Theory test cost and booking: fee, ID and how to change it

The car theory test costs £23. That is the fee charged by the Driver and Vehicle Standards Agency (DVSA) on the official GOV.UK booking service, checked in November 2026, and it is the same on weekdays, evenings, weekends and bank holidays. DVSA sets the fee and publishes the current figure on its list of driving test costs.

What each theory test costs

The fee pays for one attempt at both parts of the car test. If you fail either part you pay again for a new test. Book direct: a third-party site that offers to book for you can add its own charge on top of the DVSA fee and has no extra appointments to offer.

When you can book

• You need a provisional driving licence.
• You can take the test from your 17th birthday, or from your 16th if you get, or have applied for, the higher rate of the mobility part of Personal Independence Payment.
• You must have lived in England, Wales or Scotland for at least 185 days in the 12 months before the day of the test.

You do not need a theory test to upgrade an automatic car licence to manual.

How to book

Have three things to hand: your UK driving licence number, an email address and a credit or debit card. Then:

1. Start on the official theory test booking service and choose the car test.
2. Say whether you need support for a reading difficulty, disability or health condition. The theory test support guide explains what you can ask for.
3. Choose a test centre, date and time.
4. Pay, and keep the confirmation email with your booking reference.

Book when your practice scores say you are ready, not before. The fee is the same whether you wait two weeks or two months, and a failed attempt costs another £23 plus at least three working days.

What to bring on the day

Bring the wrong documents and the test is cancelled without a refund. If your name has changed since you booked, take proof such as a marriage certificate or deed poll. If you have lost your licence, order a replacement, which can take up to 15 days, and move the test if it will not arrive in time.

You must arrive 15 minutes before the appointment. Late arrivals lose the test and the fee. Phones, smartwatches and fitness trackers must be switched off before you enter, and bags, coats, watches and the contents of your pockets go in a locker.

Changing or cancelling

You can move the test to another date or centre, or cancel it, without losing the fee if you give at least three full working days’ notice. Monday to Saturday count as working days; Sundays and public holidays do not.

The table counts three full working days between the change and the test and assumes no public holidays; your booking shows the exact deadline. Inside the notice period you pay again, with a few exceptions: illness or injury, bereavement, a school or college exam at the same time, or a stolen driving licence. For those you email DVSA with evidence and ask for a refund. Use the official service to change your theory test appointment.

Northern Ireland: DVA, not DVSA

Everything above applies to England, Scotland and Wales. In Northern Ireland the theory test is run by the Driver and Vehicle Agency (DVA), with its own booking system, fees and test centres. A DVSA booking cannot be used there. Book through nidirect’s theory test booking service for Northern Ireland.

After the test

You get your result before you leave the test centre. A pass gives you a certificate number that is valid for two years; how long the theory test pass lasts explains what happens if it runs out.

For the test itself, read the car theory test format and pass marks, then check you are ready with a free car mock test.