The car theory test is the first exam most UK learners sit, and it has two parts: a multiple-choice section and a hazard perception test. You take both at the same appointment and you have to pass both. This guide walks through each part in the order you will meet it, using the figures DVSA publishes on GOV.UK.
Before you can book
You need a provisional driving licence to book. Most people can take the car theory test from their 17th birthday. If you get, or have applied for, the higher rate of the mobility part of Personal Independence Payment (PIP), you can take it from 16.
To book online you need your UK driving licence number, an email address and a debit or credit card. The fee for cars and motorcycles is £23. Book through the official GOV.UK service (opens in a new tab). If you need to move your appointment, you must give at least 3 full working days' notice or pay again.
Part 1: the multiple-choice questions
You have 57 minutes to answer 50 questions. Before the clock starts you get instructions on how the test works and a practice question so you can get used to the screens.
- Each question gives you a set of answers to choose from on screen.
- Three of the questions are about a short, silent video of a normal driving situation. You can watch the video as many times as you like.
- You can flag a question and come back to it later, and you can change any answer at any point before you finish.
- You can finish early once every question has an answer. You do not have to use the full 57 minutes.
The pass mark is 43 out of 50, which means you can drop no more than seven marks. That margin disappears quickly if a whole topic is weak, which is why topic-by-topic practice matters more than racing through random questions.
Where the questions come from
DVSA says the multiple-choice questions are based on three books: The Highway Code, Know Your Traffic Signs and Driving: the essential skills. Revision question banks, including the licensed questions used in TheoryIQ, cover the same topics, but DVSA is clear that its practice questions are not the ones used in the real test. Treat any revision question as a way to learn the rule behind it, not as something to memorise word for word.
The break between parts
After the multiple-choice section you can take a break of up to 3 minutes before the hazard perception test begins. It is worth taking it, even briefly. The second part needs a different kind of concentration.
Part 2: the hazard perception test
Before the clips start you are shown a short video explaining how the test works. You then watch 14 video clips of everyday road scenes. Each clip contains at least one developing hazard, and one of the clips contains two, so there are 15 hazards to find in total.
A developing hazard is something that would make you, the driver, take action, such as changing speed or direction. You score up to 5 points for each developing hazard, and the earlier you respond once it starts to develop, the more you score. With 15 hazards the maximum is 75, and the pass mark is 44 out of 75.
- You get one attempt at each clip. You cannot review or change your responses.
- Clicking at the wrong time does not lose you points.
- Clicking continuously or in a pattern scores nothing for that clip.
The clips are computer-generated, and since 2018 they have included a wider range of conditions such as rain, fog, snow and ice, wind, and night-time or low-light driving. There is a full breakdown of the scoring in our hazard perception guide.
Your result
| Part | Pass mark | Points available |
|---|---|---|
| Multiple-choice questions | 43 | 50 |
| Hazard perception | 44 | 75 |
You get your result at the test centre. If you pass, you get a letter with a pass certificate number. You will need it when you book your practical driving test, and it lasts for 2 years. If you do not pass the practical test within that time, you have to take the theory test again.
If you fail, the letter shows which parts you did not score enough points on. You have to book and take the whole test again, even if you passed one part, and you must wait at least 3 working days before your next attempt.
Support if you have a reading difficulty, disability or health condition
Tell DVSA when you book if you need support. Options listed on GOV.UK include hearing the test through headphones in English or Welsh, extra time for the multiple-choice part, a member of staff to read questions aloud and record your answers, a British Sign Language video on screen, and bringing a BSL interpreter or lip speaker at no extra cost. Some options need evidence, and you are told how to provide it when you book. The GOV.UK page on support (opens in a new tab) has the full list.
How to prepare
Most learners do best with a mix of three things: learning the rules topic by topic, practising hazard perception clips until the timing feels natural, and sitting full-length mock tests once the topics are in place. Our four-week study plan puts those in order, and the mock test strategy guide explains how to get the most out of each attempt.
TheoryIQ is built around that approach. Every practice answer comes with an explanation, mock tests use the same 50 questions in 57 minutes with a 43 pass mark, and progress tracking shows which topics need another session. You can see the full list of practice tools, or check what £4.99 includes.
