The Connecticut road test
A plain-language guide, checked against the Connecticut Department of Motor Vehicles (CT 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 Connecticut road test, also called the behind-the-wheel or driving skills test, is the final exam the CT DMV gives before it issues a driver's license. New drivers can take the Connecticut driving test at 16, after logging 40 hours of supervised driving.
In Connecticut, driver's education is required before anyone under 18 can be licensed. Drivers 18 and older must complete an 8-hour Safe Driving Practices Course unless they were previously licensed in Connecticut. A parent completes 2 hours.
Below you'll find the full Connecticut 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, Connecticut's written knowledge test ranks tied for 14th-hardest of 51.
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Supervised hours before the Connecticut 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 Connecticut road test
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Documents
Your vehicle must have
Who comes with you. If 16 to 17: a qualified trainer must be at the office to sign the attestation. An unlicensed driver cannot drive to the test alone.
If you fail the Connecticut road test
Here's how a retake works in Connecticut: At least 2 weeks after the initial test; you can reschedule online within 72 hours of a failure. The retest fee is $40 retest.
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 $84.
How the Connecticut road test is scored
Pass or fail. The examiner records errors on a Road Test Evaluation Report, with no published numeric threshold.
Connecticut doesn't publish a point system or a set passing score, so the examiner simply judges whether you drive safely and follow the rules. In general, you fail for dangerous driving, breaking a traffic law, causing a crash, or not following the examiner's directions. Small mistakes add up too, so drive smoothly and predictably.
Before the road test
Pass the Connecticut 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 CT DMV (portal.ct.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 (5 official CT DMV pages)
- Eligibility: https://portal.ct.gov/dmv/licenses-permits-ids/teen-drivers-license
- What to bring: https://portal.ct.gov/dmv/licenses-permits-ids/take-road-test
- Test format: https://portal.ct.gov/dmv/licenses-permits-ids/take-road-test
- Scoring: https://portal.ct.gov/dmv/-/media/dmv/dmv-pdfs/passpdf.pdf
- Retakes: https://portal.ct.gov/dmv/licenses-permits-ids/take-road-test
- Fees: https://portal.ct.gov/dmv/resources/dmv-fees
- Handbook (Revised March 2023): https://portal.ct.gov/dmv/-/media/dmv/dmv-pdfs/drivers-manual-english.pdf
Current as of 2026-07-16. Official Connecticut sources only; anything the state does not publish is left out rather than guessed.