Learning a new skill from scratch requires more than just an investment of time and energy, but also a financial investment. The amount of investment may vary depending on the time needed to achieve your learning goal. The same principle applies when you are learning to drive, and it is always good to plan your budget.
In this article, we will look at the test fees required to obtain a driving licence, as well as any additional fees that may come with it.
| Test Type | Weekday Fee (Mon–Fri before 4:30pm) | Evening / Weekend / Bank Holiday | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| 🧠 Theory Test (Car) | £23 | £23 | Fixed price, no time variation |
| 🚗 Practical Driving Test (Car) | £62 | £75 | Standard learner car test |
| 🚗 Extended Practical Test (Car) | £124 | £150 | Only for court-disqualified drivers |
💷 Breakdown of Driving Test Fees
First, let's look at the official fees for both the theory and practical driving tests.
📍 Theory Test Fees
For the theory test, the booking fee remains the same regardless of the day or time of the booking. 1
📍Practical Test Fees
For the practical test, the fees vary according to the time and day you book your test.
Side note: There's a different fee structure for the extended driving test for disqualified drivers.
An extended driving test is specifically for individuals who are ordered by the court to resit both their theory and practical test after committing a serious driving offence. The extended driving test is longer than the usual practical test and lasts about 65 minutes (as compared to 35 minutes for the usual practical test).
Applicants who need to take an extended driving test can apply for a new provisional driving licence up to 56 days before their disqualification ends. 2
💳 Additional Costs and Considerations
While the official DVSA fees are fixed, you might need to allocate additional budget for potential expenses when taking your driving test.
🔁 Retake Fees
If you fail your theory or practical driving test, you must pay the full booking fee again to retake the exam. There will not be discounted fees for the second booking.
❌Cancellation and Rescheduling Fees
You can change your driving test appointment online up to 2 times (without losing your fee) if you are taking a car driving test, which applies to these areas:
Find an earlier driving test
Opt for a later driving test
Change the test centre's venue
Important: If you do not make changes at least 10 full working days (Monday to Friday) before your test date, you will lose your booking fee and need to pay the full test fee again. This also applies to cancellation without any valid reasons.
You can request a refund by emailing the Driver and Vehicles Standard Agency (DVSA), indicating your basic details and the proof for these reasons:
✅ Illness or injury (medical certificate)
✅ Bereavement
✅ An exam at school or college
✅ If your provisional driving licence was stolen 3
💸 Evening and Weekend Surcharges
You might notice a higher fee structure for evening time slots (any time after 4:30 pm) and weekend test dates. This is because it depends on the test venue and examiner availability.
💻 Booking Your Driving Test
Now, let's look at the steps to finalise the booking process for both your theory and practical driving test.
📍How to Book for the Theory Test
To book your theory test, you need the following:
- A valid provisional driving licence
- An email address
- A debit or credit card for payment
It’s against the law to book a car driving test for someone else. Your driving instructor cannot book your theory or practical test on your behalf.
Then, you can follow these steps:
Step 1
Visit the Official GOV.UK Website to access the official booking portal
Avoid third-party websites that may charge additional administration fees.
Step 2
Key in your personal details
Details include the provisional licence number, full name, contact details (house address and email)
Step 3
Select your desired test centre
Refine your search by postcode, town, city, or specific test centre that is most convenient to you (near your house, university, or workplace)
Step 4
Select your preferred test date and time
The available appointment slots will appear after you have chosen the test centre
Step 5
Finalise your payment; the current theory test fee is £23
Accepted payment methods include Mastercard and Visa for both debit and credit cards
Step 6
Check the confirmation email sent by DVSA
The email will contain your full test appointment details and instructions for your test day
📍 How to Book for the Practical Test
Once you have passed your theory test (both the multiple-choice questions section and the hazard perception section on the same day), you can book your practical test.
Your theory test pass certificate is valid for 2 years, so it's advisable to book and complete your practical test before the pass certificate expires.
Prepare the following before booking:
- UK provisional driving licence number
- Theory test pass certificate number
- Credit or debit card
The booking steps are similar to the theory test. 4
Step 1
Visit the Official GOV.UK Booking Portal
You will be put in a queue and informed how long you need to wait before you begin booking)
Step 2
Enter Your Licence and Theory Test Details
Indicate your provisional licence number and theory test certificate number
Step 3
Select a Driving Test Centre
It's best to choose the one nearest to you so that you can be there earlier
Step 4
Select an Available Appointment (date, time, weekday/weekend) via the System
Practical tests can often be booked up to 24 weeks ahead
Step 5
Finalise the Driving Test Fee Payment (£62 for weekdays, £75 for evenings or weekends)
The current fees vary according to which day you choose or whether you are taking an extended driving test
Step 6
Review the Confirmation Email and Details
Details include test date and time, as well as test centre address
💡Tips to Avoid Additional Fees
Now that you have reviewed the various fees to sit for both the theory and practical driving test, it is time to look at ways to save as much as you can.
