Driving Tests

West Virginia Permit Test Fee: $7.50 per Attempt and Retest Rules

informational·how to guide·Published September 29, 2026

How much is the West Virginia permit test, and when can you retake it?

As of 2026, the West Virginia DMV charges $7.50 for each attempt at the Level 1 permit knowledge test, and adults 18 or older pay $7.50 for one attempt. The Level 2 road skills test also costs $7.50 per attempt. After you fail either test, state law does not let you test again within one week. A revoked Level 1 permit means a 90-day wait before a retest.

Where these West Virginia fee and retest rules come from

The test fees come from West Virginia Code section 17B-2-3a (the Graduated Driver License law), section 17B-2-5 (adult permits) and the West Virginia DMV fee page. License and REAL ID fees also come from section 17B-2-8. The one-week retest wait and the adult attempt limits come from section 17B-2-6, and the West Virginia Driver's Licensing Handbook gives the same wait. The permit terms come from the DMV Graduated Driver License and regular instruction permit pages. This guide is current as of 2026. Confirm the rules with the West Virginia Division of Motor Vehicles (dmv.wv.gov) before you drive.

What each West Virginia test and license step costs

What each West Virginia test and license step costs
Step	Fee (U.S. dollars, as of 2026)	What you get
Level 1 instruction permit (age 15 to 17)	$7.50 per attempt	One attempt at the written knowledge test
Level 2 intermediate license (age 16 to 17)	$7.50 per attempt	One attempt at the road skills test
Instruction permit for adults (18 or older)	$7.50 per attempt	One knowledge test attempt; the permit is valid for six months
Level 3 full Class E license (age 17 or older)	Charged per year until age 21	A full license with no new test, valid until 30 days after your 21st birthday
Class E license (18 or older)	$5.00 per year	Each year that the license is valid
REAL ID-compliant license or ID card	$10.00 more	Added to the license or ID card fee

Is the $7.50 permit test fee for each try?

Yes. W. Va. Code 17B-2-3a says the $7.50 fee covers one attempt at the written knowledge test, and the DMV lists the Level 1 test at $7.50 per attempt. For adults 18 or older, the instruction permit fee is also $7.50 for one attempt. So each knowledge test attempt, a retake included, costs $7.50 as of 2026.

How long must you wait to retake a failed test?

One week. W. Va. Code 17B-2-6 does not let you test again within one week after you fail the written knowledge test or the road skills test. If the examiner does not give you a passing score on the road skills test, you are told what to practice and when to come back.
On a knowledge test retake, you still need 19 of 25 correct answers within the time limit, and questions you do not answer in time count as wrong. For the test format, see how many questions are on the West Virginia knowledge test.

What happens in each West Virginia retest case

Your Level 1 permit is revoked

A second final conviction for a moving violation or for breaking the permit terms means revocation. You cannot retest for 90 days. After that, you may retest if you are otherwise eligible.

Your Level 1 permit expires before you pass the road skills test

The permit is not renewable. If you have no offense that requires a suspension, revocation or cancellation of the permit, you may apply for a new instruction permit.

Your Level 2 license is revoked after a second conviction

The revocation lasts until your 18th birthday or for the period that the law sets for the offense, whichever is longer. At 18, you pay a reinstatement fee, the DMV mails you a retest letter, and you start the tests again as a first-time applicant.

Who can take the $7.50 Level 2 road skills test?

You must be at least 16 and must have held your Level 1 permit conviction-free for the 180 days just before you apply. Each attempt costs $7.50 as of 2026. If you are a first-time applicant for a driver's license, you take a short DUI awareness course right after you pass the road skills test.

How many test attempts do adults get in West Virginia?

Under W. Va. Code 17B-2-6, an applicant 18 or older gets up to two attempts at the written test or up to three attempts at the road skills test within 90 days of the date the instruction permit is issued. An adult who has never been licensed must hold the permit for at least 30 days before the road skills test. To check what to do when an adult permit runs out, try our free practice question on an expired adult permit.

How to get ready before a West Virginia retest

Write down what the examiner tells you to practice after a failed road skills test, and plan the next test at least one week later.
Practice those skills with a licensed driver 21 or older in the front passenger seat, as your permit requires.
Before a knowledge test retake, study the traffic rules, signs and markings in the West Virginia Driver's Licensing Handbook, because the test questions are based on them.
Practice by topic. For example, try our free question on the number of correct answers that you need to pass.

What does the license cost after you pass?

At 17, a Level 2 driver with 12 conviction-free months can get the Level 3 full Class E license without a new test. The Level 3 fee is charged for each year until age 21, and the DMV fee page lists the per-year amount by your age when you get it. A Class E license for drivers 18 or older costs $5.00 for each year it is valid, so a driver who renews at 21 pays $20.00 for four years. A REAL ID-compliant license adds $10.00. Our guide to the West Virginia Level 3 full Class E license covers the steps.

Key Takeaways

The Level 1 knowledge test and the Level 2 road skills test each cost $7.50 per attempt as of 2026, and adults pay $7.50 for one attempt.
After a failed knowledge or road skills test, you may not test again within one week.
A revoked Level 1 permit means a 90-day wait before a retest, and the Level 1 permit is not renewable.
A Class E license costs $5.00 per year of validity, and REAL ID adds $10.00.
Next step: practice on the free West Virginia Class E practice test before your next attempt.

Frequently Asked Questions

Is there a 90-day wait after a failed West Virginia permit test?

No. After a failed knowledge or road skills test, the wait is one week. The 90-day wait applies when the DMV revokes a Level 1 permit, for example after a second conviction for a moving violation. For adults 18 or older, 90 days is the period after the permit is issued in which the law limits the number of attempts.

Can the DMV raise the $7.50 test fee?

Yes, within limits. The DMV may adjust the $7.50 fees for the Level 1 test, the Level 2 test and the adult permit every five years on September 1, based on the Consumer Price Index. An increase may not be more than 10 percent of the total fee in one year.

How long is a West Virginia adult instruction permit valid?

Six months (180 days), and you cannot renew it. After it expires, you must pass the vision screening again, retake the knowledge test and hold the new permit for 30 more days. Each new knowledge test attempt costs $7.50 as of 2026.

Does a Level 1 permit last longer for military members?

Yes. A Level 1 permit is normally valid until 30 days after your 18th birthday. For an active member of any branch of the U.S. military, it stays valid until 180 days after the 18th birthday. In both cases, the permit is not renewable.