Can I still take the driving test if I failed five times?
3 Answers
You can still take the test, but all previous test results will be invalidated, and you will need to retake the exams. Here are the relevant details: Regulations: According to regulations, during the validity period of the driving skill test permit, the number of scheduled tests for Subject 2 (road driving skills) and Subject 3 (road driving skills) cannot exceed five times. If the fifth scheduled test is still not passed, the results of other previously passed subjects will be invalidated. This means that if you fail the first test, you have four more opportunities to schedule the test, with one retake opportunity for each scheduled test. Test Items: The driving test consists of theoretical exams and practical operations across three subjects: the subject on road traffic safety laws, regulations, and related knowledge; the subject on field driving skills; and the subject on road driving skills and safe, civilized driving knowledge.
I work at the driving test service center and deal with these issues every day. Failing five times means if you fail either Subject Two or Subject Three five times, your entire exam eligibility is void. But don’t panic—if you still want to take the test, you can re-register at the driving school. If your Subject One score is still valid, you won’t need to retake it. After re-registering, you’ll need to pay the tuition fee again and start the process from scratch, including completing the required training hours. I’ve seen many students pass after restarting this way. The key is to analyze why you failed before—whether it’s due to poor psychological resilience or lack of practice—and then adjust your training plan accordingly for better results. Also, when choosing a training ground, pay special attention to the instructor’s patience, as this is especially crucial for retakers.
Last year, I accompanied my cousin to retake his driver's license test, and he failed the parallel parking in his fifth attempt at Subject 3. According to regulations, failing a single subject five times means starting over completely, but in practice, policies vary by region. For example, Guangzhou's new regulation last year allowed candidates to keep their Subject 1 scores, so reapplying only required training for Subjects 2 and 3. I recommend you directly consult the latest policy at the DMV counter, bringing all your previous test records. It's crucial to change instructors or driving schools—we later realized my cousin's previous instructor's methods deviated from the actual test conditions. Don’t be embarrassed about retaking the test; the examiners have seen it all, just focus on your own performance.
