How Many Attempts Are Allowed for the Driving License Subject 3 Test?
3 Answers
There are 5 opportunities to schedule the Subject 3 test, with each test allowing one retake, totaling 10 attempts. According to the new traffic regulations, both Subject 2 and Subject 3 allow 5 scheduled test attempts. If the first attempt on the scheduled day is unsuccessful, one retake is allowed on the same day, meaning two test attempts per scheduled day, totaling 10 opportunities. If all 10 attempts are unsuccessful, previous test subjects become invalid, and retraining is required. Subject 3 includes the road driving skills test and the safety and civilized driving knowledge test. It is part of the motor vehicle driving license assessment and is the abbreviated term for the road driving skills and safety and civilized driving knowledge test in the motor vehicle driver's examination. The content of the road driving skills test varies depending on the type of vehicle being licensed. Road test items include: Vehicle preparation, starting, straight-line driving, lane changing, passing intersections, pulling over, passing pedestrian crosswalks, passing school zones, passing bus stops, meeting vehicles, overtaking, making U-turns, and nighttime driving. Provincial public security traffic management departments may add test items for specific vehicle types based on local conditions and determine test items for other vehicle types. Safety and civilized driving knowledge test content includes: Requirements for safe and civilized driving operations, safe driving knowledge under adverse weather and complex road conditions, emergency handling methods for situations like tire blowouts, and post-accident handling knowledge. Applicants for a motor vehicle driving license must pass the following four subject tests: Road traffic safety laws, regulations, and related knowledge test (Subject 1), site driving skills test (Subject 2), road driving skills test (Subject 3), and safety and civilized driving-related knowledge (Subject 4). The tests are conducted in the order of Subject 1, Subject 2, Subject 3, and Subject 4. Only after passing the previous subject test can the applicant proceed to the next subject test. Test precautions: Do not shift gears continuously, such as shifting from 2nd to 3rd gear. Drive a certain distance before shifting to 4th gear. Do not change lanes continuously (i.e., do not change two lanes at once). For example, when changing from lane 1 to lane 2, drive a certain distance before changing to lane 3. Do not coast in neutral, meaning the vehicle should never be in a half-clutch state while driving. Gears must match the speed. For 1st gear, the speed should be 0–15 km/h; for 2nd gear, 0–25 km/h; for 3rd gear, 10–35 km/h; and for 4th gear, 20–45 km/h. When changing lanes, avoid excessive turning radius to prevent the rear or front of the vehicle from crossing the line (the system will judge this as crossing the line). Shifting gears must be done one gear at a time with full clutch engagement, meaning the clutch must be fully engaged before shifting to the next gear. Do not stay in neutral for more than 5 seconds while driving. Generally, the handbrake is not required when parking, and turn signals are not needed for starting except during test items. Through repeated practical tests, the best way to shift gears is to fully release the clutch, wait a few seconds, and then press the clutch to shift to the next gear. The entire process allows starting in 2nd gear. At traffic lights, you can stop in 2nd gear with the clutch pressed (but avoid coasting in neutral). Avoid stopping before intersections or crosswalks, except in U-turn areas. Night test precautions for driving license Subject 3: Night driving mainly tests the use of nighttime lights, which serve both illumination and signaling purposes. To inform other road users, turn on the lights when they can display the vehicle's outline. Before starting at night, turn on the lights to see the road and surroundings clearly, and start only after confirming safety. When parking, turn off the lights after the vehicle is stationary. Nighttime driving under different conditions requires different light usage: On well-lit roads with streetlights, use low beams. On roads without streetlights or poor lighting, use low beams if the speed is below 30 km/h and high beams if the speed is above 30 km/h. When following another vehicle closely at night, use low beams and maintain a larger safe distance. Observe the leading vehicle's signal lights and be ready to slow down or stop. Control the speed so that the vehicle can safely decelerate and stop within the headlight's illumination distance in case of an emergency. When overtaking on unlit roads at night, if traffic conditions permit, turn on the left turn signal and flash high and low beams to alert the vehicle being overtaken. After confirming the leading vehicle yields, use low beams to overtake. When the overtaking vehicle's lights are at the same level as the overtaken vehicle's lights and no oncoming traffic is present, switch to high beams. After overtaking, leave enough safe distance for the overtaken vehicle, then turn on the right turn signal and gradually return to the original lane.
I was quite nervous during my third driving test, and felt a bit disappointed when I didn't pass the first time. However, I found out that there are multiple opportunities, basically unlimited attempts as long as it's within the validity period of the driving course. After each failure, you need to wait about a week to reschedule the test, and the fees aren't too high. I think this is very beginner-friendly—the key is to practice more and get familiar with the test content, like parking by the curb and turning points. Safety is crucial when actually driving, and more practice can boost confidence and reduce mistakes. I recommend doing mock tests at the exam site or getting guidance from experienced drivers—this makes it easier to pass after a few attempts. Don't rush; take your time, and eventually, you'll succeed in getting your driver's license.
After going through it, I found that the third driving test (Subject 3) can indeed be retaken multiple times without strict limitations. You just need to pay and re-register after each failure, but don't waste opportunities—prepare seriously for the test items. Subject 3 assesses practical driving skills like starting and lane changing, and repeated practice can help avoid safety hazards in daily driving. I recommend practicing more at the driving school before the test and accumulating experience without fearing repeated failures. Remember, safety comes first when driving—the test is just the starting point, and trying multiple times is beneficial rather than harmful.
