UK driving theory test FAQ

Yes — all 750+ DVSA revision questions, with answers and explanations, are available for free with no account required. Paid upgrades unlock additional premium features such as the full hazard perception clip library.

The car and motorcycle theory test is £23. The lorry and bus (LGV/PCV) test is structured differently — £26 for the multiple-choice part plus £11 for the hazard perception part, taken as separate bookings.

Source: gov.uk — driving test costs

Only if you cancel at least 3 full working days before the test. Monday to Saturday count as working days; Sundays and public holidays do not. Cancel inside that window and the fee is forfeit.

Source: gov.uk — cancel your theory test

Yes. Every attempt requires a new £23 booking, and you cannot rebook for at least 3 working days after a failed test.

Source: gov.uk — pass mark and result

In limited cases. DVSA may refund a short-notice cancellation if you provide evidence of illness or injury, bereavement, a clashing school or college exam, or a stolen driving licence. Email theorycustomerservices@dvsa.gov.uk with the subject "Unavoidable short notice cancellation".

Source: gov.uk — cancel your theory test

Same £23 price and same DVSA question bank. In Northern Ireland the test is administered by the DVA, not DVSA, and must be booked via nidirect rather than gov.uk.

Source: nidirect — driving test fees

If DVSA cancels your test with less than 3 full working days’ notice, you can claim a refund of the £23 fee plus reasonable out-of-pocket expenses — travel costs, lost earnings and instructor fees — using DVSA form D964. Claims must be submitted within 6 months of the test date. Weather-related cancellations are excluded from out-of-pocket expense claims.

Source: gov.uk — apply for refund of out-of-pocket expenses

Book only through the official GOV.UK service at gov.uk/book-theory-test — that is the only valid booking route for DVSA tests. You need a UK provisional driving licence number, an email address and a credit or debit card. Third-party sites that charge to book are unofficial.

Source: gov.uk — book your theory test

The DVSA booking service typically shows test slots up to around 24 weeks (about six months) ahead, subject to availability at your chosen centre. You need your UK driving licence number, an email address, and a debit or credit card to book.

Source: gov.uk — book your theory test

No. The 2026 changes — learner-only bookings (12 May 2026), 2-amendment cap (31 March 2026) and the 3-nearest-centres rule (9 June 2026) — apply only to car practical driving tests. DVSA confirms: "The new rules only apply to car driving tests. They do not apply to other types of tests."

Source: gov.uk — changes to driving test booking rules in 2026

The test is cancelled and the fee is forfeit. DVSA asks you to arrive 15 minutes before your appointment.

Source: gov.uk — when you arrive at the test centre

Your UK photocard provisional driving licence. If you only have a paper (pre-1998) licence, you also need a valid passport. Wrong or missing ID means the test is cancelled with no refund.

Source: gov.uk — what to take to your theory test

There is no waiting area at the test centre for anyone accompanying you, and companions cannot sit in on the test itself.

Source: gov.uk — when you arrive at the test centre

No. Phones, smartwatches, fitness trackers and any device you cannot fully switch off must be stored in a locker or clear plastic box outside. Cheating is a criminal offence.

Source: gov.uk — when you arrive at the test centre

No. The theory test must be taken in person at a DVSA-approved Pearson VUE test centre — there is no remote, online or at-home option. The centre supplies the computer, the locker for your belongings, and the supervised exam environment.

Source: gov.uk — book your theory test

Use the official postcode search at gov.uk/find-theory-test-centre. DVSA operates around 160 theory test centres across the UK — most towns have one within roughly 20 miles. The booking service shows the nearest available centres automatically when you start a booking.

Source: gov.uk — find a theory test centre

Yes — a valid UK provisional driving licence is required both to book the test and to sit it on the day. You can apply for a provisional from 3 months before your 17th birthday (or 16th, for a moped or for car/moped applicants on the higher rate of the mobility part of PIP), but you cannot sit the theory test until the licence is valid for your age category.

Source: gov.uk — apply for a provisional driving licence

For the car theory test you need at least 43 out of 50 on the multiple-choice section and 44 out of 75 on the hazard perception test. Both parts must be passed in the same sitting.

Source: gov.uk — pass mark and result

The car theory test has 50 multiple-choice questions with a 57-minute time limit, followed by a hazard perception test of 14 video clips containing 15 scored developing hazards.

