The G road test failure can really make you feel defeated especially after you have spent what feels like ages practicing. After failing the G road test it is important to know that a lot of people fail this road test, it does not mean you will lose your G2 license, and most of the time it means you will be a more confident person when you go to take the road test for a second time. This being said, it means that you will most likely pass on the second try.
At Steer’nGo, we have helped thousands of people, in clearing their g road tests in Ottawa, who were in the situation that you are in right now. Some of the most confident people we know are the people that have failed their G test the first time, taken some time to reflect on what went wrong, and gone into the test for a second time with a plan to pass.
In this guide, we show you the process you go through after failing the G driving test, the process of the road test retake in Ontario, and we show you how you can use your failures to your advantage to end up passing with flying colors.
What Happens If You Fail Your G Test
Your G2 license is still valid even after you fail the road test. After you fail the road test you still hold all of your G2 privileges and leave the center just the same as you entered. In fact, nothing is removed from your driving record after you fail the road test and it will not affect your insurance.
You’ll lose your testing fee and your opportunity for an upgrade and that’s it. On your way out don’t leave empty handed. Take with you the key info for your subsequent effort:
- Your examiner’s score sheet or a verbal summary with highlights of your errors
- The exact categories where you lost points (observation, vehicle control, speed/pace, lane changes, highway merging, parking)
- If you received a fail for a single serious deficiency or multiple lesser ones
From all the info this fail awards you, this will be the most useful. Think of it as a fail diagnostic, and not just a fail.
How Long Do You Have to Wait to Retest?
You’ll have to wait 10 days to try the G road test again. This is done to ensure you address the areas of concern noted by the examiner and not to just walk in with the same errors.
A few things about the retest window that are practical to know are:
- The “10 days” is the minimum time that must have elapsed. Because of DriveTest centre appointment availability, the actual waiting period can be several weeks.
- You must pay the road test fee again for each attempt. As of now, the fee is $89.25.
- There is no limit to how many attempts at the G test you can take while your G2 license is valid.
- Your G2 is valid for five years from the date it is issued, so most drivers do not need to retest on the G test with a sense of urgency.
While you are still practicing and to put your mind at ease, it is best to book your next appointment because test centres in the Ottawa area can book out for weeks.
Most Common Reasons for Failing the G Test
Although more than 1 in 3 learners fail the G Test, most of the time, it is not due to an inability to drive. The G Test is designed to determine the applicant’s ability to drive comfortably at a higher speed and how well they are able to drive and manage situations that the average G2 driver has had little or no experience with. Some of the most common reasons we see our applicants fail the test are the following:
- Highway merging and lane changes: hesitation entering or exiting a highway is one of the top reasons for a fail
- Speed control: driving noticeably under the limit without cause, or over it, both count against you
- Observation errors: missed mirror checks or blind-spot checks before turns, merges, and lane changes
- Following distance: tailgating, especially at highway speed
- Parallel parking and reversing manoeuvres: small technical errors that compound under test pressure
Having an understanding that most driving infractions and general test failures are related to a driving skill that is easy to learn and not to a lack of overall skill and test readiness helps the applicant to mentally prepare for the test and helps them maintain a calmer state of mind.
What to Actually Do Before Your Second Attempt
The most common thing we see learners do in the time gap leading up to their next test attempt is to rebook the test without change. This time gap is typically 10 days, and it should be used wisely. Make sure you do the following:
- Make sure you use your score sheet and take time to address the driving error that most contributed to your current score. The key is to focus your practice on the errors listed on your score sheet, not just practice driving.
- Less focus on hours logged, more focus on lessons learned. A qualified instructor is much more likely to spot the exact cause of your failure, which is likely to be something you would have never noticed.
- Drive the route you failed on. By the example given, if you failed due to problems merging onto the highway, you would need to practice merging on the highway, not just driving through the city.
- Try to schedule your test at the same time every time. You should be well aware of the time of day your test will occur, as changing light conditions, traffic conditions, etc. will affect the way you will feel driving on the test route.
- Weak control of nerves is much more of a failure of sample driving when compared to failure of test driving. This is a failure of nerves on the test, not a lack of driving skills, and is helped by practice of mock tests and repetition of practice driving with an instructor.
If you have not yet enrolled in a Beginner Driver Education (BDE) course, then this is an excellent time to consider one. In addition to a BDE course reducing the waiting period in the graduated licensing system, taking a structured driving course helps narrow the skill gap when compared to practice driving that is unsupervised.
When It’s Worth Getting Professional Help
Not every failed driving test indicates the need for a driving lessons course. Failed driving tests are a sign that professional lessons are needed when:
- You have multiple test failures for the same reason
- You either performed a critical error related to driving safety
- You are comfortable with driving practice but panic and rush when you take a formal driving test
- You have little to no experience driving on the highway
Steer’n Go offers the flexibility of designing in-car driving lessons around what an examiner cited as issues. This may be a singular issue like parallel parking or a generalized issue like a lack of confidence with driving on the freeway. Our driving instructors use the report of your formal driving test, rather than a generic driving lesson plan, to ensure that the driving practice you do between attempts will allow you to progress.
Final Thoughts
While failing the G road test seems to be a setback, it does not indicate that you cannot be a safe and confident driver. You are still a G2 license holder, you have the freedom to make choices, and you are getting feedback on issues that most drivers do not think to ask for to improve their chances of a successful first attempt.
Most drivers who return for a driving test and are successful do so for the same reason: they used the waiting period to their advantage by practicing the skill that was their downfall the most and driving.
If you plan on taking the retest, our certified driving instructors will help you use the results to make a clear practice plan so you can walk out of your next appointment with your G licence, not just another wait.