Skip to main content

US Alternatives

Best DMV road test app alternatives in 2026

A side-by-side, honest list of the apps US learners use to prepare for the DMV road test.

Driving Routes

Practise your real test routes

One subscription unlocks web, iPhone, Android, CarPlay & Android Auto. From £3.99/week.

In short

Driving Routes is the dominant tool for DMV road-test route practice. Aceable and DriverZ lead for permit course prep. Google Maps is the default for everyday navigation. Most US learners use a permit course + Driving Routes for road-test route practice.

1. Aceable

Driver ed course

A mobile-first US driver-ed course covering permit prep and traffic school.

Strengths

  • State-approved permit course for under-18s
  • Mobile-first design — works on iPhone and Android
  • Course completion certificates accepted by most state DMVs

Limitations

  • Permit / course only — no route practice for the road test
  • Higher upfront cost than a single-month route app
  • No DMV center routes
Pricing: From $59.95 (permit course)Side-by-side comparison →

2. DriverZ

Driver ed course

A US-focused driver-education and behind-the-wheel-training platform with state-specific permit prep.

Strengths

  • State-specific permit-test prep
  • Behind-the-wheel lesson scheduling in some states
  • DMV-accepted course certificates

Limitations

  • Permit course only — no route practice for the road test
  • Higher upfront cost than a single app subscription
  • Limited to specific US states

3. I Drive Safely

Driver ed course

A long-running US online driver-ed and defensive-driving course provider.

Strengths

  • Long-running brand trusted by US courts (defensive driving)
  • Online traffic school in many states
  • Mature course catalog covering permit, traffic school, mature drivers

Limitations

  • Course only — no road-test route practice
  • Defensive driving focus, not road-test specific
Pricing: From $19.95 (defensive driving)Side-by-side comparison →

4. Driver Ed To Go

Driver ed course

An online US drivers ed course primarily for teens working toward their first license.

Strengths

  • State-approved teen drivers ed
  • Long-running provider

Limitations

  • Course only — no route practice
  • Teen-focused

5. Google Maps

Sat-nav

Google's general-purpose mapping and navigation product.

Strengths

  • Best-in-class general navigation
  • Live traffic and reroute
  • Free to use

Limitations

  • Doesn't publish DMV road-test routes
  • Routes shortest/fastest, not the examiner's path
  • Not designed for instructional, predictable practice

6. Waze

Sat-nav

A community-driven US navigation app emphasising live traffic and police-spotting.

Strengths

  • Excellent live traffic and incident data
  • Free to use
  • Strong community contribution model

Limitations

  • Doesn't publish DMV road-test routes
  • Not designed for predictable, instructional practice