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Coral Reef Road Test Location
📍 14653 SW 122nd Ave, Miami, FL 33186
Road Test Preparation
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Earning your Florida driver license at the Coral Reef office in southwest Miami means passing the Class E Driving Skills Test. This page walks you through the Coral Reef Driver License & Motor Vehicle Service Center at 14653 SW 122nd Ave, Miami, FL 33186: how the appointment works, which streets around the office you are likely to drive, what the examiner checks on your car, which documents you must have in hand, and what to do if you do not have a test-ready vehicle of your own. PalmWay Driving School brings an inspected, insured car with an instructor to this office so you can focus on driving, not on paperwork.
Where the Road Test Takes Place at Coral Reef
The road test is given at the Coral Reef Driver License & Motor Vehicle Service Center, a state driver license office in Miami-Dade County run by FLHSMV. The address is 14653 SW 122nd Ave, Miami, FL 33186, phone 305-375-5548. The office is open Monday through Friday from 8:00am to 5:00pm and on Saturday from 8:00am to 1:00pm. Driving tests are by appointment only — you book your slot yourself through the FLHSMV online appointment system, not through a driving school. On test day the examiner walks out to your car in the parking lot, checks the vehicle, and the test begins right there on SW 122nd Ave.
State Driver License Office
Coral Reef is a state (FLHSMV) service center in Miami-Dade County at 14653 SW 122nd Ave, Miami, FL 33186. Appointments are made online through the state system; call 305-375-5548 for general office questions.
Arrive 10 Min Early
Be in the lot at least 10 minutes before your time. Hours are Mon–Fri 8:00am–5:00pm and Sat 8:00am–1:00pm. If you arrive late, your appointment slot is gone and you will have to rebook.
Parking Lot Start
You do not go inside first for the driving portion. The examiner comes out to the parking lot, inspects the car, and the test starts and ends in the same lot off SW 122nd Ave.
The Coral Reef office sits in the suburban southwest part of Miami-Dade County, in the 33186 ZIP code between the Country Walk and Three Lakes neighborhoods. Coral Reef Drive (SW 152nd St) runs a few blocks to the south, with Zoo Miami and Larry and Penny Thompson Park further along that road, and Florida's Turnpike (the Homestead Extension) passes roughly half a mile to the east. Because this is a state office and not a county tax collector site, there is no county-residency requirement: any Florida learner with a valid appointment can test here, which is one reason its slots fill quickly.
What the Roads Look Like Around the Coral Reef Office
The Coral Reef road test is driven on the local streets and arterials surrounding the office. The whole driving portion takes about 15–20 minutes. You will not get on Florida's Turnpike (HEFT), the Don Shula Expressway (SR 874) or US-1 — highway and expressway driving is not part of the standard Class E road test. The examiner typically stays within the numbered grid of southwest Miami-Dade, mixing quiet residential blocks with a stretch of a wider road.
🛣️ Main Roads on the Route
- • SW 122nd Ave (the office's own street)
- • SW 152nd St (Coral Reef Dr)
- • SW 117th Ave
- • SW 137th Ave (Lindgren Rd)
- • SW 136th St (Howard Dr)
- • SW 144th St and the residential blocks off it
🚦 Speed Limits to Know
This part of Miami-Dade is a flat, planned grid: numbered avenues run north–south and numbered streets run east–west, so it is easy to know where you are. SW 122nd Ave itself is a two-lane collector lined with single-family homes and townhouse communities, posted at residential speeds. SW 152nd St (Coral Reef Dr) is the big road of the area — a divided arterial with multiple lanes, dedicated left-turn pockets and long signal cycles. SW 137th Ave and SW 117th Ave are the wide north–south corridors on either side; both carry steady traffic and are posted in the 40–45 mph range. Drainage canals border several of the wider roads, so the shoulders are narrow and the examiner pays attention to lane position. Expect a mix of four-way stop signs in the neighborhoods, signalized intersections on the arterials, and at least one section where the speed limit changes.
🚫 No highway driving — Florida's Turnpike (HEFT), the Don Shula Expressway (SR 874) and US-1 are NOT part of the Class E road test at Coral Reef.
