How much is the UK theory test and what score do you need to pass?

2026-07-29 · 5 min read · Published by Theorio

Booking a car theory test in England, Scotland or Wales costs £23. You take two parts in one sitting: 50 multiple-choice questions in 57 minutes, followed by the hazard perception test, and you need 43 out of 50 and 44 out of 75 to pass. In Northern Ireland, you book instead through the official nidirect (DVA) service.

How much does the car theory test cost?

The official booking fee for a car theory test in Great Britain — England, Scotland and Wales — is £23. You pay once, when you book, and that single fee covers both parts of the test in the same appointment: the multiple-choice questions and the hazard perception clips. The fee is set by the Driver and Vehicle Standards Agency (DVSA), and you book with your driving licence details, an email address and a way to pay.

The safest way to book in Great Britain is directly through the GOV.UK booking service. That way you know you are paying the official test fee itself, and you can move or cancel the appointment through the same official service if your plans change. Keep your confirmation email so you can easily find your appointment details and booking reference if you need them.

Source: Book your theory test — GOV.UK

How long does the theory test take?

The appointment is one sitting with two timed parts. In the multiple-choice part you have 57 minutes to answer 50 questions on the rules of the road, signs and safe driving. When that part ends, you can take a break of up to 3 minutes before the hazard perception part begins — enough to reset, not enough to revise.

In the hazard perception part you watch 14 video clips of everyday road scenes. The clips contain 15 developing hazards in total — one clip has two — and you can score up to 5 points for each developing hazard, depending on how quickly you spot it. The total appointment length can vary, so allow extra time beyond the 57-minute multiple-choice section for check-in, the optional break and hazard perception.

Source: Theory test: multiple-choice questions — GOV.UK

Source: Theory test: hazard perception — GOV.UK

What is the theory test pass mark?

There are two pass marks, and you must reach both in the same sitting:

Multiple-choice questions: 43 out of 50 (86%)
Hazard perception: 44 out of 75

In practice, 43 out of 50 means you can afford to get at most 7 questions wrong. That 86% threshold is deliberately high, and it is the number most people underestimate: scoring in the mid-thirties on practice questions feels close, but it is still a fail on the day. Passing one part does not carry over to your next attempt either — if you score 43 or more on the questions but miss the 44-point mark on hazard perception, or the other way round, the test as a whole is not passed.

What happens if you fail?

If you fail either part, you take the full test again — both parts, including the one you passed. You must wait at least 3 working days before taking the test again, and you make and pay for a new booking. The earliest available retake date depends on when you took the test and on available appointments, so check the official booking service once the three-working-day wait has passed. Fees are set by DVSA and can change, so check the current amount on GOV.UK when you rebook rather than assuming it will match what you paid before. Every extra attempt costs money and waiting time, which is the practical argument for only booking once your practice results are consistently above the pass marks.

Source: Theory test: pass mark and result — GOV.UK

Booking in Great Britain and Northern Ireland

The GOV.UK booking service and the £23 fee described above apply to Great Britain. Northern Ireland runs its own system: theory tests there are managed by the Driver and Vehicle Agency (DVA), and you book through the official nidirect service. nidirect's own guidance says that when you book online you pay the cost of the test with no extra booking fee. The DVA sets its fee separately, so check the current amount on nidirect when you book.

Source: Book your theory test online — nidirect

How long is a theory test pass certificate valid?

Your theory test pass certificate lasts 2 years. You need to pass your practical driving test within that window; if the certificate expires first, you have to take — and pay for — the theory test again from the start. That two-year clock is worth keeping in mind when you plan lessons: passing the theory test early gives you room, but not unlimited room, to get test-ready on the road.

Preparing for your theory test

The test itself can only be booked through GOV.UK or nidirect — no study product can book it for you, and Theorio is no exception. Theorio is a preparation product: practice questions based on the DVSA revision question bank (used under licence), explanations in eight languages, timed mock tests using the published pass-mark thresholds, and hazard perception practice clips. A Theorio subscription is separate from the official booking fee you pay to DVSA or DVA when you book the test.

However you choose to prepare, a simple rule works well: practise until your mock scores sit comfortably above 43 out of 50 — not just touching it — and until hazard clips feel routine rather than stressful, then book. Treat the booking fee as something you plan to pay once. Fees, pass marks and booking rules can change over time, so always check the latest figures on GOV.UK or nidirect before you book.