Taking the Driver’s Test

Young drivers

You must complete driver’s education and the graduated driver’s license program.

New to Idaho

If you are new to the Gem state, you may have to take the knowledge test, skills test, or both.

Find a testing location

Find a county driver’s license office near you to take your knowledge test.

Testing guidelines

To ensure that customers receive the same testing experience across the state, minimum requirements for testing area restrictions have been formalized. Below is a list of what is NOT allowed and what may discretionarily be allowed within the testing areas. Any additional questions or clarifications may be directed to your local county office.

Not allowed

• Electronic Devices (including cell phones, smart watches, cameras, tablets, laptops, headphones, earbuds, etc)
• Leaving the testing area to go anywhere other than to an examiner
• Driver Manuals or other written material such as notes
• Interpreters, unless authorized
• Talking with others

Allowed under County discretion

• Children
• Bags

Translators

A translator may be used while taking the Class D Driver’s License knowledge test under the following circumstances:

• The language that is being translated is not offered in our testing system.
• The customer has attempted the knowledge test at least three (3) times in a language we offer and cannot pass.

The languages we currently offer are:

• English (written and aural)
• American Sign Language (video)
• Arabic (written and aural)
• Chinese (written and aural)
• Farsi (written and aural)
• French (written and aural)
• Korean (written and aural)
• Russian (written and aural)
• Serbo-Croatian (written and aural)
• Spanish (written and aural)
• Swahili (written and aural)
• Vietnamese (written and aural)

Translator requirements

• Not a family member of the customer
• Must complete a State of Idaho W9 Tax Form (if the translator is charging for the first time)
• Cannot be on the translator disqualified list
• Must adhere to the following guidelines:
  • Must only read the test and answers
  • Tester needs to be following along and selecting their own answers
  • There should be no hand gestures or change in tone when questions and answers are read

Further information can be obtained by calling the Idaho Transportation Department Driver’s License Unit at 208-584-4343, option 3, and details about scheduling the use of a translator can be done by contacting your local county Driver’s License office.

Contact the skills test examiner of your choice between 8 a.m. and 8 p.m. If the skills test examiner cannot be reached, leave a voicemail with your name and phone number.

Who needs to take the skills test?

Skills tests are required for applicants who have:

•  Never been licensed before.
• Completed an approved driver’s training course and the SIP (under 17). Skills test eligibility dates are strictly enforced.
• Been driving on an instruction permit (17 years of age or older) and want to become a licensed driver.
• Been required by a medical or vision professional.
• Been required to take a reoccurring skills test.
• A foreign driver’s license if there is no reciprocity agreement between the United States and the driver’s country.

Skills tests may also be required for applicants who have:

•  Any mental or physical impairment that might affect the safe operation of a motor vehicle.
• When a county agent has concerns about an applicant’s ability to safely operate a motor vehicle.

A skills test is approximately 30 minutes long consists of a applicant vehicle knowledge inspection. During the pre-drive safety check, you will be required to demonstrate arm signaling for turning and stopping.

You must pass the Class D knowledge test before taking the Class D skills test except for those under 17 years of age that are on a supervised instruction permit (SIP).

Passing the test

To pass the skills test you must demonstrate the ability to safely operate a motor vehicle over a predetermined route containing a variety of traffic situations. There are three categories:

• Driving
• Parking
• Stopping

To pass the test, you must not have more than 12 errors or commit a critical driving error. Five errors of the same skill is considered a critical driving error.

Scored skills:

• Acceleration
• Attentive
• Complete stop
• Curb
• Deceleration
• Gap or stop line
• Lane position
• Right-of-way
• Signal
• Spacing
• Speed
• Steering control
• Traffic check
• Unnecessary stop

Critical driving errors (CDE)

A driving skill performed or not performed that may result in an incident, injury or death. If a CDE occurs anywhere on the route, the error constitutes as an automatic fail and the skills test ends immediately. The critical driving errors are:

• Dangerous action
• Disobeys emergency/safety vehicle
• Disobeys police or safety personnel
• Disobeys traffic sign/signal
• Drives up onto curb or sidewalk
• Habitual violation (5 of the same skill)
• Intervention by or disobeys skills test examiner
• Lane violation
• Passenger interference
• Speed (>10 mph or unsafe)
• Street curb parking >18 inches
• Strikes object

Applicant Vehicle Knowledge and Inspection

The applicant vehicle knowledge and inspection section consists of items that must be located and or demonstrated by the applicant and meet standards. If the required items do not meet standards or the applicant fails to locate and or demonstrate the items in *bold below the skills test will not continue.

• Driver door*
• Driver seatbelt*
• Brake/pedal lights*
• Turn Signals front/back*
• Headlights*
• Windshield wipers*
• Hazards/emergency lights*
• Driver window*
• Horn*
• Arm signals
• Defroster/defogger
• Emergency/parking brake

*Must be functioning according to Idaho Code or is required by the Idaho Transportation Department for safety reasons.

Other important information

• If you do not have a valid driver’s license, you are not allowed to drive yourself to the skills test.
• A passenger may ride in the vehicle during the skills test if they are a translator, parent or legal guardian, missionary companion or law enforcement as long as the liability waiver is signed.
• A service dog may accompany the applicant on the skills test if needed.
• Cell phones and other electronic devices must be turned off during the skills test.

If you passed the skills test

• Return to the county DMV office with your sealed unopened test envelope.
• Pay the appropriate fees, then a driver’s license will be issued to you.

If you failed the skills test

• Wait three days to schedule another skills test with the same or a different examiner.
• Pay the county DMV fee and obtain another skills test receipt.
• Pay the skills test examiner the remainder of the skills test fee.