Theory Test Practice Questions (UK)

Working through theory test practice questions is one of the quickest ways to find the gaps in your knowledge before you book the real thing. This guide gives you a set of original UK-style multiple-choice questions grouped by topic, each with the answer and a short explanation so you understand the reasoning rather than memorising letters. The questions are written for practice only and are not taken from the official question bank, so treat them as a warm-up and always check the official source for the current test format.

How the UK car theory test works

The car theory test in Great Britain has two parts taken in the same sitting: a multiple-choice section and a hazard perception section. You need to pass both parts at the same appointment to receive your pass certificate. At the time of writing, the multiple-choice part has 50 questions in 57 minutes with a pass mark of 43, while the hazard perception part uses video clips and has its own separate pass mark. Formats, fees and pass marks can change, so check the official source (GOV.UK and the DVSA) before you book.

Some multiple-choice questions are linked to a short case study, where you read about a journey and answer several questions on it. The questions below follow the same spirit: read carefully, rule out the wrong options and pick the safest, most legal answer.

Stopping distances and speed

Question 1

What is the typical overall stopping distance for a car travelling at 30 mph on a dry road, according to the Highway Code?

• A. 12 metres
• B. 23 metres
• C. 36 metres
• D. 53 metres

Answer: B. The Highway Code gives 23 metres, roughly six car lengths, as the typical stopping distance at 30 mph. That figure combines thinking distance and braking distance, and it grows quickly as speed rises.

Question 2

How far behind the vehicle in front should you stay on a dry, fast road in good conditions?

• A. At least a one-second gap
• B. At least a two-second gap
• C. Exactly one car length
• D. As close as traffic allows

Answer: B. The two-second rule is the standard guide in good conditions. Pick a fixed point such as a lamp post; when the vehicle ahead passes it, you should not reach it within two seconds.

Question 3

The road is wet. How should you change your separation distance?

• A. Keep it the same
• B. Reduce it slightly
• C. At least double it
• D. Change it only on motorways

Answer: C. Stopping distances are at least double on wet roads, so leave at least a four-second gap. On icy roads braking distances can be up to ten times longer than on a dry road.

Question 4

Unless signs show otherwise, what is the national speed limit for a car on a single carriageway road?

• A. 50 mph
• B. 60 mph
• C. 70 mph
• D. 40 mph

Answer: B. For cars and motorcycles the national speed limit is 60 mph on single carriageways and 70 mph on dual carriageways and motorways. Lower limits apply to many other vehicles, and a limit is a maximum, not a target. Conditions often call for much less.

Road signs and markings

Question 5

What does a sign in a circle with a red border usually tell you?

• A. Information about a route
• B. A warning of a hazard ahead
• C. Something you must not do
• D. A tourist attraction nearby

Answer: C. Circles give orders. A red ring generally means a prohibition, while a blue circle usually tells you something you must do.

Question 6

Which shape is used for the stop sign?

• A. Triangle
• B. Octagon
• C. Rectangle
• D. Circle

Answer: B. The stop sign is the only eight-sided sign, so it can be recognised even when partly covered by snow or seen from behind.

Question 7

What do white zigzag lines on the road near a zebra crossing mean?

• A. You may park for up to five minutes
• B. You must not park, wait or overtake the leading vehicle approaching the crossing
• C. The area is for cyclists only
• D. Loading is allowed

Answer: B. Zigzags mark the crossing’s controlled area. Stopping there would hide pedestrians from other drivers, and overtaking the leading vehicle could mean you miss someone stepping out in front of it.

Vulnerable road users

Question 8

You are turning left into a side road and a pedestrian is waiting to cross it. What should you do?

• A. Sound your horn and continue
• B. Give way to the pedestrian
• C. Speed up to turn before they step out
• D. Wave them across from a distance

Answer: B. Under the Highway Code changes introduced in 2022, you should give way to pedestrians crossing or waiting to cross a road you are turning into. Waving people across is discouraged because another vehicle may not have seen them.

Question 9

How much space should you leave when overtaking a cyclist at speeds up to 30 mph?

• A. At least 0.5 metres
• B. At least 1 metre
• C. At least 1.5 metres
• D. There is no guidance

Answer: C. The Highway Code advises leaving at least 1.5 metres when overtaking cyclists at speeds up to 30 mph, and more at higher speeds. If you cannot give that space safely, wait behind until you can.

Question 10

A horse rider is on the road ahead. What should you do?

