You’ve taken your theory test, and now you need to book your driving test. How do you go about doing that? Well, it’s not going to be as simple as just heading down to your local driving centre to book in. In this article, we’ll explain how to book a driving test in the UK, including information about the different types of driving test available, the different costs, and how to find the closest driving test centre.
What is a driving theory test?
A theory test is a practical exam designed to test your knowledge of road rules and the rules of the road. It’s essential that you pass this exam, as it’s the first step to becoming a full UK car driver.
During the theory test, you’ll be tested on the basics of driving, including:
- Road signs and road markings
- Road position and safe following distance
- Speed limits and road markings for different speeds
- Turning, crossing, and stopping
- Emergency driving situations
- Other road rules, including driving in other countries, bicycles, and animals
Book a driving theory test online
There are a few websites that offer online theory test preparation, and we’ve reviewed some of the best here. If you want to book a theory test online, the first thing you’ll have to do is register with an online theory test provider, then select a date and time for your test.
You’ll then be given a series of multiple-choice questions based on the information you’ve just learnt. Each question has three possible answers: “True,” “False,” or “Don’t Know.” You’ll be given a few minutes to read the question and answer choices, then you’ll have another few minutes to answer the questions before your test is marked.
Book a driving theory test at your local driving centre
If you can’t find the time to take a theory test online, you can always book a driving theory test at your local driving test centre. This is a fairly straightforward process; you’ll first need to book in for a driving test, then you’ll have to wait your turn to be called to the driving bay.
When you’re called to the driving bay, you’ll need to bring your valid, current licence with you. You’ll also need to bring your valid, current passport or UK identity card with you, and you must be over 16 years old.
Once you’ve got all that sorted, you’ll then need to head to a designated parking space to slot in your theory test vehicle. This could be a parking space outside the test centre, or it could be a parking bay inside the test centre.
Book a driving theory test in person
Finally, you can always book a driving theory test in person at your local driving test centre, by visiting your local test centre in person.
This is the most time-consuming option, but it also allows you to take your time and drive down to the centre with all your gear in the car. You can even opt to book a two-day theory test, so you can take the day off and drive down on the second day instead.
That said, you’ll need to factor in the travel time, and you’ll also need to factor in the cost of parking at the test centre. If you can make it to the centre in person, it’s definitely the best option, as parking fees at test centres can sometimes be ridiculous.
Book a driving test in person
The final option is to book a driving test in person at your local driving test centre, by visiting your local test centre in person. This is the most time-consuming option, but it also allows you to take your time and drive down to the centre with all your gear in the car. You can even opt to book a two-day theory test, so you can take the day off and drive down on the second day instead.
That said, you’ll need to factor in the travel time, and you’ll also need to factor in the cost of parking at the test centre. If you can make it to the centre in person, it’s definitely the best option, as parking fees at test centres can sometimes be ridiculous.
Get ready for your driving test
Before your driving test, be sure to do the following:
- Get ready to drive: It’s worth reading through the official driving manual and practising manoeuvres in the car you’ll be taking to your test. You can also watch driving videos online to help you get a better sense of what’s required.
- Make sure your car is in good condition: You don’t need to be in a brand-new car on your test day, but it’s helpful to be in a car that’s in good condition (e.g., no dents or scratches on the bodywork).
- Book a toilet stop: It’s not just for car journeys; you should always book a toilet stop before you head out for your test.
- Be early: You should book your test for 10am or 1pm, as these times are the most popular at each test centre. So, be sure to book as far in advance as you can.
- Bring your valid, current licence with you: You should also bring your valid, current licence with you when you book your driving test. This will help to confirm your identity and avoid any confusion during the booking process.
The cost of booking a driving test
There are a few different ways to book a driving test in the UK; we’ll first take a look at the costs of booking a driving test online, and then we’ll take a look at booking a driving test with your local driving test centre in person.
If you’re booking a theory test online, there are a few different choices you have when it comes to how you want to take the test. You can take a computer-based test, paper-based test, or a combination of the two.
As for booking times, there are plenty of different dates available for booking a theory test online, ranging from one week in advance to one day in advance. If you want to book a test as close as possible to your desired test date, we recommend booking as soon as possible, as availability tends to decrease significantly as the days get closer to your chosen test date.
If you’re booking a theory test online, there are a few different choices you have when it comes to how you want to take the test. You can take a computer-based test, paper-based test, or a combination of the two. Paper-based driving tests take place in a traditional office environment and are conducted by a driving examiner in person.
This is the most accurate way to test your driving skills, as you’ll be tested in a person-to-person environment with a real driving examiner. Computer-based tests are conducted from a computer environment and are conducted by a driving examiner in person.
This method is more convenient, as you don’t have to take the test in a physical room, but it’s less accurate, as there are many factors that can affect a computer-based test, such as computer bandwidth or the driving examiner’s experience.