Driving Theory Test Kit UK

Cost & fees

UK driving theory test cost (2026)

Last reviewed against gov.uk on

The UK car and motorcycle driving theory test costs £23 — the figure published at gov.uk/driving-test-cost — and has been at that level for many years. The price is identical in Great Britain (DVSA) and Northern Ireland (DVA). Lorry and bus theory tests are billed differently: Driver CPC Part 1 splits into £26 for the multiple-choice part plus £11 for the hazard perception part, and Driver CPC Part 2 case studies cost £23 on top. Approved Driving Instructor (ADI) Part 1 is £81.

You must give at least 3 full working days’ notice to change your test or you’ll have to pay again. Monday to Saturday count as working days but Sundays and public holidays do not.
— GOV.UK — cancel your theory test

All theory test fees at a glance

UK theory test and related fees (source: gov.uk, May 2026)
Test Fee
Car theory test£23
Motorcycle theory test£23
Lorry / Bus theory — Driver CPC Part 1, multiple-choice questions part£26
Lorry / Bus theory — Driver CPC Part 1, hazard perception part£11
Lorry / Bus theory — Driver CPC Part 2 case studies£23
Approved Driving Instructor (ADI) Part 1 theory£81
Car practical test — weekday£62
Car practical test — evening, weekend or bank holiday£75

Refunds and cancellation

A theory test cancellation gives you a full refund only if you give at least 3 full working days’ notice . DVSA counts Monday to Saturday as working days; Sundays and public holidays do not. Cancel inside that window and the £23 is forfeit. The car practical test is stricter — it requires 10 full working days’ notice for a refund. Motorcycle, lorry and bus practical tests use the same 3 full working days as the theory test.

In limited cases, DVSA will refund a short-notice cancellation: illness or injury, bereavement, a clashing school or college exam, or a stolen driving licence. Email theorycustomerservices@dvsa.gov.uk with the subject line “Unavoidable short notice cancellation” and attach evidence.

Other costs you might run into

Before you can book the theory test, you need a UK provisional driving licence. The first application costs £34 online or £43 by paper (D1) form. Renewing an expired UK photocard driving licence is £14 online or £17 by post; renewing it at a Post Office costs £21.50 (all-inclusive) — those are the three options DVLA publishes on gov.uk. Drivers aged 70 or over renew free.

Is the theory test ever free?

There is no national government-funded route to take the official theory test for free. Some local councils subsidise the post-pass Pass Plus course, but the £23 theory test fee itself is payable by every candidate. Free practice material is available — DVSA’s Safe Driving for Life portal (linked from gov.uk) hosts a limited set of free multiple-choice questions and 3 free hazard perception clips, and our app provides 750+ DVSA revision questions with no account or paid upgrade required.

Northern Ireland and the DVA

The theory test in Northern Ireland is run by the Driver & Vehicle Agency (DVA), not DVSA. It draws on the same DVSA-published syllabus and revision materials used across the UK, and the price is the same — £23 for car and motorcycle. Practical and ADI fees differ from Great Britain — the NI car practical is £65 on weekdays and £95 in the evening or at the weekend (against £62 / £75 in Great Britain). You book a NI theory test via nidirect.gov.uk, not gov.uk.

Sources

Cost & fees — FAQs

Are the DVSA practice questions in the app really free?

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.

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.

Source: gov.uk — driving test costs

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.

Source: gov.uk — cancel your theory test

Do I have to pay £23 again if I fail?

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

Can I get a refund for a short-notice cancellation if I had a genuine reason?

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

Is the theory test the same in Northern Ireland?

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