Didn’t pass? You’re far from alone.

Failed the Colorado Permit Test? What to Do Next (2026)

Across 36 states, only about 62% of knowledge tests were passed in 2020–2023 (USA Today analysis). Here is what Colorado says about retaking it, the earliest date you can go back, and a quick way to find what to study first.

Colorado’s official retake rules

From official Colorado Department of Revenue, Division of Motor Vehicles sources, checked September 22, 2026. Tap a numbered chip to read the exact wording. Where a box says “not published”, the sources we checked don’t say, and we won’t guess.

Waiting period
Not published
Attempts before you reapply
Not published
Cost to retest
Each retest of the written permit test costs an extra $11.50 state fee, paid at your appointment. It can’t be paid online. Official source 1dmv.colorado.gov“Important Note on Retest Fees: If you failed the written permit test before passing, you will be required to pay an additional state fee for each retest when you come to your appointment. The retest fee is $11.50 and cannot be paid online.”Open the official page ↗Checked September 22, 2026
Under 18 vs adults
No separate rule published
Online vs in office
At-home online test: each later attempt costs $6.50 ($5 testing fee plus $1.50 card fee), on top of the $11.50 state fee. Official source 2dmv.colorado.gov“First attempt: Free + $5 testing fee + $1.50 credit card processing fee = $6.50 Subsequent attempts: $5 testing fee + $1.50 credit card processing fee = $6.50 Additionally, there is a state DMV fee of $11.50 that can be paid in office or online through myDMV online services (beginning April 1, 2026).”Open the official page ↗Checked September 22, 2026
Also
At a certified driving school: at most four paper tests in all and two a day, and if you miss more than half the questions on your first try you wait until the next day. Official source 3law.cornell.edu“Must require a correct score of 80% or higher to pass ... May provide up to four DR 2252WE or DR 2252SP Driver's License Written Examinations per applicant in total ... An applicant may not take more than two tests per day ... If an applicant misses more than 50% of the questions on a first test attempt, the applicant must wait until the next day to test again”Open the official page ↗Checked September 22, 2026

These are the knowledge (written) test rules. Rules change; confirm with Colorado Department of Revenue, Division of Motor Vehicles when you book.

When can you retake it?

Enter the day you failed. We work out the earliest retake date from Colorado’s official waiting period and show exactly how we counted.

 

While you wait: a free study checklist

  • Find what you missed with the 12-question check, so you study the right topics.
  • Retry every question you’ve missed so far in mistake review.
  • Take one weak-spot test a day. It picks questions from the topics you miss most (one a day is free).
  • Drill the Colorado numbers: distances, speeds, fines and limits.
  • Practice your weakest topic in the topic drills until you get it right twice in a row.
  • Two or three days before, take the full exam simulator. Try to pass it on two different days.
  • Book the retest with DMV for a day you’ve studied for, and check what to bring.

Find what you missed

Studying everything again is slow. Studying the topics you actually miss is fast.

Reading your answers…

Why people fail the permit test

Retaking alone doesn’t fix it

California’s DMV studied its own results and found that fail rates “tend to either remain about the same or increase over multiple attempts.”Official source 4qr.dmv.ca.gov“The fail rates for all test types tend to either remain about the same or increase over multiple attempts.”Open the official page ↗Going back with the same preparation tends to give the same result. What changes it is studying what you got wrong.

The most-missed items are specific numbers

When California’s DMV analyzed its hardest test questions, it found that “many are numerical and have correct answers that must be learned by rote memorization.”Official source 5dmv.ca.gov“many are numerical and have correct answers that must be learned by rote memorization”Open the official page ↗Following distances, speed limits, blood-alcohol limits, parking distances and fines all look alike under pressure. The Colorado numbers page lists them with their sources.

Practice that felt easier than the real thing

If you took the same practice test until you scored 100%, you may have learned the answers rather than the rules. Mix in questions you haven’t seen: the exam simulator draws a new paper every time, built to Colorado’s format.

Nerves and pace

Read every option before you choose, even when the first one looks right, and flag a hard question to come back to if your test allows it. Rehearsing the full test at home a few times makes the real one feel familiar.

Failed the Colorado road test?

Wait until the next business day to retest; testers may give only one complete drive test per applicant per day. Each retest carries an extra state fee of $15.40. After four failed drive tests with a third-party tester, you must test at a Colorado driver license office. Official source 6dmv.colorado.gov“If you fail the drive test, you must wait until the next business day before retaking the test.”Open the official page ↗Checked October 4, 2026Official source 7dmv.colorado.gov“You must purchase a Colorado permit to be able to take the driving skills test again. You can only take the driving test once per day.”“If you fail the driving skills test, you will be required to pay an additional state fee for each retest when you come to your appointment. The retest fee is $15.40”Open the official page ↗Checked October 4, 2026Official source 8dmv.colorado.gov“A BOST Tester must refer the following applicants to a Colorado driver license office: 1. an applicant requesting a required skills test upon completion of a rehabilitation program; 2. an applicant requesting a BOSD after having failed four previous BOSDs;”Open the official page ↗Checked October 4, 2026

The Colorado road-test guideAutomatic failures to avoid

Retake questions

How much does it cost to retake the Colorado permit test?

Each retest of the written permit test costs an extra $11.50 state fee, paid at your appointment. It can’t be paid online.

Can you retake the Colorado permit test online?

At-home online test: each later attempt costs $6.50 ($5 testing fee plus $1.50 card fee), on top of the $11.50 state fee.

What happens if you fail the Colorado road test?

Wait until the next business day to retest; testers may give only one complete drive test per applicant per day. Each retest carries an extra state fee of $15.40. After four failed drive tests with a third-party tester, you must test at a Colorado driver license office.

Sources

  1. dmv.colorado.gov: adult permit · retake rules
  2. dmv.colorado.gov: home driving knowledge tests · retake rules
  3. law.cornell.edu: 1 CCR 204 30 8 · retake rules
  4. California DMV research report RSS-06-221 (2006)
  5. California DMV, Evaluation of the Class C driver license written knowledge tests (RSS-98-173, 1998)
  6. dmv.colorado.gov: DR 2337 Jan2025 (PDF) · road test
  7. dmv.colorado.gov: permits first time driver license · road test
  8. dmv.colorado.gov: Hrng Rule 8 Redlined Version 0 (PDF) · road test
  9. USA Today analysis of 36 states, 2020–2023, as reported by Autobody News

This page summarizes official sources for study. It is not legal advice, and only Colorado Department of Revenue, Division of Motor Vehicles decides when you can test. Retake rules in every state