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Utah driving lesson · Vision, Health & Exams

The driving skills test

A 3-minute lesson from the Utah course. Read the rules and examples, follow the handbook page references, and check your understanding before you move on.

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Read time
3 minutes
Course unit
Vision, Health & Exams
Checkpoint questions
6
Source pages
32, 33, 34, 100

The skills test shows an examiner you can handle a car safely in real traffic. It takes about 20 minutes on public roads, in a vehicle you provide. Knowing the rules of the test (ages, attempts, what to bring) keeps you from being turned away.

Know the rule

You provide the vehicle. It must be registered and meet vehicle safety laws, including working safety belts, and it may be rejected if its condition could harm the examiner or their clothes.

Handbook p. 32 ↗
16

Minimum age for a skills test at a Driver License Division office

Handbook p. 32 ↗
15

Minimum age for a skills test with a third-party tester or high school

Handbook p. 32 ↗

Know the rule

Only you and the examiner may be in the vehicle during the test.

Handbook p. 32 ↗

Besides road rules, you're scored on:

  • General behavior and attitude, and proper driving techniques
  • Driving posture and lane use
  • Left, right, and three-point turns; starting and stopping
  • Parking on hills, between cars, and parallel parking
  • Signs and signals, backing, U-turns, and steering coordination
  • Attention at intersections and overall safe control, plus multiple lane changes
Handbook p. 32 ↗

Test rules:

  • Tests are by appointment only (schedule at dld.utah.gov)
  • Only one skills test per day; you may wait days or weeks to retest
  • Failing three times means paying another fee
  • All tests must be completed within six months of paying your fee
  • The examiner gives directions but won't chat or ask you to do anything unsafe or illegal
Handbook p. 33 ↗

Bring to the test:

  • Your learner permit or license certificate
  • Valid vehicle registration and valid insurance
  • A valid license for the person with you: 21 or older, or a parent, guardian, or spouse 18 or older
Handbook p. 33 ↗

Know the rule

Practice with a properly licensed parent, guardian, or friend over 21, starting in low-traffic residential areas before moving to busier roads.

Handbook p. 33 ↗

Third-party tester

A commercial driver education instructor certified and licensed by the division to give skills tests. Charges a separate fee that isn't part of the division's licensing fees.

Handbook p. 34 ↗

You may need to retest (written or skills) if:

  • Your learner permit has expired
  • You didn't finish the application within six months of applying
  • Your previous testing has expired
Handbook p. 34 ↗

Know the rule

You cannot use certain driver-assist features, such as parking assist and cruise control, during the skills test.

Handbook p. 100 ↗

Put it into practice

You fail your first skills test on Monday. You can't retest that day; you practice and book again. If you fail a third time, you pay another fee, and everything must be finished within six months of your original payment.

Check your understanding

Read the question, decide on an answer, then open it to check the explanation. These are Roadwise study questions based on the source handbook.

What is the minimum age to take a driving skills test at a DLD office?
  1. 15
  2. 17
  3. 16
  4. 14

Answer: 16

You must be at least 16 to take a driving skills test at the DLD.

Handbook p. 32 ↗
What is the minimum age to take a driving skills test with a third-party tester or high school?
  1. 16
  2. 14
  3. 17
  4. 15

Answer: 15

You must be at least 15 to take a driving skills test with a third-party tester or high school.

Handbook p. 32 ↗
Who provides the vehicle for a driving skills test?
  1. The applicant
  2. The Driver License Division
  3. The third-party tester
  4. Either party, whoever is available

Answer: The applicant

You will be required to provide the vehicle for the driving skills test.

Handbook p. 32 ↗
How many attempts may you make at the driving skills test before having to pay another fee?
  1. 1 attempt
  2. 5 attempts
  3. Unlimited attempts
  4. 3 attempts

Answer: 3 attempts

Failure to pass the driving skills test in three attempts requires paying another fee.

Handbook p. 33 ↗
You may only take one driving skills test per day.
  1. True
  2. False

Answer: True

You may only take one driving skills test daily.

Handbook p. 33 ↗
Who administers third-party driving skills tests?
  1. Any licensed driver
  2. DLD examiners only
  3. Certified commercial driver education instructors
  4. Insurance agents

Answer: Certified commercial driver education instructors

Third-party testers are certified and licensed as commercial driver education instructors.

Handbook p. 34 ↗
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