Source: gov.uk — multiple-choice questions

You can take the car theory test from age 17 — or age 16 if you get, or have applied for, the higher rate of the mobility part of Personal Independence Payment. You also need a valid UK provisional driving licence.

Source: gov.uk — theory test

Yes. DVSA announced on 13 August 2025 that car and motorcycle theory tests include new CPR questions and — for the first time — questions about using a defibrillator. Candidates were told to start familiarising themselves with the content from autumn 2025, and the questions began appearing in tests from 2026. There is no additional cost, test time, or change to the pass mark.

Source: gov.uk — new theory test questions on cardiac arrest

Questions cover the basics of CPR — hand placement, compression rate and depth — and using a public-access defibrillator (when and how to use it). DVSA built the content with the Resuscitation Council UK and the UK nations’ Save a Life programmes (Wales, Scotland and Northern Ireland), whose free training videos and CPR/AED quick guides are recommended preparation.

Source: gov.uk — new theory test questions on cardiac arrest

The old written case study was retired on 28 September 2020 and replaced by a video-based question. You watch one short silent driving video and answer 3 multiple-choice questions about it. You can replay the video as many times as you like during the test.

Source: gov.uk — theory test changes 28 September 2020

The theory test is available in English or Welsh, including the on-screen voiceover. Other foreign-language voiceovers and interpreters were withdrawn on 7 April 2014 — English and Welsh are the only spoken-language options available today. British Sign Language is available as an on-screen video.

Source: gov.uk — end to foreign language driving tests

Yes. The on-screen English (or Welsh) voiceover is available to all candidates and is particularly intended for people with dyslexia, reading difficulties or certain disabilities. You select it when you book or by asking at the test centre.

Source: gov.uk — reading difficulty, disability or health condition

DVSA’s official syllabus on gov.uk is organised into 4 units: preparing the vehicle and occupants; guiding and controlling the vehicle; driving in accordance with the Highway Code; and driving safely and efficiently. The official DVSA Theory Test for Car Drivers book further breaks the question bank into 14 topic chapters covering alertness, attitude, safety margins, hazard awareness, vulnerable road users, road and traffic signs, and more.

Source: gov.uk — learning to drive a car syllabus

Reputable practice apps (including ours) draw from the official DVSA revision question bank, so the topics, format and difficulty match the real test. The actual test randomly selects 50 questions from a much larger pool of around 770, and wording can vary slightly between practice and the live exam. Practice covers the full syllabus and answer patterns, but you will not see an identical paper.

Source: gov.uk — multiple-choice questions

Both have 50 multiple-choice questions in 57 minutes (pass mark 43/50) plus the 14-clip hazard perception test (pass mark 44/75). The car test uses 3 questions linked to a short silent video clip; the motorcycle test instead uses a written case study of 5 linked questions. The motorcycle question bank skews toward visibility, weather, road position, lifesaver checks and securing the bike. A car pass does not count for motorcycle — they are separate £23 tests.

Source: gov.uk — motorcycle theory test

No. Foreign-language voiceovers and interpreters were withdrawn on 7 April 2014 to prevent fraud. The on-screen voiceover is only available in English or Welsh. An on-screen British Sign Language video is available for deaf candidates. Translators and interpreters are not permitted.

Source: gov.uk — end to foreign language driving tests

DVSA publishes quarterly statistics on theory test pass rates. The overall car theory test pass rate has hovered around 45% in recent years — slightly higher in Scotland (around 55%) than in England (around 47%), and slightly higher among women than men. The rate has not changed materially since the 2020 syllabus update.

Source: gov.uk — DVSA statistics

DVSA offers an English or Welsh voiceover (open to anyone, no evidence required), up to double the standard time on the multiple-choice section (with supporting evidence such as a teacher’s letter or a BDA-assured dyslexia screen), a reader or scribe, a separate room for severe anxiety (with evidence), an on-screen British Sign Language interpreter, a lip-speaker, and a hearing loop. You must request these when you book — they cannot be arranged on the day.

Source: gov.uk — reading difficulty, disability or health condition

Cheating is a criminal offence. DVSA reported a 47% year-on-year rise in cheating attempts in 2025 — most commonly hidden Bluetooth earpieces or impersonation by an imposter. Recent convictions have included prison sentences of up to two years. An attempt to cheat results in the test being voided, a ban from re-sitting for a period set by DVSA, and potential prosecution.

