Before you can take your practical driving test, you need to pass your theory test. It’s a really important part of learning to drive: when you get to your practical test, you’ll need to show that you can use what you learn for this test when you’re driving on the road.

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The car theory test costs £23 - click here to find out more information and book a test.

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The local Theory Test centres are:

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Sheffield - Orchard House 3rd floor, Leopold Street, Sheffield, Yorkshire, S1 2GY

Chesterfield -1st Floor, 6-8 Corporation Street, Chesterfield, S41 7TP

Doncaster - Office 6 Silver House, Silver Street, Doncaster, DN1 1HL

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Don't forget to take your licence and appointment letter - no licence, no test!

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It’s vital to prepare for your theory test properly.  There’s a lot to learn about the rules of the road, and the better prepared you are, the more likely you are to pass first time, which will save you the time and money that retaking the test will cost.  Please don't go down the route of just doing test after test on an app.  The questions in the multiple choice test are taken from three books:

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• The Official Highway Code

• The Official DVSA Guide to Driving – the essential skills

• Know Your Traffic Signs

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You can also download a free version of the Highway Code here

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You’ll need to use all of these when you’re preparing. There are lots of products available that contain practice questions, but it's really important you don't just learn the answers without understanding fully why it's correct because the questions on the actual test aren’t exactly the same as the practice ones.

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There are two parts to the test

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• the multiple choice part

• the hazard perception part.

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You will of course be learning driving theory as you do your

practical lessons but if you really are struggling, you can book a purely theory lesson with your instructor by contacting us.  Usual prices will apply.

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Preparing for the multiple choice test

 

Using official publications will help you get the most out of your preparation, but our link up with DriverActive is an excellent way to study on the move.  When you sign up for lessons, we will email a coupon to you with a code that gives you three months free access to their resources.

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Link what you’re learning to your own experiences: for example, think about where you’ve seen an example of a road sign and use this to help you remember what the sign means.

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Plan your study: set yourself some timelines and targets. This will help you to see your progress and make sure you haven’t missed anything. DriverActive will also help with this. Plan to do your studying somewhere you won’t be disturbed and at a time when you’re fully awake.

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Get help: use friends, family, your driving instructor or your colleagues from work to ask questions and share driving experiences.

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Preparing for the hazard perception test

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This part of the test checks you can recognise and respond to hazards that could happen while you’re driving. Being out on the road with your instructor will help you prepare for this part. 

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In the test you’ll see 14 film clips, one of which will have two hazards, and each shown from a driver’s point of view. You’ll need to spot the developing hazard in each film: this is something that might need you, as the driver, to take some action such as changing speed or direction. For example, a car pulling in to the side of the road ahead of you is a developing hazard because you’ll need to slow down and manoeuvre around it.  There will be more than one hazard so don't be afraid to click for them all.

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You can test your hazard perception skills with Driver Active.