The Pennsylvania road test

By the end of this topic you can

• You can book a road test and gather the right documents.
• You can prepare a vehicle that will pass the pre-test check.
• You can operate every control the examiner may ask about.
• You can parallel park in a 24 by 8 foot space within three adjustments.
• You can avoid the most common reasons for failing.

What you need to know and understand

• Under-18 drivers can schedule up to six months ahead, but not before the eligibility date on the permit.
• Bring originals of your permit, the signed DL-180C, the car's registration card and proof of insurance, plus your supervisor's license.
• Failing to operate any vehicle control means failing the test.
• Parallel parking is one attempt with no more than three adjustments.
• The examiner is your only passenger.
• Under 18, you must wait seven days to retest, and you get three tries per permit.

Booking and paperwork

Book through PennDOT's Driver and Vehicle Services website or by phone. PennDOT encourages young drivers to book as soon as they get their permit, for a date on or after their eligibility date. You can also use a certified third-party tester, which charges its own fee but gives the same test. Bring original documents only: your valid permit, the DL-180C certifying 65 hours if under 18, the vehicle's valid registration card, proof of current insurance and the license of the qualified driver who came with you.

The vehicle check and controls

The examiner checks the registration, insurance, inspection sticker and, where required, emissions sticker. They test the lights, horn, brakes, wipers, turn signals, mirrors, doors, seats and tires. An unsafe car means no test. Seat belts must work, because you and the examiner wear them.

You may then be asked to operate controls such as the horn, parking lights, high and low beams, turn signals, wipers, parking brake, hazard lights and defroster. Not being able to work any of them is an automatic fail. Our vehicle check guide lists them in more detail.

Parallel parking the Pennsylvania way

1. Pull up beside the front upright, leaving about two feet of space.
2. Reverse slowly, turning toward the curb as your rear passes the front upright.
3. Straighten as the car enters the 24 by 8 foot space.
4. Finish fully inside the space, centered between the uprights, without hitting an upright, crossing the line or touching the curb.
5. Use no more than three adjustments. If your car parks itself, that feature must be switched off.

On the road and if you fail

You will be directed through turns and intersections while the examiner watches how you obey signs and signals, use your signals and control the car. You fail for breaking a traffic law, driving dangerously, causing a crash, ignoring instructions, not signaling or too many errors. Pass at a PennDOT center and you receive your license that day. Fail under 18 and you must wait seven days. After three failures, or if your permit expires, apply with form DL-31 to extend it.

Common mistakes

• Arriving with a dim brake light or expired inspection sticker. The car is turned away.
• Bringing photocopies of the registration or insurance card.
• Hunting for the defroster or hazard switch when asked. Learn every control in the test car.
• Rolling a stop sign because you feel nervous. A traffic violation is a fail.

Test yourself: The Pennsylvania road test

Answer each question, then read the explanation. Questions come in a random order each time.

Go deeper

• Pennsylvania Road Test
• Pennsylvania License Fees and How to Book PennDOT Tests
• Pennsylvania Learner Permit Documents Checklist