UK driving theory test FAQ

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 (pass mark 43 out of 50), followed by a hazard perception test of 14 video clips containing 15 scored developing hazards — up to 5 points per hazard, 75 marks available, pass mark 44.

Source: gov.uk — theory test

You can take the car theory test from age 17 — or age 16 if you get, or have applied for, the higher weekly 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 would include new CPR questions and — for the first time — questions about using a defibrillator, "from 2026". Candidates were told to start familiarising themselves with the content from autumn 2025. There is no additional cost, test time, or difficulty. DVSA has said the questions will be added to other theory test types later.

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, Save a Life Cymru, and Save a Life programmes in 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 Other foreign-language voiceovers and interpreters were withdrawn on 7 April 2014 — English and Welsh are the only spoken-language options available today.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 and, separately, in person via a BSL interpreter.

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 — all adjustments must be requested at booking and cannot be set up on the day.

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

DVSA’s National Standard syllabus on gov.uk (the Category B framework for trainers and learners) 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 theory-test question bank itself is broken into 14 topic chapters: alertness, attitude, safety and your vehicle, safety margins, hazard awareness, vulnerable road users, other types of vehicle, vehicle handling, motorway rules, rules of the road, road and traffic signs, documents, incidents accidents and emergencies, and vehicle loading.

Source: gov.uk — learning to drive a car syllabus (4-unit National Standard)

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 — the published revision book runs to 750+ questions for the car test — 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 28 September 2020 video-clip change applied to car tests only. The motorcycle question bank typically emphasises rider-specific topics such as 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 — theory test changes 28 September 2020 (motorcycle unchanged)

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

For April 2024 to March 2025 the overall car theory test pass rate published by DVSA was 44.9%, with women out-passing men by roughly 3–4 percentage points (47.2% female vs 43.1% male). DVSA publishes a single Great Britain figure; a per-nation split — Scotland around 48.9%, England around 46%, Wales around 42.3% — is derived from the per-centre figures by averaging the rate at each centre. The headline rate has settled in the mid-40s since 2022/23 — distinct from the practical-test pass rate, which is a different, higher figure.

Source: gov.uk — driving test and theory test data: cars (DRT111A and DRT112A spreadsheets)

DVSA offers an English or Welsh voiceover (open to anyone, no evidence required), extra time on the multiple-choice section (with supporting evidence from a teacher or other educational professional, a doctor or medical professional, an occupational therapist, or an online dyslexia screening product — eligible candidates typically get up to double the standard 57-minute window), a reader, a recorder/scribe, question rewording (staff rephrase non-technical wording while keeping technical terms unchanged), an on-screen British Sign Language video, a BSL interpreter in person, a lip-speaker, and a hearing loop. Anything beyond these — for example a separate room for severe anxiety or autism with sensory needs — can be arranged bespoke by contacting DVSA before you book (email theorycustomerservices@dvsa.gov.uk, phone 0300 200 1122, or WhatsApp +44 (0)1908 787001 for messages only); all adjustments must be requested at booking and cannot be set up on the day.

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

Cheating is a criminal offence. DVSA figures obtained under FOI by the Press Association in January 2026 reported a 47% year-on-year rise in cheating attempts — 2,844 attempts in the year to September 2025 — most commonly hidden Bluetooth earpieces (1,113 cases on theory tests) or in-person impersonation (1,084 on theory plus 647 on practical). 96 people were prosecuted. Custodial sentences have been imposed in recent cases. An attempt to cheat results in the test being voided and court-imposed penalties — which may include prison, a driving ban, unpaid work or court costs.

Source: RAC — DVSA reports 47% rise in driving test cheating (DVSA FOI figures, January 2026)

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 your UK driving licence number (provisional is fine), 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 shows the available test slots at the centres you select, subject to capacity at each. There is no single fixed advance-booking window — popular centres tend to fill weeks ahead; quieter ones often have slots in the next 1–2 weeks. 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 requires 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 an old-format paper licence (DVLA stopped issuing those when photocards were introduced in 1998, so this is increasingly rare), 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 test centre — there is no remote, online or at-home option. The current test centre network is delivered by Pearson VUE and Reed in Partnership under DVSA contract running to September 2028. 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. The booking service shows the nearest available centres automatically when you start a booking — DVSA centres in Great Britain are delivered by Pearson VUE and Reed in Partnership; Northern Ireland has its own network run by the DVA.

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. The minimum age to apply for a provisional licence is 15 years and 9 months, which in practice lets car / motorcycle candidates apply about 3 months before their 17th birthday. The age floor is 16 for a moped; car applicants on the higher weekly rate of the mobility part of PIP can also apply from 16. You cannot sit the theory test until the licence is valid for your age category.

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

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 — gov.uk's book-a-practical service requires a valid theory test pass to proceed.

Source: gov.uk — book a driving test

You can recover it online via the official gov.uk service. You need your UK driving licence number and your theory-test booking reference; DVSA then emails the certificate number to the address you used to book the test. 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). Keep the printed certificate safe — you will need the certificate number to book the practical test. If you lose it, you can recover the number online via gov.uk/find-theory-test-pass-number.

Source: gov.uk — pass mark and result

No. DVSA does not release the individual questions you got wrong — this protects the question bank. The printed result letter handed to you at the test centre lists which parts of the test you did not score enough points on, so you know what to practise 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 can also exchange without re-testing — the current list includes (but is not limited to) Andorra, Australia, Barbados, the British Virgin Islands, Canada, the Cayman Islands, the Falkland Islands, the Faroe Islands, Gibraltar, Hong Kong, Japan, Moldova (added 31 July 2025 via the Driving Licences (Exchangeable Licences) Order 2025, SI 2025/811), Monaco, New Zealand, the Republic of Korea, the Republic of North Macedonia, Singapore, South Africa, Switzerland, Taiwan, Ukraine, the United Arab Emirates and Zimbabwe (North Macedonia and the others were already designated under earlier instruments). 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. Use the official checker on gov.uk for your specific country.

