Taking Your Theory Test

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

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

You must have a provisional driving licence before you can book the test.

There is no requirement to complete a particular number of driving lessons before taking your theory test.

The car theory test currently costs £23. To book online through the official service, you will need your:

• UK driving licence number
• Email address
• Credit or debit card

You must also have lived in England, Wales or Scotland for at least 185 days during the 12 months before the day you take your test.

When you book, you should say if you have a reading difficulty, disability or health condition that may affect how you take the test.

Unofficial websites may offer to book a theory test on your behalf but can charge more than the official fee. Booking directly through GOV.UK means you use the official booking service and pay the official test fee.

Book your theory test on GOV.UK

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

If you still have an old-style paper driving licence, you must take a valid passport as well. If you have a Northern Ireland driving licence, you need to take both your photocard and paper counterpart.

If you do not bring the required identification, your test will be cancelled and you will not get your test fee back.

If you lose your licence before your test, you will need to apply for a replacement. GOV.UK advises rearranging your test if the replacement will not arrive in time.

If your name has changed since you booked the test, there are additional identification requirements. Check the current GOV.UK guidance before attending.

Check what to take to your theory test

You have 57 minutes to answer 50 multiple-choice questions. A question and several possible answers appear on the screen and you select the answer you think is correct.

Three of the questions are based on a short, silent video showing a normal driving situation, such as driving through a town centre or along a country road. You can watch this video as many times as you need during the multiple-choice section.

You can also:

• Flag questions you want to return to
• Go back to previous questions
• Review your answers
• Change an answer before finishing the section

You do not have to use the full 57 minutes if you have answered and reviewed your questions sooner. You need to score at least 43 out of 50 to pass this part.

When you finish the multiple-choice section, you can take a break of up to 3 minutes before starting hazard perception.

The hazard perception section uses video clips showing everyday road scenes. You will watch 14 clips. Each clip contains at least one developing hazard, and one of the clips contains two.

You need to identify the developing hazards by clicking when you recognise them. You can score up to 5 points for each developing hazard. The earlier you recognise a developing hazard and respond appropriately within the scoring window, the more points you can score.

The maximum available score is 75 and you need at least 44 to pass this part.

You do not lose points simply because you click when something does not become a developing hazard. However, you can score zero for a clip if you click continuously or in a pattern rather than genuinely responding to developing hazards.

Unlike the multiple-choice section, you only get one attempt at each hazard perception clip. You cannot go back and review or change your responses.

For more about developing hazard-perception skills rather than simply how this part of the test operates, see Preparing for your theory test.

You must pass both parts of the theory test:

Passing one part is not enough to pass the theory test.

If you pass one section but fail the other, you will need to take both sections again on your next attempt.

You receive your result at the test centre after completing the test.

If you pass, you will receive a letter containing your theory test pass certificate number. You will need this when you book and take your practical driving test.

Your theory test pass is valid for 2 years. You must pass your practical driving test within that period.

If you do not pass your practical driving test before the theory pass expires, you will need to pass the theory test again before you can take the practical test.

If you do not pass, you will receive a result letter at the test centre. The result tells you which parts you did not score enough points on. This gives you information you can use to identify areas to revisit before taking the test again.

You must retake the whole theory test, even if you passed one of the two sections on your previous attempt.

You must wait at least 3 working days before taking the test again.

Rather than simply repeating the test, use your result to identify gaps in your knowledge or hazard perception and return to the relevant preparation material. Our Preparing for your theory test guide explains the official study materials, practice resources and approaches you can use to develop your understanding.

Yes. Support is available if a reading difficulty, disability or health condition affects how you take the theory test. The process depends on the support you need.

If you have reading difficulties

When booking your test, you can ask to hear the test through headphones in English or Welsh. You can listen to the questions and possible answers as many times as you need.

Other support is available if you provide evidence of your reading difficulties. The booking process will tell you how to send the evidence. GOV.UK says this can include an email, letter or report from:

• A teacher or other educational professional
• A doctor or other medical professional
• An occupational therapist
• An online dyslexia screening product

Depending on your needs and the support agreed by DVSA, you may be able to receive:

• Extra time for the multiple-choice section
• A member of staff who reads the information on screen and records your answers
• A member of staff who rewords questions to make them easier to understand

When questions are reworded, the technical terminology you are expected to understand cannot be changed, and you still need to answer the questions yourself.

If you are deaf or have a hearing impairment

The theory test can be taken with British Sign Language (BSL) displayed on screen alongside the questions and answers. You can also request a BSL interpreter.

Other available arrangements include a hearing loop or a lip speaker. You should tell DVSA that you need this support when booking your test.

Other disabilities or health conditions

If you have another disability or health condition and need support that is not covered by the standard arrangements, GOV.UK says to contact DVSA before booking your theory test. DVSA can discuss your needs with you and advise what support may be available.

Read the official DVSA guidance about theory test support

Passing your theory test allows you to move towards taking the practical driving test, but it does not mean that the knowledge you studied has finished serving a purpose.

The rules, signs, risks and principles covered by the theory test continue to apply during practical driving and after you qualify.

Your theory test pass lasts for 2 years, giving you time to continue developing the practical skills and experience needed to drive safely and independently.

When your driving has developed to the required standard, the next stage is the practical driving test.