UK Car Theory Test sample questions

• ✓ Pull over safely before answering
• • Answer it quickly and keep driving
• • Use loudspeaker so both hands stay on wheel
• • Slow down and answer if it's urgent

You must not use a hand-held phone while driving. Pull over in a safe place before using your phone. Hands-free is legal but can still be a distraction.

• ✓ You can spot hazards earlier and react in time
• • You can drive faster
• • It reduces fuel consumption
• • It helps with lane changing

Looking well ahead gives you more time to identify developing hazards and plan your response, reducing the need for sudden braking or swerving.

• ✓ Stop at the next services and rest
• • Open a window and continue
• • Turn up the radio
• • Drink a can of energy drink and continue

If you feel tired, you should stop at a safe place and rest. Opening a window or loud music offer only very brief relief and are not safe solutions.

• • Sound your horn
• ✓ Check your mirrors
• • Brake sharply
• • Indicate and move to the side

The Mirror-Signal-Manoeuvre routine requires you to check mirrors before braking or changing course, so you know what is happening behind you before reacting.

• ✓ Reading a text message on a hand-held phone
• • Listening to the radio
• • Having a passenger in the car
• • Eating a snack at a red light

Using a hand-held phone to read or send messages is illegal and one of the most dangerous distractions as it takes your eyes, hands, and concentration off the road.

• ✓ The passenger may cross the road in front of the bus
• • The bus will pull away immediately
• • Other buses may stop behind you
• • You should overtake the bus immediately

Passengers who have just left a bus may cross the road without checking traffic. Be prepared to stop, particularly if the bus blocks your view of pedestrians.

• • Brake check them to teach them a lesson
• ✓ Stay calm, keep to the speed limit, and do not react aggressively
• • Speed up to get out of their way
• • Slow down and wave them past on a bend

Aggressive behaviour from other drivers should never be responded to in kind. Stay calm, maintain safe speed and distance, and let them pass when it is safe to do so.

• • Anger caused by road works
• • Racing on public roads
• ✓ Violent or aggressive behaviour by drivers towards each other
• • Dangerous overtaking

Road rage refers to aggressive or violent behaviour arising from driving disputes. It is dangerous, illegal, and can lead to accidents or criminal charges.

• • Emerge quickly without acknowledging them
• ✓ Thank them with a smile or a wave
• • Honk your horn to thank them
• • Flash your headlights

A simple wave acknowledges courtesy and encourages positive driving behaviour. It costs nothing and improves road relationships.

• • Drive through as fast as possible to clear the gap first
• • Sound your horn and expect the other driver to reverse
• ✓ Slow down and give way, especially if there is space on your side to pull in
• • Flash your lights and proceed

In a narrow road, whoever has space to pull in should do so to allow the other vehicle to pass. Courtesy and common sense prevent confrontation.

• ✓ To warn other road users of your presence
• • To greet friends
• • To express frustration at slow drivers
• • To signal your approach to a junction

The horn should only be used to warn other road users of your presence. It must not be used between 11:30pm and 7:00am in built-up areas, or when stationary (unless in danger).

• • Follow them closely and flash your lights
• ✓ Take a breath, stay calm, and continue driving safely
• • Overtake them and brake sharply in front
• • Wind down your window and shout at them

Retaliating with aggression escalates danger. Stay calm and continue driving safely. Everyone makes mistakes — aggressive responses can cause serious accidents.

• ✓ The driver of the vehicle
• • The child's parents
• • The passenger themselves
• • All adults in the vehicle equally

The driver is legally responsible for ensuring children under 14 are wearing a seat belt or using the appropriate child restraint. Adults over 14 are responsible for themselves.

• • The baby may be frightened by the airbag light
• ✓ If the airbag deploys it can strike the back of the baby seat with fatal force
• • It is a legal requirement but not a safety issue
• • The baby's weight may accidentally trigger the airbag

A deploying airbag strikes the back of a rear-facing child seat with enormous force, potentially killing the child. Never use a rear-facing baby seat in a seat with an active airbag.

• ✓ Group 0 / 0+
• • Group 1
• • Group 2
• • Group 3

Group 0 and 0+ restraints are rear-facing infant carriers for babies from birth up to 10 kg (Group 0) or 13 kg (Group 0+). They must be fitted rear-facing.

• • Added head comfort on long journeys
• • To hold the seatbelt in position
• • To prevent sunburn
• ✓ To prevent whiplash injury by limiting how far the head moves backward in a rear collision

Head restraints (headrests) limit rearward movement of the head in a rear-end collision, reducing the risk of whiplash injury to the neck. They must be adjusted correctly to be effective.

• • No — all drivers must wear a seat belt at all times
• • Yes — but only on roads with a 20 mph limit
• ✓ Yes — drivers who make frequent stops during a local delivery round can be exempt
• • Yes — but only in a vehicle under 3.5 tonnes

Drivers making deliveries or collections frequently during a journey of less than 50 metres at a time may be exempt from wearing a seat belt during that local delivery work. This is a specific legal exemption.

• ✓ Sitting too close to the door where the airbag deploys from
• • Reclining the seat too far back
• • Sitting too far from the steering wheel
• • Having the seat too high

Side airbags deploy from the door or seat side bolster. Sitting too close to the airbag deployment zone can increase injury risk. Sit at the correct distance from doors and use the seat manufacturer's guidance.

