The Louisiana road test
A plain-language guide, checked against the Louisiana Office of Motor Vehicles (LA OMV): 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 Louisiana road test, also called the behind-the-wheel or driving skills test, is the final exam the LA OMV gives before it issues a driver's license. New drivers can take the Louisiana driving test at 17, after logging 50 hours of supervised driving. The drive includes parallel parking.
Louisiana sets a specific pre-license education step every new driver has to clear. You need 20/40 vision, and you must score at least 80% on both the knowledge and road tests.
Below you'll find the full Louisiana 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, Louisiana's written knowledge test ranks tied for 17th-hardest of 51.
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Supervised hours before the Louisiana 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 Louisiana road test
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Documents
Your vehicle must have
Who comes with you. For a minor, a custodial parent, tutor, or guardian must come along, show ID, sign, and prove insurance. During the test, only you, OMV staff, and an interpreter may be in the car.
If you fail the Louisiana road test
Louisiana doesn't set a fixed wait before you can try again, but you'll need to book another appointment. The OMV does not publish a retake fee. A third-party tester may charge up to $40 for the road skills test.
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 $32.25 for a Class E license through age 69 ($18.75 at age 70 and older), plus up to $8 in field-office fees.
How the Louisiana road test is scored
You must score at least 80%. Points are deducted for errors.
Mistakes that end the test right away
Do any of these and the examiner stops the drive, no matter how well the rest went.
- A violation of any traffic law
- Any dangerous action or incident
- Lack of cooperation or refusal to follow instructions
- A collision
- Too many minor mistakes added together
Before the road test
Pass the Louisiana 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 LA OMV (public.powerdms.com) 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 LA OMV pages)
- Eligibility: https://public.powerdms.com/LADPSC/documents/347039
- What to bring: https://public.powerdms.com/LADPSC/documents/347039
- Test format: https://public.powerdms.com/LADPSC/documents/347039
- Scoring: https://public.powerdms.com/LADPSC/documents/347039
- Retakes: https://public.powerdms.com/LADPSC/documents/347039
- Fees: https://expresslane.la.gov/omv/drivers/personal-driver-s-licenses/new-licenses/
- Handbook (DPSMV2052 (R08/25)): https://public.powerdms.com/LADPSC/documents/347039
Current as of 2026-07-16. Official Louisiana sources only; anything the state does not publish is left out rather than guessed.