What topics are in the UK car theory test?
Updated •4 min read
The UK car theory test examines seven subject areas set out in law: road traffic regulations, the driver, the road, other road users, general rules and other matters, road and vehicle safety, and environmental matters. The 50 multiple-choice questions and the hazard perception clips draw on them.
The seven areas
The subjects are listed in Schedule 7 of the Motor Vehicles (Driving Licences) Regulations 1999, Part 2, for category B (cars). The regulation says the examiner must test all seven sections (legislation.gov.uk: Schedule 7). The text below is a plain-English summary.
| Section | Area | What the regulation covers |
|---|---|---|
| A | Road traffic regulations | Road signs, road markings, signals, rights of way and speed limits |
| B | The driver | Alertness and attitude to other road users; perception, judgement and reaction time; effects of alcohol, drugs, medicines, state of mind and fatigue |
| C | The road | Safe distances and braking distances in different weather and road conditions; risks as weather and time of day change; types of road; driving in road tunnels |
| D | Other road users | Risks around inexperienced and vulnerable users such as children, pedestrians, cyclists and people with reduced mobility; different vehicle types and drivers' fields of view |
| E | General rules and other matters | Vehicle documents; what to do in an accident; safety factors relating to the vehicle, its load and passengers |
| F | Road and vehicle safety | Spotting common mechanical faults (steering, suspension, brakes, tyres, lights and more); seat-belts, head restraints and child safety equipment; precautions when getting out of the vehicle |
| G | Environmental matters | Using the vehicle with the environment in mind, including the horn, moderate fuel consumption and limiting emissions |
legislation.gov.uk says revised legislation may not reflect every recent change. The version we read shows amendments up to December 2018.
What gov.uk says about the questions
gov.uk does not publish a topic-by-topic list for the car test. It says the multiple-choice questions are based on three books: The Highway Code, Know your traffic signs and Driving - the essential skills (gov.uk: revision and practice).
Its free practice questions are not used in the real test but are based on the same topics (gov.uk: take a practice theory test). Some practice apps and books split the syllabus into their own chapters, often more than seven. Those are the publishers' groupings, not an official list, so treat them as a study aid.
The two parts of the test
- Multiple choice: 50 questions in 57 minutes, including three questions about a short video (gov.uk: multiple-choice questions). Pass mark 43. See the questions and pass mark guide and the video-clip questions guide.
- Hazard perception: 14 video clips, pass mark 44 out of 75 (gov.uk: hazard perception test). See the hazard perception explainer.
How to use the list
Treat each area as a revision check. Can you explain, for example, how weather changes stopping distances (section C), or what to do at an accident (section E)? Areas where you hesitate are where to read the Highway Code first.
The quickest way to find those areas is to be tested. The free theorytest.ai diagnostic shows which topics you lose marks on, and our revision plan turns that into a schedule. theorytest.ai is independent and is not affiliated with the DVSA.
Frequently asked questions
How many topics are there in the car theory test?
Seven sections are set out in law, A to G. gov.uk does not publish its own topic list for the car test.
Where do the theory test questions come from?
gov.uk says they are based on The Highway Code, Know your traffic signs and Driving - the essential skills.
Is hazard perception one of the topics?
It is a separate second part of the test, with 14 video clips, not one of the seven subject sections.
Are road signs on the theory test?
Yes. Road signs, markings and signals are part of section A, and Know your traffic signs is one of the three source books.