Once you start learning to drive, you may well have visions of that first journey on your own or be planning your next road trip… The second step after getting your provisional driving licence is to take your theory test.
For some learners, the theory test can be even more nerve-racking than the practical. Taking an exam is not everyone’s idea of fun and it can be easy to prioritise the more fun aspects of learning to drive e.g. planning the purchase of your first car.
You won’t be able to get on the road without passing your theory test so it’s important to spend some time preparing for it to ensure you pass.
Even if you find learning the theory a frustrating component of learning to drive, it’s unavoidable and actually much less stressful than you might think. Essentially, the secret – like most exams – is knowing what to expect. If you’ve put the time into getting ready for those questions, you could well find it a breeze.
To make this preparation process a little easier, Tempcover has assembled a guide filled with tips for preparing, practicing, revising and ultimately passing your theory test.
From booking the theory to what happens after, this is your go-to guide. Hopefully, these hints will get you that bit closer to the freedom you’re hoping for.
What is the driving theory test?
The theory test is a short test designed to establish that you have a thorough understanding of the rules of UK roads – the Highway Code. The test is taken on a computer inside an official Driver & Vehicle Standards Agency test centre and all questions are set by the DVSA.
It’s the first step in becoming a full UK driving licence holder, the second step is taking your practical driving exam. You need to pass both parts of the Theory Test (multiple-choice questions and Hazard Perception) before you can book your practical driving test.
Do I have to take a theory test?
Yes, taking a theory test which has been mandatory since 1997. All the more reason to knuckle down and prepare so you can pass first time.
How much does a theory test cost?
You’ll need to pay £23 to take your car theory test, roughly a third of the cost of your full practical exam. You can book your theory test and your practical exam online via gov.uk. There are unofficial websites to book but they often charge more.
Can I take my theory test at the weekend?
Yes, you can book your theory or driving test for a weekday, weekend or bank holiday. The price is the same on evenings, weekends and bank holidays for your theory test, but not for the driving test itself.
Are theory tests the same for different types of vehicle?
No. Each vehicle type has its own testing and pricing system. Most people take the theory test designed for car drivers. But if you’re hoping to become a lorry or bus driver you will probably need to take all four of the Driver Certificate of Professional Competence (CPC) tests, although some drivers only need to take two of them.
Things to do before your theory test
How to practise your theory test
Nerves can impede your ability to perform on the day but so can being too confident. The secret to overcoming both is practice and preparation. Familiarising yourself with both the content that you need to know and the format in which you’ll be answering will put you in good stead.
Practice really does make perfect, and you can never have too much of it. As soon as you begin honing your skills on the road, you should be rehearsing your theory in the background.
This will happen naturally if you make the extra effort to take notice of potential hazards and the rules of the road. The sooner – and more regularly you do this – the more likely it is you’ll feel confident and ready on the day of your test.
Which books should I read for my driving theory test?
The government website confirms that the multiple-choice questions in the theory test are based on the following 3 books:
- The Highway Code
- Know Your Traffic Signs
- Driving – The Essential Skills
The Highway Code should be first on your shopping list. This book covers all the answers you could need to the theory test questions that may come up. Even though the word ‘theory’ might make it sound like the content is detached from real driving, this couldn’t be further from the truth. Your knowledge of the Highway Code will define your confidence and safety on the road long into the future.
Know Your Traffic Signs is a guide for all road users that introduces the various signs and explains what each of them means, while The Official DVSA Guide to Driving – The Essential Skills is a comprehensive guide with information on every aspect of driving including techniques, different conditions and safety.
If you want to grow your knowledge even further, there are many books specially written to help drivers prepare for their theory test. They’re packed with sample test questions that can help you get that bit closer to passing the exam.
As with any exam, preparation is key. It’s unlikely you will pass with minimum effort. Skimming any of these books will do you no good in the exam room – and be even less helpful once you’re out on the road. It’s suggested that many people have to put 20 hours of preparation in to pass their theory test.
Reading and rereading the Highway Code and pushing yourself to try different mock tests will move you closer to your end goal – driving for real. Maybe put together a study plan and set time aside to read your books and practise answering the questions. This can help get you into the state of mind you’ll need to be in to concentrate during the test.
