Driving Test

Theory Test

The theory test is made up of 2 parts. A multiple choice test and a hazard perception test. Both parts must be passed in order to obtain a theory pass certificate. This enables the candidate to book a practical driving test. Candidates have 2 years from the date they passed the first part of their theory test to take a driving test or they will have to pass both parts of the theory test once again before booking a practical test.


Part 1
The multiple choice test is performed on a computer system. The test has 50 multiple choice questions and the candidate must answer at least 43 of them correctly to pass.
 

Part 2
The hazard perception test is made up of 14 video clips filmed from the perspective of a car driver. The candidate will have to indicate when they observe a developing hazard by clicking a mouse button or touching the screen.

Practical Test

The practical car test is taken on the road, with a professionally trained DVSA examiner directing the candidate around a pre-determined route.

The examiner marks the candidate for driving faults, serious faults and dangerous faults. A candidate will fail the test if he or she accumulates any serious or dangerous faults, or more than 15 driving faults. If a candidate accumulates several driving faults in the same category, the examiner may consider the fault habitual and mark a serious fault in that category.

The test usually lasts around 40 minutes in a standard test, or approximately 70 minutes when the candidate is taking an extended test after having their licence revoked.

'Show me, tell me' questions

The 'show me, tell me' vehicle safety questions that driving examiners can ask in car driving tests.