Driving theory test
Information on the driving theory test, who needs to take it and documents you must bring.
Wearing a face covering at your test
You must wear a face covering at your test. If you do not wear one, you must have a good reason, for example:
- you have a physical or mental illness, impairment or disability
- wearing it would cause you severe distress
Wearing glasses does not count as a good reason.
The link below has more information on face coverings
If you cannot wear a face covering
You must call to book your test and say why you cannot wear a face covering. If you do not and you come to your test without a face covering, your test will be cancelled.
You may not be able to take your test at the test centre of your choice.
DVA theory test booking support
Email: DVA.TheoryCustomerServiceNI@dvsa.gov.uk
Telephone: 0345 600 6700
Monday to Friday from 8.00 am to 4.00 pm
When you do the theory test
If you are a learner driver you must take and pass your theory test before you book your practical test. However, if you already have a full driving licence you may not have to take another theory test if you want to start driving a different vehicle.
NI Residency
If you want to take a theory or practical driving test in Northern Ireland, it is a legal requirement that you must be normally resident in Northern Ireland. If you have a GB provisional licence and want to take a motorcycle, car, bus or lorry theory test here, before booking your test you will need to complete a residency declaration form and send it to DVA with proof you are resident in Northern Ireland.
UK licence holders
You will need to take a theory test if you want a licence for a new category of vehicle. For example, if you have a car licence and you want a motorcycle licence you will need to take a category specific theory test.
If, however, you want to upgrade within a vehicle category you will not normally need to take a theory test. For example, if you have a full automatic car licence and you want a manual car licence you will not have to take a theory test.
It is your responsibility to make sure you have the right licence for the vehicle you are driving. If you are unsure if you need to take a theory test, contact the Driver & Vehicle Agency (DVA).
European Economic Area (EEA) licence holders
If you hold a valid community licence and you are visiting Northern Ireland, you can drive any vehicle for as long as your licence remains valid. The full entitlement for the vehicle you wish to drive must be shown on your licence.
The EEA countries are Austria, Belgium, Bulgaria, Czech Republic, Republic of Cyprus, Denmark, Estonia, Finland, France, Germany, Greece, Hungary, Iceland, Ireland, Italy, Latvia, Liechtenstein, Lithuania, Luxembourg, Malta, Netherlands, Norway, Poland, Portugal, Romania, Slovenia, Slovakia, Spain, Sweden and United Kingdom.
Foreign licence holders
If you hold a full driving licence issued outside the EEA it may be possible to exchange it for an equal Northern Ireland licence. You should contact DVA to find out if you can exchange your foreign licence.
If you can't exchange your foreign licence you will have to apply for a Northern Ireland provisional licence and take a theory and practical test.
Documents to bring to the test
You must bring both parts of your valid signed Northern Ireland driving licence (photocard and paper counterpart).
If you are a GB driving licence holder you must bring your valid signed GB photocard licence showing your provisional entitlement and a printed summary (dated within a week of your test date) of your driving licence record from www.gov.uk/view-driving-licence. If your GB photocard licence does not show your provisional entitlement, you must get written confirmation from the DVLA of your provisional entitlement.
Photographic ID
An old style GB licence consists of one paper document which does not display your photograph. If you have an old-style, non-photographic licence you must bring acceptable photographic evidence of your identity as well as your licence.
The following are acceptable:
- a passport
- any of the following identification cards as long as they are presented with your driving licence:
- an Employer's Identity Card bearing your photograph and signature
- a trade union card bearing your photograph and signature
- a cheque guarantee or credit card bearing your photograph and signature
- photograph of you, which has been signed and dated on the back by an acceptable person as detailed below:
I (name of acceptable person) certify that this is a true likeness of (name of candidate), who has been known to me for (number) years in my capacity as (specify capacity).
Signed:
Date:
Business or Profession:
Your examiner will accept a signature from the following:
- Member of Parliament
- District council councillor
- Police officer
- Established civil servant
- Teacher
- Bank official
- Justice of the Peace
- Minister of religion
- Barrister
- Solicitor
- Medical practitioner
If your details have changed since you made your theory test booking, you will need to provide evidence of these changes on the day of your test. Only original documents can be accepted. If you need any further information contact the theory test booking line.
