Failed the Virginia permit test? What happens next
Failing the knowledge exam happens, and you can try again. Here are Virginia's retake rules and what to do differently this time.
Independent practice site. We're not the DMV and aren't connected to any government agency.
What happens now
- Under 18
- By law you wait a full 15 days. Fail on January 1, and the earliest retake is January 17.Source: Manual section 1, Testing, page 3
- 18 or older
- You may take the exam once per business day.Source: Manual section 1, Testing, page 3
- After a third fail
- No fourth try until you finish the classroom part of driver education, or, if eligible, an approved 8-hour course on the manual, completed after the third fail.Source: Manual section 1, Testing, page 3
- Which part
- Part one's 10 sign questions must all be right before part two, which needs at least 80 percent.Source: Manual section 1, Testing, page 3
What to change before your next try
- Write down what caught you out while you still remember: signs or general knowledge, which topics, which kinds of question.
- Know every sign cold. Part one allows no misses, so practice signs until you get them all right, every time.
- Answer questions instead of rereading. Practicing with questions and reading why each wrong answer is wrong helps more than going over the manual again.
- Go over the numbers. Distances, speeds, ages and fines are easy to mix up. Each topic below has them.
Practice by topic
Sources
Checked against these sources on October 24, 2026.
We read these sources and wrote this page in our own words. The DMV has the final word, and rules change, so check anything important with the DMV before your appointment.