Failed your theory test? How soon you can resit, what it costs and what to change
Updated •4 min read
If you fail the car theory test, you can rebook straight away, but the new date must be at least 3 working days away. You have to take the full test again, even if you passed one part, and booking costs £23 each time.
How soon can you resit?
gov.uk says you have to wait at least 3 working days before taking your test again (gov.uk: pass mark and result). When you rebook, you choose a date at least 3 working days away (gov.uk: theory test).
Some websites say you must wait longer. The official page gives 3 working days, so check it when you book. There is no wait to rebook itself: you can choose a new date straight away, as long as that date is at least 3 working days ahead.
Do you have to pay again?
Yes. Booking the car theory test costs £23 (gov.uk: book your theory test), and a resit is a new booking. You book it the same way as the first one, online with your UK driving licence number, an email address and a debit or credit card.
Do you resit both parts?
Yes. You must pass both parts to pass the test, and after a fail you have to book and take the full test again, even if you passed one part this time (gov.uk: pass mark and result).
| Part | What it is | Pass mark |
|---|---|---|
| Multiple choice | 50 questions in 57 minutes | 43 out of 50 |
| Hazard perception | 14 video clips | 44 out of 75 |
The question count and time come from gov.uk: multiple-choice questions. The clip count is on the gov.uk hazard perception page.
Find out where you lost marks
You get the result at the test centre on the day. After a fail you are given a letter that says which parts you lost points on, so you know what to practise (gov.uk: pass mark and result). Keep it, and use it to plan your revision instead of repeating everything.
What to change before the resit
These steps are our suggestions rather than official advice:
- Start from the letter. Spend most of your time on the topics where you lost points.
- Work out which part failed. Falling short on multiple choice and falling short on hazard perception need different practice. Our hazard perception guide explains how the clips are scored.
- Learn from wrong answers. Read the reason for each answer you get wrong, then retest those topics a few days later.
- Use the official sources. gov.uk says the multiple-choice questions are based on The Highway Code, Know your traffic signs and Driving - the essential skills (gov.uk: revision and practice). Its free practice test uses questions that are not used in the real test, but cover the same topics.
- Aim above the pass mark. In practice tests, try to score comfortably above 43 out of 50 before you rebook. Our guide to the questions and pass mark explains the format.
- Do not rush the date. The earliest slot is 3 working days away, but you can pick a later one if you need more time.
Start with a free diagnostic
If you are not sure where you went wrong, the free theorytest.ai diagnostic shows which topics to work on first. theorytest.ai is independent and is not affiliated with the DVSA.
Frequently asked questions
How long do you have to wait to retake the theory test?
At least 3 working days. When you rebook, you choose a date at least 3 working days away.
Do you have to pay again if you fail the theory test?
Yes. Booking the car theory test costs £23, and a resit is a new booking.
If I passed one part, do I only retake the other?
No. You must book and take the full test again, even if you passed one part.