How Many Times Can I Take My Theory Test? Rules, Tips, and What to Expect

Here's the deal: there's no official limit to how many times you can take your theory test. Seriously, nobody's going to stop you after your second, fifth, or even twentieth try. The record in the UK? One person took it almost 160 times before finally passing. Almost impossible to believe, but it's true.

If thinking about a retake makes you sweat, you're not alone. Loads of people (including a couple of my friends) needed a few tries before they cracked it. So, if you mess up, it's not the end of the world.

That said, every single attempt costs time and money, so it's smart to know your options and the process for retaking. Whether you missed a bunch of questions or got tripped up by the hazard perception bit, there are ways to improve next time round. More on that in a bit.

• No Limit On Attempts: The Basics
• What Happens if You Fail?
• How Soon Can You Rebook?
• Cost and Booking Tips
• How to Boost Your Chances Next Time

No Limit On Attempts: The Basics

If you’re stressing over how many times you’re allowed to take the driving theory test, here’s the good news—there’s no maximum. You could keep retaking it until you finally nail it. Some people pass on their first go, while others need a handful of tries (or more). Officially, there’s zero restriction. The law doesn’t put any cap, so nobody will tell you to stop if you keep missing the mark.

This can be a relief, but it’s also helpful to know you’re not alone if you’re struggling. Check out this table for a bit of perspective from the real world:

Those record numbers are wild, but most people pass after two or three tries. Still, every retake is one more step toward your licence, so it’s nothing to be embarrassed about. Nobody at the test centre cares how many times you’ve shown up—they see new faces and hopeful drivers every day.

The only real catch? You’ll need to pay for each go, and you can’t take the practical driving test until you pass the theory. That means there’s nothing holding you back but your own motivation—and maybe your wallet. If it takes you four tries, or even ten, the process is exactly the same each time: book, pay, revise, and show up. No paperwork hassles, no extra hoops—it’s all up to you and your preparation.

What Happens if You Fail?

So, you didn't pass your driving theory test. Annoying, sure. But nothing weird or dramatic happens. You’ll just get your test results right away after finishing, so you’ll know exactly how you did—no waiting around and biting your nails for days.

The pass mark for the multiple-choice part is 43 out of 50. For the hazard perception video clips, it’s 44 out of 75. Slip under either score, and it’s a fail—even if you aced one part. You’ll get a breakdown of your results, showing where you lost marks. Use this feedback; it’s way more helpful than just being told you were “close.”

You have to wait at least three working days before you can book again (not counting weekends or bank holidays). That gives you a tiny window to figure out where things went wrong and brush up before the next go. Here’s how it looks in a table:

And just to be clear: you’re not alone. In 2024, about 53% of people failed their first theory test in England, so it's pretty normal to stumble once or twice.

If you’re under 18 or still in school, don't panic about your parents finding out—no one sends them a letter, unless you use their debit card and they see the test booking charge!

Here’s what you should do if you find yourself in this boat:

• Read and use the feedback from your result slip. Know exactly what tripped you up.
• Plan some extra practice time and maybe switch up your revision strategy—apps, mock tests, or a different book might help.
• Don’t rush to immediately rebook. Waiting a few more days to study smarter often beats just jumping straight in again and hoping for a miracle.

How Soon Can You Rebook?

Messed up your driving theory test? You don’t have to wait ages before you can go for it again. In the UK, there’s a clear rule: you need to wait at least three working days before you can take your next theory test. So, if you fail on a Monday, the soonest you can sit the retest is Friday. Weekends and bank holidays don’t count, so don’t plan for those days.

Booking isn’t automatic. You’ll need to go online or call the DVSA to set up your next slot. Lots of people try again as soon as possible, but sometimes all the good times get snapped up. So, if you’ve got a busy schedule—school, work, kids’ stuff like Arlo’s dance shows or Finley’s football—you’ll want to check for cancellations regularly, as spots open up all the time.

Here’s a quick list of things to have ready when you book again:

• Your provisional licence number
• A payment card to cover the test fee
• The details of when and where you want to sit the test

If you already know what tripped you up—maybe you blanked on stopping distances or mixed up road signs—use that waiting period to hammer those bits. Retaking the test sooner isn’t always better if you’re not feeling ready, so give yourself enough time to practice.

Cost and Booking Tips

Nobody wants to waste money on retakes, so let’s get straight to the point. Each trip to the test centre comes at a cost. For cars, the UK driving theory test fee is £23 every single time you book. The price is the same whether you're doing it for the first or the twentieth time. Motorcycle theory tests are also £23, while lorry and bus theory tests jump up to £26.

Here’s a quick look at the numbers for different vehicles:

You book online at the official GOV.UK website—don't use third-party booking sites. Some of these sites charge way more for “help” you really don’t need. Keep that extra cash in your pocket for lessons or pizza.

After a fail, you have to wait at least three working days before rebooking. No choice on that—these are the official rules. So, don’t hit ‘rebook’ as soon as you step outside the test centre, but you also don’t have to sit around for weeks.

• Always double-check your details (name, address, licence number) when booking.
• Set a reminder for your test date and time. Miss it, and you’ll need to pay again.
• Try to revise before hitting the button. Don’t just “get it over with”—make the next attempt count.

If you’re on certain benefits or low-income programs, have a look to see if you qualify for a refund, but for most people, the cost is out of pocket every time.

How to Boost Your Chances Next Time

If you flopped the first time, don’t stress. Tons of people do. But the key is to figure out exactly what threw you off and fix it before your next attempt. Here’s how you can seriously up your chances of passing your driving theory test the next time around.

• Review your fail sheet: After your test, you get a printout showing which topics you missed. Go over it in detail. Spot any repeat offenders? Make those a high priority when you revise.
• Practice with mock tests: The more you practice, the more comfortable you’ll feel. Try the official DVSA practice tests online. Studies show people who go through at least 10-15 mocks improve their pass rate by over 30%.
• Use the official app and materials: Lots of apps claim to help, but the DVSA’s official ones match the real questions best. Anything else might leave gaps.
• Get better at hazard perception: A lot of fails come from the video clips. Practice spotting real-life hazards when you're out as a passenger. There are YouTube videos and online clips that let you get the same feel as the test.
• Don’t cram last minute: Little and often works way better than panicking the night before. Try 20-30 minute chunks over a couple of weeks for solid results.

Also, check out this quick table with some numbers from recent stats published by the DVSA:

Notice the pass rate drops with each retake, probably because people repeat the same mistakes or lose motivation. Make sure you switch up your prep strategy after each fail, and don’t just do what you did last time. And if nerves are your enemy, try tackling a few practice tests somewhere noisy or stressful to mimic the real experience. It sounds weird, but it works—my son Arlo actually passed after doing a mock test at the kitchen table with his little brother causing chaos in the background.