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Failed the Virginia 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 Virginia says about retaking it, the earliest date you can go back, and a quick way to find what to study first.

Virginia’s official retake rules

From official Virginia Department 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
Under 18: wait a full 15 days before you retake the exam. 18 and older: one test a day. Official source 1dmv.virginia.gov“If you are under the age of 18, you must wait a full 15 days before you can retake the exam. ... If you are age 18 or older, you are only eligible to test one time per day. Regardless of age, if you fail the exam three times, you must complete the classroom portion of a Virginia-approved Driver Training School program”Open the official page ↗Checked September 22, 2026
Attempts before you reapply
At any age, after three failures you must complete the classroom portion of a Virginia-approved driver training school program. Official source 1dmv.virginia.gov“If you are under the age of 18, you must wait a full 15 days before you can retake the exam. ... If you are age 18 or older, you are only eligible to test one time per day. Regardless of age, if you fail the exam three times, you must complete the classroom portion of a Virginia-approved Driver Training School program”Open the official page ↗Checked September 22, 2026
Cost to retest
Not published
Under 18 vs adults
Under 18: wait a full 15 days. 18 and older: one test a day. Official source 1dmv.virginia.gov“If you are under the age of 18, you must wait a full 15 days before you can retake the exam. ... If you are age 18 or older, you are only eligible to test one time per day. Regardless of age, if you fail the exam three times, you must complete the classroom portion of a Virginia-approved Driver Training School program”Open the official page ↗Checked September 22, 2026
Online vs in office
Not published

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

When can you retake it?

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

Which applies to you?

 

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 Virginia 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 2qr.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 3dmv.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 Virginia 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 Virginia’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 Virginia road test?

DMV test: you may test only once per business day. After a first or second failure, wait two days. After three failures you cannot test a fourth time until you complete the in-vehicle part of driver education at an approved school, finished after the third failure, and bring DMV the certificate. DMV gave non-commercial road skills tests free of charge as of the 2018 DMV report; you pay the license fee ($32 for 8 years). Retest rules for driver education tests are not published. Official source 4dmv.virginia.gov“The test may be taken only once per business day. If you fail the road skills test, you must wait two days to take it again.”“If you fail the road skills test at DMV three times, you will not be able to take it a fourth time until you complete and pass the in-vehicle part of driver education at a driver training school approved by DMV or the Department of Education.”Open the official page ↗Checked October 4, 2026Official source 5dmv.virginia.gov“Customers who fail the road skills exam 1 or 2 times must wait two days before they are eligible to re-test.”Open the official page ↗Checked October 4, 2026Official source 6law.lis.virginia.gov“Any person who fails the behind-the-wheel examination for a driver's license administered by the Department shall wait two days before being permitted to take another such examination.”Open the official page ↗Checked October 4, 2026Official source 7rga.lis.virginia.gov“DMV administers all non-commercial and motorcycle skills tests to customers free of charge.”Open the official page ↗Checked October 4, 2026Official source 8dmv.virginia.gov“Driver’s license fee ($32 for a standard eight-year license)”Open the official page ↗Checked October 4, 2026

The Virginia road-test guideAutomatic failures to avoid

Retake questions

How long do you have to wait to retake the Virginia permit test?

Under 18: wait a full 15 days before you retake the exam. 18 and older: one test a day.

How many times can you take the Virginia permit test?

At any age, after three failures you must complete the classroom portion of a Virginia-approved driver training school program.

What happens if you fail the Virginia road test?

DMV test: you may test only once per business day. After a first or second failure, wait two days. After three failures you cannot test a fourth time until you complete the in-vehicle part of driver education at an approved school, finished after the third failure, and bring DMV the certificate. DMV gave non-commercial road skills tests free of charge as of the 2018 DMV report; you pay the license fee ($32 for 8 years). Retest rules for driver education tests are not published.

Sources

  1. dmv.virginia.gov: know exam · retake rules
  2. California DMV research report RSS-06-221 (2006)
  3. California DMV, Evaluation of the Class C driver license written knowledge tests (RSS-98-173, 1998)
  4. dmv.virginia.gov: dmv39 (PDF) · road test
  5. dmv.virginia.gov: road skills test · road test
  6. law.lis.virginia.gov: section46.2 325 · road test
  7. rga.lis.virginia.gov: PDF · road test
  8. dmv.virginia.gov: applying · 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 Virginia Department of Motor Vehicles decides when you can test. Retake rules in every state