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The computer ends your session and prints a result sheet at the counter. This printout shows which topics you missed.
The computer ends your session and prints a result sheet at the counter. This printout shows which topics you missed, things like "Right-of-Way" or "Signs and Signals." Keep it. You'll need it to study smarter.
The knowledge exam tests traffic signs, motor vehicle laws, and safe driving practices from the Virginia Driver's Manual. Virginia's test has two parts. All 10 traffic sign questions must be answered correctly before Part Two begins. Then you must answer at least 24 of the 30 general knowledge questions correctly. Miss even one sign, and you're done for the day.
Oral exams are available by request at all DMV customer service centers. Using a cell phone, receiving help, or possessing exam answers during the test is unlawful and will disqualify your attempt.
Applicants under 18 must wait a full 15 days before retesting. If you are 18 or older, Virginia DMV allows only one knowledge-test attempt per day.
| Situation | What Happens |
|---|---|
| Under 18 after a failure | Wait a full 15 days before the next knowledge-test attempt. |
| Age 18 or older after a failure | You may take the knowledge test only once per day. |
| After three failures at any age | Complete the applicable approved training before attempt four. |
| Every knowledge-test retake | Reapply for the learner's permit and submit another driver's-license application with the required identity and residency documents. |
For example, if an applicant under 18 fails on June 1, the earliest eligible retest date is June 17.
Yes. Virginia DMV says each knowledge-test retake requires another application for a Virginia driver's license and the required identity and residency documentation.
Virginia DMV does not publish a lifetime maximum number of knowledge-test attempts. Instead, the key threshold is three failed attempts: after the third failure, you must complete the applicable approved driver-education training before you can take the test a fourth time.
Practice with Shoro AI Virginia permit prep before your test to prepare better and give yourself a stronger chance of passing on your first attempt.
Yes. If you do not obtain your license or permit within 1 year of completing the knowledge exam, Virginia DMV requires you to retest.
Virginia's current driver-licensing fee law does not list the former $2 standard re-examination fee for a learner's permit knowledge-test retake. Failing and retaking the knowledge test therefore does not create a standard $2 DMV re-examination charge.
Other costs can still apply. For example, a required course after three failed attempts is provided separately, and another DMV transaction may have its own fee. For payment-method details, use the dedicated Virginia DMV payment guide.
After three failures, your record locks. You must complete a DMV-approved course before attempting the test again. This applies to everyone, minors and adults alike.
You must present the original paper completion certificate at the DMV. Digital copies and photos won't work. The course completion date must be after your third failure, not before.
If your application expires while waiting to complete the course, you must reapply, repay all fees, and redo the vision screening. Applications don't pause while you sort out course requirements.
A student in Roanoke completed the 8-hour course in April, then failed her third attempt in May. DMV rejected her certificate because she took the course before failing three times. She had to repeat the entire course and pay again. Timing matters.
A teen at a Fairfax High School testing kiosk failed three times. He enrolled in a private 8-hour course, paid $180, and brought the original certificate to the main DMV office. His application had expired during this process, forcing him to start completely over.
Yes, if you are eligible for the 8-hour Driver's Manual course. Virginia DMV allows the course online or in a classroom through an approved provider. Applicants under 18 who completed the classroom portion of driver education before the third failure may use the 8-hour course; applicants age 18 or older may also use it.
No. Virginia DMV specifically says a driver improvement clinic does not satisfy the training requirement after three failed knowledge-test attempts.
Virginia DMV does not offer a formal appeal process for failed knowledge test results. If you believe a question was scored incorrectly due to a technical error, report it to the DMV clerk before leaving the building. The manager on duty can review terminal logs for confirmed technical issues.
If the computer freezes or malfunctions, alert the clerk immediately, before you leave the testing area. A supervisor may void the attempt, which could allow a same-day retest. This is rare, but it's your only shot at disputing anything.
No. Knowledge test attempts and failures are not recorded on your permanent driving record. DMV tracks them internally only to enforce retest limits and course requirements.
Use your result slip to identify which topics you missed. Review those sections of the Virginia Driver's Manual and use current-format practice questions. A full current-format simulation has 40 questions: 10 road signs and 30 general-knowledge questions.
An appointment is optional. Virginia DMV also allows walk-ins, subject to its published knowledge-test arrival cutoffs. Use the dedicated appointment and DMV-hours pages for scheduling details.
For your retest, focus on the areas flagged on your printout. The questions change, so learn the rules instead of memorizing individual answers.
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