📖 Proper Preparation
The best way to avoid additional fees is to pass both your theory and practical driving test in one go without retaking. To do that, you'll need thorough preparation by familiarising yourself with the test structure and passing criteria, as well as effective training and practice.
Theory test
- 50 multiple-choice questions
- 14 video clips on Hazard Perception Test
- All done on computers or touchscreen devices
Practical test
- Eye test to read a number plate from 20 metres away
- "Show me, tell me” questions
- Basic driving skills, independent driving, and manoeuvres
☑️ Theory Test Tips
Here are some ways to prepare ahead of your theory test:
Eg: Review the Highway Code to master all the traffic signs, junction rules, road safety laws, etc
Eg: Build confidence as you identify weak areas and improve time management
Eg: Practice your clicking timing carefully and improve your accuracy while watching the practice clips
To pass your theory test, you need the following scores:
☑️ Practical Test Tips
Now, let's explore some tips to ace your practical test:
Eg: The official DVSA recommendation is an average of 45 hours of professional driving lessons combined with 22 hours of private practice
Eg: Helps you to drive and respond naturally when driving dual carriageways, roundabouts, and city roads at different times
Eg: Helps you to follow a real test structure where you will be graded according to the fault system
Here's an overview of the faulting system — what it takes to pass your practical driving test.
Meanwhile, feel free to explore the average driving lesson rates in the UK.
📅Timely Cancellations
Sometimes, it may be unavoidable to cancel or reschedule your driving test. You can still receive a full refund if you give more than 10 full working days’ notice for a car driving test. When you email the DVSA customer service, be sure to include the following details for a smooth refund process:
- Your driving test booking reference
- Your theory test pass certificate number
- Your provisional driving licence number
As you prepare for your practical driving test, be sure to allocate extra budget for your learner driver insurance too!
⏰Choosing Test Times Wisely
Your test time will determine the overall test fee for your practical driving test. To avoid additional surcharges, we highly recommend that you choose your test on a weekday before 4:30 pm to avoid a higher test fee.
Another key tip about test time is to avoid booking your tests (both theory and practical) too early before you are truly prepared to sit for them. Make sure you choose a test date when you are truly confident in passing it and not out of pressure to sit for the test fast.
📌Important tip: Passing slightly later is certainly cheaper than failing multiple times, as you need to allocate extra budget for the test fees and additional driving lessons again.
Before we end, here's an overview of the driving test price breakdown for different scenarios.
| Scenario | Theory Test Cost | Practical Test Cost | Total Cost |
|---|---|---|---|
| ✅ Pass everything first time | £23 | £62 | £85 |
| 🧠 Fail theory once, then pass | £46 | £62 | £108 |
| 🧠 Fail theory twice, then pass | £69 | £62 | £131 |
| 🚗 Fail practical once, then pass | £23 | £124 | £147 |
| 🚗 Fail practical twice, then pass | £23 | £186 | £209 |
| 🧠 Fail theory once + 🚗 fail practical once | £46 | £124 | £170 |
| 🧠 Fail theory twice + 🚗 fail practical twice | £69 | £186 | £255 |
| 🌙 Weekend practical fail once + retake | £23 | £150 | £173 |
| 🌙 Weekend practical fail twice + pass third attempt | £23 | £225 | £248 |
| 🔴 Extended practical test (court-disqualified driver) | £23 | £124 | £147 |
| 🔴 Extended test fail once + retake | £23 | £248 | £271 |
We hope you have enjoyed reading this article. May these insights inspire you to save and prepare ahead as you embark on a new milestone to get your driving licence in the UK!
References
- Driving test costs. (n.d.). GOV.UK. https://www.gov.uk/driving-test-cost
- Service, G. D. (2012, January 4). Driving disqualifications. GOV.UK. https://www.gov.uk/driving-disqualifications/disqualification-until-test-pass-or-extended-test-pass
- Service, G. D. (2011, September 27). Cancel your driving test. GOV.UK. https://www.gov.uk/cancel-driving-test
- Book your driving test. (n.d.). GOV.UK. https://www.gov.uk/book-driving-test
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