Common Mistakes at the Coral Reef Road Test
Most people who fail at Coral Reef know how to drive. They lose points on small, correctable habits that show up on specific road features around SW 122nd Ave — a stop sign taken at a crawl, a lane picked too late on Coral Reef Dr, a speed limit that dropped while they were looking elsewhere.
🛑 Rolling Stops
The number-one reason for a failed test. The residential blocks between SW 122nd Ave and SW 117th Ave, and the side streets off SW 144th St, are full of stop signs, and the examiner watches for the wheels to stop turning completely — not slow to a creep. Come to a full stop behind the line, count one second, look left-right-left, then go.
🔀 Lane Choice on SW 152nd St (Coral Reef Dr)
Coral Reef Dr is a wide divided road with several through lanes and separate left-turn pockets at the big intersections. Drifting into the turn lane too late, or turning from a through lane, costs points. Decide on your lane a block ahead, signal early, and glide into position while traffic is still light.
🏫 Speed Control Near School Zones
Southwest Miami-Dade is a family area with many schools; Coral Reef Senior High sits on SW 152nd St east of the office, and elementary schools are tucked inside the residential communities. If your test runs during school hours, flashing signs drop the limit sharply and every mile over counts against you.
🪞 Improper Mirror Checks
Changing lanes on SW 137th Ave or SW 117th Ave without a visible mirror and shoulder check is marked down every time. The examiner is watching your eyes and your head, not only where the car ends up. Make each check obvious: mirror, signal, blind spot, then move.
Vehicle Requirements for the Coral Reef Road Test
Before you drive a single foot, the state examiner walks around your car in the Coral Reef parking lot and checks it item by item. If anything on the list fails, the test does not take place and your appointment is lost — you go back to the state system and book again.
Valid Registration
Current, not expired.
Proof of Insurance
Must be for the exact vehicle you are testing in.
Working Horn
Has to sound on the first press when the examiner asks.
Functional Rear-View Mirror
Intact and adjustable.
Working Directional Signals
All four turn signals must blink properly.
Steering Wheel & Brakes
Both in full working order.
Tires in Safe Condition
No visibly flat or dangerously worn tires.
Brake Lights & Taillights
Both brake lights must work — one is not enough.
Windshield Wipers
Must work on the driver's side and clear the glass.
Operable Headlights
Both headlights must turn on.
Current License Plate Tag
Not expired on the day of the test.
Doors Open From Both Sides
From inside and from outside.
Stationary, Fixed Seats
Seats may not slide or shift while driving.
Operable Windows
Must roll down so you can give hand signals if asked.
No Cracked Glass
No cracked or broken glass in the driver's line of sight.
⚠️ Low-speed vehicles with a top speed of 20–25 mph are not accepted for the Class E test. The examiner will not start the test if any inspection item fails.
Don't Have a Car for the Coral Reef Road Test?
PalmWay Driving School is a licensed Florida commercial driving school (FLHSMV License #5218). We provide a test-ready vehicle for your already-scheduled appointment at the Coral Reef office. Our home base is 3325 Hollywood Blvd, Suite 401, Hollywood, FL 33021, in Broward County, and our instructor drives the car down to 14653 SW 122nd Ave to meet you. The road test itself is conducted by a state examiner — we do not administer, conduct or grade the driving test.
Road-Ready Vehicle
Every item on the state inspection list is checked before we leave Hollywood: horn, signals, brake lights, tires, wipers, registration and tag. The car arrives at Coral Reef ready to pass the walk-around.
Fully Insured
You do not need to be added to a relative's policy or borrow a car. The vehicle is covered under the school's commercial insurance, and the proof of insurance matches the car — exactly what the examiner asks to see.
Practice on Similar Roads
Our 60-minute lessons take place on the same kind of suburban grid, divided arterials and four-way stops you will meet around SW 122nd Ave and Coral Reef Dr, so nothing on test day feels new.
Road-test car packages start at $90 for the car only and $140 for the car plus a one-hour warm-up lesson right before your appointment. The warm-up is popular at Coral Reef because it lets you drive the actual neighborhood streets — SW 122nd Ave, SW 144th St, the approach to Coral Reef Dr — with an instructor beside you minutes before the examiner gets in. Call or text +1 (754) 354-5898 or email palmwayfl@gmail.com with your appointment date and time.