Source: gov.uk — driver and vehicle standards agency

Each developing hazard is worth up to 5 points — click as early as possible after the hazard starts developing for the highest score. You will not lose points for a wrong click, but clicking continuously or in a pattern scores zero for that clip.

Source: gov.uk — hazard perception test

DVSA defines it as "something that would cause you to take action, like changing speed or direction". A car parked safely on the road is a static hazard; the same car when its door starts to open is a developing hazard — that is the moment to click.

Source: gov.uk — hazard perception test

You watch 14 video clips: 13 contain one developing hazard each, and one contains two — so 15 scoring opportunities in total. Each developing hazard is worth up to 5 points (75 maximum). Pass mark is 44 out of 75.

Source: gov.uk — hazard perception test

DVSA switched from filmed live-action clips to computer-generated imagery (CGI) on 12 January 2015. The clips are still CGI today and have since been updated with more weather and lighting variation.

Source: gov.uk — hazard perception clips get a modern makeover

No. There is no on-screen score bar. You get one attempt at each clip — you cannot review or change your responses — and the score is shown only at the end of the test.

Source: gov.uk — hazard perception test

GOV.UK offers 3 free practice clips that demonstrate how the test works. They are not the real test clips and do not appear in your test, but they are enough to learn the click mechanic and timing.

Source: gov.uk — take a practice theory test

Trying to "game" the scoring window by clicking rapidly or at regular intervals. DVSA’s scoring zeros the entire clip if it detects continuous clicking or a pattern. The reliable approach is one deliberate click as the hazard begins to develop, optionally followed by a single confirmation click moments later.

Source: gov.uk — hazard perception test

Yes. The 5-point scoring window only opens once the hazard genuinely begins to develop — for example, a parked car’s door starting to open or a pedestrian stepping off the kerb. Clicking on a potential hazard before it develops scores nothing for that click, and if you don’t click again inside the window you can miss the points entirely.

Source: gov.uk — hazard perception test

No. You can score zero on a single clip and still pass overall — the pass mark is 44 out of 75 across all 14 clips (15 scored hazards). A missed hazard or a clip zeroed by the anti-cheat pattern detection costs at most 5 points (10 on the double-hazard clip), leaving room to recover on the remaining clips.

Source: gov.uk — hazard perception test

Two years. You must pass your practical driving test within two years of your theory test pass — otherwise you will need to retake the theory test.

Source: gov.uk — pass mark and result

You must wait at least 3 working days before retaking. There is no legal limit on how many times you can retake it, but each attempt costs the full fee.

Source: gov.uk — pass mark and result

No. You must have passed your theory test before you can book your practical test, and the booking system asks for your theory test pass certificate number at the point of booking.

Source: gov.uk — pass mark and result

You can request it back online via the official gov.uk service. You need your UK driving licence number and your booking reference. You do not need to carry the certificate to your practical test — the examiner checks digitally.

Source: gov.uk — find your theory test pass number

Pass Plus is an official post-test practical training course of at least 6 hours, taught by a Pass Plus-registered approved driving instructor. It is aimed at newly qualified drivers and may earn a car insurance discount. Cost varies by instructor and area; some local councils subsidise it.

Source: gov.uk — Pass Plus

You must take and pass a new theory test before you can re-book the practical. The 2-year certificate cannot be extended or renewed under any circumstance.

Source: gov.uk — pass mark and result

No. Failing either section means you fail the whole test and must retake both parts together at the next sitting. There is no partial retake of the hazard perception or multiple-choice section alone, and the full £23 fee applies to every attempt.

Source: gov.uk — pass mark and result

Your pass or fail result appears on screen a few minutes after you finish the test, and the test centre hands you a printed letter (including a pass certificate if you passed). Since 28 November 2024, DVSA also emails a digital copy of the result, but the email itself is not a valid pass certificate — keep the printed certificate safe, as you will need the number to book the practical test.

Source: gov.uk — pass mark and result

No. DVSA releases only a topic-area breakdown of incorrect answers — for example how many you got wrong in "Hazard awareness", "Rules of the road" or "Vulnerable road users" — never the individual questions. This protects the question bank. Use the topic-area breakdown on your result letter to focus your revision before re-sitting.

