Failed the Colorado Permit Test? Retake Rules & Waiting Period

If you failed the Colorado permit test, you can retake it within the Colorado Department of Revenue, Division of Motor Vehicles (DMV) limit of 2 attempts per day. How soon depends on today’s attempt count and testing availability. A written retest carries an $11.50 state fee, separate from applicable testing-service charges.

Last verified: November 8, 2026

Can you try again today after failing?

Colorado allows another knowledge-test attempt within the daily limit, rather than imposing a general week-long waiting period. The Colorado DMV permits 2 written-test attempts in one day and as many total attempts as needed. A testing location’s available appointments can still affect when you sit down again.

After an unsuccessful morning attempt, first count how many official attempts you have used that day. Ask the office or school about its remaining testing slots. If you have exhausted the daily allowance, arrange a later date. Reopening a practice quiz is different from purchasing another official exam.

Colorado driving-school testing has an additional waiting rule: missing more than 50% of the questions on a first attempt requires waiting until the next day under Department of Revenue Rule 8. After 4 failed paper examinations across schools, subsequent paper tests move to a DMV office; that paper-test cap does not apply to electronic exams.

What will a Colorado online retest cost?

The Colorado DMV’s @Home retest has separate service and state charges. The DMV’s @Home fee breakdown lists $5 for testing plus $1.50 card processing per attempt, with an additional $11.50 state fee for a subsequent attempt. Those amounts total $18, with the state payment handled separately.

Keep the online test receipt and any state-fee receipt. When booking with a school, ask which charges its quote includes. The Colorado license application guide explains where the permit purchase fits into the broader process.

How should you use the gap before the next attempt?

Colorado permit preparation should return to the Driver Handbook and official practice quiz linked by the Colorado DMV. Sort the topics you struggled with before choosing another practice session. A question about a sign’s shape needs a different review from a question about who moves first at an intersection.

Write a short topic list after the exam without trying to reconstruct every test question. Revisit the relevant handbook sections, then practice a mixed set to see whether the rule still makes sense in a different situation. Our Colorado car practice collection includes 24 tests and 569 unique questions. Use explanations to correct the decision, rather than memorizing the position of an answer.

What happens when the retake is a pass?

A Colorado @Home passing result lets the applicant proceed to a DMV permit appointment; the result itself is not an issued driving credential. Bring the completion confirmation and the documents required for your application. The Colorado DMV allows you to schedule the appointment after passing, without a separate post-pass waiting interval.

Teen education, liability signatures, and supervised practice still depend on age. Adult applicants also complete permit issuance before practicing. A car knowledge-test retake does not replace motorcycle testing or the commercial-driver process. See the Colorado car hub for the passenger-car guides in this series.

Key takeaways

• Colorado caps knowledge testing at 2 attempts daily under the DMV retake rules.
• Colorado charges an $11.50 state written-retest fee in the DMV fee schedule, excluding provider charges.
• Colorado @Home testing allows 60 minutes per exam according to the DMV online-testing instructions.

Frequently asked questions

Can I complete the online exam on a phone?

Colorado @Home testing requires a desktop or laptop computer with a webcam, according to the DMV device requirements. Arrange compatible equipment before starting registration for the exam.

Is there an audio option for the written exam?

Colorado @Home testing offers English and Spanish read-aloud support. The DMV accommodation instructions also explain office read-aloud testing and other accommodation requests.

Does the car retake rule also set the road-test schedule?

Colorado driving skills retests follow a separate schedule and fee. Use the Colorado road-test checklist when preparing for the on-road stage, rather than applying knowledge-test rules to it.