General information about road tests - Wisconsin Department of Transportation

A road test may also be required if the Division of Motor Vehicles (DMV) has good cause to question a person's ability to operate a motor vehicle safely due to a physical or medical disability.

Separate road tests are given for each license class and endorsement. All tests involve a series of actual traffic situations designed to measure how well the driver responds to road and traffic conditions. Study guides for road tests are available for most license classes and endorsements. They can be found in the appropriate handbook and list the maneuvers you will need to perform in your road test.

Road tests are conducted by appointment at DMV Service Centers located throughout the state. Most CDL road tests are conducted by third party testers . Third party testers conduct the same CDL pre-trip and driving skills tests as provided by DMV examiners. They may charge no more than $85 per test ($15 if only the pre-trip is taken.) An additional fee may be charged if the third party tester provides the vehicle. Contact the specific tester for details.

If you hold an instruction permit or expired license, you will need to have a licensed driver drive you to the location where the road test will be given. If you are under 18, the sponsorship and driver education school certification (enrolled in behind-the-wheel training) portions of the application form MV3001 must be completed.

You will need to provide the appropriate vehicle for the class of license you want to get. For example, if you want a license to operate a commercial motor vehicle, you will need to provide the type of commercial vehicle you plan to operate.

Prior to the test, the examiner will inspect the vehicle you will be using in your road test. The examiner will check for safety defects and valid registration. If problems are detected, the road test may be denied; therefore, it is wise to refer to the appropriate driver handbook for a list of the items that will be checked in the vehicle inspection so you can ensure everything is working properly before you arrive for your road test appointment.

A road test will take 20 to 90 minutes, depending on the license class and endorsement for which you are applying.

The fee for a road test is based on the type of vehicle you want to operate.

Some examples of reasons for not passing a road test are:

inexperience
failure to follow directions
contributing to an accident
dangerous action
law violation

If you do not pass your road test, you may be required to wait 1, 7 or 14 days before another test is allowed. The examiner will tell you what the waiting period is for the type of license for which you are applying.

If you have questions:

E-mail: driverrecords.dmv@dot.state.wi.us
Call: (608) 266-2353

Back to scheduling a road test

DMV service centers