• • 12 metres
• • 36 metres
• • 53 metres
• ✓ 23 metres

At 30 mph, the thinking distance is 9m and braking distance is 14m, giving an overall stopping distance of 23 metres. (3 car lengths)

• • 53 metres
• ✓ 96 metres
• • 75 metres
• • 120 metres

At 70 mph the thinking distance is 21m and braking distance 75m, giving 96 metres overall — equivalent to 24 car lengths.

• • Keep the same two-second gap
• ✓ Double it to at least four seconds
• • Reduce to one second
• • Only use it on motorways

In wet conditions braking distances roughly double, so the gap should be at least four seconds. In ice or snow, it may need to be ten times longer.

• • 18 metres
• • 36 metres
• • 73 metres
• ✓ 55 metres

At 60 mph the braking distance is 55 metres (thinking distance is 18m, total = 73m). Remember, this assumes good brakes, tyres and a dry road.

• • 9 metres
• • 12 metres
• ✓ 15 metres
• • 18 metres

Thinking distance increases by 3 metres for every 10 mph. At 50 mph, thinking distance = 15 metres. Total stopping distance at 50 mph is 53 metres.

• • Shorter stopping distance
• • No effect
• • Only affects acceleration
• ✓ Longer stopping distance

Extra weight increases momentum, which means your vehicle needs more distance to stop. Adjust your following distance and speed accordingly when carrying heavy loads.

• • A permanent hazard such as a sharp bend
• • A hazard marked by road signs
• • A hazard that only affects motorcyclists
• ✓ A situation that is changing and may require you to take action

A developing hazard is one that is unfolding — such as a pedestrian stepping off the kerb, or a car pulling out of a junction. It requires active monitoring and a response.

• • The van may move off suddenly
• • The van may cause congestion
• ✓ Children may run into the road without looking
• • Other drivers may stop to buy ice cream

Children near parked vehicles — especially an ice cream van — may dash into the road impulsively. Slow down significantly and be ready to stop.

• ✓ They may be about to change lane or turn
• • They are about to stop for fuel
• • Their mirror is faulty
• • They are checking your speed

A motorcyclist repeatedly checking mirrors is likely preparing to manoeuvre. Ease off and give them space to do so safely.

• • You may get caught by a parking restriction
• • Parked cars may roll forwards
• • Drivers may be texting and distracted
• ✓ Car doors may open suddenly into your path

Car doors can open without warning. Leave a 1-metre gap when passing parked cars to avoid being hit by an opening door — this is sometimes called the 'door zone'.

• • The dog may slow your progress
• • The dog's owner may be distracted
• ✓ The dog may run into the road and cause you to swerve
• • Dogs rarely enter main roads

Animals are unpredictable. A dog near the road may suddenly dart across. Slow down and be prepared to stop.

• • Bright reflection may dazzle you
• ✓ Risk of aquaplaning and significantly increased stopping distances
• • Damaged road markings
• • Flooded drains may cause mud on the road

Surface water can cause aquaplaning (loss of tyre contact) and greatly increases braking distances. Reduce speed and increase following distance.

• • At least 0.5 metres
• • At least 1.0 metre
• • At least 2.0 metres
• ✓ At least 1.5 metres

The Highway Code recommends leaving at least 1.5 metres when passing a cyclist at lower speeds, and more at higher speeds. Give them the same space you'd give a car.

• • Sound your horn to acknowledge them and drive through
• • Flash your lights to tell them to wait
• ✓ Slow down and give way once they step onto the crossing
• • Continue — they have not stepped out yet

You must give way to pedestrians on a zebra crossing. Once they have stepped onto the crossing, you must stop. Be prepared to stop even before they step out.

• • Motorcycles have no brakes
• • Motorcyclists always break speed limits
• ✓ Motorcycles are harder to see and may be travelling faster than expected
• • Junctions have no speed limit for motorcycles

Motorcycles are narrow and can be hidden behind other vehicles or missed due to their size. Always look specifically for motorcycles — 'SMIDSY' (Sorry Mate I Didn't See You) is a common collision cause.

• • Sound your horn to warn them you are approaching
• • Flash your lights and pass quickly
• ✓ Pass slowly and wide, as horses can be frightened by vehicles
• • Continue at normal speed — horses are used to traffic

Horses can be frightened by engine noise and sudden movements. Pass wide and slowly. If the horse appears nervous, stop and switch off your engine.

• • Sound your horn to make them move over
• • Overtake immediately — they are breaking the rules
• • Rev your engine to signal your intention to pass
• ✓ Be patient and wait for a safe opportunity to pass with plenty of room

Cyclists may ride in the centre of a narrow lane to discourage unsafe overtaking. This is acceptable behaviour. Be patient and only overtake when you can leave sufficient space.

• ✓ On roads used by horse riders, including higher push buttons for use from horseback
• • Near airports for access vehicles
• • On motorways for emergency services
• • Near shopping centres for mobility scooters

A Pegasus crossing (also called an equestrian crossing) is designed for horse riders. It has higher push buttons so riders can activate the crossing without dismounting.