If you don’t own a car, getting your first driver’s license can feel like a chicken and egg situation; you need a driver’s license to rent a car, but you need a car to get your driver’s license. The good news: DMVs generally allow you to test in any safe, legally operable vehicle that meets documentation rules (registration, proof of insurance/financial responsibility) and you arrive with a qualified supervising driver until the examiner takes over. See examples from California DMV and New York DMV. Practical routes include borrowing a properly insured car from someone you know or using an instructor’s insured vehicle through a driving school.
Taking a Driving Test If You Don’t Own a Car
Taking a driving test without a personal vehicle is possible, but you must meet your state’s legal and safety requirements. Most DMVs require: proof of insurance/financial responsibility for the test vehicle, current registration (and inspection where applicable), a pre‑test safety check, and a licensed supervising driver until the exam begins. Representative rules: California, New York, New Jersey, Texas DPS, Florida, and Illinois. Note for Californians: as of 2025, the statutory minimum auto liability limits are 30/60/15 per the California Department of Insurance; any vehicle operated on public roads, including a road‑test vehicle, must meet current minimums.
Borrow from a friend or family member
If you’re testing on a learner’s permit, bring a qualified supervising driver; many states prohibit permit holders from driving themselves to the test site. For example, the New Jersey MVC explicitly requires a supervising driver and warns permit holders may not drive to the road test alone. Borrowing a familiar car can help, but plan logistics so a licensed adult accompanies you until the examiner begins the test.
Before lending a vehicle, the owner should confirm insurance details. In most cases, insurance follow the car, not the driver—meaning the owner’s policy is usually primary for a permissive user, and a borrower’s policy (if any) may be excess. Consumer and regulator guidance (e.g., State Farm, Washington OIC) notes important exceptions: named‑driver exclusions, business/rideshare uses, or “regular use” of a borrowed car can eliminate coverage. In California, policies may lawfully limit permissive‑user liability to the state minimums unless the borrower is listed—see the California Department of Insurance. If you borrow cars frequently, consider a non‑owner liability policy for yourself (Insurance Information Institute).
Make sure the car will pass the DMV’s pre‑test safety check or your exam can be canceled. Common checklist items across states include: working headlights/taillights/brake lights/turn signals and hazard flashers; functioning horn; windshield free of dangerous cracks with effective wipers and defroster; adequate tire tread and inflation (no temporary “donut” spare on the car); responsive service brakes and a parking/emergency brake that holds; mirrors, speedometer, and seatbelts for all seating positions; doors and windows that operate. The examiner must be able to access a usable parking/emergency brake from the passenger seat, and vehicles with consoles that block access can be refused. Many DMVs also require disabling active driver‑assist/auto‑parking features during the exam. See guidance from Texas DPS, NY DMV, NJ MVC, and Washington DOL.
Rent a car from a driving school
If borrowing isn’t feasible, ask local driving schools about “car‑for‑test” packages. Providers commonly supply an insured, roadworthy instructor vehicle—often with dual controls—and the licensed instructor accompanies you, which typically satisfies the supervising‑driver requirement in states that require one (see the requirement to arrive with a licensed adult in California). Dual‑control/instructor‑car norms are standard in some markets (e.g., the UK permits a hire car only if it has dual controls, per DVSA rules), and U.S. schools adopt similar safety practices.
Packages often bundle pickup to the test center, a 45–60 minute warm‑up drive, the instructor’s insured car for the test, and return transport. Availability varies by city, but national and local providers advertise these services (e.g., DriversEd.com), and UK schools like RED Driving School describe similar warm‑up and instructor‑car options. Using a school vehicle also avoids consumer‑rental contract prohibitions and ensures documentation is on hand for the examiner.
