I've been seeing a lot of confusion about passing scores for the CAR exam, so I wanted to share what I've researched and experienced.
The official minimum is typically 75%, but most successful candidates average around 82% on practice tests before sitting for the real thing. The practice test section tends to drag scores down because it's the most conceptually dense part of the exam.
I found that working through the automotive recycler safety & hazardous material handling consistently for two to three weeks gets most people into the passing zone. For deeper concept review, automotive recycler test filled in the gaps I had. The key isn't just doing more questions — it's reviewing every mistake and understanding the underlying principle.
Anyone who scored above 81%: what was your actual study timeline? Curious whether people who take more time consistently score higher or if there's a plateau effect.
The part about reviewing wrong answers thoroughly is so underrated. Most people just move on after getting something wrong. Going back to understand the concept is what actually builds retention for the CAR.
This is exactly the thread I needed. I sit for my CAR in 5 weeks and have been second-guessing my prep. The exam prep area you mentioned is definitely my weak spot. Thanks for the honest breakdown.
For what it's worth — I've taken the CAR twice now. First attempt I underestimated the practice test questions. Second time I focused almost exclusively on applied practice and passed comfortably. The difference is real.
This is exactly the thread I needed. I sit for my CAR in 5 weeks and have been second-guessing my prep. The practice test area you mentioned is definitely my weak spot. Thanks for the honest breakdown.
The thing that actually moved my score was stopping after every wrong answer and asking myself why that answer was wrong, not just noting the right one. It sounds obvious but I wasn't doing it at first. I'd review my missed questions, see the correct answer, think "ok got it," and move on. My scores barely budged. Once I started forcing myself to articulate exactly why each wrong choice was wrong, I started seeing the patterns the exam writers use to trip you up.
Hitting 75% on the real thing honestly feels more achievable once you're not just pattern-matching to memorized answers. You'll see a question you've never seen before and actually work through it instead of panicking. Most people I've talked to who passed weren't scoring 90%+ in practice, they were consistently in that 80-83% range and more importantly they understood the material rather than just recognizing it. That distinction is everything.
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