Get ready for the UK driving test
Free, plain-English guides and practice for the theory test, hazard perception and the practical test in Great Britain and Northern Ireland, plus every road sign explained.
Choose your vehicle
Pick the vehicle you are getting licensed for. Cars start with the full syllabus below; every other vehicle has its own guides, licence categories and questions.
The complete UK driving syllabus
74 topics in 8 parts, each with a plain-English guide and its own practice questions. Work through in order or jump to what you need.
Before you drive
Fitness to drive, the law, your documents and checking the car and your passengers before every journey.
Vehicle controls and moving off
The cockpit drill, the pedals, steering, gears and braking: the foundation skills of your first lessons.
- The cockpit drill (DSSSM)
- The dashboard, gauges and warning lights
- Pedals and main controls
- Clutch control and the biting point
- Moving off safely
- Pulling up and stopping safely
- Steering
- Using the gears
- Braking and stopping distances
- Hill starts and driving on hills
- Lights, wipers and demisters
- Driving an automatic
Junctions, lights and signalling
Mirrors, signals, turning left and right, crossroads, box junctions and traffic lights.
Crossings and vulnerable road users
Pedestrian, cycle and level crossings, and sharing the road with people who are easier to hurt.
Roundabouts and faster roads
Mini and large roundabouts, dual carriageways, country roads, overtaking and motorways.
Road awareness and positioning
Observation, planning ahead, speed, following distance, signs and markings, and independent driving.
- Road position and lane discipline
- Speed and speed limits
- Observation and awareness
- Anticipation and planning
- Meeting traffic and giving clearance
- Following distance
- Road signs
- Road markings
- Signals from police and other road users
- Independent driving and sat nav
- Traffic calming and road works
- Making progress and driving too slowly
Safe and eco driving
Defensive driving, bad weather, skids, breakdowns, incidents, towing and smooth, economical driving.
The 14 theory topics
Every official theory test topic, with practice questions.
Theory test guideLearning in Northern Ireland
NI has its own provisional licence, DVA tests and graduated rules.
Can you read the number plate?
Practise the eyesight check at the start of your driving test with our calibrated plate test, or play the approaching car game. Then check a real plate from 20 metres.
Pick your next step
Four steps from learner to licence
Work through each stage in order, and use the topic guides to fill any gaps.
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Latest United Kingdom guides
Find driving instructors in the UK
Browse local driving instructors and schools and contact them for free.