Failed Texas Driving Test? What to Do Next

Updated October 2026 · Reviewed by Billy Forte

A failed Texas driving test does not end your application, because Texas law allows three attempts per application and fee. DPS holds your application for 90 days, and after 90 days or three failed exams, you need a new application and a new fee. DPS states no waiting period between tries, so your next step is to learn from the feedback and schedule another driving test.

Key Facts

Feedback: the examiner explains your errors and how to fix them. See right after the test.
Tries: three attempts per application and fee under Texas law. See the retest rules.
Time limit: DPS holds your application for 90 days. See counting the 90 days.
No set wait: DPS states no waiting period between tries. See booking your next test.
ITAD: the certificate is valid 90 days, so you may need to retake it. See keeping ITAD current.

Right After a Failed Texas Driving Test

You find out before you leave. The Texas Driver Handbook says the License and Permit Specialist “will explain all driving errors and let you know how to correct those errors.”

DPS form DL-60 says the same thing in other words. You learn whether you passed and get feedback on your strengths and areas to improve.

Write the feedback down as soon as you can. It comes from your own drive, so it shows exactly what to practice.

Why a Drive Is Not Approved

The handbook lists four reasons your application “will not be approved”:

You violate the law.
You refuse to follow instructions.
You drive dangerously or have a crash.
You have more than 30 points deducted.

DL-60 adds that a dangerous or illegal maneuver stops the test right away, with an automatic fail. DPS does not publish how many points each error costs. Our guide to Texas driving test skills and maneuvers covers what the examiner grades.

The Retest Rules

Two official sources set the limits. Transportation Code § 521.161(d) allows three attempts at each part of the exam after you pay the fee. The handbook explains what happens after that.

Rule	What DPS and Texas law say
Attempts	Three per application and fee
Application hold	Held for 90 days if you do not pass on the first try
After 90 days	A new application and fee
After three failed exams	A new application and fee
Waiting period between tries	None stated by DPS
Next step	Schedule time for another driving exam

The handbook’s own words are short. “If you do not pass the driving exam, you will need to schedule time for another driving exam.”

How Three Tries Play Out

Here is the count on one application, using only the DPS limits:

First try. You do not pass. DPS holds your application for 90 days.
Second try. You book again and take another driving exam within the 90 days.
Third try. This is the last attempt on that application and fee.
After a third failed exam. You need a new application and fee.

If the 90 days end first, you also start over, even with tries left.

Counting Your 90 Days

The handbook says, “If you do not pass the knowledge and driving exams on your first attempt, your application will be held for 90 days.” Then, “After 90 days or three failed exams, a new application and fee will be required.”

The handbook does not say which exact date starts the 90 days. Ask DPS for the end date on your application when you leave the office. Write it down with your feedback.

Here is a simple way to plan. If you have used one try, you have two left on the same application. Both must happen before the 90 days end.

Booking Your Next Driving Test

DPS states no waiting period between tries. So you can book as soon as you feel ready.

Use the Texas DPS scheduler. The road test FAQ says road tests can be booked “up to 180 days in advance.” It also says “The Customer Service Center cannot schedule, reschedule, or cancel road tests.”

Check availability first. The DPS wait-times report shows each office’s estimated days until a drive test slot. Our guide to Texas DPS wait times explains how to read it.

A Third-Party School for the Retest

DPS certifies some driver education schools to give the driving test. The DPS third-party testing page says the program “reduces the time you must wait to take your driving test.”

The school sets its own fee, which DPS does not regulate. Ask how its retests work before you book. See our guide to third-party driver license testing.

Five next steps after a failed Texas driving test, from writing down feedback to booking the retest

Questions to Ask Before You Leave

The office visit is your best chance to get clear answers. Ask the DPS staff:

When does my 90-day hold end?
How many tries do I have left on this application?
Do I need to do anything else before I book the next drive?

Keep the answers with your feedback notes. They help you plan the retest date. If you plan to retest at a third-party school, ask DPS what you need to bring there too.

Keeping Your ITAD Certificate Current

The ITAD certificate has its own clock. The ITAD FAQ says “The ITAD certificate is only valid for 90 days.” It must be done no more than 90 days before the skills exam.

If you do not pass the skills exam within that window, the FAQ says you must take ITAD again. Then print the new certificate. DPS does not accept electronic copies.

Check the date on your certificate before each retest. If it will be more than 90 days old on test day, retake ITAD first. The video is free, so a retake costs you time but no fee.

Fixing the Errors Before Your Next Try

Use the examiner’s notes to build a short practice plan. Match each error to the handbook. The handbook grades four skills on every drive:

Control. Smooth steering, speed and braking.
Observation. Watching traffic, mirrors and signs.
Positioning. Staying in your lane and placing the car well.
Signaling. Using turn signals as required.

