The Kentucky road test
A plain-language guide, checked against the Kentucky State Police: 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 Kentucky road test, also called the behind-the-wheel or driving skills test, is the final exam the KY State Police / KYTC gives before it issues a driver's license. New drivers can take the Kentucky driving test at 16, after logging 60 hours of supervised driving. The drive includes parallel parking.
Kentucky sets a specific pre-license education step every new driver has to clear. Kentucky uses a three-step path for under-18 drivers: permit, intermediate, then full. A licensed driver 21 or older must ride in the front seat, and it is unlawful to drive yourself to the test.
Below you'll find the full Kentucky 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, Kentucky's written knowledge test ranks 12th-hardest of 51.
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Supervised hours before the Kentucky 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 Kentucky road test
Tap each item to check it off. Your progress is saved on this device.
Documents
Your vehicle must have
Who comes with you. A licensed driver 21 or older rides in the front seat to bring you to the test. The state police examiner sits up front during the test, and interpreters are not allowed in the car.
If you fail the Kentucky road test
Here's how a retake works in Kentucky: At least one week after a failure.
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 $43 for an 8-year operator license ($21.50 for 4 years; $48 for a REAL ID).
How the Kentucky road test is scored
Pass or fail. The examiner uses a score sheet, with no published numeric threshold.
Mistakes that end the test right away
Do any of these and the examiner stops the drive, no matter how well the rest went.
- Any collision, traffic violation, or dangerous act may result in automatic failure, and the test will not be completed.
- Failure to follow the Examiner's instructions two times during the test will result in being disqualified.
Before the road test
Pass the Kentucky 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 KY State Police / KYTC (wp.kentuckystatepolice.ky.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 (2 official KY State Police / KYTC pages)
- Eligibility: https://wp.kentuckystatepolice.ky.gov/wp-content/uploads/2023/11/Kentucky-Driver-Manual-10-11-2023.pdf
- What to bring: https://wp.kentuckystatepolice.ky.gov/wp-content/uploads/2023/11/Kentucky-Driver-Manual-10-11-2023.pdf
- Test format: https://wp.kentuckystatepolice.ky.gov/wp-content/uploads/2023/11/Kentucky-Driver-Manual-10-11-2023.pdf
- Scoring: https://wp.kentuckystatepolice.ky.gov/wp-content/uploads/2023/11/Kentucky-Driver-Manual-10-11-2023.pdf
- Retakes: https://wp.kentuckystatepolice.ky.gov/wp-content/uploads/2023/11/Kentucky-Driver-Manual-10-11-2023.pdf
- Fees: https://transportation.ky.gov/Organizational-Resources/Forms/TC%2094-192.pdf
- Handbook (October 11, 2023): https://wp.kentuckystatepolice.ky.gov/wp-content/uploads/2023/11/Kentucky-Driver-Manual-10-11-2023.pdf
Current as of 2026-07-16. Official Kentucky sources only; anything the state does not publish is left out rather than guessed.