Photo: Ii2nmd, CC0, via Wikimedia Commons
The Pennsylvania road test has three parts: a vehicle safety check, a vehicle controls check, and a drive that includes parallel parking. You can fail before you leave the lot, either because your car or paperwork does not pass or because you cannot operate a control such as the defroster. This guide covers booking, the documents to bring, each part of the test, the fail reasons PennDOT lists and the retest rules.
Key facts
- Appointment required. Book online, or call 1-800-423-5542.
- Under 18: at least six months after the permit is issued, with 65 hours certified on DL-180C. You may book up to six months ahead.
- Bring originals only. Missing documents mean no test.
- Failing to operate any vehicle control fails the test.
- Under 18 and failed: wait seven days. Three tries per permit.
How to book the Pennsylvania road test
Schedule online through PennDOT’s Driver and Vehicle Services website. Without internet access, call 1-800-423-5542 (8 a.m. to 5 p.m., Monday to Friday, except holidays). PennDOT recommends booking as soon as you get your permit, for a date on or after the eligibility date printed on it.
PennDOT-certified third-party businesses also give the road test for a fee they set themselves. The test is identical to the one at a PennDOT center. See how third-party road testing works.
Documents to bring to the PA road test
All must be valid, original (not copies) and for the car you are testing in.
- Your valid learner’s permit.
- Under 18: the signed Parent or Guardian Certification Form (DL-180C) for the 65 hours.
- The vehicle’s valid registration card.
- Proof the vehicle is currently insured.
- The valid license of the adult who comes with you: a licensed driver aged 21 or older, or a parent, guardian, person in loco parentis, or spouse aged 18 or older.
The vehicle safety check
Before the test, the examiner checks that the car has:
- A valid registration card and current insurance.
- A valid state inspection sticker and, if required, an emissions sticker.
- Working lights, horn, brakes, windshield wipers, turn signals, mirrors, doors, seats and tires.
- Clean seat belts ready for use. You and the examiner must wear them.
If any part of the car is unsafe or does not meet inspection requirements, you will not be allowed to take the test.
The vehicle controls check
The examiner may ask you to operate:
- Horn
- Lights: parking lights, high and low beams, turn signals
- Windshield wipers
- Parking (emergency) brake
- Four-way flashers (hazard lights)
- Defroster
Failing to operate any of these properly fails the road test. Practice every control in the exact car you will test in, especially if it is not your usual car.
Parallel parking
You park midway between two uprights in a space 24 feet long and 8 feet wide, with one attempt and no more than three adjustments. Self-parking features must be off. Full rules and technique: the Pennsylvania parallel parking test guide.
The on-road drive
The examiner is your only passenger and tells you where to drive and which maneuvers to make. They pay close attention to:
- How you approach and obey warning signs, stop signs and traffic lights.
- How you control the vehicle.
- Your use of turn signals and any other controls needed during the drive.
Reasons you fail the Pennsylvania road test
PennDOT lists these as examples:
- Inability to operate any vehicle control.
- Violating any traffic law, such as failing to obey a stop sign.
- Driving dangerously or recklessly.
- Errors in safe driving practices.
- Not following the examiner’s instructions.
- Causing a crash.
- Not using turn signals.
You can also fail for making too many driving errors. For the mistakes that trip up learners in every state, see common reasons people fail the driving test.
If you fail: retest rules
| Situation | Rule |
|---|---|
| Under 18, failed | Wait seven days before retesting |
| Attempts per permit | Three, before the permit expires |
| Third fail, or permit expired | Apply to extend with form DL-31 |
| No pass within three years of the physical | Start over with a new DL-180 and retake the knowledge test |
If you pass
At a PennDOT Driver License Center you receive your license that day. Under 18, it is a junior license with a curfew and passenger limits. See Pennsylvania junior license rules.
Common questions
Can I use any car for the Pennsylvania road test?
Any car that passes the safety check, with valid registration, insurance and inspection stickers. A self-parking car is fine if the feature stays off.
Can you fail the PA road test for the defroster?
Yes. Failing to operate any vehicle control properly fails the test.
Who can be in the car during the test?
Only the examiner.
Do I need the 65-hour form if I am 18?
No. The DL-180C is required if you are under 18.
Can I bring photocopies of my registration and insurance?
No. Without the original documents you will not be given the test.
How does the PA test compare with other states?
See road tests by state, or start from learning to drive in Pennsylvania.
Sources
- PennDOT, “Pennsylvania Driver’s Manual, PUB 95 (4-21)” (pa.gov)
- PennDOT, “Testing”, Online Driver’s Manual (pa.gov)