Photo: Oregon Department of Transportation, CC BY 2.0, via Wikimedia Commons
How long you wait to retake a failed permit or road test depends on your state, the test and sometimes your age. Waits range from the next day to 14 days or more, and a few states add longer waits or extra training after repeated fails. This guide lists official rules as of November 2026 and how to use the gap.
Key facts
- Knowledge (permit) test waits are usually short: next day to 7 days.
- Road test waits are usually longer: 2 to 14 days.
- Repeated fails can bring longer waits (Oklahoma, Nebraska, Kansas, South Carolina, DC) or required training (Virginia, Ohio).
- Most states charge again for each retest. See license costs by state.
Retake waiting periods by state
| State | After a failed knowledge test | After a failed road test |
|---|---|---|
| Alaska | Next day at an office; up to 4 more online tries the same day | Normally 2 business days |
| Arizona | 7 days (MVD policy since 2014; one older page says next business day) | 7 days |
| Arkansas | 5 calendar days | Two weeks (example in the state guide) |
| California | Under 18: 7 days, not counting the day of the fail. 3 attempts per application | Under 18: 14 days, not counting the day of the fail |
| Colorado | Up to twice a day | Once per day, from the day after |
| Connecticut | 7 days | Rebook for at least 2 weeks after the fail |
| Delaware | Ask the DMV | At least 30 days (July 2026 manual); the DMV road test page still says 10 days, so check with the state DMV |
| District of Columbia | 3 full calendar days | 72 hours; after 6 fails in 12 months, wait until 12 months after the first fail |
| Georgia | Next day after a first fail; 7 days after later fails | Next day, then 7 days; 30 days if you fail because of a crash or traffic violation |
| Hawaii (Honolulu) | No more than twice a day; 7 days after a knowledge-based fail | Ask your county |
| Idaho | 3 days | 3 days |
| Indiana | Next business day | 7 days; two months after a third failed skills exam on the same permit |
| Kansas | Next working day ($1.50 re-exam fee); after a 4th fail, wait 6 months | After 4 fails in 6 months, wait 6 months from the last fail |
| Kentucky | Next available day | 7 full days |
| Maryland | Next business day after a first fail; 7 days after several | At least 1 business day; 7 days between later attempts |
| Massachusetts | Pay again and rebook | At least 14 days; no more than 6 road tests in 12 months |
| Michigan (adults, online) | Up to twice per calendar day | Set by the testing business |
| Missouri | No written-test wait stated in the Driver Guide: check with the state DMV | One driving test per day; after 3 fails, extra behind-the-wheel training and DOR approval required |
| Nebraska | One day between tests 1 to 3; 7 days before test 4; after 6 fails, 90 days or a driver training course | Ask the DMV |
| Nevada | Next day | Up to 30 days |
| New Jersey | 7 days | At least 14 days |
| New York | Ask your DMV office | At least 14 days; extra fees after two fails |
| North Dakota | One attempt per day | Not the same day |
| Oklahoma | At least one day | Up to 3 tries at least one day apart; after a third fail, 30 days, then once every 30 days |
| Oregon | Online: 2 tries per 24 hours, 4 online tries in total | Next business day |
| Pennsylvania | Next business day (one attempt per day) | Under 18: 7 days; 3 tries per permit |
| South Carolina | Ask SCDMV | 2 business days, then 7 days, then 30 days |
| South Dakota | Next working day (3 attempts per fee in 6 months) | Next working day; 30 days for certain serious errors |
| Tennessee | 1 day, $2 fee per failed test | Next day (7 to 9 errors), 7 days (10 to 12), 14 days (13 to 15), 30 days (16 or more, or an automatic fail); July 2022 manual figures |
| Texas | 3 attempts per application and fee, then reapply | 3 attempts per application and fee |
| Vermont | At least one day | 7 days; one month after 3 fails |
| Virginia | Under 18: 15 days. After 3 fails, finish driver ed classroom first | 2 days. After 3 fails at DMV, complete in-vehicle training first |
| West Virginia | Not within one week | Not within one week |
| Wisconsin | Next day | Late cancellation or no-show: 7 days and a $15 fee |
| Wyoming | Twice a day at most; 3 days if you miss 13 or more | 24 hours (2021 manual); the examiner may set a longer wait |
Where a cell says “ask”, or a state is missing, ask the testing office when you get your result.
States that add training after repeated fails
- Virginia: after a third failed knowledge exam, you complete the classroom part of driver education before a fourth try. After three failed road tests at DMV, you complete in-vehicle training first.
- Ohio: adults 21 and over who fail the driving test, and have had no driver training in the past 12 months, must finish an abbreviated adult course before retesting. See Ohio abbreviated adult driver training.
- Nebraska: after six failed written tests, wait 90 days or complete an approved driver training course.
How to use the waiting period
- Write down what went wrong while it’s fresh. Ask the examiner for the score sheet or the error list.