Source: gov.uk — pass mark and result

It depends on where your licence was issued. EU/EEA licence holders can usually exchange without re-testing. "Designated" countries — including Australia, Canada, Japan, South Korea, Singapore, the UAE and others — can also exchange without re-testing. Holders of licences from non-designated countries (including the United States, India, China and Pakistan) can drive on the existing licence for 12 months from arrival, after which a full UK theory and practical test is required.

Source: gov.uk — driving in Great Britain on a non-GB licence

The day you pass. The certificate is dated the day of your theory test, and the 2-year window runs to the same calendar day two years later. For example, a certificate dated 21 May 2026 is no longer valid for a practical test taken on or after 21 May 2028.

Source: gov.uk — pass mark and result

No. In Great Britain there is no mechanism to extend a theory test pass certificate — not for illness, instructor unavailability, military service, or being on a long DVSA waiting list. The government rejected calls for COVID-era extensions in 2020 on road-safety grounds; the only exceptions ever granted have been in Northern Ireland (administered by DVA, not DVSA), which extended pandemic-era certificates. If your certificate expires in GB, you must pass a new theory test before you can book another practical.

Source: gov.uk — pass mark and result

You cannot take the rescheduled practical on a date after your theory certificate expires — DVSA’s booking system enforces the 2-year window. Out-of-pocket expense compensation (form D964) is available for short-notice DVSA cancellations under 3 working days, but it does not extend the certificate. If you cannot find a slot inside the window, the only route is to take a new theory test.

Source: gov.uk — pass mark and result

No. The certificate is only invalidated by taking a new theory test or by the 2 years running out — failing a practical test does not extend the theory window. Booking a practical you are not prepared for wastes the £62 fee and the slot. If you are running out of time, the correct route is to revise hard, sit a practical when ready, or sit a fresh theory test before the certificate lapses.

Source: gov.uk — pass mark and result

Anyone who passed their first practical driving test on or after 1 June 1997. The Road Traffic (New Drivers) Act 1995 imposes a 2-year probationary period that starts the day you pass — it applies to the first full GB or Northern Ireland licence regardless of category. Passing a later test for a different category (for example, motorcycle then car, or car then HGV) does not start a new probation period.

Source: legislation.gov.uk — Road Traffic (New Drivers) Act 1995

The DVLA automatically revokes your driving licence with no court process and no warning. To drive again you must apply for a new provisional licence (£34 online), then take and pass both the theory test and the practical test again. You can keep driving on the provisional once it arrives, but only with L-plates and an accompanying full-licence holder.

Source: gov.uk — penalty points (endorsements): new drivers

There is no appeal to the DVLA — once 6 or more points are recorded on the licence inside the 2-year probation, revocation is automatic. If the points came from a Fixed Penalty Notice, the only route is to retake the tests. If the points came from a court conviction, you can appeal that underlying conviction to a higher court — but not the DVLA’s administrative revocation that follows.

Source: gov.uk — penalty points (endorsements): new drivers

At a minimum: £34 for a new provisional licence online (or £43 by post), £23 for the theory test, and £62 for the practical test — so £119 in DVSA fees, before instructor lessons. Insurance premiums also typically rise sharply after revocation.

Source: gov.uk — apply for your first provisional driving licence

It applies to whichever test category you pass first. If your first ever practical test was a motorcycle test, the 2-year probation runs from that pass. Passing a different category later — for example, a car driver later qualifying as an HGV driver — does not trigger a new probation period.

Source: gov.uk — penalty points (endorsements): new drivers

Yes. Points on a provisional licence that have not yet expired are carried over to the full licence on the day you pass — and they count toward the 6-point New Drivers Act threshold during the 2-year probation. A common example: a driver with 3 provisional points (from a speeding ticket while learning) needs only one more 3-point offence after passing to trigger revocation.

Source: gov.uk — penalty points (endorsements): new drivers

The points still apply. The Act looks at the date of the offence, not the date of conviction or penalty. An offence committed on the last day of probation that is concluded a year later will still revoke the licence if it pushes the total to 6 or more.

Source: legislation.gov.uk — Road Traffic (New Drivers) Act 1995

For a new driver, effectively yes. Using a hand-held mobile phone while driving is a single 6-point offence under the Road Vehicles (Construction and Use) Regulations and a £200 fixed penalty — that alone meets the New Drivers Act threshold. Any first-time car driver caught using a phone behind the wheel inside the 2-year probation will have their licence revoked.

Source: gov.uk — using a phone, sat nav or other device when driving