The North Dakota road test
A plain-language guide, checked against the North Dakota Department of Transportation (NDDOT): 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 North Dakota road test, also called the behind-the-wheel or driving skills test, is the final exam the NDDOT gives before it issues a driver's license. New drivers can take the North Dakota driving test at 15, after logging 50 hours of supervised driving. The drive includes parallel parking.
North Dakota sets a specific pre-license education step every new driver has to clear. The permit is available at 14 with the knowledge and vision tests; anyone under 18 needs a sponsor. A 15-year-old who passes the road test gets a restricted license, and it becomes unrestricted at 16.
Below you'll find the full North Dakota 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, North Dakota's written knowledge test ranks 41st-hardest of 51.
OUR DRIVER'S ED PICK FOR NORTH DAKOTA
Know the rules before you hit the road
4.8from 3 million+ drivers trained
Start your online driver's ed with DriversEd.com, teaching licensed drivers since 1997.
Opens driversed.com · we may earn a commission at no cost to you · it never changes the facts we report.
Supervised hours before the North Dakota 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 North Dakota 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. Under 16: a parent or guardian comes along and signs the authorization and 50-hour completion.
If you fail the North Dakota road test
Here's how a retake works in North Dakota: Not the same day; no specific number of days is published. The retest fee is $5 per attempt.
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 $15.
How the North Dakota road test is scored
Pass or fail, by examiner evaluation. You must follow instructions, keep your lane, signal, parallel park, keep good posture, and obey signs and laws. There is no numeric score.
North Dakota 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 North Dakota 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 NDDOT (www.dot.nd.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 NDDOT pages)
- Eligibility: https://www.dot.nd.gov/sites/www/files/documents/Drivers%20-%20documents/noncommercial-manual.pdf
- What to bring: https://www.dot.nd.gov/sites/www/files/documents/Drivers%20-%20documents/noncommercial-manual.pdf
- Test format: https://www.dot.nd.gov/sites/www/files/documents/Drivers%20-%20documents/noncommercial-manual.pdf
- Scoring: https://www.dot.nd.gov/sites/www/files/documents/Drivers%20-%20documents/noncommercial-manual.pdf
- Retakes: https://www.dot.nd.gov/driver/driver-education/driver-license-requirements
- Fees: https://www.dot.nd.gov/driver/driver-education/driver-license-requirements
- Handbook (2025-2027): https://www.dot.nd.gov/sites/www/files/documents/Drivers%20-%20documents/noncommercial-manual.pdf
Current as of 2026-07-16. Official North Dakota sources only; anything the state does not publish is left out rather than guessed.