What Happens If You Fail Your Texas DPS Test
Last updated 2026-07-29
One rule covers both the knowledge and driving exams
Texas doesn't split the retake rules by exam type the way some states do. If you don't pass the knowledge exam and the driving exam on your first attempt, your entire application is held for 90 days. After 90 days, or after 3 failed exams — whichever comes first — you have to submit a brand-new application and pay the fee again.
That combined structure cuts both ways: passing the knowledge exam on your first try doesn't buy you extra attempts at the driving exam beyond the shared 3-exam, 90-day ceiling, and a slow start on scheduling your driving exam can eat into the same 90-day window even if you're not actively failing anything.
The knowledge exam: a 70% floor
You need a score of 70% or better to pass any Texas DPS knowledge exam — Class C, Class M (motorcycle), or the Class A/B rules exam. There's no partial credit toward eligibility below that line.
There's no separate, easier standard for a first-time minor applicant versus an adult — the same 70% threshold applies whether you're 15 or 50, and whether it's your first attempt or your third.
The driving exam grades four core skills
Whatever license class you're testing for, the examiner grades you on the same four fundamentals:
- Control — making the car do what you want it to do.
- Observation — noticing other traffic and potential hazards.
- Positioning — staying in your lane.
- Signaling — using your turn signals when required.
On top of those, you may be tested on specific maneuvers: parallel parking, a quick stop from about 20 mph without skidding, backing about 60 feet in a straight line, stopping at signs and signals, clutch control on a standard transmission, intersection observance, turns, right-of-way, and lane discipline while following or passing.
What actually fails the driving exam
Your application won't be approved if, during the driving exam, you:
- Violate a traffic law.
- Refuse to follow the examiner's instructions.
- Drive dangerously or have a crash.
- Have more than 30 points deducted over the course of the exam.
Notice that three of these four conditions are about judgment and conduct, not driving mechanics — a technically competent driver can still fail by refusing an instruction or reacting to a mistake by breaking a law, which matters as much as the physical skill being tested.
If you fail the driving exam specifically
You'll simply need to schedule another driving exam appointment — Texas doesn't publish a separate mandatory waiting period just for a failed driving exam the way it does for the overall 90-day application hold. That 90-day/3-attempt cap is still the outer limit either way, so don't let retakes drag out indefinitely.
Practically, that means your best move after a failed driving exam is to rebook as soon as a slot is available rather than waiting — since there's no mandatory cooling-off period working in your favor, delay only eats into the shared 90-day window without buying you anything in return.
Source
More Texas Guides
- How Long Is a Texas Learner License Valid?
- Texas GDL Rules Explained
- What to Bring to Your Texas Permit Test
- Do You Need Driver's Ed for a Texas License?
Rules and requirements change — always confirm current details with Texas DPS before your exam. Check the full guides index or the Texas cheat sheet and FAQ, or take a free Texas practice test.