Getting started
Driving skills road tests are administered only at the Driver License Branch in West and Central Bradenton, located at 904 301 Boulevard West, or the East Manatee Branch, which is nearest to Lakewood Ranch and East Manatee, at 10705 Technology Terrace.
You must be or becoming a Manatee County resident.
Appointments are required for all transaction! Visit our online appointment system (https://info.taxcollector.com/appointment-landing-page) to schedule an appointment.
Prerequisites
You must be at least 16 years of age to be eligible to take the Driving Skills Road Test. If you are under 18 years old, you must:
- Hold a Learner License for one year conviction-free.
- Ensure that a parent, legal guardian, or responsible adult 21 or older can accompany you to our office. They will be required to certify that you have completed 50 hours of driving, 10 hours of which was night-time driving. If they are unable to come in, they can complete a Parental Consent Certification of Driving Experience (https://www.flhsmv.gov/pdf/forms/71143.pdf) and provide it to you.
Note: If you are 18 or older, married or legally emancipated, you are not required to obtain consent. However, you would be required to submit a marriage certificate or emancipation court order.
If you are 18 years of age or older, you have the option of completing the Learner License requirements and upgrading it to a Class E License without holding a Learner License. You must take and pass the following exams:
- Traffic Law and Substance Abuse Education (TLSAE)
- Class E General Knowledge (50 questions) – This exam consists of 45 road rules and 5 road signs.
If you have met the prerequisites, you are prepared to take the Driving Skills Road Test.
Required Documents
An Online Application is REQUIRED for all Driver License transactions! Complete the Online Driver License & ID Card Application (https://taxcollector.jotform.com/210103795736152) – or scan the QR code to access the application – prior to your appointment. |
Do not print the application; an associate will access your electronic submission during your appointment. Applications are valid for 90 days.
The US Federal Real ID Act (https://www.dhs.gov/real-id) requires EVERYONE to become REAL ID compliant after January 1, 2011. A STAR on your current Florida driver license or Florida ID card means you are Real ID compliant. If your learner license does not have a gold star on the right corner or you are not a US citizen, you must present documents that establish your identity pursuant to the Real ID Act. For complete details, visit the state's What to Bring page (https://www.flhsmv.gov/driver-licenses-id-cards/what-to-bring/). |
If you are using an Interpreter for your road test please complete the Interpreter Affidavit. Anyone that is 18 years of age or older can serve as an interpreter; however the interpreter must have a valid identification to interpret driver license exams.
If you are deaf or hard of hearing and require a sign language interpreter, contact us. (https://www.taxcollector.com/phone-fax.cfm).
Required Vehicle Documents
Every customer is required to provide a safe vehicle in good working order for their skills exam. Our office will not provide a vehicle. Credentialling personnel will inspect your vehicle before the exam is started. The vehicle must:
- Have a valid license plate.
- Have a valid vehicle registration.
- Have proof of valid Personal Injury Protection and Property Damage Liability Insurance. Proof must be in the form of an insurance ID card, policy, declaration page or binder – we can accept proof of insurance on a mobile device.
If using a rental vehicle, the Rental Vehicle Affidavit (https://www.powerdms.com/public/MCTC/documents/1490956) must be completed by the authorized driver listed on the current rental agreement/contract, which must be presented for verification purposes.Required Vehicle Inspection Requirements
The road test will not be given if your vehicle doesn't pass the inspection. Examiners reserve the right not to administer a road test if the vehicle is unsanitary or the condition of the vehicle places an examiner in danger. This includes wet seats, plastic or other material in place of missing windows, and other hazards.
In accordance with Chapter 316 of the Florida statutes, the vehicle must pass the safety inspection.
- Doors – must open from inside and outside
- Gas – gas gauge light cannot be on or display Empty (E)
- Horn – must be heard from 200 ft
- Turn signals – must work or you must know and use proper hand signals
- Seat belts – must work
- Brake lights – two are required to work
- Windshield wipers and headlights – must work if raining
- Tires – must be in good condition; No tires that are bald, excessively worn or cord showing
- Vehicle must be clean
- If applicable, required adaptive equipment must be installed and working properly
This list is not all inclusive. Please refer to the Official Florida Driver License Handbook for additional vehicle requirements.