You don’t have to do it all on your own, either. You could ask a parent or family member to help you prepare, giving you spot tests as you go. Or better yet, if you have friends who are taking the test too, why not test each other? Getting asked questions out of the blue will help to sharpen your recall when you’re in an unfamiliar environment. The more times you answer, the easier it will be and the quicker you will get.
There are lots of mock tests online, but the best is the DVSA’s own practice test. This will give you the closest thing to real test conditions. Put the hours in, and you’ll feel yourself becoming a lean, mean theory test passing machine. There are also many apps that replicate the DVSA theory test, which are really useful to support learning.
Put the theory into practice
Don’t forget that The Highway Code isn’t simply an exam paper. The rules in it are the rules of the road. Start using the knowledge you gain when you’re in a car – and not necessarily only when you’re driving. Keep an eye out for hazards, decide which lane the car should be in and focus on the road signs while you travel.
Although this kind of practice is ideal for when you’re with your instructor, it’s also perfect training while driving around with your family. Very few test guides can match these conditions as you prepare for your theory test. The more ‘practical’ the theory becomes in your head, the more your memory will contextualise and recall it. All this will help you prepare for not just your test but also driving in the real world.
Although you can book a theory test before even taking a driving lesson, this is not recommended. The practical experience of driving on public roads will help you understand why the Highway Codes exists. Some learner drivers will prepare for their theory test without the help of a qualified driving instructor. If you’re one of them, make sure you have learner driver insurance when you practise with a friend or family member.
Temporary car insurance offers learner drivers a more flexible way of getting comprehensive cover, while also protecting any no claims discounts the vehicle owner has. From 12 hours or 1 day up to 28 days, Tempcover can help you get behind the wheel with someone other than a qualified driving instructor.
To qualify for temporary learner insurance, you must:
- Be aged 17-69 years old.
- Hold a UK provisional driving licence.
- Have been a permanent UK resident for the last 12 months.
- Not have any licence points or prosecution pending for any motoring convictions.
- Have never been disqualified from driving.
- Have never driven a vehicle that was involved in an accident that was considered your fault; whether partially or fully
- Have no criminal convictions.
- Not have had a previous policy of insurance declared void by an insurer.
The person supervising you must:
- Be aged over 25.
- Hold a full UK driving licence and held that licence for at least 3 years.
- Have been a permanent UK resident for at least 2 years
When should I book my theory test?
Part of your theory test prep will involve deciding on a date so you have something to work towards. When confirming this, be aware you don’t want to do it before you’re completely ready. Although it’s hard to know exactly when – your driving instructor can help – a deadline will give you something to focus on. Just carry on with your practice and revision.
Once you have gained plenty of experience on the road and practised your exam questions and hazard perception to a level where you’re regularly able to answer enough questions to pass, it’s time to do your test but be warned full marks in practice doesn’t mean you’ve cracked it.
Keep a note of the scores you’re getting in the dummy tests as you prepare. If you can see yourself improving, you should be able to work out when you might be ready to take the plunge. Your driving instructor can also offer guidance and advice on when they feel you are all set to take the test.
How to book your theory test
Booking your theory test online is a straightforward process. However, it’s only simple if you have the right details. So before sitting down and getting started, make sure you have everything handy. You’ll need:
- Your provisional driving licence (don’t forget to check it’s valid)
- A valid credit/debit card to pay the £23 for your test (this the same for cars or motorcycles)
- Your email address or street address, so your booking confirmation can be sent out
Once you’ve booked your test, you’re one step closer to being a fully qualified driver. If something crops up in the meantime, don’t worry. You can always cancel or change the date of your theory test should you need.
How do you cancel a theory test?
Your theory test is a key milestone on your journey to being a qualified driver, allowed to head out onto the road on your own. So once it’s in the diary, it’s best not to cancel if you can avoid it.
But sometimes things can crop up that you couldn’t foresee, such as ill health or a family emergency. If that happens you can cancel your theory test online. You’ll need your driving licence handy when you do. Simply enter your details and check for mistakes and the system should update automatically. The whole process takes around ten minutes.
