The Alaska road test
A plain-language guide, checked against the Alaska Department of Motor Vehicles (AK DMV): who the test is for, what to bring, how it is scored, and what a retake really costs.
The rule that decides your path
The Alaska road test, also called the behind-the-wheel or driving skills test, is the final exam the AK DMV gives before it issues a driver's license. New drivers can take the Alaska driving test at 16, after logging 40 hours of supervised driving. The drive includes parallel parking.
Alaska sets a specific pre-license education step every new driver has to clear. Drivers under 18 need a notarized Parent Consent (Form 433).
Below you'll find the full Alaska road test requirements: who qualifies, what to bring, how examiners score the drive, and the retake rules if you don't pass the first time. On our Driving Index, Alaska's written knowledge test ranks tied for 28th-hardest of 51.
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Supervised hours before the Alaska road test
These are hours you spend driving with a licensed adult, usually a parent, before you can take the test. Keep a log as you go, on paper or in an app, because the state can ask to see it. Practice in a mix of conditions, day and night, highways and quiet streets, rain and clear weather, and get the night hours in early, since those are the ones most people leave to the last minute.
What to bring to the Alaska road test
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Documents
Your vehicle must have
Who comes with you. No one else may ride along with you and the examiner during the test.
If you fail the Alaska road test
Here's how a retake works in Alaska: About 2 business days. $15 per attempt at the DMV (third-party testers vary)
Beyond any fee, a retry usually means another day off work or school, another ride to the office, and another car to borrow, so failing costs far more than it looks on paper.
Passing on the first try is the cheapest way through. A first license runs $20 for a non-compliant license; $40 for a REAL ID.
How the Alaska road test is scored
Pass or fail.
Mistakes that end the test right away
Do any of these and the examiner stops the drive, no matter how well the rest went.
- Violating a traffic law
- Making a dangerous driving action
- Not cooperating, or refusing to perform a task
- Contributing to a crash
- Being unable to perform a required driving task
- Driving that does not meet the required standards
Before the road test
Pass the Alaska written test on your first try
Nearby road-test guides.
Six more states, neighbours first, then the closest matches on test difficulty.
Test specifications, fees and laws change. This guide was last verified July 2026; always confirm current requirements with the AK DMV (dmv.alaska.gov) before booking a test. DMV IQ is not affiliated with, endorsed by, or associated with any state DMV, DPS, MVD, or BMV.
Spot an error? Email [email protected] and we'll get it corrected.
Sources for this guide (3 official AK DMV pages)
- Eligibility: https://dmv.alaska.gov/media/t5ef5vi2/dlman.pdf
- What to bring: https://dmv.alaska.gov/credential-services/road-test/
- Test format: https://dmv.alaska.gov/credential-services/road-test/
- Scoring: https://dmv.alaska.gov/media/t5ef5vi2/dlman.pdf
- Retakes: https://dmv.alaska.gov/media/t5ef5vi2/dlman.pdf
- Fees: https://dmv.alaska.gov/credential-services/license-fees/
- Handbook (REV.10/2025): https://dmv.alaska.gov/media/t5ef5vi2/dlman.pdf
Current as of 2026-07-16. Official Alaska sources only; anything the state does not publish is left out rather than guessed.