If you do not bring these items with you, or you are late for your appointment, you will not be allowed to sit your test and you will lose your fee.
What to do if you have lost your driving licence
If you misplace your driving licence, you must apply for a replacement. This can take a few weeks. If this happens you may have to rearrange your theory test.
At the test centre
You are advised to arrive 30 minutes before the scheduled time of your test.
On arrival at the centre you will be asked your name and both parts of your licence will be checked.
You will be asked to store any belongings you have in a locker. You can keep the key with you during the test. All mobile phones must be switched off. You will be given a copy of the test procedures and given a few minutes to read over them.
The invigilator staff will then check you in by signing a registration log and confirming your details. You will be shown into the testing room and allocated an individual booth to sit your test. Check the details on the screen and if they're right press 'Start' on the screen to start your test.
Should you have any problems in the testing room, raise your hand and a member of staff will come to you.
When you've finished the test you are free to quietly leave the testing room. Staff will ask you to sign out and collect any belongings from the locker. You can take a seat in the waiting room to await your results.
Personal belongings
Personal items are not allowed into the testing room and must be placed in a locker. Personal items include, but are not limited to:
- mobile phones
- ear pieces/ear phones
- laptops/hand-held computers/Personal Digital Assistants (PDAs) and other electronic devices
- pagers
- handbags
- purses
- wallets
- hats
- bags
- coats
- books
- revision notes
- dictionaries
- note paper
- pens
- watches
- food and drink
If you are found with any of the above prohibited items in the testing room, your test will be stopped, you will be asked to leave the premises and you will lose your test fee.
Theory test candidate impersonation
Be aware that having someone impersonate you for the driving or riding theory test is an offence, which carries a fine of up to £2,500.
Impersonation puts the lives of other road users at risk.
Taking the test - cars and motorcycle drivers
The theory test for car and motorcycle drivers is made up of two parts taken at the same time - multiple choice and hazard perception. You must pass both parts of the test to get a test certificate.
Delivery of the test
Your responses to the multiple choice and hazard perception parts of the test are recorded through the use of a computer mouse button.
If you pass one part and fail the other, you fail the whole test and will need to take both parts again.
When you take the theory test, you will be asked some specific questions about the particular category of test being taken (motorcycles or cars), as well as questions that apply to all road users.
Part one - multiple choice
Before the test starts you’ll be given instructions on how the test works. You can also choose to go through a practice session of the multiple choice questions to get used to the layout of the test. At the end of the practice session the real test will begin.
A question and several answer options will appear onscreen and you have to select the right answer to the question by touching the screen. Some questions may require more than one answer.
Car drivers and motorcyclists will be asked 50 questions and the pass mark is 43 out of 50. You will have just under an hour to answer the questions. If you have reading problems, you can apply for additional time and have just less than two hours to answer the questions.
Some of the multiple choice questions will be presented to you in the form of a case study. A case study shows a scenario on which five questions will be based. The subject of the scenario will focus on real life examples and experiences that you might meet when driving.
DVSA publications 'The Official Theory Test for Motorcyclists' and 'The Official Theory Test for Car Drivers' have been updated to show an example case study.
Car theory test changes
Changes are sometimes made to the car theory test to improve the user experience and make it more accessible to everyone. This page outlines any changes that have been made to the test.
Video clips have replaced written scenarios, bringing the test up-to-date and making it more accessible to people with a:
- reading difficulty (like dyslexia)
- learning disability
- developmental condition (like autism)
The changes only applies to car theory tests to begin with and the same changes will apply in England, Scotland and Wales,
The video clip scenario lasting up to 30 seconds is followed by questions. The subject of the scenario will focus on different driving conditions, such as driving through a town centre or on a country road. You’ll need to answer three questions about the clip.
