Taking your theory test if you have special needs

The Driver & Vehicle Agency (DVA) provides a number of facilities for people with special requirements. You should tell DVA about your special needs when you book your theory test to allow for reasonable adjustments to be made.

Book your theory test online

The following facilities are available for candidates with special requirements.

Voiceover assisted tests

You can ask for a voiceover in one of 21 languages if:

your first language is not English
you cannot read or understand written English well

How the theory test voiceover works

A voiceover lets you hear the theory test instructions and questions through headphones.

The questions will be read out to you automatically. You can hear the possible answers by clicking on the text on the screen.

You can hear the questions as many times as you like – just click on the text of the question again.

Voiceovers are available in the following languages:

Albanian
Arabic
Bengali
Cantonese
Dari
English
Farsi
Gujarati
Hindi
Kashmiri
Kurdish
Mirpuri
Polish
Portuguese
Punjabi
Pushto
Spanish
Tamil
Turkish
Urdu
Welsh

Interpreter assisted tests

If there is no voiceover for the language you need, you can ask to have an interpreter assisted theory test.

The call centre agent should be able to tell you the names and contact details of the relevant DVA approved interpreters.

You have to arrange a test date with the interpreter and pay any fees they charge.

Facilities if you have reading difficulties

If you have dyslexia or other reading difficulties you can ask for an English voiceover.

You can also request to have up to double time for the multiple choice part of the theory test.

You must provide proof of your reading difficulty to the theory test customer services section.

Facilities if you have hearing difficulties

If you are deaf or have hearing difficulties you can ask to take the theory test in British Sign Language (BSL). The BSL interpretation will run alongside the standard test questions and answers.

If you do not use BSL, an interpreter can be taken into the test centre. This facility needs to be arranged through the theory test customer services section.

There is no extra fee for either facility.

Contacting the Theory Test Customer Services section

For more information on these facilities you can contact us on 0845 600 6700 or email to customercare@pearson.com

Or you can write to

Customer Correspondence
Driver & Vehicle Agency
PO Box 381
Manchester
M50 3UW

Other special requirements

If you have a special need that is not met by any of these facilities, you should contact DVA. You can then tell DVA about your needs and find out what other facilities might be available to you.