Rent a car from a car rental agency
Most rental and car‑share companies require fully licensed drivers and do not accept learner’s permits. Examples: Enterprise requires a valid driver’s license (learner’s permits are not accepted), and Zipcar requires a full, valid license. Some platforms also restrict use for lessons or tests—peer‑to‑peer platform Turo prohibits driver training/testing uses—so even if your DMV allows rentals, contract terms may not. If an agency allows it, ensure the agreement authorizes your test use and that any accompanying licensed driver is properly listed.
Your international license is likely enough to rent a car for your road test; however, some states require an additional International Driving Permit (IDP, so check your state’s requirements online. Remember that an IDP is only a translation used alongside your physical license—it is not a standalone license (see UK government guidance on international driving permits). Rental counters also typically require a physical, valid license in the renter’s name (digital/virtual licenses are generally not accepted), and non‑residents are commonly asked for a passport and a major payment card; see Enterprise and Avis.
The car rental company will check your driving history; if you have blemishes on your record, they may cancel your reservation. Typically, you must be at least 21–25 years old (young‑driver fees may apply), have held your license for at least a year for most car classes, present a passport if you’re a non‑resident, have a credit card in the main driver’s name for the deposit, and comply with any cross‑border restrictions for your route. Documentation norms are consistent across brands like Avis and Sixt (which also details cross‑border restrictions).
If you’re looking to rent a car for your road test, you can find our top picks for car rental sites here; before selecting one, make sure to check the terms and conditions for international drivers and whether test use is permitted. Some platforms prohibit lessons/tests (e.g., Turo), and most agencies require a full, physical license. If rental terms don’t fit, consider a driving school test‑day package instead.
Road Test FAQ
Can you rent a car with a permit?
Generally no. Consumer rentals and car‑share memberships require a valid, full driver’s license—learner’s permits aren’t accepted (see Enterprise and Zipcar). A practical alternative is a driving school’s “car‑for‑test” package, where an instructor supplies an insured, often dual‑controlled vehicle and acts as the accompanying licensed driver (examples: DriversEd.com; UK dual‑control rule noted by DVSA).
Do I need insurance to borrow a car from a friend?
No, you don’t need a separate policy to borrow a car for personal use, but the vehicle must be insured and meet your state’s proof‑of‑insurance rules. Typically the owner’s policy is primary for permissive drivers and your policy (if you have one) is excess; coverage can be limited by exclusions or state law. In California, policies may restrict permissive‑user liability coverage to state minimums unless you’re listed on the policy. See guidance from State Farm, the Washington OIC, and the California Department of Insurance. Insurance requirements vary by state, and frequent borrowers in the same household are often required by insurers to be listed; a non‑owner policy can provide you with excess liability protection if you regularly drive cars you don’t own.
Will the DMV really turn me away from my road test if my vehicle looks unsafe?
Yes. Examiners routinely cancel tests for missing documents (registration/insurance) or safety defects. Expect a pre‑drive inspection covering lights and signals, horn, windshield/wipers/defroster, tires/tread, mirrors, seatbelts, service and parking brakes (the parking/emergency brake must be reachable by the examiner). Many states also require active driver‑assist and self‑parking features to be turned off. See California DMV, Illinois SOS, Texas DPS, NJ MVC, NY DMV, and Florida.
What’s Next?
- If you’re looking to rent a car for your driving test, find a driving school in your area that rents cars to students. Ask if the vehicle has dual controls and confirm the instructor will accompany you to satisfy supervising‑driver rules; verify the car’s registration and insurance meet your DMV’s checklist (see examples from CA DMV and NY DMV).
- Talk to car rental agencies about how to rent a car for your road test if you’re an international resident looking to get a U.S. driver’s license. Confirm that your physical license will be accepted (digital versions usually are not), whether you need an IDP (an IDP is only a translation and must be used with your original license), and whether the rental contract allows lesson/test use (IDP basics; platform prohibitions like Turo).
- Read more about adding a teen driver to your auto insurance policy once they ace their driving test. Many families see overall premiums rise on the order of 50%–100% when a newly licensed teen is added; shop broadly and ask about good‑student, driver‑ed, and telematics discounts (see III and Bankrate).