DL-60 says to practice every maneuver on its checklist and to have someone instruct you and point out mistakes. Focus first on the items the examiner named.

The handbook also says that if you are not licensed, a licensed driver must drive the car to the office and test area. Plan for that again on retest day.

Getting Ready for the Next Test Day

A retest day has the same rules as the first one. Run through this list before you go:

ITAD certificate. Printed on paper and dated within 90 days.
Identification. DL-60 says to show one valid form of ID to the examiner.
The car. Valid registration and insurance, and it must pass the vehicle check.
Riders. DL-60 says no pets or unauthorized passengers during the test.
Arrival. The DPS appointments page says to come no earlier than 30 minutes before your slot.

If You Need a New Application

After 90 days or three failed exams, you start over with a new application and fee. The DPS fee page lists $33 for a new license at ages 18 to 84.

A new application can raise a course question for younger adults. Under DPS rule 37 TAC 15.55, applicants under 25 with a course certificate dated two or more years before they apply get no exams waived. The rule says the certificate is still acceptable as proof that you finished the course.

So if a long time has passed, plan to take every exam at DPS. Ask DPS what applies to your new application.

A Failed Knowledge Test

The same limits cover the written test. Section 521.161(d) gives three attempts at each part of the exam. The handbook’s 90-day hold covers both the knowledge and driving exams.

The driving test comes only after all other exams are passed. So a failed knowledge test must be passed before you can take the drive.

When the Car Stops the Test

Sometimes the test does not start at all. DL-60 says the vehicle must pass an inspection before the test begins.

The road test FAQ says the car needs valid registration and insurance. You cannot be listed as an excluded driver on the policy. Our Texas driving test guide lists every vehicle item to check.

What We Found on the Official Pages

On the DPS pages we checked on October 26, 2026, the handbook was revision January 2026. It gave the 90-day hold and the “three failed exams” limit. It did not state a waiting period between tries.

DL-60 repeated the 90-day hold and the need for a new application and fee. The ITAD FAQ still said its certificate is valid for 90 days.

What changes after a failed Texas driving test: feedback, the application, ITAD, the course certificate and fees

Common Mistakes to Avoid

Each item comes from Texas law, a DPS rule or a DPS page:

Losing the feedback. The examiner explains your errors; write them down.
Letting the 90 days run out. A new application and fee are then required.
Using an expired ITAD certificate. It is valid for 90 days only.
Calling to rebook a road test. Customer Service cannot schedule road tests.
Bringing a car that fails inspection. The vehicle must pass before the test begins.
Waiting for a set retest date. DPS states no waiting period.

How Requirements Can Vary

Texas driver license rules come from state law, Texas DPS rules and TDLR rules, and they apply statewide. What you need still depends on your age, whether you hold a license from another state, and which tests you have already passed.

Laws, fees and office procedures can change. Check the Texas DPS and TDLR websites for current rules before you book an appointment or enroll in a course.

Frequently Asked Questions

Can I retake the Texas driving test if I fail?

Yes. Texas law allows three attempts per application and fee. The handbook says to schedule time for another driving exam.

How soon can I retake the driving test?

DPS states no waiting period between tries. You can book your next road test through the scheduler when you are ready.

How many times can I fail before I pay again?

After three failed exams, DPS requires a new application and fee. The same is true after 90 days, even with tries left.

Do I have to retake ITAD after a failed test?

Only if the certificate will be more than 90 days old on your test day. The ITAD FAQ says you must take ITAD again if you do not pass within that window.

Will the examiner tell me what I did wrong?

Yes. The handbook says the examiner “will explain all driving errors and let you know how to correct those errors.”

Can I retest at a third-party school?

DPS certifies some driver education schools to give the driving test. Each school sets its own fee, so ask about its retest process.

Does a failed knowledge test count toward my tries?

Texas law gives three attempts at each part of the exam per application and fee. The 90-day hold covers both the knowledge and driving exams.

Do I need a new appointment for each try?

Yes. The handbook says that if you do not pass, “you will need to schedule time for another driving exam.” Book it in the scheduler.

Conclusion

A failed Texas driving test leaves you with tries on the same application, as long as you stay within three attempts and 90 days. Use the examiner’s feedback, keep your ITAD certificate current and book your next drive when you are ready. If you are 18 to 24 and have not taken the six-hour course yet, you can start with Driving Logic’s online Texas adult driver education course.

Sources

Billy Forte is the owner of Driving Logic, a state-approved driver improvement course provider serving Texas and other U.S. states.

This article is general information, not legal advice. Texas driver license and driver education rules are set by Texas law, Texas DPS and TDLR, and they can change. Check the official DPS and TDLR websites for current requirements before you apply.