Automobile Testing
Certified Automobile Road Testing for the State of Michigan
- All our examiners truly care
- We give an unbiased and fair test
- We want all of our drivers to succeed while still meeting the state requirements
- Follow state guidelines
- One of the few places with an indoor facility with lobby, reception, bathroom
- Free practice course available 24/7, a mirror image of the test courses
My son, Mitchell C., took his Level 3 driving skills test with Academy Testing and happily he passed! I wanted to thank you for the program that you run and the convenience of offering appointments on Sunday. Also, Mitchell’s examiner that day was very professional and did an excellent job. He was very direct and to-the-point with my son and gave directions very clearly. He also made a point to stress that one can never be too cautious in many situations. My son was very pleased with the way he was treated. I know it is not an easy job testing 16-year-old new drivers, but our examiner was great! I will recommend Academy Testing to my friends and will come again in a few years for my other son. Again, thank you!
Things to Bring and Know
You may bring an interpreter with you. All interpreters must be at least 16 years old with photo identification.
18 years and older
- Your original valid Temporary Instruction Permit (TIP) or MDOS receipt
- Valid and current vehicle registration
- Valid and current proof of insurance
- Have at least 30 days of practice driving on your TIP (unless the TIP clearly states that the 30 day practice period is waived).
- Your vehicle must be in safe and working order and all three brake lights must work.
- No passengers are allowed during the test; only you and the examiner will be in the vehicle.
- Cannot switch vehicles during the test.
- No cell phones during the test.
Under 18 years
- You must bring a parent or legal guardian.
- Michigan Level 1 Learner’s License (You must have at least six (6) months of practice driving time on your Level 1 Learner’s License)
- Segment 2 Completion Certificate
- Parent certification of at least 50 hours of practice driving (10 of which must be at night and clearly identified for the examiner to see)
- Note that if your driving log or proof of insurance is on a cell phone you should screen shot all the pages or print out a hard copy and bring it with you. Not all cell phones have good service in Lawton!
- Valid and current vehicle registration
- Valid and current proof of insurance
- Your vehicle must be in safe and working order and all three brake lights must work.
- While a parent or legal guardian will be allowed to ride along during the test, no other passengers will be permitted; only you, your parent or legal guardian, and the examiner will be in the vehicle.
- Cannot switch vehicles during the test.
- No cell phones during the test.
Appointment Fee
The cost of your appointment is $78.00. All appointments are pre paid. You may pay with cash, check or credit card. If you choose to pay with a credit card, your credit card issuer may charge you a service fee. Please keep your receipt for proof of your payment.
The examiner will wait 10 minutes past your scheduled appointment time before your appointment is forfeited.
Retest Fee
- Incomplete or missing documents – $78
- Equipment failure – $78
- If later than 10 minutes or called to cancel less than 24 hours before appointment to cancel – $78
- Failure due to Basic Control Skills – $78
- Failure due to Driving Test – $78
- No call / no show – $78
Cancellation Policy
If you cancel your appointment at least 24 hours, one (1) business day prior to the scheduled appointment, the testing fee will be refunded or applied toward the cost of a rescheduled appointment.
If our office is closed, please leave a detailed message on our answering machine. Provided the message is received 24 hours prior to the scheduled appointment the cancellation will be honored.
Monday appointments must be canceled on Friday.
No-Show Policy
The applicant must be on time for the scheduled appointment or the testing fee is forfeited. The examiner will wait 10 minutes past the scheduled time before the appointment is forfeited.
Weather Conditions
Appointments will be rescheduled if weather conditions in Lawton do not meet state requirements or are otherwise unfavorable for the road test. If the weather may be questionable to you, please call to confirm the appointment.
If we cancel the road test we will call the number provided to us when the test was scheduled to confirm that the test is canceled.
We will reschedule your appointment at a future date and time that works for both parties.
You will not lose your Testing Fee.
If the weather appears questionable to you, please call and confirm your appointment.
Car Rental
We have a car available for rent for the test. The cost, if the car is available, is $45. Rental arrangements should be made ahead of time to ensure availablility.
Practice Course
We offer a Basic Skills Practice Course for those who will be testing at Academy Testing.
Payment Methods
We can accept VISA, MasterCard and Discover over the phone, or you can mail your check or money order to:
Academy TestingPO Box 250
Lawton, MI 49065
You may also come to our office and pay in person. For directions, please visit our Contact page.
What to Expect
The three required exercises you must perform in the Basic Control Skills test are outlined below in figures 1-3. Afterward will be the on-the-road portion.
Figure 1: Forward Stop Line You will drive forward and stop your vehicle with your front bumper within 2 feet of the “stop line” without touching or going past the stop line. You can’t lean out the window to see better. You will be scored on the final position of your vehicle relative to the stop line.
Figure 1
Figure 2: Curved path backing – sight side (Y-turn)
You will back your vehicle from a 90-degree angle into a simulated driveway. Try to back into the space without touching or crossing over either side boundary (excluding mirrors). Try to finish the exercise with the rear bumper (farthest most point) of your vehicle within 2 feet of the rear boundary, not on or over the solid line between the cones. The vehicle don’t have to be evenly centered.
Figure 2
Figure 3: Curved path backing – blind side (parallel parking)
You will drive by the entrance of a parking space located on the passenger side of your vehicle. You will then back your vehicle into the space. The size of the space is determined by adding 6 feet to the length of your vehicle. You must try to finish the exercise with your vehicle positioned completely within the parking space. Your vehicle doesn’t have to be evenly centered within the front and back boundary lines. When backing, try to perform the maneuver without touching or crossing over any boundary lines or repositioning your vehicle.
Figure 3
The On-the-Road Test
You must demonstrate your ability to drive safely over a predetermined route. The route will contain a variety of traffic situations including city, residential and expressway driving. At all times during the driving test, you must operate your vehicle in a safe and responsible manner, obeying all traffic laws.
The examiner will observe and score you on specific maneuvers as well as on your general driving behavior. You are expected to drive straight ahead unless given instructions to turn or perform other maneuvers. The examiner will give you directions for each maneuver as far in advance as possible and won’t ask you to do anything illegal or unsafe.
About the Road Skills Test
Vehicle Safety Check
Check that your vehicle is in safe working order and that required safety equipment is operational. (Read pages 8-13 of the Driving Skills Test Study Guide. You can download a PDF version from the State of Michigan here.)
Basic Control Skills
You will be tested on three (3) maneuvers on the driving range to be sure that you have basic control of the vehicle and the skills necessary to proceed with the road driving test.
Road Test
The on-the-road segment evaluates your ability to drive safely through a variety of traffic situations. At all times during the driving test, you must operate your vehicle in a safe and responsible manner, obeying all traffic laws. The examiner will observe and score you on specific maneuvers as well as on your general driving behavior. You will be instructed to turn the fan or radio on/off as stated on page 22 in the Driving Skills Test Study Guide.