Lesson Packages
All lessons are 60 minutes each. We practice on comparable streets so you get familiar with the type of roads, intersections, and traffic patterns you'll face on test day.
Documents to Bring to Your Coral Reef Road Test
⚠️ One missing document cancels the appointment. The examiners at Coral Reef make no exceptions on the day of the test, and the next open slot may be weeks away.
Lay everything out the night before. The paperwork the examiner asks for is short, but each piece must be original or an official copy, current, and in the name that matches your appointment. If you are using a PalmWay car, we bring the vehicle registration and proof of insurance for you — you only have to bring your own documents.
📋 Required for Everyone
- ✓ Your Florida learner's license (Florida calls it a "learner's license," not a permit)
- ✓ Proof of insurance for the vehicle you are testing in
- ✓ The vehicle's registration
👤 If You Are Under 18
- ✓ A parental or guardian consent form, signed
- ℹ️ You must have held your learner's license for at least 12 months before you are allowed to take the road test
Who Can Take the Road Test at Coral Reef
Required Documents by Status
🎓 Teens 15–17: DETS Course Required
Anyone aged 15–17 has to finish the DETS course before the road test. In Florida this is mandatory for every applicant under 18 — there is no way around it.
📚 Adults 18+: TLSAE Course Required
Applicants 18 and older take the TLSAE course instead. DETS and TLSAE are two different courses, and which one you need depends strictly on your age.
How to Schedule Your Coral Reef Road Test
The steps below happen in a fixed order and none can be skipped. The final step — booking the driving test at the Coral Reef office — is done by you, online, in the FLHSMV appointment system. No driving school, including ours, can book or hold a state road-test slot on your behalf.
Complete the Required Course
DETS if you are under 18, TLSAE if you are 18 or older. The completion is reported to the state electronically.
Pass the Written Knowledge Exam
Road signs, road rules, and drug and alcohol questions are all part of the knowledge exam.
Receive Your Florida Learner's License
Florida issues a "learner's license," not a permit. This is the card you will hand the examiner at Coral Reef.
Hold Your Learner's License for the Required Period
Drivers under 18 must hold the learner's license for at least 12 months before they may take the road test.
Schedule Your Road Test at Coral Reef
Log in to the FLHSMV online appointment system, choose the Coral Reef Driver License & Motor Vehicle Service Center (14653 SW 122nd Ave, Miami 33186) and pick a weekday or Saturday-morning slot. Then contact PalmWay with that date and time to reserve the car.
Coral Reef is one of the few state offices in southwest Miami-Dade that opens on Saturday (8:00am–1:00pm), so those morning slots are in high demand from students and working adults. If nothing is available on the day you want, check back in the state system regularly — cancellations open up — or look at the Kendall office on SW 147th Ave, which is only a few miles west. Whatever office you end up with, tell us the exact location and time when you book the car.
One Important Thing About Your Florida License
In Florida, passing your road test in an automatic-transmission car does not limit you to automatics. Once you are licensed, you may legally drive a manual-transmission vehicle as well. Florida does not add a restriction based on the kind of car you tested in.
Some other states handle this differently, but here the rule is simple: no matter which car you use at Coral Reef on test day, your Class E license covers both automatic and manual vehicles.
What Happens on Test Day at Coral Reef
Arrive & Find Entrance
Turn into the office lot off SW 122nd Ave with time to spare, park where the driving-test vehicles wait, and check in as instructed for your appointment.
Examiner Comes to You
The state examiner walks out to your vehicle in the parking lot and verifies your learner's license and paperwork.
Vehicle Inspection
The walk-around comes first and takes about 2–3 minutes: horn, signals, brake lights, wipers, tag.
Start Driving
If the car passes, you pull out onto SW 122nd Ave and drive for 15–20 minutes on the surrounding streets.
Return & Score
You drive back into the Coral Reef lot, park, and the examiner goes over your score with you.
License Issuance
If you pass, the result is reported to the state and you go inside the service center to finish the license issuance steps.
✅If You Pass
Your result goes to the state. Walk inside the Coral Reef office to complete the issuance steps and leave with your Class E license paperwork.
❌If You Fail
The examiner hands you a score sheet that lists exactly which errors caused the failure. After the state waiting period you can book again — and we can bring the car back to Coral Reef for the retest.
