Got a PennDOT Retest Letter? Here’s How to Retake Your Road Test

If you received a PennDOT retest letter, you may need to pass a new driving skills test to keep your license. If you don’t retake your road test, you risk going back to a learner’s permit, and you’ll need to retake both the knowledge and road tests. The roughly 2,500 PennDOT sent out in 2026 affect drivers tested at the South 70th Street location in Philadelphia. If you received a letter, be sure to call PennDOT first to confirm your options and then book a refresher lesson, so you pass with confidence.

PennDOT conducted an internal investigation and found that there were irregularities in specific driving tests that didn’t meet their standards. Drivers who received their licenses between October 2024 and November 2025 from one specific location in Southwest Philadelphia may be affected. The good news is that over 1,600 affected drivers have already completed retests. If you’ve been affected and still need to retest, don’t worry; we’re going to cover the steps you need to take to get back on the road quickly and safely.

What you will learn

• If you received a PennDOT retest letter, you need to retake the driving skills test, and it isn’t a penalty for something you did.
• The 2026 letters trace to a PennDOT-run center on South 70th Street only, between October 2024 and November 2025.
• If you don’t complete a retest, you may go back to a learner’s permit and will need to repeat both the knowledge and road tests.
• PennDOT hasn’t published a deadline or fee policy, so check your letter and call 717-412-5300 for more details.
• A short refresher lesson from a certified facility like Driven2Drive is the fastest way to walk into your retest calm and prepared.

Why Did PennDOT Ask Thousands of Drivers to Retest?

If you’re one of the recipients of a PennDOT retest letter, you don’t need to panic. In reality, these letters are not a reflection of your driving skills, but rather an oversight on PennDOT’s part that led them to require retesting out of an abundance of caution. 

PennDOT conducts regular audits on its driving tests and, in a recent investigation, found that tests conducted between October 2024 and November 2025 at the South 70th Street testing center showed some irregularities. Affected drivers received a letter that stated that their “driving skills test was not administered in accordance with established PennDOT standards.”

Drivers who completed their tests at other testing facilities during this time were not affected.

According to the 6abc report, PennDOT claims the retests are a result of possible fraud by a driving examiner. The driving bureau claims that it found “irregularities that existed in the amount of time lapsed between the testing start and end times.”

As of May 2026, 1,600 of the 2,500 affected drivers have already retaken their exams.

Was This a Third-Party Testing Center Problem?  

No, this issue did not stem from a third-party testing center problem. The location affected is an official PennDOT center. Driving examiners at third-party testing centers issue the same exams that follow PennDOT guidelines, but no drivers who completed their road test at a third-party center were affected in this retest.

Is This the Same Story as California’s DMV Retests?

Not quite. In California, 11,000 drivers were ordered to retake their written knowledge tests due to testing irregularities and potential cheating. California drivers were ordered to retake their tests and pass within 30 days of receiving notice. This isn’t the same situation with PennDOT, where retests are for road tests and are isolated to one location.

What Your PennDOT Retest Letter Means for You 

If you’ve received an official PennDOT letter, you might be wondering what your next steps are. While it may be frustrating to have to retake your test for reasons outside your control, rest assured that there are clear steps to follow to get you back behind the wheel.

What Happens If You Don’t Retake the Road Test

If you don’t retake the road test for whatever reason, you will eventually return to a learner’s permit status, and you will need to repeat both the knowledge and the road test. It’s better to act sooner rather than later to avoid repeating both exams.

Is There a Deadline or a Fee for the Retest?

At the moment, PennDOT hasn’t published whether there’s a fee or final deadline for repeating your test. The best course of action is to check your letter and contact PennDOT directly at 717-412-5300.

Can You Retest at a Certified Third-Party Center?

Yes, affected drivers can retest at a certified third-party facility. To do this, you will need to go to a PennDOT location to surrender your license and receive a learner’s permit. With that permit, you can schedule a retest at a third-party center, such as any of Driven2Drive’s six locations.

D2D tip: Keep your retest letter with your license and registration so everything is ready when you book your retest date.

How to Retake Your PA Road Test Without the Stress

Retaking your road test is no reason to start stressing. The PennDOT retests are not a reflection on your driving skills, so chances are you’re already ready to go do your new exam without any additional preparation. Here’s what you should do if you need to redo your road test. 

Step 1: Call PennDOT and Confirm Your Options

First, call PennDOT to confirm you need to redo your driving exam and discuss your options. PennDOT will give you the most accurate, up-to-date information, so it’s a good idea to call before proceeding any further.

Step 2: Gather Your Letter, License, and Documents

Next, make sure you have the right documentation you need to retake your test. This should include:

• Your driver’s license
• Your PennDOT license recall letter
• Another form of ID
• Any other document PennDOT told you to include

Step 3: Brush Up With a Refresher Lesson 

If you’re feeling nervous, or just want to be extra cautious to make sure you pass your retest, consider taking a refresher lesson before your exam. Even if you’ve been driving for over a year, it can be a good idea to take a refresher lesson to focus on skills that are often covered in a driver’s test, such as parallel parking.

