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In Kansas, the driving test is one of three license exams, along with vision and written (K.S.A. 8-240). Many teens never take it. KDOR accepts an approved driver education completion certificate in place of the written and driving tests at several license stages. This page explains when the certificate works, when you need the drive test and how retests work.
Key facts
- The Kansas license exam has three parts: vision, written and driving.
- KDOR’s teen pages list “written and driving test, or driver education completion certificate” for the restricted license at 16 and the license without restrictions at 17.
- For the restricted license at 15, driver education is required, and KDOR lists vision as the only test.
- The driving test has three parts in the handbook: a pre-trip vehicle safety inspection, a basic control skills test (turnabouts and parallel parking) and a road test on a set route.
- Retaking a failed driving test costs an extra $1.50 (K.S.A. 8-240, as of November 2026).
When does a driver’s ed certificate replace the Kansas driving test?
| What you are applying for | Testing listed by KDOR |
|---|---|
| Instruction permit (14+) | Vision and written. A driver education certificate (DE-99) is accepted instead of the written test. |
| Restricted license at 15 | Vision. Approved driver education is required. |
| Restricted license at 16 | Vision, plus the written and driving tests or a driver education completion certificate |
| License without restrictions at 17 | Vision, plus the written and driving tests or a driver education completion certificate |
| Adult applicant | Vision, written and driving. Ask KDOR whether a certificate applies to you. |
A completed driver education course can remove the need for in-office testing, but only with the right proof. Confirm your exact case with KDOR before you skip booking a drive test.
What counts as proof of driver’s ed?
- Accepted: the certificate of completion from an approved Kansas course.
- Lost certificate: a letter from your driver education provider.
- Course taken in another state: you also need a letter from that state’s education department confirming the course is accredited.
- Internet-only courses: the handbook says online driver education certificates are not accepted for licensing. Only approved school-district or private-school programs count. Check this with KDOR if you are considering an online course.
One more catch: KDOR says time on a driver’s education permit does not count toward the one year you must hold an instruction permit before a restricted license.
What happens on the Kansas drive test?
Section 11 of the Kansas Driving Handbook (February 2022) says you must pass three tests to get your license. Under 17, you can take them only after holding your permit for a full year or turning 17, whichever comes first.
1. Pre-trip vehicle safety inspection
You walk around the car, point to or touch each item and tell the examiner what you are checking and why. You do not open the hood or crawl underneath. Expect to cover leaks, tire pressure and tread (the penny test), headlights, tail and brake lights, turn signals, seats and belts, windows, doors and mirrors, wipers and washers, heater, air conditioning and defroster, horn, dash indicator lights and the fuel gauge.
The test car itself must have working signals, brake lights and horn, safe tires, intact windshield and mirrors, and a valid tag. It must also be a safe temperature inside: working air conditioning above 85°F, air conditioning or a working passenger window from 75°F to 85°F, and a working heater below 45°F.
2. Basic control skills
Off-street, on-street or both, you do two or more of these: a forward two-point turnabout (into a driveway, then back out to the right), a reverse two-point turnabout, a three-point turnabout, and a left or right parallel park ending within 12 inches of the curb. Each reversal of direction, each touch of a cone or line, each missed or wrong signal, missed head checks and a poor final position all add to your score.
3. Road test
The examiner scores turns, intersections, urban and rural driving, a lane change left and back, expressway or limited-access entry and exit, curves and general driving. You will also be asked to name traffic signs you have just passed. Stop behind the line where you can see the rear tires of the car ahead, keep both hands on the outside of the wheel, and finish turns in the correct lane.
These mean an automatic fail: not wearing your belt, not checking blind spots, a moving violation (speeding, rolling a stop, ignoring a sign or signal), failing to yield, an avoidable crash or contact, any unsafe act that makes another driver take evasive action, driving over a curb or sidewalk without need, or the examiner having to take control.
Practice everything in the handbook’s “Basic Driving” and “Rules of the Road” sections too:
- Smooth starting, accelerating, stopping and steering
- Backing. The handbook says to steer slightly in the direction the rear should go, make quick checks to the front and sides when backing while turning, and keep looking back until you stop completely.
- Right of way at intersections, including four-way stops
- Obeying signals, signs and pavement markings
- Speed and space management, and scanning for hazards
- Parking legally (see US parking rules)
To compare with other states, read US road tests by state. To avoid the usual mistakes, see common reasons people fail the driving test.
Before you book: checklist
- Your instruction permit, held for at least one year if you are under 17
- The signed 50-hour affidavit if your stage needs it (see the affidavit guide)
- A parent or guardian, if you are under 16 or applying for a restricted license
- Your identity, age, residency and Social Security documents
- A roadworthy vehicle that passes the handbook’s test-car checks, including heat and air conditioning for the weather
Failing and retaking the Kansas driving test
- Each retake of the driving test costs an extra $1.50 examination fee.
- If you haven’t passed all three tests within six months of applying, you file a reexamination application ($3).
- Fail the driving test four times within six months, and you must wait six months from the last failure before testing again.
Source for all three: K.S.A. 8-240. License issuance fees are separate.
Common questions
Do you have to take a driving test in Kansas if you took driver’s ed?
Usually not for the restricted license at 16 or the license at 17. KDOR accepts the completion certificate instead of the written and driving tests. Bring the original certificate.
Does online driver’s ed count in Kansas?
The handbook says online driver education certificates are not accepted for licensing. Confirm with KDOR before you pay for a course.
Is parallel parking on the Kansas driving test?
It can be. The handbook lists left and right parallel parking among the basic control exercises, ending within 12 inches of the curb, along with two-point and three-point turnabouts. You will be given two or more of them.
How many times can you fail the Kansas driving test?
After four failures within six months, you wait six months before the next attempt.
Do adults need driver’s ed in Kansas?
No. Adults take the vision, written and driving tests.
Back to the main guide: Learning to drive in Kansas.
Sources
- Kansas Department of Revenue, “Graduated Driver License Requirements for Teen Drivers” (ksrevenue.gov)
- Kansas Department of Revenue, “Frequently Asked Questions About Teen Driving” (ksrevenue.gov)
- Kansas Department of Revenue, “Required Documents and Appointment Scheduling” (ksrevenue.gov)
- Kansas Department of Revenue, “Kansas Driving Handbook, Non-Commercial Driver’s Manual” (ksrevenue.gov)
- Kansas Office of Revisor of Statutes, “K.S.A. 8-240 Drivers’ licenses and instruction permits; examination tests; fees” (ksrevisor.gov)