1. Booking your test

You must have a provisional driving licence to book your theory test.

There are 2 parts to the test:

• multiple-choice questions

• hazard perception - a video test about spotting hazards on the road

You book and take them as a single test. You must pass both parts to pass the test.

When you can take the theory test

You can take the theory test from your 17th birthday onwards.

You can take it from your 16th birthday if you get, or have applied for, the higher weekly rate of the mobility part of Personal Independence Payment (PIP).

Who needs to take the theory test

You usually need to take the theory test before you can get your full car driving licence.

You do not need to take the car theory test if you:

• want to upgrade an automatic car licence to a manual one

• have a category B1 driving licence (3 or 4-wheeled light vehicles) from before 1 February 2001

If you have a moped or motorcycle licence

You must pass a car theory test before taking the car driving test.

If your licence is not from Great Britain

Find out if you can drive in Great Britain (GB) with your non-GB licence without taking a theory and driving test.

Change or check your test details

You can change the date of your theory test after you’ve booked it.

You can check your appointment details if you’ve lost your booking confirmation.

Rebook your test

Rebook your theory test if you failed your test and want to resit it. You have to choose a date at least 3 working days away.

2. Theory test revision and practice

You can use books and software to revise for the theory test and take practice tests.

Multiple-choice questions

The multiple-choice questions in the theory test are based on 3 books:

• The Highway Code

• Know your traffic signs

• Driving - the essential skills

Study these to learn the rules and skills you’ll be tested on.

You can buy them from most high street and online book shops.

Take a practice test

Take a practice theory test to check how much you’ve learnt.

The questions are not used in the real test, but they are based on the same topics as the test.

Hazard perception test

To prepare for this test you can use the official guide to hazard perception.

You can buy the guide in these formats:

• online for your PC or Mac

• app for Apple phones and tablets

• app for Android phones and tablets

You can also buy it as an interactive DVD from most high street and online book shops.

Translations into foreign languages

Some official books and software are translated into other languages by approved organisations.

However, you can only take the test in English, Welsh or British Sign Language.

3. What to take to your test

You must take your UK photocard driving licence to your test.

If you have a licence from Northern Ireland, bring the photocard and paper counterpart licence.

Your test will be cancelled and you will not get your money back if you do not take the right things with you.

You can choose whether or not to wear a face covering at your test.

Lost your licence

You need to apply for a replacement driving licence if you lose yours. This could take up to 15 days to arrive.

Rearrange your test if you do not get the new licence in enough time.

If you have a paper licence

Bring a valid passport as well as your paper licence.

If you do not have a passport, you need to get a photocard licence.

Personal belongings

You will not have access to your personal items in the test room. This includes things like:

• bags

• earphones

• mobile phones

• watches

You’ll usually have to store any personal items in a locker.

If your test centre does not have lockers, you must:

• turn off your phone before you enter the test centre

• put your belongings in a clear plastic box that will be given to you - this must be stored under your desk during the test

The test centre staff will check if you have anything with you that could be used to cheat. Your test will not go ahead if you do not let them check.

It’s illegal to cheat at the theory test. You can be sent to prison and banned from driving.

4. Multiple-choice questions

You have 57 minutes to answer 50 multiple-choice questions.

Before the test starts you’ll get:

• instructions on how the test works

• the chance to do a practice question to get used to the screens

How the test works

A question and several possible answers appear on a screen. You have to select the right answer.

Three of the questions are about a short video. It will show a normal driving situation, such as:

• driving through a town centre

• driving on a country road

The video is silent. You can watch it as many times as you like during the test.

Leaving a question

You can ‘flag’ questions that you want to come back to later.

Changing your answers

You can go back to any question to review and change your answer at any point.

When you’ve finished

You can finish the multiple-choice questions part when you’ve answered all of the questions. You do not have to use the full 57 minutes.

You can have a break of up to 3 minutes before the hazard perception test starts.

5. Hazard perception test

Before you start the hazard perception test, you’ll be shown a video about how it works.

You’ll then watch 14 video clips. The clips:

• feature everyday road scenes

• contain at least one ‘developing hazard’ - but one of the clips features 2 developing hazards

You get points for spotting the developing hazards as soon as they start to happen.

What a ‘developing hazard’ is

A developing hazard is something that would cause you to take action, like changing speed or direction.

Example
A car is parked at the side of the road and is not doing anything. It would not cause you to take action, so it’s not a developing hazard.

When you get closer, the car’s right-hand indicator starts to flash and it starts to move away. You’d need to slow down, so it’s now a developing hazard.

How the scoring works

You can score up to 5 points for each developing hazard.

To get a high score, click the mouse as soon as you see the hazard starting to develop.

You do not lose points if you click and get it wrong. However, you will not score anything if you click continuously or in a pattern.

You only get one attempt at each clip. You cannot review or change your responses.

6. Pass mark and test result

You’ll get the result at the test centre after taking the theory test. You must pass both parts to pass the test.

Multiple-choice questions

43/50

Hazard perception

44/75

If you pass

You’ll get a letter with a pass certificate number at the test centre. You need this when you book and take your driving test.

Your pass certificate number lasts for 2 years. You must pass your driving test in that time, otherwise you’ll have to pass the theory test again.

If you fail

You’ll get a letter at the test centre. It’ll tell you which parts you did not score enough points on so you know what to practise.

You must book and take the full test again, even if you passed one part this time.

You have to wait at least 3 working days before taking your test again.

7. If you have a reading difficulty, disability or health condition

When you book your theory test you should say if you have a:

• reading difficulty

• disability

• health condition

You have reading difficulties

You can ask to hear the test through headphones when you book your test. You can hear it in English or Welsh.

You can listen to the questions and possible answers as many times as you need to.

Other types of support

You can get other support during your theory test if you send proof that you have reading difficulties.

You will be told how to send proof when you book your theory test.

This can be an email, letter or report from:

• a teacher or other educational professional

• a doctor or medical professional

• an occupational therapist

• an online dyslexia screening product

You can get:

• extra time to take the test

• someone to read what’s on the screen and record your answers

• someone to reword the questions for you

If the Driver and Vehicle Standards Agency (DVSA) agrees you need extra support, they will:

• select the best type of support for you when you book your theory test

• tell you what you need to do next

Extra time to take the test

You can ask for more time to do the multiple choice questions part of the theory test.

Reading what’s on the screen and recording your answers

A member of staff at the test centre can read out the instructions and questions on the screen.

They can also record your answers to the multiple-choice questions.

This can be done by either:

• listening to the member of staff through headphones while they’re in another room - they’ll be able to see what’s on your screen

• the member of staff sitting near you in the test room

Rewording the questions for you

You can ask for a member of staff to reword the theory test questions to make them easier for you to understand.

The person cannot change the technical language that you need to know. But they can change the order of the sentence and other non-technical words and phrases.

You still need to answer each question yourself.

You’re deaf or have a hearing impairment

You can take the theory test in British Sign Language (BSL) if you’re deaf or have a hearing impairment.

A BSL video appears on the screen next to the questions and answers.

Take a BSL interpreter

You can have a BSL interpreter with you during the test.

Tell DVSA you need this support when you book your theory test. You will not be charged an extra fee.

Hearing loop and lip speakers

You can arrange to:

• have a lip speaker with you during the test - you will not be charged an extra fee

• use a listening aid (hearing loop)

Tell DVSA you need this support when you book your theory test.