Arlington Driving Academy

State Authorized DPS Road Test for Teens & Adults

Certified examiners. Same-day appointments. Use our vehicle or bring your own.

State-Authorized Testing Center

We are approved by the Texas Department of Public Safety to administer the official road test.

No Long DPS Lines or Delays

Schedule your exam at a time that works for you often same-day or next-day availability.

Use Our Instructor Vehicle

Avoid vehicle requirements and safety checks, rent our test-ready car for your exam.

Fast Results & Immediate Paperwork

If you pass, we give you the official DPS certificate which you need to finalize your license.

Official Third Party Skills Testing at Arlington Driving Academy

Let’s be honest nobody wants to wait months for an appointment at the DPS or stand in long lines just to take a 10-minute driving test. The good news? You don’t have to.

At Arlington Driving Academy, you can skip the wait and take your 3rd Party driving test with us. We are a state-authorized school for 3rd Party driving test in Arlington, Texas. That means we give the exact same test that the DPS gives, and it counts just the same. The only difference? We’re faster, friendlier, and usually have appointments available right away.

Whether you are a teen ready for your provisional license or an adult getting licensed for the first time, we make the final step as simple and stress-free as possible.

Mohammad Sohel

DPS Certified Examiner

Passing Students with DPS Road Test Certificate

What You Need to Bring for the DPS Road Test

Texas DPS Road Test Requirements

Teen Drivers (Under 18)

Eligibility

You must be at least 16 years old

Your learner permit must be held for a minimum of 6 months

Required Documents

DE-964 Certificate marked “For Driver License Only,” consisting of 24 hours of classroom instruction and 14 hours of behind-the-wheel training.

(24 hours for teens, effective December 2024)

Impact Texas Teen Drivers (ITTD) Certificate: Finish the ITTD video course within 90 days of taking your test.

30-Hour Driving Log completed and signed

VOE (Verification of Enrollment) Form valid for 30 days, or provide a high school diploma

Who Needs to Come With You

A parent or guardian who signed the 30-hour log must be present at the test

Vehicle Requirements

Bring an insured and registered vehicle you feel comfortable driving

The car must pass a basic safety check before the test. Make sure the brake lights, turn signals, horn, and seat belts are working properly. The windshield should have no cracks that affect visibility, and confirm that the tires, mirrors, and doors are in good condition and fully functional.

Parent Taught Drivers

Eligibility

You must be at least 16 years old

Your learner permit must be held for a minimum of 6 months

All PTDE classroom and driving hours must be fully completed and recorded

Required Documents

DE-964 Certificate marked “For Driver License Only,” consisting of 24 hours of classroom instruction and 14 hours of behind-the-wheel training.

(24 hours for teens, effective December 2024)

Impact Texas Teen Drivers (ITTD) Certificate

: Finish the ITTD video course within 90 days of taking your test.

30-Hour Driving Log completed and signed

VOE (Verification of Enrollment) form valid for 30 days, or provide a high school diploma

Parent Requirements

Be present at the appointment

Verify that all classroom and behind-the-wheel hours were completed

Vehicle Requirements

Bring an insured and registered vehicle you feel comfortable driving

The car must pass a basic safety check before the test. Make sure the brake lights, turn signals, horn, and seat belts are working properly. The windshield should have no cracks that affect visibility, and confirm that the tires, mirrors, and doors are in good condition and fully functional.

Adult Drivers (Age 18+)

Eligibility

You must be at least 18 years old

Your learner permit must be held for a minimum of 6 months

Required Documents

ADE-1317 Certificate: If you are less than 25 years of age, you must have completed the 6-hour Texas Adult Driver Education course.

Impact Texas Adult Drivers (ITAD) Certificate: Finish the ITAD video course within 90 days of taking your test.

Valid ID and Documents: Have proof of identification, residence, vehicle insurance and registration.