- Knowledge test: go back to the handbook chapters behind your wrong answers instead of drilling random questions. Our permit practice tests are sorted by topic.
- Road test: practice the exact skill that failed, in similar traffic, at least three times before the retest. Common culprits are in why people fail the US driving test.
- Rebook early. Slots can fill weeks ahead: see booking a DMV test appointment.
- Check your paperwork dates. Permits, school forms and course certificates can expire during a long wait.
Test formats and pass marks for every state are in the permit test by state and road test by state guides. State-by-state licensing steps start at learning to drive in the USA.
Common questions
Can I retake my permit test the same day?
In most states, no. Alaska (online), Colorado, Michigan (online) and Wyoming allow a second same-day attempt, with limits. Most others make you wait at least until the next day.
How many times can I fail the road test?
Some states cap attempts. Massachusetts allows no more than 6 Class D road tests in 12 months. Pennsylvania gives 3 tries per permit. Texas and California give 3 attempts per application before you reapply. Others have no cap but lengthen the wait.
Do adults have to wait as long as teens?
Not always. California’s 7-day and 14-day waits apply to minors, and Virginia’s 15-day knowledge test wait applies to under 18s. Pennsylvania’s 7-day road test wait is also for under 18s.
Do I lose my permit if I fail?
No, your permit stays valid until it expires. If it expires before you pass, you may need to renew it or retest. New York says to get a new permit if yours expires before your next test.
Does failing cost more?
Usually. Examples: $40 in Connecticut, $35 in Massachusetts, $20 for a Florida skills retest and $9 in California. See license costs by state.
Sources
- California DMV, “California Driver’s Handbook: The Testing Process” (dmv.ca.gov)
- Arizona Department of Transportation, “To improve driver safety, MVD extends waiting period for driver license test retakes” (azdot.gov)
- Alaska DMV, “Road Test Information” (dmv.alaska.gov)
- Arkansas Secretary of State, “Code of Arkansas Rules 27 CAR § 52-101” (sos.arkansas.gov)
- Colorado DMV, “Driver Written Test” and “Drive Test” (dmv.colorado.gov)
- Connecticut DMV, “Knowledge Test” and “Road Test” (portal.ct.gov)
- Delaware DMV, “Road Test” and “Delaware Driver Manual” (July 2026) (dmv.de.gov)
- Missouri DOR, “Missouri Driver Guide” (dor.mo.gov)
- Tennessee Department of Safety, “Comprehensive Driver License Manual” (tn.gov)
- DC DMV, “Knowledge Tests” and “Road Skills Test” (dmv.dc.gov)
- Georgia DDS, “Tests and Exams” (dds.georgia.gov)
- City and County of Honolulu, “Written Test” (honolulu.gov)
- Idaho Transportation Department, “Driver’s Manual” (itd.idaho.gov)
- Indiana BMV, “Driver’s Manual” and skills exam pages (in.gov)
- Kansas Department of Revenue, “Kansas Driving Handbook” (ksrevenue.gov)
- Kentucky Transportation Cabinet, “Driver Testing” (drive.ky.gov)
- Maryland MVA, “Behind-the-Wheel Tests” (mva.maryland.gov)
- Massachusetts RMV, “Road Test” (mass.gov)
- Michigan Department of State, online knowledge test announcement, July 2025 (michigan.gov)
- Nebraska DMV, “Written Test” (dmv.nebraska.gov)
- Nevada DMV, “Driving Test” (dmv.nv.gov)
- New Jersey MVC, “New Jersey Driver Manual” (nj.gov)
- New York DMV, “Road test results” (dmv.ny.gov)
- North Dakota DOT, “Knowledge Test” (dot.nd.gov)
- Service Oklahoma, “Drive Test” (oklahoma.gov)
- Oregon DMV, “Knowledge Test” and “Drive Test” (oregon.gov)
- PennDOT, “Pennsylvania Driver’s Manual (PUB 95)” (pa.gov)
- SCDMV, “Road Test” (dmv.sc.gov)
- South Dakota Department of Public Safety, “Driver Licensing” (dps.sd.gov)
- Texas Legislature, “Transportation Code Chapter 521” (statutes.capitol.texas.gov)
- Vermont DMV, “Road Test” (dmv.vermont.gov)
- Virginia DMV, “Virginia Driver’s Manual” and Code of Virginia (dmv.virginia.gov; law.lis.virginia.gov)
- West Virginia DMV, “Driver’s Licensing Handbook” (dmv.wv.gov)
- Wisconsin DMV, “Knowledge test” and “Road test” (wisconsindot.gov)
- Wyoming DOT, “Driver License Testing” and “Driver License Manual” (2021) (dot.state.wy.us)
- Ohio Traffic Safety Office, “Abbreviated Adult Driver Training” (otso.ohio.gov)