When you’re ready to book it in again, just go online as you did the first time.
If you are upgrading your existing driving licence to allow you to tow a trailer or from an automatic licence to a manual, you don’t need to retake your theory test so cancel it now and get your money back.
Top tips for passing your theory test
- Revise sufficiently and book your test once you feel ready
- Plan your route to the test centre
- Allow time for signing in and accessing lockers if needed
- Stay calm and take your time to answer the questions (but not too long)
- Read the questions carefully and double-check your answers
- Be confident
- Have a guess if you don’t know
What to expect on the day of your theory test
On the day of your theory test, make sure you leave in plenty of time. You don’t want to show up all flustered and worrying about being late. Make some plans well in advance and look at the public transport times/make sure you can source a life in time. Try and get a good night’s sleep before the test and don’t stay up until midnight cramming. Have a cut-off time and stick to this. It’s best to go into the theory test with a clear head.
What do you need to bring to your theory test?
- Provisional licence
- If you have a licence from Northern Ireland, bring the photocard and paper counterpart licence.
- If you have a paper licence, bring a valid passport as well as your paper licence. If you don’t have a passport, you need to get a photocard licence.
This is really important – if you forget your licence, or have lost it, you won’t be allowed to take the test. Not only that but you won’t be entitled to request a refund of your £23.
It’s a good idea to pack everything you need the night before, but try not to load yourself up with personal items, like loads of books or your tablet and earphones. Even if they’re in a bag you won’t be allowed to take them with you into the test room. You’ll have to keep them in a locker outside until the theory test has finished, so don’t make it hard work. Just travel light.
One of the reasons you’re not allowed to take any of these items into the examination room is to stop cheating. If for any reason you were thinking of cheating on your theory test, you should think again. Being caught cheating can result in being banned from driving and even a prison sentence. The Driver and Vehicles Standards Agency reports there were 1,600 incidents of cheating reported by theory test centres between 2022 and 2023.
As soon as you have put away your belongings, you will be taken into the test room and assigned a workstation. This is where you will take your test. There will be a desk and computer and you will be given instructions on how to use the equipment but it is pretty straightforward. You’ll then be given some headphones and told to watch an instructional video.
Multiple-choice driving test questions
The first part of the theory test is a series of multiple-choice questions. There will be 50 for you to answer in 57 minutes. You’ll be given a couple of practice questions to get used to the format and once you’re happy you understand the process, you can start the test proper. Nothing will start until you confirm you’re completely ready.
Some of these questions will be written in the form of a case study. Taken from real-life scenarios, you will be asked five questions about it. Don’t panic if you get stuck. You can flag any of your answers you’re not sure about and come back to them later. With 57 minutes to get through 50 questions, you don’t want to waste any time at all. You may find coming back with fresh eyes (and after answering other questions) helps the answer come back to you.
As you work your way through the questions, answer the ones you’re most confident about first and flag any you’re unsure of to consider on your second run-through. This can give you the best chance of moving through all the questions quickly and accurately – and ultimately passing.
To pass your theory test, you need 43 right answers out of 50. Despite only having 57 minutes, it’s important not to rush but also not dawdle. Trust your research, practice and preparation. Be confident in yourself and your knowledge and be as certain as you can be that you’ve made the right choice before submitting your answers.
Take a break
After the multiple-choice section is over – whether you’ve finished and want to stop or the time limit has been used up, you will be allowed a short break. The break isn’t long – up to three minutes – but it’s enough to gather your thoughts and prepare yourself for the second section, without losing momentum.
Try not to think about the section you’ve just finished. There may be questions that you think you got wrong, and it can be hard not to dwell on these and count them up, but that part of the exam is over. You can give yourself the best chance of a pass on the next section if you’re relaxed and not distracted. Take a deep breath, and get ready for Hazard Perception…
How to pass the hazard perception test
The second part of the test is designed to check if you can spot the various hazards on the road and respond appropriately. This is an essential part of driving safely and you’ll need to demonstrate that you can do it quickly and accurately.
