Car
UK car driving theory test
Last reviewed against gov.uk on
The UK car driving theory test has 50 multiple-choice questions in 57 minutes (pass mark 43 out of 50), followed by a 14-clip hazard perception test (pass mark 44 out of 75). Both must be passed in the same sitting. The fee is £23 and the minimum age is 17 — or 16 if you get, or have applied for, the higher weekly rate of the mobility part of Personal Independence Payment (PIP).
You must pass both parts to pass the test.
Structure and pass marks
| Questions | 50 multiple-choice |
|---|---|
| Time allowed | 57 minutes |
| Multiple-choice pass mark | 43 out of 50 |
| Hazard perception clips | 14 (15 scored developing hazards) |
| Hazard perception pass mark | 44 out of 75 |
| Both sections required? | Yes — pass both in the same sitting |
| Test fee | £23 |
| Certificate validity | 2 years |
Three of the 50 questions are video-based
Since 28 September 2020, three of the 50 multiple-choice questions are based on a single short, silent driving video — you can replay the clip as many times as you like before answering. The remaining questions are single-answer multiple choice drawn from the DVSA syllabus.
New for 2026: CPR and AED questions
DVSA announced on 13 August 2025 that car and motorcycle theory tests would include new questions about cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR) and — for the first time — public-access defibrillators (AEDs). Candidates were told to start preparing from autumn 2025; the questions began appearing in tests in 2026. No additional cost, no extra test time, no change to the pass mark.
ADAS — what the syllabus expects you to know
Most new cars now ship with Advanced Driver Assistance Systems (ADAS): lane keep assist, autonomous emergency braking (AEB), adaptive cruise control (ACC) , blind-spot monitoring, parking sensors and traffic-sign recognition. Highway Code Rule 150 explicitly addresses motorway assist, lane departure warnings and remote control parking — the same principle (the driver remains responsible) extends to all such aids. The 2025 edition of The Official DVSA Theory Test for Car Drivers and DVSA’s revision materials at safedrivingforlife.info are the canonical preparation sources.
The key principle to memorise: ADAS is an aid, not a substitute. The driver remains legally and practically responsible for the vehicle at all times — even when adaptive cruise is engaged or lane keep is steering. Questions that test "who is responsible if the system fails" almost always have the same answer: the driver.
Eligibility and what you need to book
- Minimum age 17 (16 if you get the higher rate mobility component of PIP).
- A valid UK provisional driving licence.
- An email address and a credit or debit card to pay £23.
- You must have lived in England, Wales or Scotland for at least 185 days in the last 12 months before the day of your test.
What to take on test day
Your UK photocard provisional driving licence. Paper-only licences need an accompanying passport. Arrive 15 minutes early. Phones, smartwatches, fitness trackers and any device you cannot fully switch off must be stored in a locker — wrong or missing ID means the test is cancelled with no refund.
Sources
- GOV.UK — Theory test (overview)
- GOV.UK — Theory test: pass mark and result
- GOV.UK — Theory test: multiple-choice questions
- GOV.UK — Theory test: hazard perception test
- GOV.UK — Book your theory test
- GOV.UK — Driving test cost
- GOV.UK — New theory test questions to boost cardiac-arrest survival (DVSA)
- GOV.UK — Theory test changes: 28 September 2020 (video clip replaces written case study)
- Safe Driving for Life — Official DVSA learning materials (incl. 2025 ADAS coverage)
- legislation.gov.uk — Motor Vehicles (Driving Licences) Regulations 1999, Regulation 9 (minimum ages — paragraph (4) supplies the 16-with-enhanced-rate-mobility PIP exception for small vehicles).