Failed the DMV Permit Test? Retake Rules by State

You can try again

Every state in this guide lets you retake the learner's permit knowledge test after a failure. The rules differ, though: how long you must wait, how many tries one application covers, and whether you pay again.

We list only what each state's official agency publishes. If a detail for your state is missing here, ask your DMV office before your next visit.

How long you must wait

• New York: if you fail the online permit test (an option for applicants under 18), you can resubmit your application and try again after at least 6 hours.
• California: minors must wait 7 days to retake a failed knowledge test, not counting the day of the failure.
• New Jersey: if you fail, you can re-test in 7 days.
• Pennsylvania: you may retake the knowledge test the following business day.
• Georgia: wait 1 day after a failed Knowledge Exam; after a second failure, wait 7 days.
• North Carolina: if you do not pass the knowledge test for a regular Class C license, you may retake it in 7 calendar days.
• Washington: the Department of Licensing says there may be a waiting period before you can retest, so check with your testing location.

The Texas and Florida pages we checked do not give a fixed waiting period for the knowledge test.

How many attempts, and do you pay again?

• California: you get 3 attempts to pass the knowledge test before you must reapply.
• Texas: you pay the required fee before any exams are given. If you do not pass the knowledge and driving exams on your first attempt, your application is held for 90 days. After 90 days or 3 failed exams, you need a new application and fee.
• Florida: the official fee list includes a knowledge retest fee of $10.00.
• Georgia: every retest requires an appointment and payment of the permit fee. Payment is by cash or credit/debit card only, with no checks, money orders or refunds.
• Washington: you pay a fee to take the knowledge test, and the amount varies by testing location.

In Pennsylvania, the driver's manual mentions a limit of 3 chances per learner's permit only for the road test, not for the knowledge test.

Know the passing score

Before your next attempt, check exactly what you need to pass:

• New York: at least 14 of 20 questions, including 2 of the 4 road sign questions. The online test requires at least 80% of all questions and 50% of the road sign questions.
• Texas: 70% or better on any knowledge exam.
• Florida: 40 of 50 multiple-choice questions, or 80%.
• Pennsylvania: 15 of 18 multiple-choice questions.
• Washington: 32 of 40. A passing score is good for 2 years.
• Georgia: the Knowledge Exam has two tests, Road Rules and Road Signs, and you need at least 15 of 20 on each.

In New York and Georgia, road signs are scored separately, so a weak signs score alone can cost you the test.

What to do before your next attempt

1. Find your weak topics. Write down which questions felt hard: road signs, right-of-way, speed limits, alcohol rules or distances.
2. Reread those chapters of your official state driver's handbook, not just the whole book from the start.
3. Practice, then review your mistakes. PermitLingo has free practice tests for every state and a mistakes review of the questions you missed. Keep practicing until you pass practice tests consistently.
4. Plan your next visit. Note your waiting period, book an appointment if your state requires one (Georgia does for every retest) and bring payment if a retest fee applies. In Texas, keep the 90-day window in mind.
5. Do not count on notes. In California, testing aids such as the driver's handbook or a cell phone are not allowed during knowledge tests.