The Arkansas road test
A plain-language guide, checked against the Arkansas 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 Arkansas road test, also called the behind-the-wheel or driving skills test, is the final exam the AR State Police / DFA gives before it issues a driver's license. New drivers can take the Arkansas driving test at 14.
Arkansas sets a specific pre-license education step every new driver has to clear. A licensed driver 21 or older must accompany permit, learner, and intermediate license holders.
Below you'll find the full Arkansas 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, Arkansas's written knowledge test ranks 39th-hardest of 51.
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What to bring to the Arkansas road test
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Documents
Your vehicle must have
Who comes with you. A licensed driver 21 or older if you are driving; an unrestricted driver 16 or older may drive you to the testing center.
If you fail the Arkansas road test
Here's how a retake works in Arkansas: A serious automatic failure carries a 30-day wait; a second non-serious failure carries a 2-week wait.
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 $40 (Class D, ages 21 and older, 8 years).
How the Arkansas 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.
- Passing a stopped school bus with its lights flashing (ACA 27-16-401)
- Failing to yield to an emergency vehicle using its flashing lights (ACA 27-51-901)
- Improperly passing a stopped law enforcement vehicle with its lights flashing (ACA 27-51-310)
- Parking improperly in a handicapped space (ACA 27-15-305)
- Driving to the testing site without a licensed driver (ACA 27-16-602)
- Violating the Arkansas cell phone law (ACA 27-51-1607)
- Causing an at-fault accident (ACA 27-50-803)
Before the road test
Pass the Arkansas 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 AR State Police / DFA (dps.arkansas.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 (4 official AR State Police / DFA pages)
- Eligibility: https://dps.arkansas.gov/wp-content/uploads/Arkansas-DL-Manual-English_October2024-10082024.pdf
- What to bring: https://dps.arkansas.gov/wp-content/uploads/Arkansas-State-Police-Skills-Testing-1-2-3-Checklist.pdf
- Test format: https://dps.arkansas.gov/wp-content/uploads/Arkansas-DL-Manual-English_October2024-10082024.pdf
- Scoring: https://www.sos.arkansas.gov/uploads/rulesRegs/Arkansas%20Register/2014/dec2014/130.00.14-001.pdf
- Retakes: https://www.sos.arkansas.gov/uploads/rulesRegs/Arkansas%20Register/2014/dec2014/130.00.14-001.pdf
- Fees: https://www.dfa.arkansas.gov/office/driver-services/licenses-ids-permits/non-commercial-information-ncl/
- Handbook (Edition 9, October 2024): https://dps.arkansas.gov/wp-content/uploads/Arkansas-DL-Manual-English_October2024-10082024.pdf
Current as of 2026-07-16. Official Arkansas sources only; anything the state does not publish is left out rather than guessed.