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Driver Training for Three Exam Failures

Driver's license applicants, including CDL drivers, who fail the knowledge or behind-the-wheel examination three times will be required to successfully complete the applicable knowledge or in-vehicle component of a driver education course before they can take the examination a fourth time.

If you are unsuccessful in passing the exam a first and second time, before re-taking the exam, study the driver's license manual; if you hold a learner's permit, practice your behind-the-wheel skills with a licensed driver or a driver training instructor. Additionally, if you failed the exam three times, you must complete the driver education class after your third failure.

  • Persons failing the knowledge test must take the classroom component of driver education.
  • Persons failing the road test must take the behind-the-wheel component of driver education.

A Driver's Manual course is available for adults age 19 and older who have failed the knowledge test three times. The program consists of an 8-hour classroom course based on the Virginia Driver's Manual. The course is designed to better prepare individuals for the test at DMV.

Classes taken at a driver improvement clinic do not meet this requirement.

Driver education programs are available statewide to students, adults and out-of-school youths. Public and private school programs are approved by the Department of Education. Driver training schools follow the same course content and are licensed by DMV.

The program consists of 36 fifty-minute classroom periods of instruction and 14 fifty-minute periods of in-car instruction (7 periods of driving and 7 periods of observation).

Find a Driver Training School

To locate the driver training school that is closest to you, refer to Driver Training Schools (Three Exam Failures) by District.

Additional Information

DMV is committed to promoting transportation safety through the certification of quality driver training programs.

For information about the laws governing driver training schools, refer to the Virginia Driver Training School Regulations.

If you have comments or concerns about this course, call our toll-free number: 1-877-885-5790.