Cost & fees
UK driving theory test cost (2026)
Last updated
The UK car and motorcycle driving theory test costs £23. That price has been unchanged since 2009 and is identical in Great Britain (DVSA) and Northern Ireland (DVA). Lorry and bus theory tests are billed differently — £26 for the multiple-choice part plus £11 for the hazard perception part. 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.
All theory test fees at a glance
| Test | Fee |
|---|---|
| Car theory test | £23 |
| Motorcycle theory test | £23 |
| Lorry / Bus theory — multiple-choice (Driver CPC Part 1a) | £26 |
| Lorry / Bus theory — hazard perception (Driver CPC Part 1b) | £11 |
| 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 practical test is stricter — it requires 10 full working days’ notice for a refund.
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 a UK photocard driving licence is £14 online (or £17 by post). The Post Office “Check & Send” renewal service is £21.50 — that is the Post Office’s service charge, listed alongside DVLA fees on gov.uk.
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 — 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 uses the same DVSA question bank and the price is the same — £23 for car and motorcycle. Practical and ADI fees differ from Great Britain. You book a NI theory test via nidirect.gov.uk , not gov.uk.
Sources
- GOV.UK — Driving test costs
- GOV.UK — Cancel your theory test
- GOV.UK — Change your theory test appointment
- GOV.UK — Driving licence fees
- GOV.UK — Approved Driving Instructor (ADI) fees
- nidirect — Driving test fees (Northern Ireland)