Driving test after hours and on weekends
For information on taking the Class E Road Test through a 3rd party provider visit Driving School of Florida (https://www.drivingschoolfl.com) located at 345 6th Ave W, Suite 10, Bradenton, FL 34205.
- Hours of Operation: Monday – Saturday 9am-6pm
- Email Driving School of Florida (plumm.melanie@gmail.com) or call them at 941-926-9650
For a full list of private providers, visit the Florida Highway Safety and Motor Vehicles (FLHSMV) website (https://www.flhsmv.gov/driver-licenses-id-cards/driver-license-exams/).
What to Expect When Taking the Road Test
During the skills exam, credentialling personnel will give you directions as to where to go and what to do next. There are no tricks on the skills exam and you will not be asked to do anything illegal. Pay close attention to the instructions and obey speed limits and traffic laws at all times. Remain calm at all times and perform the maneuvers to the best of your ability.
Credentialing personnel will explain any mistakes you may have made after the exam is completed. If you disqualify on the skills exam, you will be asked to study or practice and return another day for an additional exam. The examiner’s decision about your performance is final.You are expected to perform the following maneuvers on the driving test:
• Approach of crossing – Get in the proper lane, and look in each direction. If your car has a manual shift transmission, change gears smoothly and correctly.
• Backing – Back for a distance of 50 feet at a slow speed. Do not use the rear-view mirror when backing. You must look to the rear of the vehicle until the vehicle comes to a complete stop. Only use your mirrors if you are unable to see out of your rear window.
• Follow at a safe distance – Do not drive too closely behind other cars. Use the Four-Second Rule.
• Observe right-of-way – Allow pedestrians to cross, pull over and stop for emergency vehicles, and do not enter an intersection where you will interfere with other traffic.
• Obey stop signs – Give the proper signal if turning, approach in the proper lane, come to a complete stop before reaching the pedestrian crosswalk or stop line, and remain stopped until you can move safely without interfering with cross traffic or pedestrians. Keep in mind that most intersections contain marked or unmarked legal crosswalks. An unmarked crosswalk is the portion of the roadway at an intersection that would connect opposite sides of the street. |
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• Obey traffic signals – Get in the proper lane, and approach the light at a speed that will allow you to stop if the light should change. When you must stop, stop before the pedestrian crosswalk or stop line. When the light turns green, do not move forward until the other traffic has cleared the intersection. Give the correct signal for stopping and turning. Watch for "no turn" and "one way" signs.
• Passing – Always look ahead and behind to make sure you can pass safely. Pass on the left, unless the car ahead is about to make a left turn or is in the left turn lane on a street with more than one lane in each direction. Do not pass on the shoulder (side of the road).
• Shift Gears – If your car has a manual shift transmission, change gears smoothly and correctly.
• Straight-in parking – Park your vehicle inside the parking space straightin. When properly parked, the vehicle should be centered inside the space with no part of the vehicle extending out in the traffic lane. This maneuver gives the examiner the opportunity to observe your ability to: o Handle the vehicle in close quarters o Judge distance o Maintain control of the vehicle as you turn into a straight-in parking space |
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• Stop/start on a grade – This maneuver is simulated when the car is in the straight-in parking space or when the car is pulled over to the side of the road. You will be instructed to show or tell the examiner what you would do if you were going to leave the vehicle parked up or down a hill, with or without a curb.
• Stop quickly – Drive at 10 miles per hour and make a quick, safe stop when the examiner instructs you. • Signal and turn – Get in the proper lane, and signal your turn for the last 100 feet. You may use either hand signals or mechanical signals. Slow before reaching the crosswalk, and turn into the proper lane. |
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• Turnabout (three-point turn) – Turn your car around in a 30-foot to 40-foot space.
• Use proper posture – Keep both hands on the steering wheel, and do not rest your elbow in the window.
Inclement weather: Driving tests are given during inclement weather. However, the examiner can suspend a driving test if the weather conditions are too severe. If you are not comfortable taking the driving test during inclement weather, you may reschedule your appointment.