Nearest Testing Locations to the Coral Reef Office
The Coral Reef office serves the 33186 ZIP code and the neighboring 33176, 33177, 33183, 33196 and 33157 areas of southwest Miami-Dade. If no Coral Reef appointment fits your schedule, these other state driver license offices in Miami-Dade County also give the Class E driving test. Note that the Coral Gables, Downtown Miami and Miami Beach offices do not offer driving exams — do not book a road test there.
Kendall — 11735 SW 147th Ave, Suite 23, Miami, FL 33196
The closest alternative, a few miles west along the same suburban grid. A state office in Miami-Dade County with driving exams and Saturday-morning hours.
Midway Crossings — 7795 W Flagler St, Space 82C, Miami, FL 33144
North of Coral Reef, closer to central Miami. Another state service center in Miami-Dade County that administers the Class E road test.
Florida City — 1448 N Krome Ave, Florida City, FL 33034
South of Coral Reef toward Homestead. Often has more open slots than the offices closer to the city; the streets around it are calmer and more rural.
Miami Central — 3721 NW 7th St, Miami, FL 33126
A state office near the airport area that also offers driving exams. Expect denser urban traffic than around Coral Reef.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can I use a driving school car for my road test at the Coral Reef office?
Yes. PalmWay brings an inspected, insured vehicle to 14653 SW 122nd Ave for your already-scheduled appointment. We do not book the appointment for you and we do not conduct the test — a state examiner does. Car-only service starts at $90; car plus a one-hour warm-up lesson starts at $140.
Do I have to live in Miami-Dade County to test at Coral Reef?
No. Coral Reef is a state driver license office in Miami-Dade County, not a county tax collector site, so there is no residents-only rule. Any Florida learner's license holder who books an appointment through the FLHSMV online system can take the Class E road test here.
Does the Coral Reef office give road tests on Saturday?
The office is open Saturday from 8:00am to 1:00pm in addition to Monday–Friday 8:00am–5:00pm. Saturday slots appear in the FLHSMV appointment system like any other and are booked quickly, so check early and often. PalmWay provides cars for Saturday appointments as well.
Which streets will I drive on during the Coral Reef road test?
There is no published fixed route, but the examiner usually stays close to the office: SW 122nd Ave, the residential blocks around SW 144th St, and typically a stretch of a wider road such as SW 152nd St (Coral Reef Dr), SW 117th Ave or SW 137th Ave. Expect stop signs, traffic lights, lane changes, turns, and a parking or backing maneuver.
Is Florida's Turnpike part of the Coral Reef road test?
No. Even though the Turnpike's Homestead Extension runs close to the office, the standard Class E test stays on local roads. Highway and expressway driving — the Turnpike, the Don Shula Expressway (SR 874) and US-1 — is not included.
Where do I park and where does the examiner meet me at Coral Reef?
You park in the office's own lot off SW 122nd Ave. The examiner comes out to the vehicle, inspects it there, and the test starts and finishes in that same lot. Arrive at least 10 minutes early so you have time to park and get settled before your slot.
Do I need an appointment, or can I walk in for a road test?
An appointment is required. Coral Reef and the other state offices in Miami-Dade County do not accept walk-ins for driving tests. Book through the FLHSMV online appointment system and bring the confirmation with you.
How soon can I retest if I fail, and does the transmission type matter?
Florida requires a waiting period before you can retest; check the current period in the state system when you rebook. As for the car: Florida issues the same Class E license whether you test in an automatic or a manual, so passing in our automatic still lets you drive a manual afterward.
Ready for Your Road Test at Coral Reef?
Book your slot with the state, bring your documents, and let PalmWay handle the car. Our instructor meets you at 14653 SW 122nd Ave with a vehicle that has already passed every item on the inspection list, so you can take your Class E Driving Skills Test with confidence. We serve the Coral Reef office and the surrounding southwest Miami-Dade neighborhoods.
Bring Your Documents
Learner's license and, for minors, the signed consent form — we bring the car's insurance and registration
Arrive 10 Min Early
Mon–Fri 8:00am–5:00pm, Sat 8:00am–1:00pm — late arrivals lose their slot
We Provide the Car
Inspected, insured & Class E ready — call +1 (754) 354-5898
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