Driving Licence Test
When can you take your Driving Test?
You can book your driving test once you've passed the DVSA theory test.
You don't need to have a theory test if you're taking one of the following tests:
- Taxi test
- Tractor test
- Test to upgrade from automatic to manual
- Test to progress through the bike categories
- Car and trailer test
- Lorry and trailer test
- Bus and trailer test
- Large lorry test and you've already got a medium lorry licence
- Large bus test and you've already got a medium bus licence.
If you are learning with an approved driving instructor, they will be able to assess your ability and advise you on when you should book your test.
You can book your driving test once you've passed the DVSA theory test.
You don't need to have a theory test if you're taking one of the following tests:
- Taxi test
- Tractor test
- Test to upgrade from automatic to manual
- Test to progress through the bike categories
- Car and trailer test
- Lorry and trailer test
- Bus and trailer test
- Large lorry test and you've already got a medium lorry licence
- Large bus test and you've already got a medium bus licence.
If you are learning with an approved driving instructor, they will be able to assess your ability and advise you on when you should book your test.
The Different Driving Tests
Different vehicles, like lorries and busses, require the driver to have a licence for that vehicle. The different vehicle categories are:
- Car (Category B)
- Motorbike (Categories A1, A2 & A)
- Moped (Category P or AM)
- Medium-sized vehicles (Category C1)
- Large vehicles and lorries (Category C)
- Minibus (Category D1)
- Bus (Category D)
- Agricultural tractor (Category F)
- Other specialist vehicles (Categories G, H and K)
- Quad bikes and 4-wheeled light vehicles (Category B1)
- Motor tricycle (Categories A & A1)
If you want to know which vehicles you're entitled to drive, and what you need to do to qualify to drive certain vehicles, follow this link - https://www.gov.uk/vehicles-you-can-drive
Theory Test
Before you can take your driving test, you'll need to pass your theory test. These tests are taken at the DVSA theory test centres. To find your nearest theory test centre, follow this link - https://www.gov.uk/driving-theory-test-centre
The theory test consists of multiple-choice questions and a hazard perception test.
During the multiple-choice section, you'll be asked 50 multiple-choice theory test questions. You must get 43 out of the 50 questions correct to pass this section of the test.
The second part of the theory test is the Hazard Perception Test. In this test you'll be shown 14 video clips. All of these clips will have at least one hazard. When you identify a hazard, you must click the mouse. When that hazard develops, you must click again. A scoring window will count down from 5 to 1. The earlier you identify the developing hazard, the more points you score. Out of a possible 75 points, you must score 44 or more to pass.
The Practical Test
You will be expected to take the test in the car you show up in. Make sure it's correctly insured and is road legal. If you take your test with a driving instructor, you use their car and they will make sure it's appropriate for test use.
It's a good idea to arrive about fifteen minutes before the test starts so you have plenty of time to park and get to the waiting room.
You must brink both your photocard driving licence and the paper counterpart. Without these you won't be able to take the test.
You should also bring your theory test certificate if possible. Although, you can still take the test if you don't have this.
Some test centres don't have toilet facilities.
You will be expected to wait in the waiting room and the examiner will come in at the time of your test and call your name. They will ask to see both parts of your driving licence and ask you to sign the test sheet to confirm that you are who you say you are.
The examiner will ask you if you would like your instructor or accompanying driver to join you on the test. This will involve said person sitting in the back seat. They won't be allowed to talk to you at any point.
You will be asked to read a number plate before you go out on the test. The minimum requirement is that you can read it from 20 metres for cars with the new style of number plate and 20.5 metres for cars with the old style.
You will be asked two show me tell me questions before you leave for the test. These can be found here >>
You won't fail your test for answering the questions incorrectly, but you will receive a driver fault on your test sheet. To pass your test, you must have 15 driver faults or less, and no serious or dangerous faults.
Your test will last for roughly forty minutes and you will be asked to perform one manoeuvre, drive independently–either following road signs or a very basic map–and you may also have to do an emergency stop.
At the end of the test you will be told if you've passed or failed. If you pass, the examiner will offer to take your licence so they can send it off on your behalf. You will be given a pass certificate, which means you can drive as soon as you have your car insured for you as a qualified driver. Your previous insurance policy as a provisional licence holder will not cover you to drive anymore.
