Photo: Brandonrush, CC0, via Wikimedia Commons
The Arkansas driving test (the State Police call it the skills exam) is the last test before your learner’s, intermediate or Class D license. You drive your own car with an Arkansas State Police (ASP) examiner. The examiner first checks your paperwork and the car, then asks you to find the controls, then scores your driving. Here is what gets a car turned away, how scoring works and what a fail costs you.
Key facts (as of November 2026)
- You must hold an instruction permit and book an appointment for the driving portion.
- A licensed driver aged 21 or older must come with you, show a hard-copy license and ride in the front passenger seat.
- You can miss up to three controls in the controls check before you fail.
- Two mistakes in the same category on the road is a fail with a two-week wait. An automatic failure means a 30-day wait.
- Window tint darker than 25% on the front or 10% on the back means no test.
- Pass the test and buy your license before your permit’s 2-year expiry, or you retake every part of the exam.
What to bring to the Arkansas skills test
ASP’s 1-2-3 Skills Checklist (revised October 6, 2026):
- Your original instruction permit. No photocopies, and it must not be laminated.
- A valid licensed driver aged 21 or older with a hard-copy license that is not expired, suspended or revoked.
- Current proof of insurance (paper or electronic) and current vehicle registration.
Also bring glasses or contacts if you wear them, and all immigration documents if you have them. Cameras and recording devices are not allowed.
Will your car pass? The pre-test inspection
The examiner inspects the car for defects. Under the study guide and the skills checklist, there is no test if:
- the interior is excessively dirty
- any light does not work
- the windshield has damage in the driver’s line of view (cracks elsewhere are reviewed first)
- the windshield has any tint, or a tint brow more than 5 inches from the center of the windshield
- side and rear tint is darker than 25% on the front or 10% on the back
- the muffler or exhaust is faulty, or the horn or speedometer does not work
- the tires are unsafe (no tread or exposed wires), or a donut spare is fitted
- there are serious mechanical defects, such as bad brakes
- the car is not properly licensed, with the plate properly displayed
- you are unfamiliar with the car’s controls
Make sure no warning lights are showing on the dashboard. If you are unsure about a windshield, your local Troop Headquarters can check it before test day.
Quick home check
| Item | How to check |
|---|---|
| Brake lights | Have a helper press the brake while you look at both sides of the rear |
| Turn signals, tail lights, headlights | Switch them on, step out and walk around the car |
| Tires | Penny test: put Lincoln’s head upside down in the tread. If you can see the top of his head, replace the tire. Tread under 1/16 inch is unsafe. |
| Windshield | Clean, and no more than one crack in the 8-inch-wide strip through the center of the driver’s wiper area |
| Horn, wipers, speedometer | All working |
Part 1: the vehicle controls check
The examiner asks you to identify each control below. You are allowed three missed controls before the test is failed.
- Rear turn signals
- Brake lights
- Horn
- Adjusting the side and rearview mirrors
- Emergency flashers
- Headlights (on and off)
- Front turn signals
- Windshield wipers
The examiner also checks the tire tread at this stage.
Part 2: the road test
You are graded on how well you know and follow the rules of the road. The study guide refers you to the rules in the driver’s manual, and it says a violation of any law may result in a failing grade.
How scoring works
- Two misses in the same category is a fail. The guide’s example: the examiner warns you on your first rolling stop. A second rolling stop fails you, and you wait two weeks before retesting.
- An automatic failure brings a 30-day wait. The guide does not list which errors count as automatic failures. Any breach of traffic law can fail you.
Rules from the study guide worth drilling
- Stop fully at the stop line, or before the crosswalk. No rolling stops, including right on red.
- Signal at least 100 feet before a turn or lane change, and check blind spots over your shoulder.
- Yield to pedestrians in or entering a crosswalk.
- Keep two seconds of following distance.
- Steer hand-over-hand on sharp turns and keep your hands on opposite sides of the wheel.
- Do not back up in a travel lane. If you miss a turn, keep going.
- Parking: within 18 inches of the curb. On a hill, turn the wheels so the car cannot roll into traffic, and set the parking brake.
Common fails across states: common reasons people fail the US driving test. Stop sign order: four-way stops explained.
Weather and cancellations
ASP gives skills tests only in weather that is safe for testing, and the Troop Commander decides on cancellations. Your permit cannot be extended because of bad weather, so do not leave the test until the last weeks of your 2 years.
After you pass
Take your paperwork to a DFA State Revenue Office to buy the license for your age: learner’s (14 to 15), intermediate (16 to 17) or Class D (18+). The $5 knowledge exam fee for each attempt is added at this point. If you are under 18, check the clean record rule in the Arkansas learner driver guide. Intermediate rules: curfew and passenger limits.
Common questions
Is parallel parking on the Arkansas driving test?
The October 2026 study guide does not list parallel parking, or any other specific maneuver, in its skills test section. Practice it anyway, ending within 18 inches of the curb, because the examiner can test any rule in the guide.
Can I use a rental car or someone else’s car?
The checklist only requires current insurance and registration for the vehicle. Ask your testing site about rental cars before you book.
How long do I wait if I fail?
Two weeks for failing on two misses in the same category. 30 days for an automatic failure.
Who can ride with me to the test?
A licensed driver aged 21 or older, who rides in the front passenger seat while you drive.
Do I need to bring my parent?
The skills checklist only asks for the 21+ licensed driver. Parental consent is handled at the knowledge test. Under 18, your parent signs for financial responsibility.
Can I record my test?
No. Cameras and recording devices are not allowed.
Compare states: road tests by state. Earlier step: the Arkansas permit test.
Sources
- Arkansas State Police, “Arkansas Driver License Study Guide, Volume 1, Edition 10”, Chapter 10 Skills Test Guidelines (October 2026) (media.ark.org/dps)
- Arkansas State Police, “Driver’s Testing 1-2-3 Skills Checklist” (revised October 6, 2026) (media.ark.org/dps)
- Arkansas Department of Public Safety, “Driver Examination” (dps.arkansas.gov)
- Arkansas Department of Finance and Administration, “Learner’s and Intermediate License” (dfa.arkansas.gov)