How do I book the UK theory test?

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.

Is the theory test fee the same for cars, motorcycles, lorries and buses?

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.

Will I get my £23 back if I cancel?

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.

Can I take the theory test at home on my phone or laptop?

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.

How do I find my nearest theory test centre?

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.

Booking safely

Theory test booking: £23 on gov.uk, more elsewhere

Last updated 22 May 2026

The UK driving theory test costs £23 for car or motorcycle when you book direct with DVSA at gov.uk/book-theory-test . That is the only official route. Several third-party “booking helper” sites also rank high on Google for theory-test searches and charge a markup — typically £20–£30 on top of the £23 — to make the same booking on your behalf. Their service is technically legal, but Trustpilot reviews report a pattern of failed bookings, undelivered slots, and hidden cancellation fees.

Car and motorcycle tests cost £23.

— GOV.UK — book your theory test

The only official booking route

DVSA operates one booking service for the theory test. It is the page at gov.uk/book-theory-test, which redirects you to book-theory-test.service.gov.uk for the actual payment step. Both URLs end in gov.uk. Any site whose domain does not end in gov.uk is not DVSA, no matter how official its design looks.

What you need to book direct:

Your UK driving licence number (the 16-character number on your photocard)
An email address (for the booking confirmation)
A credit or debit card (Visa, Mastercard, Maestro, Amex accepted)

Total time to book: about 5 minutes. The booking service typically shows slots up to about 24 weeks (6 months) ahead, subject to availability at your chosen centre.

How third-party “booking helper” sites work

A handful of UK-registered companies set up websites styled to look like the official DVSA booking page. They take your driving-licence number, email, and card details on their own domain, then make the same booking against gov.uk on your behalf and pocket the difference between what they charged you and the £23 official fee.

The model is not illegal for the theory test. DVSA’s May 2026 ban on third-party booking explicitly applies only to the car practical driving test — not the theory test. But it does mean:

You hand sensitive personal data — driving-licence number, address from the DVLA record, email — to a company that is not DVSA, and whose data-protection practices vary.
You have weaker consumer protection if the booking fails. DVSA cannot reach into a third-party transaction to refund you; you must chase the middleman, then your bank.
You pay more. The same slot, booked by the same DVSA system, costs less direct.

Two examples currently active in 2026

The pattern of consumer complaints on these sites is consistent. Information below is drawn from publicly visible Trustpilot review pages and from the sites’ own listed pricing — readers can verify both via the linked sources at the foot of the page.

Selected third-party theory test booking sites — fee comparison vs. official DVSA (theory test £23)
Site	Listed fee	Premium over £23	Common Trustpilot complaints
thetheorytest.co.uk	£45 (as listed in user complaints)	+£22	Test centre unavailable after payment, £20 cancellation fee, no phone support
booktheorytesttoday.com	Premium over £23 (multi-tier)	Variable	“Unlimited retest” conditions hidden in T&Cs, failed bookings

These sites are not banned, but they are not endorsed by DVSA either. Searching for a theory test slot via Google can put their paid ads above the official gov.uk listing — always check the URL bar reads gov.uk before entering your details.

How to spot an unofficial booking page

The URL. The DVSA booking page is at gov.uk/book-theory-test and the payment step happens on book-theory-test.service.gov.uk. Anything else — for example a .co.uk or .com domain that uses the words “theory test” — is not DVSA.
The price. If the site quotes more than £23 for a single car or motorcycle theory test, it is not the official fee. The official fee has been frozen at £23 since 2015.
The “support” buttons. Unofficial sites typically have no published phone number and only an email or chat form. DVSA’s official booking helpline is 0300 200 1122, Monday to Friday, 8am to 5pm.
The branding. Crown logos, royal coats of arms and “DVSA-style” colour schemes can be copied freely. They are not proof of an official site.
The Google result. Sponsored / Ad results at the top of a Google search for “book theory test” are paid placements — they are not ranked by trust. Scroll past them to the first organic result that ends in gov.uk.

If you have already paid a middleman

Most third-party theory booking services will eventually make the booking — that is how the business model works in normal flow. The risk cases are when (a) the booking is never made, (b) the slot does not exist, or (c) you cancel and find the refund clawed back by an undisclosed fee. If any of those apply:

Email the site asking for a full refund with a deadline (7 days is reasonable). Keep the email thread.
Contact your card issuer for a refund. If you paid by credit card and the transaction was over £100, you have a statutory right to claim against the card issuer under Section 75 of the Consumer Credit Act 1974. If you paid by debit card or under £100 on credit, ask for a chargeback — a voluntary Visa/Mastercard scheme that most UK banks honour when service is not delivered, typically within 120 days of the transaction. Bring your email evidence.
Report the case to Action Fraud at actionfraud.police.uk or by phone on 0300 123 2040. Action Fraud will not recover your money, but reports feed into police and Trading Standards intelligence on repeat offenders.
Leave a factual Trustpilot review describing the timeline and what was promised — these are the records other learners and journalists rely on.

Practical test bookings — different rules from May 2026

DVSA changed the rules for car practical driving test bookings on 12 May 2026: it is now against the law for an instructor, a friend, or a third-party app to book, change or swap a car practical test on a learner’s behalf. The learner must do it themselves through the official service at gov.uk/book-driving-test . DVSA has confirmed that the May 2026 ban applies only to car practical tests — theory test, motorcycle, LGV and ADI bookings are unaffected — but the wider message is the same: book direct.

Quick reference

Official theory booking: gov.uk/book-theory-test — £23 car or motorcycle.
Official phone helpline: 0300 200 1122 (Mon–Fri 8am–5pm).
Lost certificate number: gov.uk/find-theory-test-pass-number — free.
Report a booking scam: actionfraud.police.uk or 0300 123 2040.

Sources

GOV.UK — Book your theory test (£23 official fee, only legitimate URL)
GOV.UK — Changes to driving test booking rules in 2026 (third-party booking ban applies to car practical only)
GOV.UK — Find your theory test pass number
Trustpilot — thetheorytest.co.uk customer reviews
Trustpilot — booktheorytesttoday.com customer reviews
Action Fraud — report a fraud or scam (UK national fraud and cybercrime reporting centre)
Citizens Advice — Getting your money back if you paid by card (Section 75 and chargeback rules)