Topic
Documents
Last reviewed against gov.uk on
Documents covers the paperwork that legally lets you and your vehicle be on the road — provisional vs full licence, third-party vs comprehensive insurance, MOT validity, the V5C log book and SORN (Statutory Off-Road Notification).
What’s tested
- When you need a provisional vs full licence and what each lets you do
- Insurance levels: third party, third party fire and theft, comprehensive
- MOT — valid for one year, renewable up to a month (minus a day) early while keeping the same expiry date
- V5C log book and the legal duty to update DVLA
- SORN — what it is and when you need one
Key Highway Code rules
Practise real DVSA revision questions
Work through 20 real DVSA car revision questions, each with the correct answer and a full explanation — then get the full bank for every topic in the app, free to get started.
Common mistakes
- Driving without insurance (£300 fixed penalty + 6 points at the roadside; unlimited fine at court)
- Forgetting the early MOT renewal window — the new certificate keeps the old expiry date only if you test within a month (minus a day) of it
- Not telling DVLA after a name or address change
- Driving a SORNed vehicle on the road (illegal — you must tax and insure it again first, which cancels the SORN automatically; the only exception is driving to or from a pre-booked MOT or other testing appointment)
Keep going
All 14 topics
- Alertness Staying focused: mirrors, observation, scanning the road, avoiding fatigue and distraction.
- Attitude Considerate driving: patience, following distance, behaviour at crossings and roundabouts.
- Safety and your vehicle Roadworthiness: brakes, tyres, lights, fluids, warning lights and securing the car.
- Safety margins Stopping distances, weather, road surface, and the space you need to react safely.
- Hazard awareness Anticipating risk: spotting clues, planning ahead, reading other road users’ behaviour.
- Vulnerable road users Pedestrians, cyclists, motorcyclists, horse riders, children, older and disabled people.
- Other types of vehicle Sharing the road with lorries, buses, motorcycles, trams and emergency vehicles.
- Vehicle handling Driving in rain, fog, snow, dark and strong wind — how conditions change the car.
- Motorway rules Joining, lane discipline, speed, breakdowns and smart-motorway running lanes.
- Rules of the road Speed limits, junctions, roundabouts, parking, level crossings and one-way streets.
- Road and traffic signs The visual language of UK roads — shape, colour and meaning of every sign and signal.
- Incidents, accidents and emergencies First aid, CPR, AED, RTC procedure, breakdowns and tunnel safety.
- Vehicle loading Carrying passengers, luggage, roof loads and towing — and how each changes the car.