What to Bring to Your VA Road Skills Test
Last updated 2026-07-29
The core documents
Bring proof of legal presence in the U.S. Beyond that baseline identity requirement, what else you need depends heavily on whether you're taking the road skills test through driver education or through the 60-day-hold path at DMV directly.
Virginia's manual doesn't publish one single flat fee for a permit or license — it varies by license type and duration, so confirm the exact current cost at dmv.virginia.gov or a DMV customer service center before your appointment.
Either a driver-ed certificate or a completed behind-the-wheel checklist
For the road skills test itself, the DMV examiner requires either an acceptable driver's education certificate of completion, or a completed behind-the-wheel checklist (DMV form CSMA 19) describing specific driving tasks you may be asked to perform.
If you go the checklist route, a licensed driver has to certify on the form that they were with you while you practiced those tasks and that you complied with all learner's-permit-holder requirements — it isn't something you can fill out and sign yourself.
Your vehicle needs a full equipment check
Bring a vehicle (not an autocycle) with a valid safety inspection sticker, license plates, registration card and decals, working brakes, safety belts, horn, lights, turn signals, mirrors, and a working speedometer.
Missing any single item on this list is enough to be a real problem — it's worth doing your own walk-around check of every item the day before your appointment rather than assuming a car that runs fine also meets every documentation and equipment requirement.
Where the test actually happens depends on your path
If you're under 18 and completed driver education, your road skills test happens as part of the driver education course at a public, private, or commercial driving school — not at a DMV office. If you're home-schooled, refer to the Home-Schooled In-Car Driver Education Information Sheet (HS 3) for the specific process.
If you're 18 or older and choosing the 60-day-hold path instead of driver education, your test is administered by a DMV staff member directly — a genuinely different appointment location and process than the driving-school route.
You may not need the road test at all
If you already hold a valid driver's license from another U.S. state, or from Canada, Germany, France, the Republic of Korea, or Taiwan, you don't need to take the road skills test — worth confirming this applies to you before assuming you need to prepare a vehicle and documentation for a test you might not actually need.
This exemption is specifically for the road skills test — you may still need to handle other parts of the licensing process (like proving legal presence or passing a vision screening) even if the road test itself is waived.
Source
More Virginia Guides
- How Long Is a Virginia Permit Valid?
- Virginia GDL Rules Explained
- What Happens If You Fail Your VA Test
- Do You Need Driver's Ed in Virginia?
Rules and requirements change — always confirm current details with Virginia DMV before your exam. Check the full guides index or the Virginia cheat sheet and FAQ, or take a free Virginia practice test.