What the PA Road Test Actually Covers

If you’ve already done the road test, you likely know what to expect. To refresh your memory, here are a few skills you can expect to cover on your road test:

• Vehicle inspection
• Parallel parking
• Lane changes
• Speed control
• Intersection navigation
• Traffic signals and signs
• Checking blind spots

There may be more skills that come up during your driving test. Once you’ve finished, your examiner will go over your test results and let you know whether you passed or which areas need more practice before you retest.

What to Look for in a Legitimate PennDOT-Certified Tester

Whether you’re retesting or doing your road test for the first time, it’s worth spending a few minutes looking into the legitimacy of where you plan on doing your exam. A real third-party tester gives you the exact same test you’d take at any PennDOT center.

Check PennDOT’s Official Third-Party Tester List 

The simplest way to verify a tester is to look them up on PennDOT’s official third-party tester list. Every examiner on the list is certified by PennDOT, and all six Driven2Drive locations are on it.

Red Flags Parents and Adult Drivers Should Know 

If you’re booking a road test for your teen, you want a pass that means they’re truly ready to drive on their own. Be cautious if:

• The tester isn’t on PennDOT’s list
• They promise a guaranteed pass
• The test seems unusually short
• They ask you to skip required paperwork

A proper road test matters because it’s meant to confirm a driver is truly ready to be on the road. PennDOT reports that fatalities in crashes involving 16- to 17-year-old drivers rose from 27 in 2024 to 31 in 2025.

Why Families Choose Driven2Drive for Their Road Test

Many families and student drivers choose a Driven2Drive location to complete their road test. Our facilities are PennDOT certified, meaning our driving examiners issue the same tests as the official PennDOT centers.

Skip the PennDOT Wait: Tests in as Little as 2 Days

Driven2Drive offers professional road tests that students can schedule in as little as 2 days. Our flexible scheduling makes it easier for driving students to schedule their road test between work, classes, or any other responsibilities they may have.

Lessons and Your Road Test at the Same Location

Students who take our driving lessons are already familiar with our vehicles, which makes them feel more at ease on the day of their exam. Driven2Drive’s driving instructors are licensed by the PA Department of Education, are PennDOT-certified, and hold degrees in education, making them qualified for both teaching and testing. That said, it’s important to note that while Driven2Drive offers permit prep, the permit and knowledge test must be taken through PennDOT.

Drivers can schedule a road test at any Driven2Drive location at a cost of $75. The test will be done in a Driven2Drive vehicle, such as a Mini Cooper, Tesla, or Acura. There are also options to do a day of test refresher lesson right before your road test, which includes a practice lesson and focused preparation covering different skills.

Support for Adults, New PA Residents, and Au Pairs

Our driving instructors are trained to help anxious drivers with a calm approach to coaching and driving instruction. Many of our instructors are also bilingual, offering driving lessons in a student’s preferred language so they can feel comfortable and confident while learning. 

Six Locations From the Main Line to Northeast Philly

Choose from six locations so you can learn close to home wherever is most convenient for you. Our six locations include:

• Bala Cynwyd
• West Chester
• Oaks
• Horsham
• Brookhaven
• Northeast Philadelphia

Driven2Drive is also a proud member of the Pennsylvania Driving School Association.

A Message for Drivers Who Need to Retest

Every member of the Driven2Drive team is committed to helping students pass their road test, whether for the first time or as a required retest. Ronit Teherani, co-owner of Driven2Drive, understands how unsettling it can feel for someone who has already earned their license:

“For someone who worked hard to earn their license, being told they need to retest can be stressful and frustrating. At Driven2Drive, we want to help affected drivers move forward with confidence. As a PennDOT-certified third-party testing center with six Pennsylvania locations, we offer road testing and personalized preparation for anyone who wants a refresher before their test. We welcome drivers who need to retest to contact us so we can review their situation and help coordinate the next steps.” – Ronit Tehrani, Founder and Co-Owner of Driven2Drive

FAQs About PennDOT Retests

How do I retake my PennDOT road test?

Call PennDOT at 717-412-5300 with your retest letter in hand to confirm where and when you can test. Then schedule the test and book a refresher lesson so you feel ready on test day.

Can I retake my road test at a driving school?

For regular road tests, yes: any PennDOT-certified third-party tester can give the same skills test. For drivers who received a 2026 retest letter, PennDOT hasn’t said publicly whether a third-party retest is allowed, so confirm with PennDOT first.

What happens if I ignore a PennDOT retest letter?

Drivers who don’t retest go back to a learner’s permit and must pass both the knowledge and skills tests again. Acting quickly is the simplest way to keep your license.

Do I have to retake the permit test too?

Only if you don’t complete the road retest. Drivers who retest in time keep their license. Those who don’t must start over with a learner’s permit, which includes the knowledge test taken through PennDOT.