Getting your driver’s license is such an exciting time for so many people. The hard work really pays off when you unlock the freedom to drive around on your own and go on cool adventures with your friends.
No matter your age, the anxiety people feel in the days leading up to their physical driving test can often cause the nerves that distract you from properly executing your driving test.
You can fail a driving test up to three times in most states. Some states have slightly different retesting limits. The upsetting feeling when you fail can be heartbreaking, but this doesn’t mean it’s the end of the road for you (Literally).
With the average fail rate falling around 50% it is really not as uncommon as you may realize to fail your driving test the first time.
Here’s how many times you can fail your driving test according to the varying laws across the USA and any specific rulings you should know about.
Depending on where you are located, the laws can vary in several different ways from cost, waiting times, and retesting limits.
Many states have a similar ruling that you can only re-attempt your driving test three times within 90-days before you have to start the process over again including repaying any license fees.
It is important you know the rules beforehand so you can be prepared for any fees or waiting times you may come across during the process.
In some states, you may be lucky and not be faced with any limitations on retaking your driving test, but we’ve done the hard work for you and gathered all the information you need to know about retaking your driving test.
In Texas, once you have passed your written test you can then take your driving test three times within a 90 day period. You have to wait two weeks in between tests and pay a fee of $7 for each test.
If you fail the test three times, your application will be rejected and the process will have to be started again in order to gain your license. The initial testing fee for a learner’s license is $16 and $25 for the full license, so take this into consideration when you reapply for your tests as you will be charged again.
Other fees you should consider are:
If you are testing in Pennysylvania then you also get three attempts to pass your driving test before your need to renew your learners permit, luckily there is no fee applied to reapplying for these retests though.
As long as you are over the age of 18, you can retest as soon as the next day after your first exam. If you are under 18, you have to wait seven days before retesting. Pennsylvania has a 55% fail rate for the written test which is average for the country as a whole.
For the state of New York, once you have a learner’s permit you can then do your DMV road test to achieve your full driver’s license. The fee you pay when obtaining your learner permit also includes two road tests in the price.
If you fail these two attempts, you must then pay $10 for another two test attempts.
There are no time restrictions in this state and the only way you could be restricted is if your learner’s permit expires. In comparison to the other large states, New York has the lowest rate of 22.5% for the written test.
When learning to drive, you are allowed to test five times before re-applying for your learner’s permit. One retest will cost you $20.
Learning to drive in Florida is a slightly more complex topic with several different classifications for licenses. A standard, non-commercial license is known as a Class E and can be obtained with some different rulings depending on age:
There are some exceptions to the rule luckily. If you are driving to or from work during these hours then you do not need an accompanying adult luckily.
If you have a learner’s license then you must always have a licensed driver accompanying you and must only drive during daylight hours for the first three months from your original issued date. You can find out more information here on the FLHSMV website.
Drivers under the age of 18 who fail their driving test will have to wait two weeks before they retest (not including the original testing day) and are allowed to retake their test three times before they are needed to re-apply for a license application and each retest will cost you $7.
The state has created a very handy information portal with handbooks and information if you had any questions about the application and testing process for your license.
Once your examiner makes their decision, that is final and there is no way to dispute it usually. You can appeal your result, but you will not be granted a pass only a free retest.
In New York the fee is non-refundable and you wouldn’t receive any partial refund if you passed on your third try. As long as you test with a valid learner’s permit then you should have no problems.
Serious faults such as dangerous driving, safety issues, and careless behavior can cause a serious fault and lead to an instant fail!
It is highly common to fail a driving test and often there are several contributing factors such as nerves and even the individual examiner. Some may be more forgiving than others so often it can be a case of luck too.
The nerves and pressure to pass your driving test are often one of the most common reasons for failing so try not to put too much stress on yourself and remember that it’s common to fail your first test.
Luckily more states are offering lower fees for retesting, and some even give you 2-5 chances included in your initial fees to help get you on the road!
Hopefully, this article has given you all the information you need to get started on your learner’s license application and set you on the road to passing! Check out the rest of our website for more helpful information about a wide variety of vehicles and their common avoidable problems.
