:
- Cracked or damaged windows or windshield
- A brake light or turn signal that does not work, including the high-mount third brake light
- Dashboard warning lights on (for example, SRS or ABS)
- Worn or damaged tires, or missing lug nuts
- Defective seat belts, speedometer or brakes
- After-market window tint without a CT DMV tint compliance sticker on the inspection report
- An ignition interlock device fitted when you are not required by law to use one
You cannot use a rental car if you do not hold a valid license. A long-term leased car is fine if it is properly insured.
What does the Connecticut road test check?
Before you drive, the DMV agent checks that you understand common driving phrases and commands, and checks the vehicle’s condition. During the test you are assessed on:
| Area | What the agent looks for |
|---|---|
| Preparing to drive | Adjusting the seat, mirrors, steering wheel and seat belt |
| Vehicle controls | Wipers and washers, heater and defroster, parking brake, headlights and high beams, horn. Recognizing dashboard warning lights |
| Traffic controls | Responding to signs, signals and road markings, and signaling correctly |
| Other road users | Yielding right-of-way, responding to emergency vehicles |
| Basic skills | Turns, backing up and parking |
| Directed maneuvers | Anything else the agent or inspector asks for |
Skills to practice first (from the Connecticut manual)
- Speed: choose a proper speed and hold it. Reach driving speed in a reasonable time.
- Turning: know which lane to turn from and which lane to turn into.
- Right-of-way: know when to yield, and recognize when another driver is yielding to you.
- Yellow lights: know when you must stop and when it is safe to keep going.
- Backing: keep full control in reverse.
- Parking: enter and leave any style of space, park at a curb in front of, behind or between cars, and park on a hill.
- Hand signals: be ready to show left turn, right turn and slow or stop.
During the test
- Before getting in, look around for parked cars, people or objects.
- Make sure the windows and mirrors are clean and clear.
- Press the brake before shifting out of park.
- Keep a space cushion, stop smoothly and signal every time.
- Adjust your speed for turns, and watch for pedestrians as you turn.
See also common reasons people fail the US driving test and road tests by state.
Connecticut road test fees and rescheduling
| Item | Amount or rule (as of November 2026) |
|---|---|
| Testing fee | $40, paid when you booked the permit tests. It also covers the road test |
| License fee | $84 |
| Retest after a fail | $40 |
| Rescheduling | At least 3 days before the appointment, or you lose the prepaid fee |
| Bad weather | If testing is cancelled, you get an email with rebooking steps. If testing goes ahead and you do not show, you lose the fee |
If you fail the Connecticut road test
- Go online within 72 hours of the failed test to rebook.
- Pick a date at least 2 weeks (14 days) after the first test.
- Pay another $40 testing fee.
After you pass
You get a temporary paper card at the office, and the permanent license comes by mail. If you took the road test at a driving school that offers testing, the DMV says to wait 48 hours before taking your passed Road Test Evaluation Report to a DMV office. Under 18s then drive under the Connecticut teen driver restrictions.
Common questions
Do I need the CS-1 form for the Connecticut road test?
You need proof of training. The DMV now calls it the EDEC driver education certificate, and the 2023 manual calls it the CS-1. The Connecticut-licensed driving school sends it to the DMV electronically once you finish the course.
Can my driving instructor’s car be used?
Yes, if it is registered, insured, safe and appropriate for the license class.
Does my parent have to come to the road test?
If you are under 18, your qualified trainer must be at the DMV office to sign that your training is complete. That is usually the parent who trained you.
Is parallel parking on the Connecticut road test?
The DMV lists backing and parking as assessed skills. The manual tells you to practice curb parking in front of, behind and between cars, and parking on a hill. Practice all of them.
How long do I wait after failing?
At least 14 days, and you must rebook within 72 hours of the failed test.
What if I have not done the 8-hour course?
You cannot take the road test. See the Connecticut 8-hour Safe Driving Practices course and the full Connecticut licensing guide.
Sources
- Connecticut Department of Motor Vehicles, “Taking the road test” (portal.ct.gov)
- Connecticut Department of Motor Vehicles, “Teen driver’s license information” (portal.ct.gov)
- Connecticut Department of Motor Vehicles, “Take the knowledge and vision tests” (portal.ct.gov)
- Connecticut Department of Motor Vehicles, “Get an adult learner’s permit” (portal.ct.gov)
- Connecticut Department of Motor Vehicles, “Fees” (portal.ct.gov)
- Connecticut Department of Motor Vehicles, “State of Connecticut Driver’s Manual” (revised March 2023) (portal.ct.gov)