The UK driving theory test explained
The short answer
The car theory test has 50 multiple-choice questions in 57 minutes, and you need 43 right. The hazard perception part has 14 clips, and you need 44 out of 75. You must pass both parts at the same sitting.
DriveQuiz covers the multiple-choice part; hazard perception is not in our app yet.
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These are the rules for Great Britain, from GOV.UK. In Northern Ireland the theory test is run by the DVA: see nidirect.
The test in numbers
| Part | What you do | Pass mark |
|---|---|---|
| Multiple-choice questions | 50 questions in 57 minutes. Three of them are about a short video. | 43 out of 50 |
| Hazard perception | 14 video clips of everyday road scenes. You click when you see a hazard developing. | 44 out of 75 |
Check your score with the pass-mark checker.
You must pass both parts in the same sitting. If you fail one part, you take the whole test again.
Who can take it, and the fee
- You need a provisional driving licence to book the test.
- You can take it from your 17th birthday. You can take it from your 16th birthday if you get, or have applied for, the higher rate of the mobility part of Personal Independence Payment (PIP).
- You must have lived in England, Wales or Scotland for at least 185 days in the 12 months before the day of your test.
- The car theory test costs £23 (GOV.UK, Book your theory test).
The multiple-choice part
A question and several possible answers appear on a screen, and you select the right answer. Before it starts you get instructions and a practice question. Three questions are about a short, silent video of a normal driving situation, which you can watch as many times as you like.
- You can flag questions to come back to later, and go back and change any answer.
- You can finish once you have answered every question; you do not have to use the full 57 minutes.
- You can have a break of up to 3 minutes before the hazard perception part.
The questions are based on three books: The Highway Code, Know your traffic signs and Driving: the essential skills. Our Highway Code quizzes and road sign pages cover the first two.
The hazard perception part
You watch 14 clips, each with at least one developing hazard; one clip has two. You score up to 5 points for each developing hazard, so the most you can get is 75. Read how the hazard perception test works for the details.
How many people pass
In Great Britain, 2,924,430 car theory tests were taken from April 2025 to March 2026, and 1,311,480 of them were passed: a pass rate of 44.8% (DVSA, table DRT111A). That counts tests, not people, so someone who takes it twice counts twice. The numbers mostly say that the test needs real preparation for both parts.
Your result
- You get your result at the test centre.
- If you pass, you get a letter with a pass certificate number. It lasts 2 years: you must pass your driving test in that time, or take the theory test again.
- If you fail, the letter tells you which parts you did not score enough points on. You must book the full test again, for a date at least 3 working days away.
Read what to do after a failed theory test for a practice plan and rebooking details.
What to take
Take your UK photocard driving licence. With a Northern Ireland licence, bring the photocard and the paper part of the licence (the counterpart). With an old paper licence, bring a valid passport too. If you do not take the right things, your test will be cancelled and you will not get your money back.
Use our printable theory test day checklist to get ready.
Help if you need it
Tell DVSA when you book if you have a reading difficulty. For any other disability or health condition, contact DVSA before you book to discuss it. You can ask to hear the test through headphones, in English or Welsh. With proof of a reading difficulty you can ask for extra time, someone to read the questions and record your answers, or someone to reword the questions. You can take the test in British Sign Language.
How to practise for it
- Take our free 50-question mock theory test: all 14 topics, scored against the pass mark of 43, with the rule behind every answer.
- Work through the Highway Code quizzes and the road signs quiz.
- Read the three books the questions are based on. The Highway Code and Know your traffic signs are free on GOV.UK.
Where DriveQuiz fits
DriveQuiz is a quiz you play with friends and family. Our questions are our own, written from The Highway Code and Know your traffic signs; they are drafted with AI help, checked against those sources and not reviewed by a driving instructor, and they are not DVSA questions (how we write them). We do not cover hazard perception. For both parts of the test, GOV.UK lists the official DVSA revision materials.
Quick check
How many multiple-choice questions must you get right to pass?
A. 38 out of 50 · B. 43 out of 50 · C. 45 out of 50
Show answer
B. 43 out of 50. The pass mark for the multiple-choice part is 43 out of 50. Source: Theory test: pass mark and test result, GOV.UK
How long does a theory test pass certificate last?
A. 6 months · B. 2 years · C. For life
Show answer
B. 2 years. Your pass certificate number lasts for 2 years. Source: Theory test: pass mark and test result, GOV.UK
You pass the questions but fail hazard perception. What happens?
A. You only retake hazard perception · B. You retake the full test · C. You pass anyway
Show answer
B. You retake the full test. You must pass both parts, and you must book and take the full test again. Source: Theory test: pass mark and test result, GOV.UK
Common questions
Is 47 out of 50 a pass in the theory test?
Yes, for the multiple-choice part: the pass mark is 43 out of 50. You also need 44 out of 75 in the hazard perception part, at the same sitting.
How many questions can you get wrong?
Seven. You need 43 of the 50 multiple-choice questions right, so you can get up to 7 wrong and still pass that part.
Is the theory test 100 questions?
No. The car theory test has 50 multiple-choice questions, then the hazard perception part with 14 video clips.
Do you get your result straight away?
Yes. You get your result at the test centre, with a letter. If you pass, it has your pass certificate number, which lasts 2 years.
What happens if you fail?
The letter tells you which parts you did not score enough points on. You book the whole test again, for a date at least 3 working days away.
Sources
- Theory test: cars, GOV.UK
- Theory test: multiple-choice questions, GOV.UK
- Theory test: hazard perception test, GOV.UK
- Theory test: pass mark and test result, GOV.UK
- Theory test: what to take to your test, GOV.UK
- Theory test: revision and practice, GOV.UK
- Theory test: if you have a reading difficulty, disability or health condition, GOV.UK
- Book your theory test, GOV.UK
- Car driving test and theory test data (table DRT111A), DVSA, GOV.UK
Contains public sector information licensed under the Open Government Licence v3.0.