Photo: Sami Abdullah, Pexels
This is the checklist for the Florida Class E driving skills test: the vehicle checks that can stop your test before it starts, and every maneuver the examiner scores, as listed by FLHSMV. It is written for learners booking their first Florida road test and the parents helping them practice.
Florida driving test at a glance
- You must hold a learner’s license for at least 12 months if you are under 18, and have your 50 hours certified (s. 322.05).
- You bring the car. It must have valid registration, proof of insurance and pass a basic inspection.
- Parallel parking is not on the FLHSMV maneuver list.
- A retest after a failed first skills test costs $20 (s. 322.12, as of November 2026). For learner’s license holders, the first skills exam itself is free (s. 322.12(2)).
- You can test at a driver license or tax collector office, or with an approved third party administrator. See third party testing in Florida.
Step 1: the vehicle inspection
The examiner checks your car before you drive. FLHSMV says the test will not go ahead if the vehicle has any of these:
- A defective or inoperable horn, rear-view mirror, turn signals, steering wheel, brakes, tires, brake lights or taillights
- No windshield wiper on the driver’s side
- No working headlights when visibility is reduced
- Cracked or broken glass that blocks your view
- An expired tag
- No doors, front doors that do not open from both inside and outside, or seats that are not fixed in place
- A Jeep-type vehicle without framed canvas or metal doors on hinges and latches, or a car that does not let you give hand signals when needed
- A car that breaks Florida’s bumper height limits, or a low-speed vehicle
Night before the test: have someone stand outside while you test every light and signal, sound the horn, check the tag date and put the registration and insurance card in the glovebox.
Step 2: the maneuvers FLHSMV lists
| Maneuver | What the examiner expects |
|---|---|
| Three-point turn | Turn the car around in a 20 to 40 foot space |
| Approach of crossing | Get in the proper lane and look in each direction |
| Stop signs and traffic signals | Obey them |
| Straight-in parking | Car centered in the space, no part sticking out into the traffic lane |
| Stop quickly | A quick, safe stop when the examiner tells you |
| Backing | Back up 50 feet at a slow speed while looking to the rear, without using the rear-view mirror or a rear-view camera screen |
| Signal and turn | Get into the proper lane and signal for the last 100 feet before the turn; hand or mechanical signals are both allowed |
| Passing | Look ahead and behind to make sure you can pass safely |
| Yield right of way | Let pedestrians cross, pull over and stop for emergency vehicles, and do not enter an intersection where you would block traffic |
| Proper lane | Drive in the right lane except on a one-way street; change lanes only when safe |
| Following distance | Do not follow too closely. The test item says three to four seconds as a minimum; the handbook teaches four seconds for normal driving |
| Parking on a grade | Park correctly uphill and downhill, with and without a curb |
| Posture | Both hands on the steering wheel; no elbow resting in the window |
Throughout the drive the examiner also watches your general control of the car and how well you obey traffic laws.
How to practice each Florida test maneuver
Three-point turn
- Pull to the right edge, stop, and signal left.
- Check mirrors and blind spot, then turn sharply left across the road, stopping short of the far curb.
- Reverse with the wheel turned right, looking back over your shoulder, and stop short of the curb behind.
- Drive forward into the correct lane.
Practice on a quiet street so you know what a 20 to 40 foot space looks like.
Backing 50 feet
Turn your body and look through the rear window. Keep it slow and straight. Mark 50 feet in an empty parking lot and repeat until you can hold a straight line.
Parking on a hill
You will be asked to park uphill and downhill, with and without a curb. The handbook’s wheel positions: downhill, turn the wheels toward the curb; uphill with a curb, turn them away from the curb; uphill with no curb, turn them to the right, toward the edge of the road. In every case the idea is that the car rolls away from traffic. Set the parking brake, then put an automatic in Park. See also parking rules for new drivers.
Straight-in parking
Line up so you enter the space centered, and stop with the whole car inside the lines. Check the front and rear before you step out.
Common questions
Is there parallel parking on the Florida driving test?
No. It is not on FLHSMV’s list of Class E skills test maneuvers. Straight-in parking and parking on a grade are.
Can I use my backup camera on the Florida test?
Not for the backing maneuver. The Florida handbook says to back 50 feet looking to the rear and not to use the rear-view mirror or the rear-view camera monitor. Look over your shoulder through the rear window.
Can I bring an interpreter or take the driving test in Spanish?
No. Since February 6, 2026, FLHSMV gives knowledge and driving skills exams in English only and does not allow translation services. No other passengers ride with you and the examiner.
What happens at the end of the test?
The examiner explains any mistakes. If you pass, the fee is collected and your license is issued. If you fail, practice the weak points and book a retest.
Do I need my own car for the Florida road test?
Yes. It must be registered, insured and pass the inspection above.
What happens if I fail the Florida driving test?
You retake it. Each retest after a failed first attempt costs $20 under s. 322.12(1), as of November 2026.
What are the most common reasons people fail?
Rolling stops, poor observation and not yielding are frequent problems. See common reasons people fail the US driving test.
Who can take a Florida road test with a third party?
FLHSMV approves third party administrators to give the skills test. Results are accepted by the state, but you may be picked for a free random retest. See third party testing.
Related: the 50 hour certification, US road test by state, parking rules. Back to the Florida learning to drive guide.
Sources
- Florida Department of Highway Safety and Motor Vehicles, announcement of English-only driver license knowledge and skills exams from February 6, 2026 (flhsmv.gov)
- Florida Department of Highway Safety and Motor Vehicles, “Class E Knowledge Exam & Driving Skills Test” (flhsmv.gov)
- Florida Department of Highway Safety and Motor Vehicles, “General Information” (flhsmv.gov)
- Florida Department of Highway Safety and Motor Vehicles, “Florida Class E Driver License Handbook” (flhsmv.gov)
- Florida Legislature, “Florida Statutes s. 322.12, Examination of applicants” (leg.state.fl.us)
- Florida Legislature, “Florida Statutes s. 322.05, Persons not to be licensed” (leg.state.fl.us)