Photo: Acroterion, CC BY-SA 4.0, via Wikimedia Commons
Most Virginia teens never take the road test at a DMV office: the road skills test is built into driver education, and completing an approved course lets DMV waive the driving part of its own exam. If you do test at DMV, you need a driver ed certificate or a signed maneuvers checklist, plus a road-legal, inspected car. This guide covers both routes, vehicle rules and retakes.
Key facts (Code of Virginia, as of November 2026)
- Driver ed graduates: DMV may waive the driving and parking parts of its exam.
- Testing at DMV: bring a driver ed certificate or a behind-the-wheel maneuvers checklist signed by a licensed driver.
- Vehicle: must meet Virginia safety equipment rules and have a valid inspection sticker. No autocycles.
- Parking is tested only in a space between horizontal markers, not between flags or poles.
- Failed: wait 2 days. Failed 3 times at DMV: complete in-vehicle driver training before a fourth try.
How the driver ed waiver works in Virginia
If DMV is satisfied that you showed the same skill by completing a Department of Education driver education course or a course at a licensed driver training school, it may waive the parts of its exam where you drive and park. In practice:
- Your in-car instructor gives a standardized end-of-course road skills assessment.
- Pass it, and the school reports your completion to DMV.
- If you are at least 16 years and 3 months old, your permit plus the signed completion paperwork acts as a temporary license (the state regulation calls it a 180-day temporary license) until your plastic license is issued.
Course requirements and the 45-hour log are in Virginia’s 45-hour log and driver education.
Taking the Virginia road skills test at DMV
Before the test: certificate or checklist
The examiner needs one of these:
- Proof you completed a state-approved driver education class, or
- DMV’s behind-the-wheel maneuvers checklist. A licensed driver signs to certify you practiced every maneuver on it. You sign to certify you followed all learner’s permit rules while driving.
The checklist lists the maneuvers you may be asked to do, so practice every item on it, not just the ones you find easy.
Vehicle requirements
- You provide the vehicle.
- It must meet the safety and equipment requirements of Virginia law, such as working lights, brakes, signals and mirrors.
- It must have a valid Virginia safety inspection sticker.
- An autocycle cannot be used.
- Bring current registration and make sure the car is insured. Check DMV for any other documents needed on the day.
Parking on the test
By law, DMV can only ask you to park in an adequate space between horizontal markers, not between flags or sticks set up to look like parked cars.
What happens if you fail the Virginia road test?
| Attempt | Rule |
|---|---|
| After any failure at DMV | Wait 2 days before the next attempt |
| After the 3rd failure at DMV | Complete the in-vehicle part of driver instruction at a licensed driver training school or approved course, then retest at DMV |
The course must be completed after the third failure. Drivers placed under medical review by DMV follow separate rules.
How to prepare
- Practice in the car you will test in, so lights, wipers and controls are second nature.
- Check lights, signals, brake lights and horn the day before.
- Rehearse full stops, signaling early, mirror and blind-spot checks and smooth parking between lines.
- Read common reasons people fail the US driving test.
Common questions
Do I have to take a road test at DMV if I did driver ed?
Usually not. Completing approved driver ed, including its road skills assessment, lets DMV waive its own driving test. Home-schooled students taught in-car by their own parent must pass the DMV driver’s license examination instead.
Does Virginia test parallel parking?
The law limits DMV to parking in a space marked by horizontal lines, not between cones or flags. Check your checklist for the exact maneuvers. See US road tests by state.
Can I use a rental or borrowed car?
The law sets equipment and inspection requirements, not ownership. Ask DMV about rental agreements before you book.
How soon can I retest?
Two days after a failed DMV road test.
I am 18 or older. Is the road test different?
The test itself is the same, but your path to it differs. See Virginia license rules for new adult drivers.
Back to the full guide: learning to drive in Virginia. After you pass, read the provisional license rules.
Sources
- Virginia General Assembly, “Code of Virginia 46.2-325: Examination of applicants; waiver of Department’s examination; behind-the-wheel and knowledge examinations” (law.lis.virginia.gov)
- Virginia General Assembly, “Code of Virginia 46.2-334: Conditions and requirements for licensure of persons under 18” (law.lis.virginia.gov)
- Virginia General Assembly, “Code of Virginia 46.2-335: Learner’s permits” (law.lis.virginia.gov)
- Virginia General Assembly, “8VAC20-340-10: Driver education program” (law.lis.virginia.gov)