How Much Is a Theory Test? UK Theory Test Fees Explained

Last checked: 13 September 2026

That £23 is the official fee. Where people end up paying more is through unofficial booking websites, resits, and changing their appointment too late. This guide covers all three, so you only pay the fee once.

The prices below apply in England, Scotland and Wales, where theory tests are run by the Driver and Vehicle Standards Agency (DVSA). Northern Ireland has its own booking service and fees.

Theory test fees at a glance

Theory test	Weekdays	Evenings, weekends and bank holidays
Car	£23	£23
Motorcycle and moped	£23	£23
Lorry and bus: Driver CPC part 1a (multiple-choice)	£26	£26
Lorry and bus: Driver CPC part 1b (hazard perception)	£11	£11
Lorry and bus: Driver CPC part 2 (case studies)	£23	£23

Unlike the practical driving test, which costs more for evening and weekend appointments, the theory test is a flat price whenever you take it. Source: Driving test costs on GOV.UK.

What does the £23 cover?

For cars and motorcycles, the fee covers both parts of the test: the multiple-choice questions and the hazard perception clips. You book and take them together as a single test, and you need to pass both on the same attempt. You get your result at the test centre straight afterwards.

If you pass, you’ll get a letter with a pass certificate number. It lasts for 2 years, and you need to pass your practical test within that time. If you don’t, you’ll have to take (and pay for) the theory test again. We explain the format and pass marks in more detail in our guide to how long the theory test takes.

Lorry and bus theory works differently. Parts 1a and 1b are booked separately, which is why they’re priced separately, although you can take them on the same day. You need to pass both within 2 years of each other to get your theory test certificate.

What you pay before you can take a theory test

You can’t book a theory test without a provisional licence, so for most learners the theory fee isn’t the first cost. Here’s what the official fees add up to before you’ve had a single driving lesson:

Official fee	Cost	Notes
First provisional driving licence	£34 online (£43 by post)	Apply to DVLA from 15 years and 9 months old
Car theory test	£23	Same price any day or time
Total	£57	Using the online provisional licence application

On top of that you’ll need the practical test itself and your lessons. Our driving test cost guide covers the practical fees and the full official cost of getting a car licence.

Avoid paying more than £23

GOV.UK is clear that its prices are for booking through the official service, and that unofficial websites usually charge more. Check you’re on a gov.uk web address before you enter card details. To book you’ll need your UK driving licence number, an email address and a debit or credit card.

You also need to have lived in England, Wales or Scotland for at least 185 days in the 12 months before the day you take your test.

When you’d have to pay again

The fee is only lost in a handful of situations, and most of them are avoidable:

• You fail. You have to book and take the whole test again, even if you passed one of the two parts, and wait at least 3 working days before your next attempt.
• You change your appointment too late. You need to give at least 3 full working days’ notice to change your test. Monday to Saturday count as working days, but Sundays and public holidays don’t.
• You’re late. You must arrive 15 minutes before your test starts. If you’re late, the test is cancelled and you lose your money.
• You bring the wrong ID. You need your UK photocard driving licence (or a paper licence plus a valid passport). Without it, your test is cancelled and you don’t get your money back.

Of these, resits are the costly one for most people. At £23 a time it’s not a huge sum, but each failed attempt also means waiting at least 3 working days and pushes back when you can book your practical test. Booking once you’re consistently passing practice tests is cheaper than booking early and hoping.

Can you get a refund for a short-notice change?

Yes, in some cases. If you have to change your test at short notice, DVSA can refund the fee if you have:

• an illness or injury that means you can’t take the test
• had a bereavement
• an exam at school or college at the same time
• had your driving licence stolen

You’ll need to email DVSA with the subject “Unavoidable short notice cancellation” and attach proof, such as a fit note, a letter from your school or college, or a crime reference number. If you were ill for 7 days or fewer, you might have to pay for a private medical certificate, so weigh that against the £23 fee. The full process is on the change your theory test page.

Does extra support cost more?

No extra fee is charged for a British Sign Language interpreter or a lip speaker, as long as you tell DVSA you need one when you book. You can also ask to hear the test through headphones, and apply for extra time on the multiple-choice questions if you send proof of a reading difficulty.

Do you have to pay for revision materials?

Not necessarily. GOV.UK offers a free practice theory test, and The Highway Code is free to read online. DVSA also sells official books and apps, including a theory test kit and a hazard perception app.

Our view: start with the free practice test. If you’re scoring comfortably above the pass mark on the multiple-choice questions, you may not need much more. If hazard perception is your weak spot, that’s where extra practice clips are most likely to help.

Who doesn’t need to take a car theory test?

A few people can skip it altogether. You don’t need a car theory test if you’re upgrading an automatic car licence to a manual one, or if you have a category B1 licence from before 1 February 2001. No theory test is needed before a taxi driving test or a tractor driving test either.

Booking in Northern Ireland

There’s a different service for booking a theory test in Northern Ireland, with its own fees. Check the current details on nidirect.

Sources: Driving test costs, Theory test: cars, Book your theory test, Change your theory test appointment and Apply for your first provisional driving licence, all on GOV.UK.