Pennsylvania Road Test Vehicle Requirements: Inspection, Insurance, and Rental Cars

You need a road-test vehicle with valid registration, current insurance, a valid state inspection sticker and, when required, a valid emissions sticker, plus working safety equipment. The accompanying driver must be at least 21, unless the person is your licensed parent, guardian, person in loco parentis, or spouse who is age 18 or older. See the PA Driver's Manual for the official road-test rules.

What Vehicle Requirements Does Pennsylvania PennDOT Enforce at the Road Test?

The road-test vehicle must be legally registered, insured, safe to operate, and appropriate for the Class C test. Use the separate Road Test Documents page for the applicant's permit and accompanying-driver paperwork.

Can You Use a Parent's, Friend's, or Borrowed Car for the Pennsylvania Road Test?

Can you use a parent's or friend's car for the Pennsylvania road test? Yes. The vehicle does not need to belong to the applicant. A parent's, friend's, or other borrowed vehicle can be used if it meets Pennsylvania's registration, insurance, inspection, and safety requirements. Bring the vehicle's original current registration and original valid insurance card. For the applicant's permit, age-specific forms, and accompanying-driver documents, see the Road Test Documents page.

Can you use a temporary registration or pink slip for the Pennsylvania road test?

Yes. PennDOT accepts a valid original registration card or a valid pink slip for the test vehicle.

Vehicle Inspection and Safety Equipment

• Lights & Signals: Headlights, brake lights, turn signals, and hazard flashers must work.
• Brakes: Service brakes and parking brake must work properly.
• Tires: Tires must be safe and legal for road use.
• Doors and Interior: Doors must operate properly and the passenger area must allow the examiner to ride safely.
• Windshield, Wipers, Horn, and Defroster: Required equipment must function and visibility must be safe.

Does the vehicle need an emissions sticker for the Pennsylvania road test?

If the vehicle is required to have Pennsylvania emissions inspection, that requirement must be current. Vehicles that are not subject to emissions inspection are not rejected for lacking a sticker they are not required to have.

Mirror Requirements and Visibility

Required mirrors must be secure and provide safe visibility. Backup cameras may be present, but the driver still needs normal observation and head checks; self-parking functions should not be used during the test.

Can you use self-parking technology during the Pennsylvania road test?

No. Self-parking or automated parking assistance should not be used to perform the tested maneuver. The applicant must demonstrate the required driving and parking skills.

Can you use a rental car for the Pennsylvania road test?

Yes, if the rental agreement allows the vehicle to be used for a driver's skills test and allows operation by the learner's permit holder. Bring the required original vehicle documents.

Reasons a Vehicle Can Be Rejected for a Pennsylvania Road Test

A vehicle can be rejected if it is unsafe, improperly registered or insured, lacks required inspection/emissions compliance where applicable, or has equipment problems that make the test unsafe.

• Rental Cars: A rental can be used when the rental agreement permits a driver's skills test and operation by the learner's permit holder.
• Inspection/Emissions Problems: Required inspection and emissions compliance must be current for the vehicle.
• Unsafe Equipment: Serious mechanical or safety defects can stop the test before it begins.

Pennsylvania Road Test Fees, Scheduling, and Retakes

The PennDOT road test has no separate test fee. For a standard first-time applicant, the current $45.50 initial permit and four-year license transaction covers the initial licensing transaction; do not add a separate $39.50 first-license fee at road-test time.

• Scheduling: Road tests are scheduled; use the Appointment Scheduling page for booking details.
• Retakes: After three failed road-test attempts, use Form DL-31 with the current $6 Class A/B/C permit fee to extend the permit for additional attempts.

Detailed retake timing and fee questions belong in the dedicated Waiting Period and Fees & Costs pages.