Massachusetts RMV announces road test applicants soon will need own vehicles

BOSTON – The Massachusetts Registry of Motor Vehicles is informing Class D learner’s permit holders applying for a Massachusetts issued driver’s license that all applicants will soon be required to supply their own vehicle for road tests.

Due to the pandemic and health and safety protocols, since June of 2020, the RMV deployed a fleet of Commonwealth-owned vehicles for road tests which were cleaned and sanitized on a regular basis. The use of these Commonwealth-owned vehicles will end on April 29, 2022. Applicants for a Class M, or Motorcycle license, supply their own motorcycle for testing. Applicants scheduled for testing through a driving school should confirm they have access to the school’s vehicle for their road test.

“Vehicles on loan from our MassDOT Highway Division partners and other Commonwealth agencies’ vehicles allowed us to continue road testing and licensing in a safe and healthy manner during the State of Emergency and continued COVID-19 restrictions,” said Registrar of Motor Vehicles Colleen Ogilvie. “As we prepare for the transition back to private cars, we want applicants to be aware of our requirements and to be prepared to arrive sufficiently skilled behind the wheel to pass the road test on their first try.”

Applicants must bring a physical copy of their learner’s permit, a printed and completed copy of the Road Test Application and be accompanied by a qualified sponsor. A sponsor is a person who is a licensed driver over the age of 21 with at least one year of experience driving. Should it be required, the sponsor will be responsible for operating the vehicle if at any point the road test examiner determines the applicant cannot continue testing.

In addition to meeting the application and sponsor qualifications, the applicant must make sure the vehicle brought for testing meets all functional and safety requirements. Some practices adopted during the pandemic will continue — license applicants will be asked to keep open windows for ventilation.

Face covering requirements will be dependent on guidance provided by the federal Transportation Security Administration (TSA). All applicants and sponsors are required to arrive prepared to wear a face covering during their scheduled road test and to follow all face covering protocols in place at the time of the test.

Private passenger vehicles used for a Class D road test must meet the following requirements, (including vehicles with an ignition interlock device, and vehicles with adaptive equipment for a competency test):

-Be in good working condition and be able to pass a safety check.
-Have a valid registration and current inspection sticker.
-Contain adequate seating accommodations next to the operator for the use of the examiner and have a rear seat for the sponsor.
-Be designed to let the examiner make an emergency stop using the parking brake. If not, the vehicle cannot be used for the road test.
-Any vehicle with a center console that does not have a parking brake as part of the console cannot be used.
-Any vehicle that does not allow the examiner unobstructed access to the parking brake cannot be used.

Customers are advised that if the road test examiner identifies any of the following conditions, the road test will not go forward and rescheduling will be the responsibility of the applicant:

-Road test examiner identifies the applicant and/or sponsor is displaying signs of impairment.
-Road test examiner identifies an odor of cannabis or alcohol emanating from the applicant and/or sponsor; including from their clothing or from inside the vehicle to be used for the road test.
-Road test examiner observes present minor children, including babies in car seats, or animals, other than service animals, which cannot be unsupervised at the Service Center during the test.

The RMV has a new webpage to help applicants locate all information related to their road test, Mass.Gov/RoadTest. The page includes information on what to expect, videos to help prepare for the road test, links to checklists and applications to increase an applicant’s chance of passing their exam.