Different vehicles, like lorries and busses, require the driver to have a licence for that vehicle. The different vehicle categories are:
- Car (Category B)
- Motorbike (Categories A1, A2 & A)
- Moped (Category P or AM)
- Medium-sized vehicles (Category C1)
- Large vehicles and lorries (Category C)
- Minibus (Category D1)
- Bus (Category D)
- Agricultural tractor (Category F)
- Other specialist vehicles (Categories G, H and K)
- Quad bikes and 4-wheeled light vehicles (Category B1)
- Motor tricycle (Categories A & A1)
If you want to know which vehicles you're entitled to drive, and what you need to do to qualify to drive certain vehicles, follow this link - https://www.gov.uk/vehicles-you-can-drive
Theory Test
Before you can take your driving test, you'll need to pass your theory test. These tests are taken at the DVSA theory test centres. To find your nearest theory test centre, follow this link - https://www.gov.uk/driving-theory-test-centre
The theory test consists of multiple-choice questions and a hazard perception test.
During the multiple-choice section, you'll be asked 50 multiple-choice theory test questions. You must get 43 out of the 50 questions correct to pass this section of the test.
The second part of the theory test is the Hazard Perception Test. In this test you'll be shown 14 video clips. All of these clips will have at least one hazard. When you identify a hazard, you must click the mouse. When that hazard develops, you must click again. A scoring window will count down from 5 to 1. The earlier you identify the developing hazard, the more points you score. Out of a possible 75 points, you must score 44 or more to pass.
The Practical Test
You will be expected to take the test in the car you show up in. Make sure it's correctly insured and is road legal. If you take your test with a driving instructor, you use their car and they will make sure it's appropriate for test use.
It's a good idea to arrive about fifteen minutes before the test starts so you have plenty of time to park and get to the waiting room.
You must brink both your photocard driving licence and the paper counterpart. Without these you won't be able to take the test.
You should also bring your theory test certificate if possible. Although, you can still take the test if you don't have this.
Some test centres don't have toilet facilities.
You will be expected to wait in the waiting room and the examiner will come in at the time of your test and call your name. They will ask to see both parts of your driving licence and ask you to sign the test sheet to confirm that you are who you say you are.
The examiner will ask you if you would like your instructor or accompanying driver to join you on the test. This will involve said person sitting in the back seat. They won't be allowed to talk to you at any point.
You will be asked to read a number plate before you go out on the test. The minimum requirement is that you can read it from 20 metres for cars with the new style of number plate and 20.5 metres for cars with the old style.
You will be asked two show me tell me questions before you leave for the test. These can be found here >>
You won't fail your test for answering the questions incorrectly, but you will receive a driver fault on your test sheet. To pass your test, you must have 15 driver faults or less, and no serious or dangerous faults.
Your test will last for roughly forty minutes and you will be asked to perform one manoeuvre, drive independently–either following road signs or a very basic map–and you may also have to do an emergency stop.
At the end of the test you will be told if you've passed or failed. If you pass, the examiner will offer to take your licence so they can send it off on your behalf. You will be given a pass certificate, which means you can drive as soon as you have your car insured for you as a qualified driver. Your previous insurance policy as a provisional licence holder will not cover you to drive anymore.
Costs for Tests
The costs for all of the different driving test categories can be found here - https://www.gov.uk/driving-test-cost
Documents Required
For both the theory test and the practical driving test, you must arrive with your photocard driving licence and the paper counterpart.
Although it's not essential that you bring your theory test certificate with you to the driving test, it’s advisable. On your theory test certificate there is a reference number that you must have when booking your practical test.
Booking
You can book your theory test here - https://www.gov.uk/book-a-driving-theory-test
You can book your practical test here - https://www.gov.uk/book-practical-driving-test
The costs for all of the different driving test categories can be found here - https://www.gov.uk/driving-test-cost
Documents Required
For both the theory test and the practical driving test, you must arrive with your photocard driving licence and the paper counterpart.
Although it's not essential that you bring your theory test certificate with you to the driving test, it’s advisable. On your theory test certificate there is a reference number that you must have when booking your practical test.
Booking
You can book your theory test here - https://www.gov.uk/book-a-driving-theory-test
You can book your practical test here - https://www.gov.uk/book-practical-driving-test