Vehicle Requirements

Bring an insured and registered vehicle you feel comfortable driving

The car must pass a basic safety check before the test. Make sure the brake lights, turn signals, horn, and seat belts are working properly. The windshield should have no cracks that affect visibility, and confirm that the tires, mirrors, and doors are in good condition and fully functional.

What You Need to Know About the Texas DPS Road Test

What Is Included in a Road Test?

The Texas DPS Road Test is designed to evaluate your ability to drive safely and legally in real-world traffic conditions. Our certified examiners are not looking for perfection, but for control, observation, and safety.

During your 20-minute drive, you will be assessed on these crucial skills:

Vehicle Control: Smooth acceleration, gentle braking, and smooth steering.

Intersection Safety: It includes controlled turn, full stops at corner stop signs, and obeying traffic signals.

Lane Management: Examples include making lane changes safely, staying within your lane, and using turn signals.

Right-of-Way: Knowing when to yield to other cars, pedestrians, and cyclists.

Special Maneuvers

Parallel Parking: You will have to park your car between two poles without making contact with either or with the curb.
Straight-Line Backing: Backing your vehicle slowly in a straight line for about 50 feet.
Observation: Checking mirrors and blind spots (“head checks”) before proceeding.

Common Mistakes That Cause Automatic Failures

Passing your road test requires avoiding simple but critical errors. Many skilled drivers fail not just because they cannot drive, but because they overlook into small details.

Watch out for these top failure points:

Rolling Stops: You have to bring your vehicle to a complete stop behind the white stop line at all stop signs.

Missing Head Checks: It doesn’t help to have mirrors. You have to turn your head for blind spots before making every turn.

Signal Neglect: Failing to signal or signaling too late for turn changes, lane changes, or parking.

Improper Yielding: Not yielding the right-of-way to traffic or pedestrians constitutes an immediate failure.

Speed Control: Driving at a rate well above or well below the limit will cost you marks.

DPS Road Test Packages

DPS Road Test Only

$75

DPS Road Test + Vehicle Rental

$100

DPS Road Test + 1 Hour Practice Lesson

$125

DPS Road Test Full Package

$175

How the Texas DPS Road Test Works at Arlington Driving Academy

It is normal to feel nervous about your DPS road test but being prepared can help. Here is a quick look at what happens when you take your Texas DPS road test with us.

  • Pre-Test Vehicle Check: Our examiner will inspect your vehicle to ensure it is safe and road ready. They will also check lights, signals, brakes, seat belts, horns and insurance certificates.
  • Basic Driving Skills: You will be required to show basic driving skills like starting, stopping, reversing, and turning smoothly.
  • Traffic Interaction: Our examiner will observe how you interact with traffic lights, signs, pedestrians, and other cars. This includes lane changes, merging, and yielding correctly.
  • Parking and Control: You will be assessed on your capability of parking effectively, usually parallel parking as well as keeping control of your vehicle in tight spaces.
  • Scoring and Feedback: Once the test is complete, our examiner will address your performance. Feedback will be given on what you do effectively and where you need to improve if required.

Who Can Take the Texas DPS Road Test at Arlington Driving Academy

  • Teens who completed a Texas-approved Teen Driving Course: If you have completed your teenage driver education course and have obtained your learner’s permit, you are now qualified to take your official road test with us at DPS.
  • Adults, 18+, with valid permit: Adults holding a valid Texas learner’s permit can book their DPS road test here in advance without having to wait for delays.
  • Seniors requiring a skills assessment: Our driving school allows senior drivers to take a professional and state-authorized driving evaluation for renewing, refreshing, or verifying their driving skills.
  • Out-of-state or out-of-country drivers requiring a Texas license: New drivers in Texas can take their required skills test through us, saving them from having to wait in long lines at DPS.
  • Anyone who wants to avoid DPS wait times: Whether you are a teen or adult, you can skip the long lines and limited DPS availability by taking your official road test at our testing center.