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Could you pass today's driving theory test?

Could you pass the 2025 driving theory test?

Exams in any practical subject aren't necessarily a great indicator of competence. It is often said that intelligence tests don't accurately measure intelligence itself, just how good the subject is at taking intelligence tests. The same may be true of the driving test. Some people perform well under scrutiny and the pressure of an examination, while others find that particular kind of stress hard to cope with. Consequently, it is not uncommon for people to repeatedly demonstrate knowledge of a rule, or mastery of a manoeuvre, to their driving instructor's satisfaction, only to fail on that very same point under test conditions. Imperfect though it may be, the driving test that we have is the one we must pass in order to earn a full driving license.

A major part of the driving test is the theory test. Many of us are old enough to have taken the driving test before the introduction of a separate theory test. Before 1996, we just had to answer a few questions posed orally by the driving examiner: there was no separate theory test at all. However, even those young enough to have taken a theory test might find it difficult to pass today's written test. Not only do memories fade with time, but some aspects of the highway code may well have been revised since they took their driving tests.

In fact, a driving theory test isn't just required for new drivers: even experienced drivers may have to take a theory test under certain circumstances, such as after serving a period of disqualification from driving, or when training to become a driving instructor. Of course, we should all be familiar with the highway code anyway, as its guidance and information can help prevent accidents.

How would you do in a theory test?

The official database of driving theory test questions contains over 700 multiple-choice questions on topics such as:

  • Alertness
  • Attitude
  • Essential documents
  • Hazard awareness
  • Incidents, accidents and emergencies
  • Motorway rules
  • Other types of vehicle
  • Road and traffic signs
  • Rules of the road
  • Safety and your vehicle
  • Safety margins
  • Vehicle handling
  • Vehicle loading
  • Vulnerable road users

50 of those questions are included in the theory test taken by the student. The student is not advised which of the questions will be included. In order to pass the theory test, the student must answer at least 43 of the 50 questions correctly (that's 86%).

We won't subject you to a full mock test, but we have gathered 15 fairly tricky examples from the official DVSA question database. See how many of the questions below you can answer correctly.

The correct answers appear at the bottom of the page.

  1. There are no speed-limit signs on the road. How is a 30 mph limit generally indicated?

    1. By hazard warning lines
    2. By pedestrian islands
    3. By double or single yellow lines
    4. By street lighting

  2. What’s the speed limit for a car towing a caravan on a dual carriageway?

    1. 70 mph
    2. 60 mph
    3. 40 mph
    4. 50 mph

  3. You want to turn right at a box junction. What should you do if there’s oncoming traffic?

    1. Wait in the box junction if your exit is clear
    2. Drive on; you can't turn right at a box junction
    3. Drive slowly into the box junction when signalled by oncoming traffic
    4. Wait before the junction until it's clear of all traffic

  4. Who has priority at an unmarked crossroads?

    1. The smaller vehicle
    2. No one has priority
    3. The faster vehicle
    4. The larger vehicle

  5. Some two-way roads are divided into three lanes. Why are they particularly dangerous?

    1. Traffic in both directions can use the middle lane to overtake
    2. Traffic can travel faster in poor weather conditions
    3. Traffic can overtake on the left
    4. Traffic uses the middle lane for emergencies only

  6. When should tyre pressures be checked?

    1. After any lengthy journey
    2. When tyres are hot
    3. After travelling at high speed
    4. When tyres are cold

  7. Where are amber reflective studs found on a motorway?

    1. Between the central reservation and the carriageway
    2. Between each pair of lanes
    3. Between the hard shoulder and the carriageway
    4. Between the acceleration lane and the carriageway

  8. Who should obey diamond-shaped traffic signs?

    1. Lorry drivers
    2. Tram drivers
    3. Bus drivers
    4. Taxi drivers

  9. You have stopped in an emergency area. What must you do before you rejoin the carriageway?

    1. Move away with your hazard lights on
    2. Use the emergency telephone
    3. Give an arm signal as you are moving off
    4. Switch on your vehicle's headlights

  10. You’ve just passed your driving test. What’s the maximum authorised mass (MAM) of any trailer that you can tow?

    1. 5,500 kg
    2. 6,500 kg
    3. 4,500 kg
    4. 3,500 kg

  11. When may you overtake another vehicle on their left?

    1. When you’re on a one-way street
    2. When approaching a motorway slip road where you’ll be turning off
    3. When the vehicle in front is signalling to turn left
    4. When a slower vehicle is travelling in the right-hand lane of a dual carriageway

  12. What should you do when you park at night on a road that has a 40 mph speed limit?

    1. Park facing the traffic
    2. Leave parking lights switched on
    3. Leave dipped headlights switched on
    4. Park near a street light

  13. What must you do when the amber light is flashing at a pelican crossing?

    1. Stop and wait for the green light
    2. Stop and wait for the red light
    3. Give way to pedestrians waiting to cross
    4. Give way to pedestrians already on the crossing

  14. What colour are the reflective studs between the hard shoulder and the left-hand lane of a motorway?

    1. Green
    2. Red
    3. White
    4. Amber

  15. Which driving technique can help you save fuel?

    1. Missing out some gears
    2. Using lower gears as often as possible
    3. Accelerating sharply in each gear
    4. Using each gear in turn

Check your answers below to see how you did.

Of course, we wouldn't expect you to do something like this unless we had tried it ourselves. Your humble blogger tried these questions earlier but, sadly, this article has reached its word limit and there's no space left to report his results.

ANSWERS:

  1. There are no speed-limit signs on the road. How is a 30 mph limit generally indicated?

    D. By street lighting

  2. What’s the speed limit for a car towing a caravan on a dual carriageway?

    B. 60 mph

  3. You want to turn right at a box junction. What should you do if there’s oncoming traffic?

    A. Wait in the box junction if your exit is clear

  4. Who has priority at an unmarked crossroads?

    B. No one has priority

  5. Some two-way roads are divided into three lanes. Why are they particularly dangerous?

    A. Traffic in both directions can use the middle lane to overtake

  6. When should tyre pressures be checked?

    D. When tyres are cold

  7. Where are amber reflective studs found on a motorway?

    A. Between the central reservation and the carriageway

  8. Who should obey diamond-shaped traffic signs?

    B. Tram drivers

  9. You have stopped in an emergency area. What must you do before you rejoin the carriageway?

    B. Use the emergency telephone

  10. You’ve just passed your driving test. What’s the maximum authorised mass (MAM) of any trailer that you can tow?

    D. 3,500 kg

  11. When may you overtake another vehicle on their left?

    A. When you’re on a one-way street

  12. What should you do when you park at night on a road that has a 40 mph speed limit?

    B. Leave parking lights switched on

  13. What must you do when the amber light is flashing at a pelican crossing?

    D. Give way to pedestrians already on the crossing

  14. What colour are the reflective studs between the hard shoulder and the left-hand lane of a motorway?

    B. Red

  15. Which driving technique can help you save fuel?

    A. Missing out some gears

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