Permit Tests/North Carolina/Retake Rules

North Carolina Permit Test Retake Rules (2026)

What the NCDMV publishes:

7 calendar days
Wait
Not published by NCDMV — see the rules
Attempts
Not published by NCDMV — see the rules
Retest fee
Verified against official records from NCDMV — driver license tests on September 30, 2026.
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Official Rules

North Carolina exam specifications

North Carolina Knowledge Exam Specifications

  • Passing score: 80% correct
  • Road signs: Separate section

Official NCDMV Examination Notes:

  • Separate road-signs test: identify at least 9 of 12 signs.
  • If you fail, you can retake the test after seven calendar days.

Official Failure Rules in North Carolina

From the NCDMV:

  • Waiting period: 7 calendar days

How North Carolina Compares

  • Its 80% pass mark sits between 5 stricter and 8 more lenient states.
  • In North Carolina, the road-sign section is scored separately from the rest of the knowledge test — one of 7 states.
  • North Carolina is one of 26 states whose agency publishes a mandatory waiting period.
  • No attempt limit is published by North Carolina; 13 other states also publish none.
  • No retest fee amount is published by North Carolina, like 18 other states.

States Similar to North Carolina

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North Carolina-verified practice

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Practice questions from the official North Carolina Driver Handbook; every answer cites it.

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Retake Questions for North Carolina

7 calendar days. Verify current rules with the NCDMV before booking.

The agency does not publish a lifetime attempt cap. Attempt allowances are typically governed by your permit application validity period.

Specific retest fee amounts are not published in agency general guidelines; standard state re-examination fees apply.

Applicants in North Carolina must score at least 80% correct on the NCDMV-administered knowledge exam.

North Carolina scores road signs separately from the general knowledge section; failing that section fails the entire exam.

Study from the official North Carolina Driver Handbook, which supplies every North Carolina question; the exam requires 80% correct to pass. Practice road signs on their own, since they are graded separately.