Source: gov.uk — exchange a non-GB driving 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, inclusive — DVSA's booking service accepts a practical on the anniversary date. For example, a certificate dated 21 May 2026 is valid for a practical test taken on or before 21 May 2028; from 22 May 2028 onward you must retake the theory test.

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. Time-limited COVID-era extensions were granted in Northern Ireland in 2020–2021 by the Department for Infrastructure (which runs the DVA, not DVSA), but those exceptions have ended. If your certificate expires in GB, you must pass a new theory test before you can book another practical.

Source: gov.uk — theory test pass mark and result (Great Britain)

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 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 (or £75 for evening, weekend or bank holiday) 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 date the Road Traffic (New Drivers) Act 1995 came into force in Great Britain. The Act imposes a 2-year probationary period that starts the day you pass — it applies to the first full driving licence from Great Britain, Northern Ireland, the Isle of Man, the Channel Islands, Gibraltar, or an EC/EEA country, 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: gov.uk — penalty points (endorsements): new drivers

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 — that alone meets the New Drivers Act threshold — and a £200 fixed penalty. Any first-time car driver caught using a phone behind the wheel inside the 2-year probation will have their licence revoked. The law was tightened on 25 March 2022 so the ban covers any hand-held use — calls, texts, photos, scrolling, gaming — not just interactive communication.

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

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 describes it as something that would cause you to take action — for example, 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; DVSA describes the modern set as having "updated vehicles, roads and surroundings" for clearer, more current visuals.

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

Yes — all 750+ DVSA revision questions, with answers and explanations, are available for free (with ads) and no account required. A subscription or one-off lifetime purchase removes ads and unlocks premium features such as the full hazard perception clip library.

Driving Theory Test Kit UK brings all four parts of revision into one app — DVSA practice questions, mock tests, hazard perception, and the Highway Code. Every DVSA practice question is free to revise (ad-supported), standard mock tests and the Highway Code are free, and there are free hazard perception clips to get you started. A subscription or one-off lifetime purchase removes ads and unlocks the full clip library and advanced practice modes.

Yes — it’s a free download on the App Store and Google Play, and you can start revising DVSA questions and free mock tests straight away. On Android, install it from Google Play rather than a third-party "APK" site — sideloaded APKs from unofficial sources can carry malware and won’t update automatically.

You don’t need either to start. All DVSA practice questions, standard mock tests and the Highway Code are free. The optional "Pro" upgrade — a subscription or a one-off lifetime purchase — removes ads and unlocks the full hazard perception clip library and advanced practice modes.

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 for the theory test. In Northern Ireland the test is administered by the DVA (Driver & Vehicle Agency, under the Department for Infrastructure), not DVSA, and it must be booked via nidirect rather than gov.uk. The question content draws on the same DVSA-published syllabus and revision materials used across the UK, and the hazard perception section follows the same format. Practical-test fees do differ — NI charges £65 weekday and £95 evening or weekend, against £62 / £75 in Great Britain.

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. For a theory test, the allowable expenses are travel costs to/from the test centre and any standard pay or earnings lost through taking unpaid leave; instructor fees are claimable only for cancelled practical tests, not theory tests. Download the claim form from gov.uk and apply within 6 months of the cancelled test. Bad weather or poor light, vehicle problems, and driver illness on the day are excluded.

Source: gov.uk — out-of-pocket expenses guidance for a cancelled driving test

Yes — the Driving Theory Test Kit translates every official DVSA question into 90+ languages for revision. The most-used translations among our learners are Punjabi, Arabic, Persian, Russian, Turkish, Spanish, Urdu, Chinese, Polish and Romanian, but the catalogue also covers Bengali, Amharic, Tamil, Ukrainian, Hindi, Welsh, Filipino, Albanian, Serbian, Georgian, Thai, Gujarati and many more. The translation runs alongside the original English question so you build the test-day English vocabulary while studying in a language you understand.

Not for the official test — DVSA administers the theory test in English only (and Welsh in Wales). Foreign-language voiceovers, translators and interpreters are not permitted. For revision, the Driving Theory Test Kit translates the full DVSA question bank into 90+ languages, including the major UK candidate languages: Punjabi, Urdu, Arabic, Persian, Russian, Polish, Romanian, Bengali, Tamil and Chinese.

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

DVSA withdrew foreign-language voiceovers and the use of interpreters on 7 April 2014 following an extended fraud investigation. The driver was interpreter collusion — interpreters had been caught indicating the correct answers to candidates during the test. Returning the test to English-only (plus Welsh in Wales) was DVSA's response. There is no current plan to reinstate translations or interpreters at the test itself.

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

Three strategies that work: (1) Revise with the official English question and a side-by-side translation in your language, so you understand both the wording and its meaning — the Driving Theory Test Kit supports 90+ languages for exactly this workflow. (2) Learn the small, fixed set of driving-specific English terms the Highway Code uses — "give way", MSPSL (Mirror Signal Position Speed Look), MSM (Mirror Signal Manoeuvre), and the named pedestrian crossings (Zebra, Pelican, Puffin, Toucan, Pegasus, Equestrian, Parallel). (3) Use the English voiceover during practice — it bridges listening and reading, and is the closest match to what you will experience on test day.