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The Alaska road test grades you on 12 driving tasks, and six kinds of mistake end it as an automatic fail. This guide is for Alaska learners booking a road test with the DMV or a third-party tester. It covers what you are graded on, the vehicle check, what to bring, the $15 DMV fee and how soon you can retake.
Key facts (as of November 2026)
- DMV road test fee: $15, non-refundable. Third-party testers set their own fees.
- Under 18: permit held at least 6 months with no violations in the last 6 months.
- Parallel parking space: 10 feet wide by 30 feet long, marked with cones.
- Retake: normally after 2 business days (Monday to Friday, not state or federal holidays).
- Nobody else may ride along: no passengers and no animals.
The 12 tasks on the Alaska road test
The Alaska Driver Manual lists the tasks you are graded on:
- Starting and stopping
- Parking parallel or a 3-point turn
- Quick stop
- Backing
- Use of turn signals
- Left and right turns
- Proper lane change
- Speed control
- Following a vehicle
- Traffic signs and signals
- Intersection observance
- General control of the vehicle
The DMV road test page adds the use of vehicle equipment (mirrors, brakes), entering and exiting a freeway, and stop signs to its list of what to expect. Practice freeway merges before test day: freeway driving for new drivers.
What the examiner looks for in each tricky task
| Task | What the manual teaches |
|---|---|
| Parallel parking | Stop level with the front car, about a foot and a half out, bumpers even. Back with the wheel hard right to about 45 degrees, straighten, then turn hard left when your front bumper passes its rear bumper. Finish within 12 inches of the curb without touching the car behind. |
| 3-point turn | Signal right and stop at the far right. Signal left, check traffic and turn across until you face the opposite curb. Check again, turn the wheels fully right and back up. Stop, check, then drive forward. |
| Backing | Do not rely on mirrors. Turn your body and head to look out the rear window. Back slowly, no faster than about 5 mph. |
| Turn signals | Signal continuously for the last 100 feet before the turn, and cancel the signal after. |
| Following | Keep at least a four-second gap. |
| Stop signs | Stop fully behind the crosswalk or stop line, then yield before going. |
Backup cameras and parking sensors are allowed as aids only. The DMV says you must still show safe habits such as proper head position and mirror use.
Automatic fails on the Alaska road test
You automatically fail for any of these:
- Violation of a traffic law
- Dangerous driving action
- Lack of cooperation or refusal to perform
- Contributing to a crash
- Inability to perform a required driving task
- Driving ability that does not meet required standards
The DMV says any violation of law, failure to perform, unsafe act or contribution to a crash stops the exam. Typical traffic law violations to avoid: rolling a stop sign, speeding, failing to yield to a pedestrian, and crossing a solid yellow line in your lane. More: common reasons people fail the US driving test.
Vehicle inspection before the test
You supply the vehicle. The examiner checks it first and can refuse or delay the test until any defects are fixed. The DMV road test page requires:
- All lights working (headlights, parking lights, brake lights, taillights, front and rear turn signals, 4-way flashers), with real lenses, not tape
- A windshield with no cracks in the field of vision, plus working wipers and defroster
- A tight exhaust and muffler
- Good tires (tread, inflation, condition)
- Working brakes, including the emergency or parking brake
- All mirrors working, a working horn and a working speedometer
- A passenger seat, and seat belts for you and the examiner
- A rear plate with current month and year tabs
- Doors that open from inside and outside
- Enough fuel for a 30-minute exam (1/4 tank)
- No mirrored or aftermarket window tint (illegal under 13 AAC 04.223 and in Anchorage)
- Studded tires only where and when they are legal
What to bring
| Under 18 | 18 or older |
|---|---|
| Valid Alaska instruction permit held 6 months with no violations in the last 6 months (time on an out-of-state permit you converted counts) | Instruction permit, or general knowledge test scores from the last year |
| Parent or guardian with proof of relationship, or a notarized form 433 | Not needed |
| Corrective lenses if your permit has restriction 1; outside rearview mirrors if it has restriction 2 | |
| Current insurance (printed or on a device) showing the vehicle description and VIN; printed current registration | |
| If renting: your name on the rental agreement as an authorized driver | |
Lost your permit? Replace it well before test day. An online replacement takes about a week to reach your email.
Booking: DMV or third-party tester
DMV road tests
- Book online or by calling 907-269-5551. The manual says some locations allow booking from 24 hours to 60 days ahead.
- Pay the $15 fee by credit card when you book. You get a reminder email 3 days before the test.
- The DMV road test page says you can reschedule for no fee up to 24 hours before.
- No refund if you cancel, fail to appear, or fail because of an unsafe vehicle, wrong registration or no proof of insurance. The manual sets the cancellation cutoff at 72 hours before the test.
Third-party testers
Driving schools and DMV Business Partner offices can give road tests. They are independent businesses that set their own fees. The manual notes they typically offer a vehicle for the test and more flexible hours. The DMV lists them under Driving Schools on its website.
On the day
- Turn your cell phone off.
- Skip the perfume or cologne. The DMV asks you not to wear it.
- Ask questions before or after the test, not during it. The examiner gives instructions throughout and will not ask you to do anything illegal.
- Afterwards, the examiner explains how to correct any errors. If you fail, they tell you what to practice and when you can come back.
Common questions
Is parallel parking on the Alaska road test?
Yes. The manual lists “parking parallel/3 point turn” as a graded task, and the DMV road test page lists both parallel parking and the 3-point turn. The space is 10 by 30 feet. For other states, see US road test by state.
How soon can I retake the Alaska road test?
Normally after 2 business days. The manual says the nonrefundable test fee is paid before each driving test.
Can I take the road test in winter with studded tires?
You do not need studded tires for a winter test. If you have them during a period when they are not legal, you will not be allowed to test.
Can my parent ride along?
No. Nobody may go with you and the examiner, and animals are not allowed either. Under 18, your parent comes to give consent once you pass.
My windshield is cracked. Can I still test?
Only if the crack is not in your line of sight or the examiner’s. The examiner decides.
Do I need a road test for an off-highway license?
No. An off-highway license for communities off the road system is issued without a road test. To remove that restriction later, you pass a road test at a DMV office or driving school.
Back to the full guide: learning to drive in Alaska. Before booking, check your hours: Alaska 40 hour supervised driving certification. After passing: Alaska provisional license rules.
Sources
- Alaska Division of Motor Vehicles, “Alaska Driver Manual” (Rev. 10/2025) (dmv.alaska.gov)
- Alaska Division of Motor Vehicles, “Road Test Information” (dmv.alaska.gov)
- Alaska Division of Motor Vehicles, “License Fee Info” (dmv.alaska.gov)
- Alaska Division of Motor Vehicles, “Guide to Rural Driving Information” (dmv.alaska.gov)