Failed the Virginia permit test? Retake rules

Waiting times

After three fails

You can't take the exam a fourth time until you've completed and passed the classroom part of driver education at a Virginia-approved driver training school. The course must be finished after the date of your third fail. Bring the certificate to a customer service center.

There's also an 8-hour course based on the Virginia Driver's Manual, offered by driver training schools and online, that's approved just for this rule:

• 18 or older: you can take the 8-hour manual course instead of the full classroom course.
• Under 18: you can take the 8-hour course only if you've already completed the classroom part of driver education. Show that certificate to the school first.

Getting it right the next time

Look at which part you failed. If it was signs, one wrong answer was enough, so go back to section 2 of the manual until you can name every color and shape. If it was part two, you needed 24 of 30, so work through section 3 and the online study guide's practice questions.

A pass is good for one year. If you don't get your permit within a year of passing, you take the exam again.

Failing the road skills test

The driving test has its own rules. After a first or second fail you wait two days. After three fails at DMV, you must complete the in-vehicle part of driver education before a fourth try.