The type of questions you’ll answer about the video clip
You’ll answer questions like these:
- On this road, what is the speed limit for cars and motorcycles?
- Why should you take extra care to look for motorcycles at junctions?
- On this road, what gap should you leave between you and the vehicle in front?
For each of the three questions, you’ll have to choose the right answer from four possible answers.
What the screen will look like
The left-hand side of the screen will show the video clip, with controls to:
- play the video
- pause the video
- move to a specific part of the video on a progress bar
- watch the video using the full screen
The right-hand side of the screen will show the question and four possible answers.
You can practice your driving theory by visiting;
Who this change will affect
All car theory tests now use video clips.
What’s not changing
You’ll still need to study the same books and software to prepare for your theory test.
You’ll still need to:
- answer 50 multiple-choice questions within 57 minutes
- get 43 out of the 50 questions right to pass the multiple-choice part of the test
The hazard perception part of the test is not changing. This is where you watch video clips to spot developing hazards.
Tests that are not changing
The change does not yet apply to these types of theory tests:
- motorcycle
- lorry
- bus or coach
- approved driving instructor (ADI) or approved motorcycle instructor (AMI) part 1
- taxi
DVA also offers learners with reading difficulties, disabilities or health conditions other support:
Part two - hazard perception
After the break you’ll be shown a short tutorial clip about how the hazard perception part works.
The pass mark for the car and motorcycle hazard perception part of the theory test is 44 out of 75.
More detailed information on the hazard perception test is available at the following page:
Taking the test - LGV and PCV drivers
The theory test for LGV and PCV drivers is made up of two parts – multiple choice and hazard perception.
Delivery of the test
Your responses to the multiple choice and hazard perception parts of the test are recorded through the use of a computer mouse button.
If you pass one test and fail the other, you only need to repeat the failed test again.
When you take the theory test, you will be asked some specific questions about the particular category of test being taken (LGVs or PCVs), as well as questions that apply to all road users.
Test one - multiple choice
Before the test starts you’ll be given instructions on how the test works. You can also choose to go through a practice session of the multiple choice questions to get used to the layout of the test. At the end of the practice session the real test will begin.
A question and several answer options will appear onscreen and you have to select the right answer to the question by touching the screen. Some questions may require more than one answer.
You will be asked 100 questions and the pass mark is 85 out of 100. You will have just less than two hours to answer the questions. If you have reading problems, you can apply for additional time and have just less than four hours to answer the questions.
Test two - hazard perception
You will first be shown a short tutorial clip about how the hazard perception part works.
The pass mark for LGV and PCV drivers is 67 out of 100.
More detailed information on the hazard perception test is available at the following page:
At the end of the test
At the end of the hazard perception part of the test you’ll be invited to answer survey questions to measure customer satisfaction and to consider what improvements can be made.
You don't have to answer the questions if you do not want to and any information given is anonymous and confidential. The survey questions don't affect the result of the test.
When you have finished the test you may leave the examination room. Once you have left the room, you won’t be allowed to enter it again. You will be given your result and feedback information within 10 minutes of finishing the test.
After passing the test(s)
Car and motorcycle drivers will receive a pass certificate. You will need this to book and take your practical test, so it is important that you keep this safe.
LGV and PCV drivers will receive an embossed pass letter detailing the results for the part of the theory test you have completed. When you pass both tests, you will receive your theory test certificate which includes your theory test number. You will need this number when you book your practical test.
Two year rule
Theory test certificates are valid for two years from the date you passed. If you do not pass your practical test within this two year period, you will have to take another theory test.
There are no exceptions to this rule.
If you fail the test
If you fail your theory test you should look at the feedback given on the letter and identify why you failed.
You can book another theory test straight away but you cannot take the test for another three clear working days. So, if you failed your first test on Monday afternoon, you will have to wait until Friday morning before you can take your next one.
Feedback on the test
For the multiple choice test, you will be given feedback on the topic areas in which you answered questions incorrectly and the number of questions you got wrong.
For the hazard perception test, you will receive a summary of how you scored in the clips.