You’ll again be shown a short video that explains how to use the equipment for hazard perception. You’ll then watch 14 video clips with each one specifically designed to test your reactions. Each clip contains footage of a normal, everyday driving scenario, but there will be a ‘developing hazard’ – something happening that could become dangerous.
In one of the 14 clips there will be two hazards developing simultaneously. Your task will be to click the mouse when you see the hazard beginning to develop. Points will be assigned based on when you click the mouse, and you should only click it if you know – if you were driving – you would need to either change direction, alter your speed or stop completely.
- There are up to five points available for each hazard, and it’s important not to wait too long to click.
- The earlier you detect the hazard, the more points you will score.
- When you see one developing, click immediately, but not before.
Everything you do needs to be deliberate. Random clicks, repeated clicks or clicking in a pattern will not register as accurate hazard perception on the computer.
The system has been designed to make it impossible to cheat, so don’t try and trick the computer or rely on blind luck. Trust your instincts and your preparation. These are skills you’ll be using every day on the road once you pass.
You don’t have to get a perfect score on Hazard Perception, but you do need to score at least 44 out of the 75 possible marks in order to pass.
What to do after your theory test
After you finish the Hazard Perception section, you’re finished. Take a deep breath but now the test is over, what happens next?
There’s no waiting around for someone to mark your scores. Your results are immediate and you’ll be told right away whether you’ve passed or failed.
What happens after you pass a theory test?
Firstly, congratulations! You can be proud of your achievement and take some time to relax and take everything in. Your examiners will give you a letter confirming you’ve passed, complete with a pass certificate number.
This is an important piece of information. You won’t be able to book your practical test without it. Although there’s no rush to book your practical test, it’s worth noting your theory test will expire in two years’ time. Check out Tempcover’s tips for preparing for the practical test.
It’s best to keep your pass certificate number somewhere safe but if you lose it, you can retrieve the pass certificate number from gov.uk.
What happens if you fail your theory test?
If you fail your theory test, do not worry. Department for Transport figures show that pass rates have fallen dramatically over the past couple of decades – from 65% in 2007-2008 to just 44% in 2022-2023 – so you are not alone.
Of course you’ll be disappointed and you may end up thinking over the questions and decisions you made, fretting over which ones you got wrong. Remember you’re not the first person to fail and you certainly won’t be the last. It may be tempting to feel sorry for yourself, but you can treat the whole experience as learning and practice for next time. Try not to get too down.
If you fail your theory test when can you retake it?
If you want to get your next theory test booked in straight away, that’s great. You’ll have to wait three working days before retaking it. If you’d rather take some time off and come back refreshed in a week or two after further revision, that’s also valid.
There are no limits on how many times you can take a theory test. Just keep up that practice and revision and eventually you’ll get there. Once you have passed, you’re well on your way to hitting the road as a fully qualified driver.
Final theory test tips and advice
- Take mock tests
- Plan accordingly – create a manageable revision schedule with regular breaks
- Active learning – apply those theory questions to real-life situations
- Study The Highway Code – get the book, read it, absorb it and again apply it to situations while out on the road
- Recognise road signs and what they mean
- Make use of online resources
- Don’t put unnecessary pressure on yourself
Frequently Asked Questions
How long does it take to prepare for a theory test?
The DVLA recommends putting in an average of 20 hours’ revision to pass your theory test. This involves studying The Highway Code and other reading material, taking mock tests and putting the theory into practice.
What is the pass score for the theory test?
You need to get 86% of the questions right (43 out of 50 in the multiple-choice section and 44 out of 75 in the hazard perception) to pass your theory test. 44% of those taking the test passed in 2022-23 so do not be disheartened if you don’t pass on your first try.
How long do I have to wait before I can retake the test if I fail?
You’ll have to wait three working days before retaking your test.
What happens if I’m late or miss my test appointment?
You must give at least 3 full working days’ (Monday to Saturday) notice to change your test. If you change your test within 3 full working days of the test date, you won’t be able to claim a refund – except in exceptional circumstances (illness or injury that means you can’t take the test, bereavement, unavoidable appointments, having your driving licence stolen). You can find out more about changing your theory test on the UK government website.