• A. Pass quickly to get it over with
• B. Rev the engine so the horse knows you are there
• C. Slow down, be patient and pass wide and slowly when safe
• D. Flash your headlights

Answer: C. Horses can be startled by noise and sudden movement. The Highway Code advises passing at no more than 10 mph and allowing at least 2 metres of space.

Safety and your vehicle

Question 11

What is the legal minimum tyre tread depth for cars in the UK?

• A. 1 mm across the whole tyre
• B. 1.6 mm across the central three-quarters of the tread, around the entire circumference
• C. 2 mm on the outer edges only
• D. 3 mm on every tyre

Answer: B. The legal minimum is 1.6 mm across the central three-quarters of the tread width, all the way round. Many drivers replace tyres before they reach that limit because grip in the wet drops as tread wears.

Question 12

When may you use a hand-held mobile phone while driving?

• A. When stopped at traffic lights
• B. When in a slow traffic queue
• C. To call 999 or 112 in a genuine emergency when it is unsafe or impractical to stop
• D. Whenever you are using it as a sat-nav

Answer: C. It is illegal to hold and use a phone while driving, including when stationary in traffic. The narrow exception is a genuine emergency call when it is unsafe or impractical to stop. Penalties are significant, so check the official source for the current rules.

Question 13

Your car breaks down on a motorway with a hard shoulder. Where is usually the safest place to wait?

• A. In the car with the seatbelt on, in every situation
• B. Behind the safety barrier, away from traffic, if you can get there safely
• C. On the hard shoulder next to your car
• D. In front of the car to warn traffic

Answer: B. If you can leave the vehicle safely, get out on the side away from traffic and wait behind the barrier. If you cannot get out safely, stay in the vehicle with your seatbelt on and hazard lights on, and call 999.

Junctions, lanes and motorways

Question 14

What does a red X shown above a motorway lane mean?

• A. The lane is for buses only
• B. The lane is closed and you must not drive in it
• C. Reduce speed to 50 mph
• D. The lane has just reopened

Answer: B. A red X means the lane is closed. Driving in a closed lane is an offence and puts people working or stranded ahead at serious risk.

Question 15

At a yellow box junction, when may you enter if your exit is not clear?

• A. Never, under any circumstances
• B. When turning right and only blocked by oncoming traffic or other vehicles waiting to turn right
• C. When the lights show amber
• D. Whenever traffic is moving

Answer: B. You must not enter the box unless your exit road or lane is clear. The exception is when you want to turn right and are only prevented by oncoming traffic or other vehicles waiting to turn right.

Question 16

You are approaching a roundabout and plan to take the first exit. Unless signs or markings say otherwise, how should you approach?

• A. Signal right and use the right-hand lane
• B. Signal left and approach in the left-hand lane
• C. No signal is needed
• D. Signal left only once you are on the roundabout

Answer: B. For a left turn at a roundabout, the Highway Code advises signalling left as you approach, using the left-hand lane and keeping to the left on the roundabout.

Hazard perception: what the clips test

The hazard perception part shows everyday road scenes filmed from a driver’s view and asks you to respond to developing hazards, the ones that would make you change speed or direction. You score more by responding early as the hazard develops, but clicking constantly or in a rhythm can lead to a zero score for that clip. Practise by watching real traffic as a passenger and saying out loud what might happen next: a parked van hiding a pedestrian, a cyclist glancing over their shoulder, a ball rolling into the road from a driveway.

It also helps to learn the difference between a potential hazard and a developing one. A pedestrian standing on the pavement is a potential hazard; the same pedestrian stepping towards the kerb and looking at the road is developing into something you must react to.

Study tips that actually help

• Read the Highway Code properly. Questions are built on it, so reading the real thing beats guessing from apps alone.
• Learn the reason, not the letter. If you understand why an answer is right, reworded questions will not catch you out.
• Use timed mock tests. Practise full sets of 50 questions in one sitting so the real test feels familiar.
• Track your weak topics. Note which categories you get wrong and revisit them first.
• Read every option. Many wrong answers are nearly right; the safest legal choice usually wins.
• Use official revision material. The DVSA publishes official learning materials, the most reliable way to prepare.

Final thoughts

Practice questions are most useful when they show you what you do not yet know, so mark your weak spots and return to the Highway Code for those topics. Combine regular mock tests with real-world observation as a passenger and the theory test becomes far less stressful. Rules, fees and pass marks do change, so always confirm the latest details with the official source before test day.