Before you drive your vehicle on the highway, you need to have a driver’s permit. This is also known as a learner’s license, learner’s permit, or provisional license. This license is a restricted license that first-drivers need to get before they are permitted to get a full driver’s license. With it, you can drive a motor vehicle before you have passed your driving test.
By state, the age at which you need to apply for a driver’s permit varies. To get the license, you are required to take a permit test. There are some people who cannot pass the test after the first trial. Then, they may wonder whether they are able to take the test again.
Usually, you are able to take your permit test as many times as you can, but every state may have different rules about it. Below, we have some information about taking permit tests in two states in the United States.
Taking a Driver’s Permit Test in Pennsylvania
Knowledge Test
Your knowledge about traffic signs, driving laws in Pennsylvania, and practices of safe driving will be tested. The form of the test can be given in both audio and written format. Can I take the test again if I fail? Yes, you can retake the test the following business day. So, if you fail in the first trial, don’t worry because you can retake it. You have to complete the test successfully before you receive a valid learner’s permit.
In the knowledge test, you will be given 18 questions in multiple choice. To pass the test, you are required to correctly answer at least 15 questions.
Road Test
Are you under 18 years old? If so, you can schedule your skills test up to six months in advance. You have to make appointments to take the Non-Commercial Road Test and scheduling your road test can be done online. Alternatively, you are able to schedule it by calling 1-800-423-5542. For your information, Pennsylvania Department of Transportation (PennDOT) has certified third-party businesses to administer the skills test for a market-driven fee. These third-party examiners are PennDOT certified and the test is the same as the test that you take at a PennDOT driver license center.
These items need to be presented to the examiner before you take your road test.
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- Your valid learner’s permit.
- If you are under 18 years old, you must have a signed parent or guardian certification form or DL-180C (PDF) for 65 hours of behind-the-wheel training.
- Proof that your vehicle is insured.
- The valid registration card for the vehicle that you will use to drive for the road test.
- The driver’s license which is still valid of the person who is accompanying you to the Driver License Center.
Make sure you bring the original documents above because if not, you will not be able to do the test.
Before the test, the examiner will check a valid registration card, valid state inspection sticker, current insurance, and if required, a valid emissions sticker of your vehicle. Besides, they will also check the horn, lights, brakes, windshield wipers, mirrors, turn signals, seats, doors, and tires of your vehicle to make sure that these things work properly and meet safety standards. You cannot take the road test if it is determined that any part of your vehicle is unsafe or does not meet the standards.
During the test, the examiner will be your only passenger where the examiner will tell you where to drive and what maneuvers to make. If you pass the road test at a PennDOT driver’s license center, you will get your driver’s license at that time.
Things That Can Cause You Fail to Get the License in the Road Test
However, you will not get the license which means that you fail the road test for these things that you do during the test.
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- You cannot operate any vehicle controls.
- You make errors in safe-driving practices.
- You cause a crash.
- You violate any traffic laws.
- You fail to follow the instructions given by the examiner.
- You do not use turn signals.
- You drive dangerously or recklessly.
How Many Times Can You Take a Permit Test in Pennsylvania?
If you are under 18 years old and you fail the road test, you have to wait seven days before you are able to take the road test again. It is important for you to note that you have three chances with each learner’s permit to pass the road test before the expiration date of the learner’s permit. If you fail three times, then you need to apply again to extend your learner’s permit.
Taking a Driver’s Permit Test in Vermont
Things To Do to Get a Permit Test
In Vermont, if you want to get a learner’s permit, you need to be at least 15 years old. Here is what you need to do to get a learner’s permit in Vermont.
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- Let’s say that you are 15, 16, or 17 years old. If so, you need to provide your parent’s or legal guardian’s permission. Your parent or legal guardian needs to sign the application before taking the test. If you are a foreign exchange student, you are able to get a Foreign Exchange Parental Authorization Form (VL-036) to be signed by your parent or legal guardian.
- After you pass the online permit test and pay the required fees, your permit will be issued.
If you want to apply for a learner’s permit in Vermont and you are under 18 years old, you need to have maintained a ‘clean’ driving record in the previous two years. Have you had any recalls, suspensions or revocations? If so, you are able to contact the DMV as you may be asked to serve an additional waiting period.
How Many Times Can You Take a Permit Test in Vermont?
You are able to take the test in Vermont as many times as you wish until you pass. You may wonder how long you have to wait to test again if you fail. If you fail a road test, you need to wait at least seven days before you take the test again. If you fail a knowledge test, you need to wait at least one day before taking the test again. If you fail the test, when you take another test, you have to pay the test fee again.
If you have taken the permit tutorial, passed the test, paid the permit fee, and submitted the application and certificate, you may wonder whether you can start driving with a parent right away or you have to wait for the actual permit to come in the mail. Well, you do not have to wait for the actual permit to come in the mail. The receipt that you have becomes your temporary learner’s permit for 90 days from the date on the receipt. So, you must have this when you are operating a motor vehicle.
Do I need to hold the permit for a year prior to taking my driver’s test? Yes, according to the Graduated License Law, you will have to hold your learner’s permit for a year prior to taking the road test.
If you are 18 years old or older and just got your permit, you still have to drive with a licensed adults who is 25+ because the age of the permit holder is not relevant.
Conclusion
Since each state has its own rules about how many times you can take a permit test and everything related to get the permit test, so before you take the test, it is important for you to contact the local DMV in your state to know the rules about getting a permit test in your state. And make sure that you prepare everything you need before the test so that you can pass the test.
A bookworm and researcher especially related to law and citizenship education. I spend time every day in front of the internet and the campus library.
