How many seconds after stalling in Subject 3 can you restart without penalty?

[DelBentley]

In Subject 3, restarting within 5 seconds after stalling during startup will not result in penalty. Below is relevant knowledge about Subject 3: Preparation before starting: Begin from the right front passenger side (rear or right side of the vehicle), walk counterclockwise around the vehicle for one and a half circles. Check if there are vehicles behind, and if so, wait in front of the vehicle until they pass. Kick all four tires to check tire pressure. If no obstacles are found, open the door with your left hand, step in, and close the door. Starting the vehicle: Fasten the seat belt, shift to neutral gear, adjust the left, center, and right rearview mirrors. Shift to first gear, turn on the left turn signal, then check the rearview mirrors. Gently lift the clutch until the vehicle reaches the semi-engaged state, then release the brake. Gently steer to the left to complete the start. During startup, be careful not to stall the engine or cause the vehicle to jerk.

[MacRosalie]

The rule for not getting points deducted when restarting the engine after stalling in the Subject 3 driving test is actually quite simple. Back when I was getting my driver's license, my instructor repeatedly emphasized that if the car stalls, you must immediately restart it. If you can complete this within 5 seconds, you generally won't lose points. I remember being so nervous during my test that my palms were sweating, and I accidentally stalled at an intersection. Almost instinctively, I restarted the engine within two seconds, and the examiner just nodded silently without deducting points. The key is to stay calm and not rush when starting off, avoiding stalls caused by poor clutch control in the semi-engaged state. If you take more than 5 seconds to restart, you'll likely lose points, as the examiner will consider you lacking responsiveness and affecting traffic. Practicing more starts and stops during regular training helps you get familiar with coordinating the clutch and accelerator, making you less likely to panic during the test. After all, the test is about whether you can drive safely on real roads, and quickly recovering from a stall is also a reflection of emergency handling skills.

[OscarRose]

As someone who has been driving for over a decade, I believe the time limit after stalling in Subject Three mainly depends on whether you can quickly resume normal driving. The general rule is that you must restart the engine immediately after stalling, and if you do it within 5 seconds, you won't lose points. This isn't a rigid countdown but rather the examiner observing whether you cause delays. I've seen many new drivers freeze for a few seconds out of nervousness when stalling, resulting in point deductions and affecting vehicles behind. Stalling is a common mistake during the test—the key is mindset: if you stall, don't panic and restart immediately. Delaying for more than 10 seconds will definitely lead to point deductions, as it could cause traffic congestion. To prevent this, practice hill starts and low-speed control more to let your body memorize the rhythm. Driving is about practice—the test is just the beginning, and real-world driving requires more flexibility. Handling stalling quickly not only avoids point deductions in the test but also makes future driving safer.

[ZaneAnn]

The ignition timing after stalling during the test is crucial. Based on my experience, restarting within 3 seconds won't result in point deduction. If you swiftly restart the engine immediately after stalling, the examiner usually considers it a normal operation. This stems from the test safety requirement: minor mistakes that don't affect traffic flow aren't penalized. Practice simulating stall-and-restart scenarios frequently during training to develop muscle memory, preventing panic. Delaying ignition too long will lead to point deduction and eventual failure.